Macmillan English Dictionary (for Advanced Learners of American English) [1 ed.] 3999905229, 0333966724

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MACMILLAN DICTIONARY FOR ADVANCED LEARNERS OF AMERICAN ENGLISH

LITERACY DICTIONARIES

CHECK BOOK FOR CD-ROM

Boaton Public Library S No1P«8H. MA 02116

•

• [C] countable nouns that are used with a or an or a number and have a plural: car, soldier

nouns that cannot be used with a or an or a number and have no plural: happiness, pasta

• [U] uncountable

• [singular] nouns that are used with a, an, or the but are never used in the plural: babble, halt

• [plural] nouns that are used only in the plural and always take a plural verb: cattle, • [often plural] [usually plural] nouns that can be used in the singular but are often or usually plural: boundary, fee

Verbs [I]

intransitive verbs that

have no direct Could you

He paused for a moment. speak up please? object:

him

• [only before

• [linking verb] verbs that are followed by a noun or adjective complement describing the subject: They looked happy. I feel better

noun] adjectives

be used before a noun:

my

that can only

elder sister

noun] adjectives that can never be used before a noun: I felt afraid.

• [never before

Other Short Forms or Codes someone

• sth something • [+ that] followed by a clause beginning with

allowed that

"that": She serious.

the matter

was

• [+ (that)] followed by a clause beginning with "that" but you can miss out the "that": Are you certain that it's finished? or Are you certain it's finished? •

• [T] transitive verbs that have a direct object: / ate my lunch. She handed the note over to me.

to call you.

Adjectives

• sb

surroundings

•

[modal verb] verbs that are used with another verb to express ideas such as possibility, permission, or intention: She might come. He can go now. / will ask

•

.to do sth followed by a verb in the infinitive: / love to go shopping. .

.

.

.

.doing sth followed by a verb + ing: I love

swimming. • [usually passive] usually used in the passive

• [usually progressive] usually used in the progressive • [in imperative] usually used in the

now. • [auxiliary verb] verbs "be," "have,"

imperative

and

"do" when they are used with other verbs to form questions, show their tense, etc.: When are you leaving? They didn't understand.

• [in infinitive] usually used in the infinitive • [in negatives or questions] usually used in negative sentences or questions

WORD CLASSES quantifier short form (for example can 't)

abbrev (=abbreviation) adj (=adjective) adv (= adverb)

suffix

trademark (trademarks are not given a word

conjunction determiner function word

class)

verb

interjection

SYMBOLS

noun number prefix

points to another entry or page that you should look at for more information or for pictures

preposition

comes between example

pronoun

sentences

-»

phrasal vb (^phrasal verb)

RED WORDS The words printed

in red form the core vocabulary of English. These are the words that as an advanced learner you need to know especially well. There are 7,500 red words, and they have been carefully chosen on the basis of their frequency and their importance. For these red words, the dictionary provides a lot of extra information (for example, about grammar and collocation) and a wide range of example sentences. This is designed to help you not only to understand

—

these words, but also to use

and

them confidently

correctly.

—

All red words have a "star rating": the 2,500 most common and basic English words, such as: easy, go, have, house

*** ** *

common words, such as: behave, frighten, intelligence, occasional fairly common words, such as: boil, cruelty, farming, metric very

tt,

*

*

•

MACMILLAN

English DICTIONARY

*

ri

Ide

gne*

MACMILLAN

English DICTIONARY FOR ADVANCED LEARNERS OF AMERICAN ENGLISH

Macmillan Education Between Towns Road, Oxford 0X4 3PP A division of Macmillan Publishers Limited Companies and representatives throughout the world

ISBN 333 96669 4 (American cased edition) 333 96671 6 (American cased edition +

CD-ROM)

333 96670 8 (American paperback edition) 333 96672 4 (American paperback edition + 333 96691

Text

CD-ROM)

(American CD-ROM)

© Bloomsbury Publishing Pic 2002 © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2002

Illustrations

First published 2002

no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers. All rights reserved;

The Macmillan English Dictionary was conceived, compiled and edited by the Reference and Electronic Media Division of Bloomsbury Publishing Pic. This Dictionary includes words on the basis of their use in the English language today. Some words are identified as being trademarks or service marks. Neither the presence nor absence of such identification in this Dictionary is to be regarded as affecting in any way, or expressing a judgment on, the validity or legal status of any trademark, service mark, or other proprietary rights

anywhere in the world.

World English Corpus

The

definitions in the Macmillan English Dictionary have been based on information derived from the 200,000,000 words of English which make up the World English Corpus. This consists of the Bloomsbury Corpus of World English® with additional material exclusively developed for this Dictionary, including ELT materials and a corpus of common errors made by learners of

English.

Cover design by Conor Mangat of Boag Associates, London Typeset by Selwood Systems, Midsomer Norton, Radstock, United Kingdom Printed and bound in China 2006 2005 2004 2003 10 9 8 7 6 5

CONTENTS Grammar Codes

inside front cover

Foreword Introduction

Using the Dictionary Entries that are

Numbers

The Dictionary

1-1648

Color Illustrations House

between pages 562 and 563 C1

C2 C3 C4 C6 C7 C8

Kitchen Office

Clothes and Patterns

Highway and Types

of Vehicle

Transportation

Car

Language Awareness

between pages 924 and 925 LA2 Phrasal Verbs LA3 Academic English LA4 College Composition LA8 Metaphor LA10 Computer Words LA12 Pragmatics LA14 Spoken Discourse LA16 Sensitivity LA18 American and British English LA20 LA22 Business English LA24 Word Formation

Numbers

Color Illustrations

between pages

1

146 and

1

147

Fruit

C9 C10

Vegetables

C11

Animals

C12 C14 C15 C16

Trees, Plants, and Flowers

Sports: Soccer, Tennis, and Golf Sports: Football, Baseball, and Basketball

Gym

and

Games

Defining Vocabulary

1

649-1 656

Labels

1657

Pronunciation Guide

1658

EDITORIAL TEAM Managing Editor Michael Mayor

Deputy Editors Sue Engineer

Word

Editors

Orin Hargraves

Function

Ruth Hein

Stephen Handorf O'Shea

Lucy Hollingworth

Ted Jackson Stephen Handorf

Stella

Rebecca Adae Sandra Anderson Debra Bailey

Michael Janes

Gillian

Karen Stern

Kate Baldus

Imogen

John Williams

Jane Bradbury Pat Bulhosen John Bunting Rebecca Campbell Edwin Carpenter

Senior Editors

Francis

Kerr

Stan Kurzban Jill

Phoneticians Dinah Jackson

Leatherbarrow

Konopka

Sinda Lopez

Rafal S.

Esther Hurrell

Proofreaders Robin Batchelor-Smith

Rosalind

Carol-June Cassidy

Gloria

Combley George

Dan Malt Heloi'se McGuinness Clea McEnery

Margaret

Fiona Mcintosh

Susan

Jellis

Dewayne Crawford

Terry

Dana Darby Johnson Christopher Decker

Claire

Diane Nicholls

Susan

Elizabeth Potter

Sheila Dignen

Susan

Julia

Howard Sargeant Penny Stock Jenny Watson

Jennifer

Goss Duby Korey Egge

Glennis Pye

Ruth Hillmore

Scott Forbes

Jill

Donald Watt

Susan

Jane Rogoyska Valerie Smith Ian M. Spackman

Robert Allen Robert Clevenger

Sidney

I.

Landau

Julia B. Plier

Laura

Finlay

Tammy

Wedgeworth

Costa

Jull

Editors

McLean

Pat Bulhosen

Josephine M.

Needier R.

Norton

P.

Curtis

D. Dickson

Esplen

Irene Lakhani

Leatherbarrow

Adele Linderholm

Katalin Sule

Rosemary Morlin

Alice Grandison

Anthea

Tillyer

Clare

Isabel Griffiths

Rachel

Ware

David Hallworth

Pamela White Kallie Willboum

Susan Turner Rebecca Vickers Richard Whitecross

Gales

Penny Hands

Shaw

PROJECT TEAM Project Katy

Design Douglas Williamson Nigel Partridge

Manager

Database Manager

McAdam

Production Directors Penny Edwards Tim Wakeford

Nicky

Adams

Publishing Directors

Faye Carney

Kathy Rooney

Sue Bale

Peter Hosking

James

Melanie Hewitt

Susannah Jenkins

Thompson

Dictionaries' Publisher

Database Administrators

Project Coordinators Joel

Production Editor

Edmund Wright

Orpin

Corpus Development Gloria George Ian M. Spackman

Melanie Tate

OTHER CONTRIBUTORS Editorial,

Keyboarding, and

Illustrations

and Associates

Administrative Assistance

Ian Foulis

Simon Arnold

Peter Harper

Daniel Cosserat

Stuart Lafford

Chris Glenny

Alan Male

Rebecca McKee

Peter Richardson

Lisa Milford

Martin Shovel

Janice Muckle

Illustrated Arts

Helen Szirtes

Oxford

Darren Treend

Illustrators

Editor-in-Chief

Michael Rundell Associate Editor

Gwyneth Fox

ADVISORY PANEL Chief Adviser Professor Michael

Hoey

Baines Professor of English Language and Director of the Applied English Dr.

Language Studies

Anthony Bruton

Senior Lecturer

in

ELT

Methodology, English Language

Unit, University of Liverpool, U.K.

Susan Maingay

Susan Stempleski

Amy Chi

Coordinator of Faculty

Man-lai

Language Centre, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Instructor,

Department, Seville University, Spain

Chen

Professor

Institute, City University of

New

York, U.S.A.

Lin Dr.

Professor of English, Foreign

Languages

Development, Hunter College International English Language

Don

R.

McCreary

Associate Professor, Department of

University, Beijing, China

Professor Kevin Mark

English, University of Georgia,

Oriel E Villagarcia

Athens, Georgia, U.S.A.

Professor, School of Politics and

Dr. Hilary

Economics, Meiji University, Japan

Jane Magee Course Director, English Language Teaching, University St. Andrews, U.K.

Adrian Underhill ELT consultant, trainer, author

Freelance Teacher Trainer, Argentina

Nesi

Senior Lecturer, Centre for English

Sara Walker

Language Teacher Education, University of Warwick, U.K.

Coordinator of the English Program,

of

Brazilian Diplomatic

Prowse

Philip

ELT author and

Academy,

Ministry of Foreign Relations, Brasilia DF, Brazil

trainer

CONSULTANTS Dr.

Joanna Channell

Professor Malcolm Coulthard Professor of English Language and

Dr. Ingrid

International Christian University,

Associate Professor, School of

Tokyo, Japan

Translation and Interpretation,

Adam

University of Ottawa, Ontario, Kilgarriff

Linguistics,

Dr.

University of Birmingham, U.K.

Information Technology Research

Averil

Institute, University of Brighton, U.K.

Coxhead

Language

Tutor, Victoria University

of Wellington,

New

Zealand

Meyer

Christopher Gallagher

Dr.

Canada Dr.

Rosamund Moon

Lecturer

Anne McCabe

Saint Louis University,

in

English, University of

Birmingham, U.K.

Madrid

Campus, Spain

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Argentina

Germany

Mexico

Cristina Banfi

Claudia Finkbeiner

Carlos Oscar

Brazil

Hungary Ferenc Csendes

Misa Cankova Virginia

LoCastro

Peter Radai

Sweden Melendez

JoAnn Miller, Eric Pearse Carmen Santamarfa Poland

Marina Bovtenko

United Kingdom David Briggs, Jayne Hamilton Dave Harries, Vaughan Jones Sue Kay, Diana Mackintosh Howard Middle, John Sutherland

Natalina Emelianova

H. A.

Komarova Tamara Nazarova

United States

Maria Birkenmajer

Vera Muller Italy

Cristina Siqueira

Croatia Hrvoja Heffer

Lovorka Zergollem-Miletic

Egypt Yehya El-Azabi

Georgia Rusiko Tkemaladze

Piotr Steinbrich

Jan Borsbey

Ruth

Swan

Japan

Kawamura Komuro

Akihiko Yuri

Korea Kim Jeong Ryeol

Stieg Hargevik

Taiwan Jerome Su

Russia

Galia

Irina

Robert B. Costello

Seibel

Marilyn Rymniak

Singapore Vincent Ooi,

Swan

Anne

Pakir

FOREWORD Professor Michael Hoey Chief Adviser

WHEN myWAS ABOUT I

own

write

12,

1

dictionary.

decided to I

found a

and patiently wrote dictionary entries on obscure words, which I loose-leaf binder

My dictionary never

stored in the binder.

became very large and after a while I turned to making a football scrapbook like most other children of my age, but for a few months I put some effort in my attempt to outdo the Oxford English. You might imagine from this that I was showing a precocious interest in dictionarymaking and an early aptitude for lexicography. Perhaps it was indeed an early sign of my interest in language, but

any early

reveal

strategy

certainly did not

adopted for the creation of that

I

dictionary In the

it

aptitude. Indeed almost every

was the wrong one

first place, I

for the job.

started with the

obscure words; early entries

I

most

remember

I

was that it is often meaning of rare words context and that they have in any

did not realize

possible to guess the

from their case

little

what one

impact on the overall is

intelligibility of

reading (and they will almost

always occur in writing).

It is,

oddly,

example tells us that a is an oven that operates in the traditional way as opposed to a microwave oven, which does not use an external heat source. conventional oven

Notice that the information

is

actually

contained in the example, not in the definition.

Examples are drawn or adapted from

real usage

but they are carefully chosen to give extra

information about the way a word

way

is

used. That

more information about the commoner words. the dictionary can pack in

Sometimes a word combines with another word to make a phrase that has a distinct meaning of its own. So conventional, for example, combines with medicine and war to create new and quite specific meanings: conventional medicine is science-based Western medicine as opposed

writing were for widdershins, gyre, andperne.

What

look conventional up in this dictionary, you will find that the first

to

Chinese medicine or

so-

and conventional war makes no use of nuclear weapons or biological weapons (nor interestingly, I suspect, swords and bows and arrows). When a word called alternative medicines,

occurs in such phrases, they are either indicated in the dictionary entry or they have

more

likely

be the common words that cause the greater problems and over which a good dictionary has

entries to themselves.

to

to take special care.

The reason

is

that

common

words are often affected by the situation in which they are used, and they shift in meaning in subtle and unpredictable ways depending on the words they accompany. They are the words that you need to look up when they do not seem to have their normal meaning.

Take a word like conventional, for example. If you knew the word conventional in its social sense of "usual," "normal," or "customary," and you saw or heard the words conventional oven in connection with a recipe, you would have a rough idea of what is meant but you would be

Words

like conventional are a great deal

more

useful to the advanced learner of English than

words

like widdershins, not least

because

if

they are used they will be immediately understood. They are however a great deal more difficult to

learn (and they are a great deal

difficult to define).

of uses that

many

more

Because of the multiplicity common words have, the

Macmillan English Dictionary provides simple indexes, or "menus," to the longer entries, which will help you to get more quickly to the sense of the word you need; indexes like these are an innovation in dictionary making and we believe that they will

make using the

dictionary

a great deal easier.

likely to suspect that the writer or speaker

meant something more precise than "a usual oven." You might therefore want to look the word up in order to find out how it is being used in this context. The dictionary you are looking at (unlike

my childhood effort) has taken great

care over the definition (or definitions) of

words

more

accurately, the

like conventional. If

you

It

will be apparent

from everything that

I

have

said that the Macmillan English Dictionary

is

a

rich resource of information about words such It will help you find the right word for your purpose and should reduce the

as conventional.

number of occasions when you accidentally use wrong expression. But, just because it has a

the

Foreword lot to

say about the

mean

that

it

common

words, this does not

neglects the rarer words.

From time

time you are bound to encounter uncommon words that you need to look up; this dictionary will not normally let you down, although it does to

not provide definitions of words as rare (and as useless) as widdershins, gyre,

vocabulary

and perne. The

great prescience in the

way I decided which

my dictionary.

words went into

my dictionary was where

texts qualified.

yourself and that you are bound to encounter in

example, came from Yeats.

a range of rather different contexts, and rarer words that you are not likely to need to use yourself but that need a brief definition when they are met in books or talk.

child.)

Concentrating on the rare words was not

is

The words gyre and perne, for (I was a dreadful

Again, the Macmillan English Dictionary

very differently constituted. Insofar as

are used in journalism, popular fiction, letters,

to

business manuals, and of course, most

my own dictionary. A more serious one was that I arrived at my definitions by looking

like every other dictionary that

at the definitions of other dictionaries.

at the

create

age of

12, 1

was

of plagiarism collating the

I

—even at the tender

—but

I

until 20 years ago

my practice would not have

If

you use

the British

The

It

may seem

obvious that a conventional oven is one that is not a microwave oven, but only once If

was trying

I

to define

felt

that

it

me

were from

Indeed, apart from being

Isles.

was a matter

I

suspect

of no importance that

The Macmillan

More than any Advanced Learners' dictionary it

seeks to represent the English of the

world and treats American and British English as being of equal importance. Depending

gave above of the use of

has been pointed out.

you should end up speaking

the United States spoke English.

who worked on the Macmillan

conventional in the phrase conventional oven.

well,

English Dictionary makes no such mistake. of

examining hundreds and in some cases thousands of instances of a word in use. From these instances they could work out what a word really meant in contemporary English, rather than what it was supposed to mean. Take

it

a

grateful that westerns were in English,

English Dictionary had the opportunity of

I

is

another way. All the books that supplied

before,

recognition.

it

with the words

exploring those corpora, dictionary-making has

the example

had ever seen

My juvenile dictionary was limited in yet

I

remembered examples, supported by chance encounters with the word in print. With the advent of large corpora and the development powerful computer software capable of all

I

a dictionary of written English.

12,

like a native speaker, not a native writer!

previous practice, intuitions, and half-

changed beyond

My dictionary was

of previous

been out of place in many dictionary teams. Lexicographers would draw on a mixture of

lexicographers

speech.

dictionary of spoken as well as written English.

way there is new wisdom. Perhaps shockingly,

for little

age of

all,

This dictionary on the other hand

lexicographers. Of course that

room

importantly of

aware of the dangers saw my role as one of

intuitively

wisdom

it is

volume aims to reflect accurately the state of the contemporary language. That means that the words in it are described as they possible, this

my

when I attempted

reworded them of course

was

it

found. Only words that appeared in literary

—common words that you may need to use

only childhood mistake

Apart from

other factor that dictated whether a

rarity, the

word entered

therefore divided into two groups

is

12-year-old, I could not have known that computers would one day revolutionize the way dictionaries were made. Even so, I showed no

As a

where

you may be looking at an American edition where words used only in the you are reading

this,

U.K. are defined

more

briefly or, if they are

unlikely to be encountered outside the U.K., not

you may be looking at the where the same principle operates in reverse. Either way, you will find far more coverage of English words spoken in other

at all. Alternatively

British edition

countries than

is

usually the case, with

Australian English, for example, well

represented in the word

list.

the lexicographers

dictionary had relied on might easily have forgotten this use of the word, and of course if they had relied on previous dictionaries they could easily have

There can be no doubting the correctness of this decision. English is no longer any country's property but has become a true lingua franca, and it is appropriate that the first major English

it because many of those dictionaries were prepared before the microwave oven came

dictionary of the 21st century

into popular use.

it

who worked on this intuition, they

missed

world English. will help

If

is

a dictionary of

you work with

this dictionary,

you become a citizen of the world.

—

All the definitions are written using a carefully

.corporate raider noun

[c] business a person or organization that tries to take control of a company by buying

words so that it There is a list of

selected "defining vocabulary" of 2,500 is

easy to understand the definitions.

number

a large

of

its

shares

these words at the end of the dictionary.

Any word that

in a definition that is not

from

this

list,

-

and

not the entry immediately before or after the

is

one you are looking at, is shown in capital letters. You can find its meaning elsewhere in the dictionary.

Finding Out More About a Word The International Phonetic Alphabet shows you how a word is pronounced. A list of the symbols used

is

-

com-merce

/'ka,m3rs/ noun [u] •• the activity of buying and selling goods and services: trade: the needs of industry and commerce

given at the end of the dictionary.

When British and American pronunciations are very different, both are given. You can

find the pronunciations for

entries at the

main entry

in the

compound.

Stress

marks

to stress

tell

laboratory

**

compound

for each of the

and medical experiments or research: our new research laboratory a. [only before noun] working in, used in, or done in a laboratory: a laboratory assistant laboratory

words

you which part of a compound

when you

are saying

BrE b'bor3t(3)ri/ noun [c] room where people do scientific

/'laebra.tori;

a building or large

-*

do

Irregular inflections are shown.

crew

'cabin job

it.

1

is to

noun [c] the people on an airplane whose take care of the passengers

/du/

(3rd

person singular does

I

weak

daz; strong &\zl;

past tense did /did/; past participle done l&\nl) verb

Dots show where a word

is

divided into syllables.-

J

r*

convince

a word with one star

is fairly

blank

show which part the English-speaking world a word is used in, or

tell

(called "labels")

you whether

it is

envbarrass to

1

bus of

used in informal contexts,

specialized contexts, etc. Lists of these labels are

is

used only in British

English has an exact equivalent in American English. These equivalents are shown at the

end of a

is

true:

••

/im'berss/ verb [T] • feel nervous, ashamed, or stupid

make someone

•••

1

/das/ noun [C] a large road vehicle with a

lot of seats which you one that takes you fairly short distances and stops frequently: by bus The children go to school by bus. take /catch a bus We took a bus downtown. miss the bus (=not reach it before it leaves) If we don't leave soon, we'll miss the last bus. 1a. a large road vehi cle that you pay to travel in over long distanc es .~5^.E usually coach picture -» C7 2 computing a set of wires that send information from one part of a computer system to another

pay

to travel on, especially

—

given at the end of the dictionary.

Sometimes a word that

/blaenk/adj

*••

showing no emotion or no sign of understanding

1

1

words

1

[t]

believe that something

common and a

word with three stars is one of the most basic words in English. This helps you to identify the words that you are most likely to need.

Italic

/ksn'vms/ verb

make someone

to

1

Some words are printed in red with a star rating to show their frequency. For example,

***

Am

[c/u] E a vegetable with a smooth, dark purple skin. Br E aubergine —picture -»

egg-plant / 'eg ,plaent/ noun cu

f

definition.

ba-sis

Example sentences in italic show you how a word is used in context.

—

—

how words combine and which structures can be used with a word is shown in bold and is followed by an example sentence. Information about collocation

—

1

/'beisis/ (plural bas»es/'bei,siz/)

a particular

noun

method or system us^ d

[C]

***

for doing or

organizing something: on a., basis workers who are Tickets will employed on a seasonal or temporary basis be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. 1a. used for giving the reason why something is done: on the basis of sth Don't make your decision on the basis of cost alone. on e declined to say on what basis bail was refused. tfie basis that Most councillors supported the proposal on the basis that the city needed new jobs. 1 b. us ed for saying how often something happens: on a daily /monthly/ annual etc. basis Safety equipment was checked on a daily basis. It's a violent city, with murders occurring on a

H

regular basis. 2 the important ideas, facts, or actions from which something can develop: +of Bernard's work forms the +for The agreement basis of all modern physiology. between the parties will provide the basis for future negotiations.

When a word has many collocations, are

shown

in a

box

at the

these

end of the entry

with the sense number that they refer

Words verbs

frequently used with basis constitute, create, establish, form, lay,

to.

provide, serve as

2

Both above and over can be used to mean "at a higher level than something": the light above /over the door.

Use above when something is not directly over something else: on the hillside above the river.

Use over when something moves or stretches across the the space above something: flying over Miami bridge over the river.

Information is provided to help you to learn more about how a word is used.

Use over when something covers something put a scarf over her hair.

else:

She

If you take something that someone offers you or if you allow something to happen, you accept it: We accepted her offer of help. They accepted the court's

decision.

Hints are given to help you to avoid

If you say that you are willing to do something, you agree to do it: She agreed to work over the weekend.

common errors.

We agreed

to help.

You accept something, but you agree

to

do

something.

Cirvder»el*la

/.sinds'reb/ noun [C usually singular] 1 someone or something that has good qualities but is treated badly or ignored: Elementary education has long been the Cinderella of the educational system. 2 (only before noun] relating to someone who suddenly becomes rich, famous, or successful

There are notes that

tell

Cinderella is the main character in a famous children's story. She is a poor girl, badly treated by her stepsisters but, in the end, thanks to the power of magic, she is able to marry the rich attractive Prince

you about the

origin of a word.

Charming.

Expanding Your Vocabulary ad-dress /a'dres; 'aedres/ noun [c] ••• 1 the name of the place where you live or work, including the house or office number and the name of the 1

There are many ways that you can use dictionary to expand your vocabulary.

Some

definitions introduce

you

this

to related

—

words.

Sometimes the opposite of a word

is

shown.

street, area, and tow n. It may also include a set of num bers, called a zip code in American English and a postcode in British English: I'll need your name and

o-be-di-ent /oo'bidiant/ adj * doing what a person, law, or rule says you must do: The soldiery stood at opposite disobedient attention disciplined, and obedient.

—

booking Some

definitions give

you synonyms.

Sometimes you are told to look at another word in the dictionary to compare it with the entry.

/'bokin/ noun

[c]

*•

1 an arrangement to buy a tra vel ticket, stay in a hotel room, etc. at a later date: reservation: Increasingly, travelers are using the Internet for both information and make a booking You can make a booking on bookings. the phone with a credit card.

hard'back

/'hard,baek/ noun [c/u] a book that has a hard cover: a hardback copy of his book { Her first novel sold over 40,000 copies in hardback, —compare paperback, SOFTBACK

"

abandon abandon I

able-bodied

(all)

hope

to stop believing

or hoping that

something

will happen: The family had abandoned all hope offinding him alive. abandon ship 1 to leave a ship or boat because it is dangerous to stay 2 to leave an organization because you think it will fail abandon yourself to sth literary to feel an emotion so strongly that you do not think about anything else

— a-ban-dorvment noun [U] belief, claim,

commitment,

a-bet /o'bet/ verb [T] formal to help or encourage someone to do something immoral or illegal -» aid2 a-bey-ance /s'beians/ noun formal in abeyance not

ab*hor

5

a-barvdon 7

/s'baendan/ noun with abandon in an uncontrolled way, as if you do not care what the result The kids were splashing on paint with abandon. with reckless/gay abandon This year holiday shoppers are spending money with reckless abandon. will be:

empty or no longer used: an abandoned farm 2 left alone by someone who should stay with you and take care of adj

1

left

you: an abandoned child a-base /a'beis/ verb formal abase yourself to behave in a way that makes other people respect you less

— a-base«ment noun [U]

a*bashed

/a'baeft/ ad] embarrassed or ashamed about something you have done /a'beit/ verb [i] formal to gradually become less serious or extreme: The fighting shows no sign of abating. a»bate«ment /a'beitmsnt/ noun [u] formal a reduction in something harmful or unpleasant: noise I pollution

a-bate

to live

/'aebat/ noun [C] a man who is in charge of an abbey ab*bre*vi*at*ed /s'brivi.eitid/ adj shorter because some parts have been removed: an abbreviated version

ab*bot

— ab«bre*vi*ate verb

[T]

ab'bre-vi-a'tion/s.brivi'eijn/ noun [c] • a short form of a word or phrase: MIA is an abbreviation for "Missing in Action.

ABC

/ ei

bi

'si/ 1

American Broadcasting Corporation:

one of the major television broadcasting companies in the U.S. 2 Australian Broadcasting Corporation: one of the major television companies in Australia ABC's /,ei bi 'siz/ noun [plural] the letters of the English alphabet or basic reading skills, especially when learned by young children: She's learned to say her ABC's.

the ABC's of sth the basic or most important facts of a subject or activity: the ABC's of physics

abdicate

/'aebdi.keit/ verb 1 [i/T] if a king or queen abdicates, he or she formally gives up power 2 [T] formal to stop accepting a particular responsibility or

you have: abdicate

(your) responsibility The government cannot abdicate responsibility for nationab'di'ca«tion /.aebdl'keifn/ noun [C/U] al security.

obligation that

ab-do-men 1

2

[C] /'aebdamsn; aeb'douman/ noun formal the front part of your body below your waist technical the back part of the three parts into which

an

used at the present

/ab'hor/ verb

[T]

formal to hate something very it is immoral: She

violence.

ab-hor-rence /ab'rorsns/ noun [u] formal the feeling that you have when something offends you a lot or you think

it is

immoral

abhorrent

/ab'horant/ ad] formal if something is abhorrent to you, you dislike it very much, usually because you think it is immoral: +to Racism is abhorrent to the

majority of people.

a-bide /s'baid/ verb live somewhere"

[i]

an old word meaning "to stay or

can't abide sth to dislike something very much. It is more usual to say that you can't stand something: / can t abide their chatter. abide ,by phrasal vb [T] [abide by sth] to follow a rule, decision, or instruction: They promised to abide by the rules of the contest.

abiding /a'baidirj/ adj

[only before noun]/orma/ used for describing a feeling, interest, or belief that you have had for a long time and that is not likely to change

•••

abatement

ab-at'toir /'aeba.twar/ noun [c] BrE a slaughterhouse ab'bess /'abas/ noun [C] a woman who is in charge of a convent (=a religious community of women) abbey /'aebi/ noun [C] a large church with buildings attached where a group of monks or nuns live or used

of the text

later or not being

much, especially when you think abhors

/a'basndand/

something that

not normal or not what you would usually expect: a aberration a. a short time when someone behaves in a very strange or careless way: He dismissed the defeat as a temporary aberration. is

genetic

time

concept, idea, policy, principle

abandoned

/.aeba'reifn/ noun [c/u]

happening until

Words frequently used with abandon nouns

aberration

insect's

body

is

divided

abdomi-nal /aeb'damml/ adj abdomen: abdominal muscles

in, or happening abdominal pain

in,

the

ab-duct /aeb'dAkt/ verb [t] to take someone away from their home, family, etc. using force: kidnap: He was ab-duction /aeb'dAkJan/ noun abducted at gunpoint.

—

[C/U]

/aeb'dAktar/ noun [C] 1 someone who abducts someone: Her abductors are demanding a $1 million ransom. 2 technical a muscle that pulls a part of your body away from its normal position, for example one that raises your arm

ab-duc-tor

ab*er*rant /ae'bersnt/ adj formal not normal or not what you usually expect: abnormal

a*bil«i«ty/3'bil3ti/noun [c/u] 1 something you are capable of doing: ability to do sth Tiredness can seriously impair your ability to drive. 1a. skill you have at a particular type of work, educational subject, etc.: Managers have different talents and abilities. +in The tests were designed to assess the students' ability in oral comprehension. 2 the quality of being able to do a particular job or activity well: Abraham Lincoln was a politician of great Our courses cater for different levels of ability. ability. to the best of

your ability as well as you are

able: Just

do the job to the best of your ability. -ability /s'bibti/ suffix used with adjectives ending in "-able" to make nouns meaning a particular quality: try to

dependability

suitability

adj formal complete: used for emphasizing how bad, unpleasant, or severe a situation

ab-ject /'aeb,d3ekt/ or condition

is:

abject poverty

— ab*ject*ly adv

ab-jure /aeb'd3ur/ verb [T] very formal to make a public promise to give up something such as a belief or activity

— ab'ju-ra'tion /,aebd3o'reiJn/ noun [u]

a-blaze

/a'bleiz/ adj [never before noun] 1

burning with

a lot of flames: set sth ablaze (=start something burning) Within minutes, the whole building had been set ablaze. 2 literary bright and full of light or color 3 literary showing strong emotion, especially excitement or anger

a«ble / 'eibl/ thing: She child

adj

is

•** intelligent or good at doing some-

a very able driver.

an academically able

be able to do sth 1 used for saying that it is possible someone to do something. Forms such as have been able to and will be able to are sometimes considered as tenses of the verb can. 2 to have a particular physical or mental skill: I'd love to be able to sing like you. She's barely able to read or write. 3 to succeed in doing something on a particular occasion: As far as I have been able to find out, he has no criminal convictions. Barely able to stand, John staggered into the room. 4 to have enough money, time, or freedom to do something: / don't know if They're able to buy whatever they want. for

I'll

be able to come.

-able /abl/

suffix

1

used with

many

verbs to

make

adjectives describing something that can be done: enjoybreakable (=that is easy able (=that people can enjoy) to break) 2 used with some nouns to make adjectives describing a quality something or someone has: knowledgeable comfortable

able-bod- ied healthy

/,eibl

'badid/ adj physically strong and

ablutions

about

ab'lu-tions /a'blujnz/ noun

humorous washing

[plural]

your teeth, etc. /'eibli/ adv very well or very skillfully: He ably maneuvered around the obstacles. ab»ne«ga*tion /.aebni'geijn/ noun [u] very formal the yourself, cleaning

a«bly

up things that you want or that give

practice of giving

a-bound

/o'baond/ verb [i] 1 to be present in large numbers or amounts: Rumors abound about the breakup of her marriage. 2 [+with/in] to be filled with or contain a great deal of something: The markets abound with imported goods.

about

you pleasure

abnormal

*

/aeb'norml/ adj

way

not usual or typical,

as a preposition (followed by a noun): He told about your problem.

worrying or shows that there may be something wrong or harmful: abnormal beabnormal test results havior atvnoi-ma-li-ty /.aebnor'maebti/ noun [C/U]: The tests show no evidence of any abnormality. ab-noi-mal-ly adv: Both children that

is

have abnormally high levels of lead in their blood. A»bo /'aeboo/ noun [C] Australian offensive an insulting word for an Australian Aboriginal

aboard

/a'bord/ adv, preposition * 1 in or on a ship, train, or airplane: It's time to get aboard. He traveled aboard the space shuttle Discovery. 2 into an organization, group, company, etc.: I'd like to welcome three new employees aboard.

aboard used for telling passengers that they need to on a ship, train, or bus, because it will be leaving

soon

a-bode /a'bood/

noun

[c]

formal the place where you

me

as an adverb (without a following noun): Stop rushing about.

—

get

•••

can be used in the following ways:

especially in a

all

/a'baot/ function word

followed by an infinitive with "to": / was just about to explain. 1

concerning a particular subject 1a. used for stating or what you are discussing, considering, describThink about what I've told you. She

who

ing, forgetting, etc.:

kept saying horrible things about my mother. jokes about the president all about They'd forgotten all about poor Harry. 1b. used for stating who or what your feelings and attitudes are directed toward: I'm worried about There's nothing to get excited about. 1c. spoken Dad. used for introducing a subject that you want to discuss: About that money I owe you - I can pay you back next week. It's about Jack - he's been so depressed lately.

2 not exactly a particular amount or number

to officially get rid of a /a'baliJV verb [T] law, system, practice, etc.: Congress should abolish the

2a. used for showing that you are guessing at an amount or number: About 250 people were killed in the explosion. Ann must be about the same age as you. 2b. used for referring to a time that is not exact: / woke up at about 3 a.m.

estate tax.

3 almost or probably used when you

live: RESIDENCE

of no fixed abode Br E legal without a permanent

abolition

home

•

abolish

noun

/.aeba'lijn/

law, system, practice, penalty

etc.:

[u] the official

end

to a

the abolition of the death

ab*o*li-tion-ist /.aeba'lijnist/ noun [c] someone who supports the abolition of something a. someone who supported the abolition of slavery in the 19th century A-bomb noun [c] an atom bomb

a«bom*i'na«ble/a'bamin3bl/adj/orma/ extremely bad, offensive, or unpleasant

a-bonvi-na-bly adv

Abominable Snowman, the

a yeti

a*bom»i«nate

/s'bami.neit/ verb [t] formal to hate something because you think it is extremely offensive, unpleasant, or wrong: hate

a*bom*i*na*tion

/a.bami'neijri/ noun [c] formal some-

thing that you hate because you think offensive, unpleasant, or wrong

it is

extremely

ab*o*rig*i*nal /,aeb9'nd33nl/ adj formal relating to the people or animals that have lived in a place or country since the earliest times: the aboriginal inhabitants of the island

Ab'O-rig-i-nal /.aeba'r^snl/ noun

[c] an Australian belongs to the race of people who were living in Australia before Europeans arrived Ab«oTig«i«nal adj

who

—

Ab*o*rig*i>ne /.aebsrK^sni/ noun

[c]

an Australian

Aboriginal person

a*bort /s'bort/ verb 1 [i/t] to remove a developing baby from a woman's body, so that it is not born alive: The decision was taken to abort the fetus. Certain drugs may cause the fetus to abort. 2 [T] to stop something before it is finished, for example because it would be difficult or dangerous to continue: The mission had to be aborted because of a technical problem. 2a. [i/T] if you abort a computer program, or if doing something before

it it

aborts, the computer stops is finished: Press Enter to

abort the print job.

a-bor-tion /s'borjn/ noun ** [c] a medical operation in which a developing baby is removed from a woman's body so that it is not born alive: The number of abortions have an abortion She is dropping. 15 years old. a. [U] the practice of performing abortions, as a social or political issue: society's attitude to abortion

performed each year

had an abortion when she was

a-bor-tion-ist /s'borjnist/ noun [c] someone who performs abortions. This word suggests that the abortions are illegal, or that you do not approve of abortion. a-bor-tive /a'bortiv/ ad] not finished and therefore not successful: an abortive takeover bid by the larger company an abortive attempt to climb Mt. Everest

are making an extreme statement that you think is almost completely true or is probably true: Pam's about the only person that I can trust. On this continent, Redmond is about as far west as you can go. He's offended just about everybody. 4 in sb's/sth's character used when referring to qualities that someone or something has: One thing I like about Tony, he always says exactly what he thinks. There was something about her tone of voice that made him uneasy. 5 used for showing movement mainly Br E 5a. moving to many different parts or areas, or in different directions: The girls were dancing about the

room in high spirits. Abe was tired of wandering about on his own. 5b. literary moving so that you face in the opposite direction: Diana turned about and marched out of the room. 6 used for saying where sb/sth is mainly Br E 6a. used for saying that things are in many different parts or areas, especially because they have been left there carelessly Don 't leave important papers lying about on your desk. There were articles of clothing scattered about the room. 6b. in or close to an area: You shouldn 't have been spraying weedkiller while there were children about. 6c. literary surrounding or enclosing someone or something: Rhonda wore a garland of flowers about her neck. The prophet had gathered about him a band of :

faithful followers.

7 BrE how sb is spending their time 7a. spending time in a place and not leaving it or not doing much: Dad was puttering about in the garden. 7b. wasting time and behaving in a stupid way: Stop messing about. We've got a job to do. 8 existing or available now BrE mainly spoken used for saying that a particular type of person or thing exists or is available at this time: There's a lot of illness about.

9 searching, looking, or trying to find sb/sth 9a. Br E used for saying that someone looks in different places to find someone or something: George was groping about in the dark, trying to find the light switch. 9b. mainly literary used for saying that someone looks in all directions to see who or what is there: Looking about me, I could see no sign of the others. be about sth used for saying what the most basic or important aspect of a particular job, activity, or relationship is: Loving and sharing - that's what marall about Good management is all about riage is about. motivating your staff. be about to do sth to be going to happen or do something very soon: / was about to get undressed when there was a We arrived just as the ceremony was knock on the door about

to begin.

about-face

absence

be quick/slow about it to be quick/slow in the way you do something: Bring me a towel and be quick about

more important than you

really are: Ever since they made her assistant manager, she's been getting above herself.

Our lawyers are dealing with the matter, but they're being very slow about it. do something/nothing/anything about sth to do something/nothing/anything in order to deal with a problem: Can't you do something about the noise? It's driving me crazy. Government officials know the system isn't working, but they do nothing about it. -» HOW, WHAT it.

About or around? In meanings 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, around is often used instead of about. Where a meaning of about is labeled Br E or mainly Br E, around

is

the usual

American word.

Both above and over can be used to mean "at a higher above/ over the door.

level than something": the light

Use above when something is not directly over something else: on the hillside above the river.

Use over when something moves or stretches across the space above something: flying over Miami the bridge over the river.

Use over when something covers something put a scarf over her hair.

else:

She

above-board

/o'b.w.bord/ adj completely honest and The transaction was totally aboveboard, so there was no reason to question it. above-mentioned /a'bw menjand/ adj [only before noun] used in written language to mean that something has already been mentioned earlier in the same document: aforementioned: The above-mentioned article contains some inaccuracies. ab*ra*ca*dab*ra /.aebraks'daebra/ interjection a word that you use while performing a magic trick in order to make the trick work a'brade/a'breid/verb [T) technical to damage something by rubbing its surface too hard ab-ra-sion /a'bre^n/ noun 1 [c] medical an injured area of skin on your body, caused by your skin rubbing hard against something 2 [u] technical the action of rubbing a surface hard enough to damage it ab-ra-sive 1 /a'breisiv/ adj 1 behaving in way that seems rude to other people, because you say what you think even if it is not nice: an abrasive manner 2 having a rough surface that can be used to rub and clean other legal:

a bout- face noun [c] 1 a complete change in the way you behave or think about something: This admission of guilt is an amazing about-face from the senator, who last week denied any involvement in this matter. do an about-face He's done an about-face regarding our contract. 2 the action of turning your whole body quickly so that you are facing in the opposite direction. This is often an instruction given to soldiers. a bout- turn noun [c] Br E an about-face a-bove /s'dav/ function word ***

Above can

be used in the following ways:

as a preposition (followed by a noun): The birds were flying high above the trees. as an adverb (without a following noun): She stared up at the stars above.

as an adjective: Please reply to the above address.

used for saying where sb/sth is 1a. at a higher something or directly over it: We lived in the room above the store. Curran's leg was broken above the 1

level than

right knee. the snow-covered hills above the village 1b. in an earlier part of a piece of writing or higher up a page: Many of the documents mentioned above are now available on the Internet. David and Brenda Mitchell, pictured above, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary last weekend. Interviews will be held at the above address on

December 2. 2 higher in amount or standard 2a. more than a particular number, amount, or level: The company's profits were 23% above the previous year's. Temperatures climbed to 98 degrees Fahrenheit - 10 degrees above normal. 2b. better than a particular standard: In most subjects the students scored well above average. 3 more than anything else 3a. used for saying that something is considered more valuable or more important than other things: In their society, honesty was prized above all other virtues. We value our independence above anything that you can offer us. 3b. above all used for referring to something that is more important than any of the other things you could mention: He will be remembered above all as a loving husband and family

above all else Above all else, the government must keep the promises it has made. 3c. love/hate/fear sth above anything to love/hate/fear something more than anything else: Don't let them take the children away - I fear that above anything. 4 with a higher rank used for saying that someone's rank is higher or their job is more important than someone else's: As a major, Stuart was a rank above me, but we remained good friends.

man.

5 louder or higher than another sound if you can hear one sound above other sounds, it is louder or higher than the other sounds: Bret shouted, but it was impossible to make himself heard above all the noise. 6 too good or proud to do sth 6a. if you are above a particular type of behavior, you are such a morally good person that you would not behave in that way: Jack was cheating? I thought he was above that sort of thing. 6b. not be above doing sth to not be too proud to do something: Mrs. Harrington was not above helping with the housework when necessary. above and beyond apart from something, or outside the normal range of something: The agency is asking for $2 million above and beyond the $16 million it has already been given. Rescue teams had worked above and beyond the call of duty during the hurricane. get above yourself Br E to start to think that

surfaces

— ab«ra*sive*ly adv, ab«ra>sive*ness noun [u]

ab*ra«sive 2 is

/a'breisiv/ noun [C] a rough substance that used to rub and clean surfaces

a-breast /s'brest/ adv next to each other, facing or moving in the same direction: We set off cycling two abreast. + of He drew abreast of me and immediately started talking.

keep/stay abreast of sth to make sure that you know all the most recent and important information about something: How can anyone keep abreast of all this new technology?

a-bridged /3'bnd3d/ adj an abridged book, play, etc. has been made shorter than the original but contains the same basic story: An abridged version of the novel appeared in a magazine. ment noun [C/U]

verb

[T],

abridg-

***

abroad

/a'brod/ adv 1 in or to a foreign country: We try to go abroad at least once a year. special arrangements for voters living abroad 2 formal generally known or felt by many people: There's a rumor abroad that he will be forced to resign.

ab-ro-gate

/ sebra.geit/ verb [T] very formal to officially law or political arrangement, often without the agreement of the other people, groups, etc. involved ab-ro'ga-tion /.sebrs'geijn/ noun [u] abrupt /a'brApt/ adj 1 sudden and unexpected, often in an unpleasant way: Our friendship came to an abrupt end. 2 behaving or speaking in a way that seems rude to other people because you do not take the time to be friendly: The sales clerks were abrupt and impatient with a*brupt*ly adv, a*brupt*ness noun [u] the customers. abs /aebz/ noun [plural] the muscles in your abdomen ABS /,ei bi 'es/ noun [u] axtilock braking system ab'Scess /'xb.ses/ noun [c] a painful swollen area on your skin or inside your body that is infected and filled with pus (=unpleasant yellow liquid) abscond /sb'skand/ verb [i] formal 1 to suddenly leave a place and take something with you that does not belong to you: +with One of the bank's employees had absconded with the cash. 2 to escape from a place where you are being kept as a punishment: He was put into jail but absconded within a few days. ab-seil /'aeb.seil/ verb [i] BrE to rappel down a steep

get rid of a

—

—

surface

ab-sence you are

— a-bridge

1

[C]

**

/'aebsans/ noun a period of time when

someone

is

not where they

"

absent should be or where they usually are: His frequent and prolonged absences were making his wife suspicious. in sb's absence (=while someone is not there) Mark will be in charge in Steve's absence. 1a. a period of time when someone is not at work or at school when they should be: We are concerned about your child's frequent absences. 2 [u] the fact of something not existing or being present: +of She told the story with a complete absence of in the absence of sth In the absence of any any humor. contrary agreement, the firm accepts full liability. /'aebsant/adj • 1 not in the place where you should be or are expected to be: How many of them are absent without permission? +from He's been absent from school for three days. 1a. formal missing from a place or situation: +from Parental affection is absent from these children's lives. 2 showing that you are not paying attention to what is happening because you are thinking about something else: He listened with an absent air and kept glancing at 1

ab-sent

the door. 2

ab*sent Aeb'sent/

verb formal absent yourself if you absent yourself from a place, you leave it or do not go there, although you are expected to be there

ab-sent 3

absorption

5

/'a^bsont/

preposition

AmE

very

formal

without; used for emphasizing that something will not happen unless a particular thing is present: We will not dispute that judgment absent clear evidence that it is unreasonable.

ab'Servtee 1

/.aebssn'ti/adj [only before noun] not present for a particular job or responsibility: an absentee parent/

with what someone has just said "She really is a beautiful woman." "Oh, absolutely. " 2a. absolutely not used for showing that you disagree strongly with what someone has just said, or as a very strong way A "no": "Do you think I should forgive him?" "Under the 1

circumstances, absolutely not.

absolute majority noun [c] a result in an election when one person or political party wins more than half the votes or seats

absolute zero noun temperature that

for a religious fault

absolutist

/.absolutist/ adj 1 believing that one rule or principle is more important than any other and must never be broken: Some people take an absolutist position on freedom of speech. 2 relating to political abso-

lutism

ab-solve

/ob'zalv/ verb [T] 1 formal to state officially that someone is free of any blame or responsibility in a particular matter: absolve sb from /of sth The report absolves the pilot from any blame for the crash. 2 to forgive someone, especially for a religious or moral fault

absorb /ab'sorb; 1

/.aebsan'ti/ noun [c] someone who is expected to be in a place or at an event but who does not go

AmE

ab-sen-tee-ism

/.aebssn'ti.izam/ noun [u] the habit of

not being at school or work without a good reason

when you should be,

usually

.absentee 'vote noun [c] AmE a vote that you send through the mail when you cannot be present on the day of an election

ab-sen-tia /aeb'senja/ noun in absentia very formal if something happens in absentia, the person involved is not present when it happens: Degrees may be awarded in absentia. / 'aebssntli/ adv in a way that shows you are thinking about something else or are not listening: She gazed absently into the street. absent-minded adj likely to forget things or to think about something different from what you should be thinking about: forgetful: I'm getting more absentminded as I get older. .absent-mindedly adv, .absent-

ab-sent-ly

—

mindedness noun [u] ab-sinthe /'aebsinG/ noun

[C/u] a very strong green alcoholic drink with a bitter taste

ab-so-lute

1

/'aebsa.lut; .asbso'lut/adj

*•

very great or complete: used for emphasizing an opinion, feeling, or statement: The way they've been treated is an absolute disgrace. / have abso1

[only before noun]

lute confidence in her. You're talking absolute nonsense. 1a. used for emphasizing that something is the most or least possible in a particular situation: $4,000 is the absolute maximum we can spend. 2 used for talking about a political system in which complete power is held by one person, and is not shared with a legislature or other political group: an absolute

monarchy

3

[usually before noun]

to

anything

measured in itself, not in relation Health spending has increased in absolute terms, but not as a proportion of national income. 3a. true or right in all situations: Do you believe in else:

absolute moral values?

ab-so-lute 2 is

/

'cebso.lut/

true or right in

absolutely

all

noun

[c]

a rule or principle that

situations

•••

adv 1 /'aebsaluth/ completely: used for emphasis: Are you absolutely certain you saw him?* The food was absolutely fantastic. They have absolutely no idea how this happened. 2 /.cebss'lutli/ spoken used for showing that you agree

-273°C or -460F, the lowest

ab-so-lut-ism /'aebsa.lutizam/ noun [u] a system of government in which one leader has complete power and authority over a country and its citizens

owner /landlord

[c] a system that lets people vote before an election because they will be away from home at the time of the election

[u]

possible in theory

ab«so«IU'tion / a'bso'lujn/ noun [u] the act of forgiving someone for the things they have done wrong, especially

ab-sen-tee 2

.absentee 'ballot noun

is

take

in

ab'zorb/ verb

gas/heat

etc.

2 make sth part of sth else 3 learn new information

[T]

••

4 reduce harmful 5 hold attention 6 use a lot of sth

effects

1 to take in a gas. liquid, or other substance: The timber expands as it absorbs moisture from the atmosphere. absorb sth into sth Caffeine is rapidly absorbed into the

bloodstream. 1a. [often passive] to take in heat, light, or of energy, instead of reflecting it: The planes are equipped with a device that absorbs enemy radar

some other form

signals.

2 [often passive] to make a small group, organization, become part of a larger one: Most of the refugees were absorbed by the growing service sector. absorb sth into sth Rebel militias were simply absorbed into the national army. 2a. to allow ideas, methods, etc. to become part of your own way of thinking or culture: Over the centuries, they gradually absorbed Islamic ideas about design etc.

and

architecture. to learn and

understand new facts, so that they become part of your knowledge: assimilate: We had to absorb a lot of new information very quickly. 4 to reduce the harmful effects of a physical force: Jump with your knees bent, so they absorb less impact. 4a. to deal with the harmful effects of a change, so that problems are avoided: Oil companies say they will absorb these price rises, and not pass them on to customers. 5 if something absorbs you. it is so interesting or entertaining that it takes all your attentions game that had absorbed the children all afternoon 6 to use or need a lot of something, especially money: My work absorbs too much of my time and energy. ab-sorbed /ob'sorbd, ob'zorbd/ adj so interested or involved in something that you do not notice anything else: She seemed completely absorbed, tin Richard is totally absorbed in his book. -» self-absorbed ab-sorb-ent /ob's.-irbont, ob/orbont/ adj an absorbent material can receive or hold a lot of something, especially liquid: Work using absorbent cotton or paper. ab-sorb-en-cy noun [C/U] ab-sorb-ing /oh snrbin, ab'zorbii)/ adj something absorbing is so entertaining that you give it all your attention: an absorbing book /movie /game ab-sorp-tion /ab'sorpjan, abzorpjan/ noun [u] 1 the process by which something takes in a substance, form of energy, or liquid: + of Exercise can promote absorption of nutrients by the body. 2 the process by which a group, organization, or culture becomes part of a larger one:

3

+ into Scotland's absorption into the tinted Kingdom in 1707 +of Absorption of more immigrants has created tensions. 3 complete interest iii something: Her absorption in her work is total. *a look of absorption

some

"

academic

abstain deliberately avoid

a-bun-dant / o'bAndant / a6\ formal existing or available

doing something that is enjoyable but may not be healthy, safe, or morally right: + from .A high percentage of women said they had abstained from alcohol during pregnancy. 1a. formal to not do something that is likely to cause serious problems: + from They agreed to abstain from any actions that might endanger the peace process. 2 to deliberately not vote in an election or at a meeting ab-stain-er noun [C]

in large quantities: The country has an abundant supply offossil fuels. Rainfall is abundant in the region. a-bun-dant-ly /s'bAndantli/ adv formal in large quantities: The problems are abundantly documented.

ab-stain /ab'stem/ verb

[I]

1

to

abste-mi-ous

/ab'stimias/ adj often humorous deliberately avoiding too much food or alcohol

ab'Steivtion/ab'stenfsn/noun 1 [c/u] a decision not to vote in an election or meeting: We have three yes votes, one no, and one abstention. 2 [u] abstinence

ab-sti-nence /'asbstmans/ noun

[u]

the practice of

avoiding something such as alcohol or sex: When cussing nence.

dis-

HIV infection

—

with young people, he stresses abstiab-sti-nent/'aebstinant/adj

ab-stract

••

1

/'aeb.straekt; sb'straskt/adj abstract ideas exist as thoughts in the mind, and are not related to physical objects or real events and actions: abstract idea /concept /principle /notion Mathematics is concerned with understanding abstract concepts. They are not interested in abstract notions like "equality" or "freedom. 2 abstract art expresses the artist's ideas or feelings instead of showing the exact appearance of people or things: modern abstract paintings? sculpture

1

ab-stract 2

noun [C] 1 a summary of a report, speech, or academic paper: You must submit an abstract before presenting your paper. + of It 's the abstract of a report on air pollution. 2 an abstract painting or design /'aeb.straekt/

in the abstract thinking about something only as a general idea without referring to real situations or practical experience ab-stract 3 /aeb'straekt/ verb [J] formal 1 to obtain facts from a calculation or piece of research: information abstracted from newspaper reports 1a. to remove something from somewhere 2 to write a short summary of a speech, report, or other piece of writing ab-stract-ed /aeb'straektad/ adj formal thinking about something so much that you do not seem to notice the ab-stract-ed-ly adv world around you abstraction /aeb'straskjsn/ noun 1 [c/u] an idea or way of thinking that is not related to real situations or practical experiences: a philosophical abstraction 2 [u] formal an emotional or mental state that takes your attention from what is happening around you: preoccupation .abstract 'noun noun [c] a word that names a quality, idea, or feeling instead of a person, animal, place, or thing abstruse /aeb'strus/ adj formal abstruse ideas or arguments are hard to understand, and more complicated than necessary: obscure ab-surd /ab's3rd; ab'z3rd/adj * 1 completely stupid, unreasonable, or impossible to believe: ridiculous: She makes the most absurd claims it is absurd to do sth It's about her past achievements. completely absurd to suggest that we shouldn 't test students. 1a. talking or behaving in a silly or extreme way: Don't be absurd - you 're just worrying about nothing. to absurd lengths (=making an extreme amount of effort) Jack goes to absurd lengths to prove his point. 2 deliberately emphasizing what is silly or stupid about people and society: She has a wonderfully absurd ab-surd-i-ty noun [C/U]: He's beginning sense of humor.

—

—

abundantly clear very obvious: He has made

it

abun-

dantly clear that he expects results.

a-buse 1

•••

1

/a'bjus/ noun [C/u] cruel, violent, or unfair treatment, especially

someone who does not have the power to prevent it: The regime had been responsible for serious human rights + of Physical abuse and neglect of children is too abuses. common. 1a. forced sexual activity with someone who cannot prevent it: Several female students have made of

allegations of abuse against him. 2 [C/u] the use of something in a bad, dishonest, or harmful way: price-fixing agreements and other abuses by large corporations abuse of power /privilege /position This is clearly an abuse of executive power. open to abuse (=capable of being abused) All polling methods are potentially open to abuse. 2a. [u] the use of alcohol or illegal drugs in a way that is harmful to your health: alcohol/ drug / substance abuse 3 [U] angry offensive comments: shout/scream/hurl abuse Blake was alleged to have hurled racist abuse at a student.

a-buse 2

**

/s'bjuz/ verb [T] 1 to treat someone in a cruel or violent way: Prisoners reported being regularly abused by their guards, la. to have sex with someone who is unable to refuse: .A high percentage of abusive parents were themselves abused as children.

2

to use something in a bad, dishonest, or harmful way: They were accused of abusing their power to keep

Those with access to private information must not abuse that trust. 2a. to use alcohol or illegal drugs in a way that is harmful to your health 3 to speak to someone in an angry, offensive way: He was fined $10,000 for verbally abusing the umpire. a-bus-er noun [C] a-bu-sive /a'bjusiv/adj 1 using offensive or insulting language: abusive remarks When we asked him to leave he became abusive. 2 treating someone in a cruel or violent way: an abusive parent /husband /wife 2a. used for describing situations in which people are cruelly prices artificially high.

—

treated:

women

in abusive relationships

— a-bu-sive-ly

adv

a-but

/a'bAt/ verb [l/T] formal to be next to or touching an area or building: abut on /onto sth houses abutting onto the park

abuzz

/a'bAz/

adj filled

with excitement, activity, or was absolutely abuzz with

noise: +with The whole school

rumors.

a-bys-mal

/a'bizml/ adj extremely bad or low in quality: appalling: Some of the teaching was abysmal. an abysmal failure a-bys-mal-ly adv: The local police failed

—

abysmally.

a-byss

1 mainly journalism a very frightening or dangerous situation, or one in which there seems to be no hope: The company was on the brink of a financial abyss. 2 literary a large deep hole that appears to have no bottom: chasm

/a'bis/ noun [C]

AC abbrev alternating current a/c abbrev

air conditioning

a-ca-cia /a'keija/ noun [C] a tree with small white or yellow flowers that grows in warm countries

academe /'aeka.dim/ noun

[u] very

formal the people

to realize the

and work of colleges and universities ac-a-de-mi-a / .aeka'dimia/ noun [u] formal the people, activities, and institutions that are connected with education, especially in colleges and universities

ab'z3rdli / adv in a way that seems stupid, unreasonable, or impossible to believe: absurdly She was absurdly young to be in such a high prices demanding job. a. used for saying that some quality or feeling is much greater than you expected: Ifelt absurdly tired after our meeting.

ac-a-dem-ic /.aeka'demik/adj

absurdity of the situation. ab-surd, the /3b's3rd; ab'z3rd/ noun a situation or way of thinking that seems crazy or impossible to believe: Some of these criticisms border on the absurd.

ab-surd-ly /ab'ssrdli,

a-bun-dance

/a'bAndans/ noun [u] formal a very large quantity of something: +of The lake attracts an abundance of wildlife. in abundance The evidence is there in opposite scarcity abundance.

—

1

***

relating to education, especially education in colleges and universities: The book brings (=subjects). disciplines academic several together la. based on learning from books and study instead of on practical skills and experience: The college offers both academic and professional qualifications. a school with a reputation for academic and sporting excellence 2 good at learning things by studying: She's certainly bright, but she's not very academic. 1

[usually before noun]

"

academic

acceptance

3

not relating to a real situation, and therefore not relevant: Given the lack of funding, any discussion of future plans was somewhat academic. aca-denvi-cal-ly /.aeka'demikli/ adv: The children were doing well aca-

accept /ok 'sept/ verb •••

—

1

ac«a*denvic 2 /.aeka'demik/ noun

[C]

someone who

teaches or does research at a college or university: The meeting was chaired by a leading Japanese academic.

ac-a-de-mi-cian /a.kaeda'mifn/ noun

[c] formal a member of an academy that encourages interest and development in a particular subject academic year noun [c] the time during the year when schools, colleges, and universities are teaching

classes: school year

/a'kaedsmi/ noun [c] * a school or college that teaches a particular subject or skill: a military /police academy 1a. in the U.S., a private school that prepares students for college 2 an organization created to encourage interest and development in a particular subject, for example art, science, or literature: the National Academy of Sciences A'ward noun [C] the official name for an oscar (=a prize given to people in the movie industry)

a-cad-e-my 1

Academy

a cap'pel-la

/.aeka'peb/

adj,

adv sung by voices only,

without musical instruments

ac*cede

/sk'sid/ verb [i] formal 1 [+to] to do what someone wants or agree with what they say: They were forced to accede to all of the hijackers' demands. 2 to formally take a position of authority, especially as a king, queen, or president

ac-cel-er-ate /ak'seta.reit/ verb • 1 [i/T] to happen or make something happen at a faster rate: The increased capital could greatly accelerate economic development. The decline of her health seemed suddenly accelerate. 2 [I] if a vehicle accelerates, it moves faster: Suddenly the truck accelerated and shot forward. to

ac«cel»er*a»tion /ak.seb'reijn/ noun 1 [singular] an increase in the rate at which something happens, changes, or grows: Economic growth slowed down sharply +in a sharp accelafter three months of acceleration. eration in the rate of inflation 2 [u] the power of a

take sth offered

2 agree to a suggestion 3 believe sth is true/right 4 recognize a bad situation

demically.

1

[T]

here

to take

5 let sb join/be part of sth 6 consider good enough 7 take a form of payment

something that someone gives you: / am award on Ms. Winslet 's behalf. Saunders

to accept the

has been convicted for accepting bribes. 1a. [i/T] to say yes to an invitation or offer: They offered her a job, and she accepted without hesitation. 2 [T] to agree to do what someone asks or suggests: Our clients will never accept this proposal. Most of the report's recommendations have been accepted by Congress. 3 [T] to recognize that something is true, fair, or right: Sam accepted her explanation without question. This argument is unlikely to be accepted by the court. + that Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions, generally/widely accepted (=believed by most people) His views on genetics are not now widely accepted. 3a. to recognize that you are responsible for something: accept blame/ responsibility / liability We cannot accept liability for items stolen from your car. The media must accept their share of the blame. 4 [T] to recognize that a bad situation exists and cannot be avoided or changed: / know it's not fair, but you'll just have to accept it. They found it hard to accept defeat. + that For a long time, he simply could not accept that she

was dead.

5

to allow someone to join an organization: Under law, gay people will be accepted in the armed accept sb as sth Mexico was accepted as a member the in 1994. 5a. to allow someone to become of [T]

the

new

forces.

OECD

part of a

community or

welcome: The accept sb

family,

and make them

local people never really accepted

into sth

feel us.

She was desperate for the children

vehicle to increase its speed: a sports car with impressive acceleration 2a. science the increase in speed of a

If you take something that someone offers you or if you allow something to happen, you accept it: We They accepted the court's accepted her offer of help.

moving

decision.

object

accel-er-ator

/sk'sebxeitar/ noun [C] 1 the pedal you press with your foot to make a vehicle go faster —picture -» cs 2 science a machine used in scientific research that makes particles (=units of matter that are smaller than atoms) move faster that

accelerator board

accelerator card or

noun

[C] computing a circuit board in a computer that makes the computer run faster by adding a faster central processing unit

ac-cent

**

1

/'aek.sent/ noun of saying words that shows what country, region, or social class someone comes from: a Brooklyn accent a strong accent Tom hasn't lost his strong Irish accent. put on an accent The kids all put on a phony 1

[C]

a

way

Spanish accent. 2 [singular] the correct emphasis on a particular part of a word or phrase when you say it: The accent is on the first syllable.

3

[C]

a

nounce

mark above a

letter that

shows how you

pro-

an acute accent on the first "e. a special emphasis given to something: a hotel with the accent very much on comfort and luxury

4

it:

There's

[singular] [+on]

Words frequently used with accent adjectives

heavy, pronounced, strong, thick,

1

unmistakable

ac-cent 2 /sk'sent/ verb

[T]

to

emphasize a word, sound,

or feature

ac*cent*ed /ak'sentad/

adj spoken with an accent: heavily accented (=with a strong accent) Signor Bonini welcomed them in his heavily accented English.

accentuate

/aek'sentju.eit/ verb [T] to emphasize it more noticeable: The bright lights

something or make

tend to accentuate wrinkles.

to

accept her into the family. 6 [T] to consider that something is suitable or good enough for a particular purpose: A publisher in New York has accepted her novel for publication. 7 [T] to take a particular form of payment: The payphones there accept either coins or phonecards. We accept personal checks with proper identification.

you say that you are willing to do something, you agree to do it: She agreed to work over the weekend. If

We agreed to help. You accept something, but you agree

to

do

something.

ac«cept«a'ble/ak'sept3bl/adj •* 1 considered by most people as reasonable or as being something that can be allowed: socially/politically/ morally acceptable Pollution on this level is no longer socially acceptable. +to The proposals must be acceptable acceptable for sb to do sth By the to the stockholders. 1960s, it was becoming more acceptable for women to work in management. 2 good enough for a particular purpose or situation: Their success rate is an acceptable 65%. 2a. good enough but not very good: The service was attentive, the accept-a-biH-ty food acceptable but uninspiring. /sk.septa'bitati/ noun [U], acceptably adv: acceptably

—

low

levels

of risk

ac-cep'tance/ak'septans/ noun [u] •• 1 general agreement that something

is

true,

rea-

sonable, or cannot be changed: +of There is widespread a society tfint valued tinacceptance of these principles. unquestioning acceptance of tradition gain/win acceptance Anti-racist policies were gradually gaining acceptance at that time, —opposite rejection 2 agreement to a plan, offer, or suggestion: Acceptance the Republican of the offer is the first step to a merger. candidate's acceptance speech (=a speech given formally accepting a public position) 3 an attitude of accepting a difficult or unpleasant situation because you know that it cannot be changed or avoided: Her mood was one of resigned acceptance. a religion that teaches acceptance of suffering 4 the fact of allowing someone to become part of a

accepted

adj [only before noun] • considered by most people to be reasonable, right, or normal: The accepted wisdom is that public services are best run by governments. Corruption was an accepted part of the political culture.

aC'Cept-ed /ok'septad/

access

1

/'aek.ses/

noun

[u]

•••

the right or opportunity to have or use something that will bring you benefits: +to Access to up-to-date financial information is important to our success. Only 40% of 5-year-olds have access to preschool education. gain access Some groups still have difficulty gaining access to social services. 1a. the right to look at private information: + to Access to employees' records is restricted. 1b. permission to see and talk to an important person: + to She's one of a handful of aides with direct access to the president. 1c. the legal right to visit children after a divorce 2 the means by which you get to a place: Access is by means of a door at the back of the stage. +to An elevator provides access to the upper floors. There is easy access to the downtown area by subway. 1

ac«cess 2

/'aek.ses/ verb [t] 1 to get information, especially from a computer: The database allows you to access the sales figures in a number of ways. 2 formal to get to and enter a place: The road is closed but can be accessed

by emergency vehicles.

access .course

noun

[c]

BrE

course of study in

a.

which you learn enough about a subject

to allow you to enter a college or university to study the subject

further

ac-cessi-ble

/ak'sessbl/ adj 1 easy for anyone to obtain and use: Their goal was to make adult education more accessible. + to information that should be accessible to the public 2 an accessible place is easy to find or get to: + by The city is easily accessible by road, train, or air. + to Near the beach is a forest accessible to walkers. 3 an accessible person is friendly and easy to talk to, even if they are in an important position 4 accessible art, music, literature, etc. is easy to understand and enjoy acces'si'bilM'ty /sk.sesa'blbti/ noun [U]: the quality and accessibility of materials ac*ces*si*bly adv

— — Opposite INACCESSIBLE

—

ac-ceS'Sion /ak'sejn/ noun formal 1 [C/u] the occasion on which someone formally takes a position of authority, especially as a king, queen, or president 2 [U] the occasion when a country formally joins a group of countries or accepts an agreement: China's accession to the World Trade Organization 3 [C] something that is added to a collection, especially a work of art: Recent accessions are in the north wing.

ac-ces-so-rise /ak'sesaraiz/a BrE

spelling of acces-

sorize

acces-sor-ize

/ak'sess.raiz/ verb [i/t] to add accessories to something, especially to the clothes you are

wearing

ac-ces-so-ry

•*

/ak'sessri/ noun [c] 1 a small thing such as a piece of jewelry or a pair of shoes that you wear with clothes to give them more style

2

[usually plural] additional objects, equipment, decorations, etc. that make something more useful or attractive: The book offers advice on choosing fabrics, furniture, and accessories. car /kitchen /computer acces-

sories

3 legal someone who helps a criminal, for example by hiding them from the police. An accessory before the fact helps before the crime. An accessory after the fact helps after the crime: + to He was sentenced for being an accessory to the murder. access time noun [u] computing the time it takes for a computer program to find a piece of information and make

it

available

ac-ci-dent

/'aeksidant/ noun

•••

a crash involving a car, train, airplane, or other vehicle: a fatal accident on the expressway between Plainview and Westbury He was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident. The accident was caused by ice on the road. 1a. a sudden event, usually caused by someone making a mistake, that results in damage, injury, or death: Seven 1

[C]

accommodating

8

group or community and making them feel welcome: She was anxious for acceptance by the other children at her new school.

men were

mining accident yesterday. a riding /climbing /hunting accident 1b. a mistake that causes minor damage or harm: Don't make such a fuss it was an accident. 2 [C/U] something that happens unexpectedly, without being planned: To be honest, my second pregnancy was an accident. 2a. it is no accident used for saying that something was planned, perhaps for dishonest reasons: It is no accident that every letter we send is delayed. killed in a serious

an accident of birth a situation caused by who your family is instead of by anything you do an accident waiting to happen 1 a situation likely to cause an accident: An aging nuclear reactor is an accident waiting to happen. 2 someone who behaves in a way that is likely to cause trouble by accident by chance, without being planned or intended: Quite by accident, she came up with a brilliantly simple solution. Occasionally we would meet by accident in the hall.

Words

frequently used with accident

adjectives

bad,

fatal,

minor, serious, tragic

1

•

acci-dervtal

/,aeksi'dentl/ adj happening without being planned or intended: accidental damage/ injury It was suggested that the fire was not accidental.

.accidental 'death noun

[c/u] legal a death that was not caused on purpose: used for reporting the decision of a coroner (=an official who examines the cause of someone's death)

ac-ci-dental-ly /.aeksi'dentli/ adv • by chance, as the result of an accident: Police believe the fire was started accidentally. A woman was accidentally killed during the shootout, a. by mistake instead of deliberate intention: The program prevents files from being accidentally erased. accident-prone adj someone who is accident-prone is likely to

ac-claim

hurt themselves or break something

1

/s'kleim/ noun [u] public praise for someone or something: Garcia 's first novel was greeted with widespread critical acclaim. win/receive/attract acclaim In a recent poll, Seattle won acclaim as the United States' most

progressive

city.

ac-claim 2

/a'kleim/ verb [T usually passive] to publicly praise someone for a major achievement: Her latest play has been widely acclaimed by critics. acclaim sb sth The patient was saved and the young doctor acclaimed a hero.

ac-claimed

/s'kleimd/ ad] publicly written and talked about in an admiring way: her internationally acclaimed production o/West Side Story an acclaimed book/movie/ pianist

ac-cla-ma-tion / .aekb'meiTn/ noun [c/u]/orma/ enthusiastic

approval by

acclimate

many

people

/a'klaimat; 'aekhrneit/ verb

[i/t]

AmE

to

gradually become more comfortable in a new place, especially where physical conditions are very different: become/get acclimated to sth First the team must become accli'ina'tion acclimated to this higher altitude.

—

/.aekh'meijn/ noun [u]

acclimatize

/s'klaima.taiz/ verb

[i/t]

to acclimate

ac-cO'lade someone for ade

a.

an

/'geksjeid/ noun [c] an honor given to their work: the TV industry's ultimate accolexpression of praise and admiration

ac-com-mo-date

/a'kama.deit/ verb

[T]

*

to provide a place or room for someone to stay in: Designed by an Italian architect, the hotel can accommodate 600 guests, la. to provide enough space for something 1

or someone: The new facility will easily accommodate 50 workstations. 1b. to supply enough seats or room for people or things: Our ships accommodate up to 150. 2 formal to consider and include something when you are deciding what to do: take account of: Your investment strategy has to be flexible enough to accommodate changes in the market.

accommodate

to

sth/accommodate yourself

to sth to

change your attitudes and behavior in order to deal with a new situation ac-com-mo-dat-ing /s'kama.deitinV adj helpful and easy to work with: obliging: I found the staff accommodating and knowledgeable. We expected a more accommodating attitude during discussions.

accommodation

account

accommo-dation /a.kama'deijn/ noun ** 1

formal a change in behavior or attitude work together or end a disagreement:

[singular/u]

that helps people

Accommodation seemed impossible. 2 [U] mainly Br E accommodations

accom-mo-dations AmE+ir 1

a place to

/a.kama'deijnz/ noun

[plural]

wishes: in accordance with the terms of the contract

ac-cord-ing-ly

live, especially

a temporary place such as

ac-com-pa-ni'inent /a'kAmpsnimant/ noun

1

[c/u]

the part of a piece of music that supports the tune or someone singing: a simple violin accompaniment 2 [C] formal something that happens while or because something else is happening: an inevitable accompaniment of the transition to a market economy 3 [C] something that you provide as a good addition, especially to a particular meal: +to Serve the sauce as an accompaniment to roast meat.

accompaniment of sth 1 while a musical instrument plays a tune: The girls sang to the accompaniment 2 while something else is happening or can a piano. of be heard: Franco left the chamber to the accompaniment to the

of loud applause.

ac-com-pa-nist /s'kAmpanist/ noun plays the supporting music while or plays the main tune

accompany /a'kAmpani/ verb

[c] someone who someone else sings

[t]

**

1 formal to go with someone to a place or event: Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. 2 [often passive] to happen or exist while something else is happening: A skin rash may be accompanied by fever. the poor social conditions that accompanied rapid indus-

trialization

to

does not accord with the police evidence.

aC'Cor-dance /o'kordns/ noun formal * in accordance with in a way that follows a rule, system, or someone's

a hotel room. Br E accommodation: accommodations for guests/ students/ workers 2 special arrangements for someone's particular need: They've made accommodations in the test for slow readers.

3

ac cord with phrasal vb [T] (accord with sth] to agree with or be the same as something else: Hemming's account

appear or be provided with something

else, as

/o'kordirjli/ adv 1 as a result of something: consequently: No formal complaint was made; accordingly, the police took no action. 2 in a way that is appropriate to the situation: They have broken the rules and will be punished accordingly.

ac-cord-ing to/a'kordirj

plays the

[c]

someone who helps

illegal or wrong: She's acting as an accomplice to murder.

another person do something serving

life for

verb [t] ** to succeed in doing something, especially something that you have been trying to do for a period of time: His job was to achieve the release of the hostages, a task he successfully

ac-com-plish /a'kAmpliJV

accomplished. week. -» mission

We

didn't accomplish

much

at

work

this

accom-plished

/a'kAmplijt/ adj good at doing something that needs a lot of skill, for example in art, music, or sports: one of Scotland's most accomplished pianists a. very skillfully done: an accomplished performance

ac-com-plish-ment

/a'kAmpliJrnant/ noun 1 [C/u] something difficult that you succeed in doing, especially after working hard over a period of time: Arranging the peace talks was a remarkable accomplishment. Nursing gave her a sense of accomplishment. 2 [C]formal a special ability to do something very well ac-cord /a'kord/ noun [c] * a formal agreement between countries or groups: peace/economic/trade/ nuclear accord A peace accord was signed by both leaders. + between the latest in a series of accords between the 1

rival factions

do sth of your

own

accord to do something without being asked, forced, or helped by someone else: Do you think David resigned of his own accord? in accord with in agreement with, or not opposed to, a fact, rule, or principle: bad working conditions that are not in accord with international standards with one accord/orma/ doing the same thing at exactly

the

same time

ac-cord 2

/a'kord/ verb [T] formal to treat someone or something in a particular way, especially by giving them power, respect, or status: accord sth to sb Some hunter-gatherer tribes accord high status to women. accord sb/sth sth Their achievement has not always been accorded the recognition it deserves.

go according

to plan

//

2 used for saying where information or ideas have come from: According to newspaper reports, fighting has broken out in the northern provinces. According to Freud, our dreams represent our hidden desires. 3 used for saying that something changes or is different

depending on the situation: Each child will be helped The amount of tax people to his or her needs. pay varies according to where they live. ac*cor*di*on /a'kordian/ noun [c] a musical instrument played by moving the ends of a box in and out while pressing keys and buttons. Someone who plays the accordion is called an accordionist. ac-cost /a'kost/ verb [T] formal to stop someone and speak to them, especially in a way that could annoy them or make them feel embarrassed: Wherever he goes he is accosted by young people asking for his autograph. account /s'kaunt/ noun ••• according

1

an

main tune

to the rules. *

Thursday.

1

arrangement with bank

2 report/description 3 arrangement with store 4 regular customer

music while someone sings or

acconvplice /s'kAmplis/ noun

game according

the

everything goes according to plan, they should finish by

letter.

to play the supporting

*••

(=happen in the way that was intended or planned)

addition or explanation: An illustrated catalog accompanies the exhibit. There was no accompanying note or

4

,tu/ preposition

1 if you do something according to a plan, system, or set of rules, you do it in a way that agrees with or obeys that plan, system, or set of rules: We should try to play

5 fore-mail 6 record of money + PHRASES

1 [C] an arrangement in which a bank takes care of your money. You can deposit (=pay in) or withdraw (=take out) money when you need to: There was only $50 in his bank account. open an account How do I open an account with your bank? -> checking account, savings

ACCOUNT 2 [C] a written or spoken report about something that give has happened: +of a brief account of the meeting an account of sth He was too shocked to give a clear account eyewitness description of the account (=a of events. details of an event given by someone who saw them) an eyewitness account of a brutal beating 2a. a detailed description of how or why something happens: The study aims to give an account of modern attitudes toward democracy.

3

[C] an arrangement you have with a store or other business that allows you to pay for goods or services later: / have an account with Macy's. 3a. a record showing how much you owe a store or other business for goods or services you have received: settle an account (=pay the money that you owe) /'// settle my account in the morning. 4 [C] a company that regularly buys goods or services from another company: We now have over 30 major

accounts.

5 [C] an arrangement you have with a company or Internet provider to use a service they provide: Do you have an e-mail account? 6 [C usually plural] a detailed record that a business keeps of the money it receives and spends in a particular period of time: The accounts showed a loss of $496 million. 6a. accounts [U] the part of an organization that keeps records of the money it receives and spends bring/call/hold sb to account/orma/ to make someone explain publicly why they made a mistake or committed a crime, especially so they can be criticized or punished for

it

all accounts according to what people say: She by all accounts, a decent young woman. of no account/of little account not very important: The color of someone's skin should be of no account.

by/from is.

^

account

accustom

10

on account

you buy something on account, you take it now and pay for it later 2 if you pay an amount of money on account, you pay part of what you owe now and you pay the rest later: payments on account for 1

if

the tax year ending in April 1999 sb's account if you do something

on

accred-it-ed

/o'kreditad/ adj 1 an accredited organization, worker, or course of study has official approval: Only accredited coaches get to work with young players. 2 [+to] someone who is accredited to a particular country has been officially sent to work there by their

on someone's

government

account, you do it because you think they want you to: Please don 't go on my account. on account of because of someone or something: She can't work too many hours on account of the children. on no account/not on any account used to say in a strong and definite way that something must not happen or be done: On no account should the soldiers be blamed for what happened. A doctor should never, on any account, break his confidence. on your own account by yourself or for yourself instead of with or for someone else: He earned thousands last year trading stock on his own account. on this/that account used when giving the reason for something: She was divorced, and on that account alone

accretion

my mother disliked

her.

settle an account/settle accounts to end a disagreement or argument with someone by defeating

them: They threatened to settle accounts with those who opposed them. take account of sth/take sth into account to consider something when you are trying to make a decision: Punitive damage awards take into account the pain and suffering caused to the victim. If you take inflation into account, we actually spend less now. account 2 /a'kaont/ verb account for phrasal vb [T] 1 [account for sth] to be the reason why something exists or happens: A number of factors account for the differences between the two scores. 2 [account for sth] to give an explanation for something bad that has happened, especially something you are responsible for: You will be brought before the disciplinary panel to account for your actions. 3 [account for sb/sth] to form, use, or produce a particular amount or part of something: Repeat purchases account for 73% of our sales. 4 [usually passive] [account for sb] if someone is accounted for, you know where they are and so do not worry that they are not where they should be: One small child was

***

still

not accounted for.

no accounting for taste mainly spoken used for saying that you think what someone likes is strange account-a-ble /a'kaontabl/ adj * in a position where people have the right to criticize you or ask you why something happened: + for As director, she knew she would be held accountable for any budget deficit. +to The city there's

—

accountable to the people who elected it. account*a*biM*ty /a.kaonta'bibti/ noun [u], ac«counta«bly adv council

is

account*an*cy

/a'kauntsnsi/ noun [u] the profession of an accountant

work or

/a'kauntant/ noun [c] ** someone to prepare financial records for a company

accountant whose job

is

or person

accounting

•

/a'kauntirj/ noun [u] accountants or the methods they use: a system the big accounting firms

the work of new accounting

ac counts payable noun [plural] a record of how much money a company owes other people or companies for goods and services

accounts re'ceivable

noun

much money customers owe

a

[plural]

a record of

company

for goods

how and

services

accou-ter-ments

accou-tre-ments

or

/a'kutarmants/ noun

[plural] formal small things or pieces of equipment that are used for or related to a particular thing, job, or activity

accredit /a'kredit/ verb

to state officially that a person or organization is good enough to provide a particular type of service: The university accredits a number of educational programs in the area. 2 to believe that someone has a particular quality: accredit sth to sb He clearly lacked the wisdom usually accredited to older people. [T]

1

accred-i-ta-tion /a.kredi'teijn/ noun [u] official approval of an organization, worker, or course of study: The school received accreditation from the national board in 1952.

/a'krifn/ noun [C/U] 1 formal a gradual increase in the size or amount of something through the addition of new parts 2 technical a layer of a substance that gradually forms on a rock or area of land, making it bigger

accru-al

/a'krual/ noun [u] formal the process of accru-

ing, or the

amount by which something accrues 1 [i/t] if money accrues or

accrue /a'kru/ verb formal

is accrued, it gradually increases in amount: The interest has continued to accrue. 2 [I] [+to] if benefits and advantages accrue to you, you receive them

accumulate

/a'kjumja.leit/ verb * [T] to get more and more of something over a period of time: Over the years, I had accumulated hundreds of books, a. [i] to

increase in quantity over a period of time: Medical evidence for the benefits of the procedure has been accumulating.

accumulation

/a.kjumja'leijn/ noun [c/u]

the

1

process by which something increases in amount or is collected together over time: slow accumulation of cholesterol in the arteries 2 the amount of something that collects or is collected over time: large accumulations of snow

accumulative

/a'kjumjsjeitiv/ adj gradually increasing: cumulative ac*cu*miHa*tive«ly adv

—

accuracy /'askjarssi/ noun

*•

[u]

the ability to do something in an accurate way: the need to combine speed and accuracy 2 the quality of being accurate: The accuracy of the reports cannot be verified (= checked). 1

a ecu -rate /'aekjarst/ 1

adj

*•*

correct or true in every detail:

more accurate information.

Would

We it

need

to get

some

be more accurate to

say that the plan failed? 2 able to do something in an exact way, without making a mistake: an accurate clock He's very accurate in his calculations. + to a stop watch accurate to 0.01 of a second (=never wrong by more than 0.01 of a second) 3 an accurate throw or shot goes where it is intended to go ac*cu*rate*ly adv

—

accursed

/a'karsad; a'k3rst/ adj

describing someone

who has

1

literary

used for

a curse on them

2

[only

used for describing someone or something that is annoying you very much accu'Sa-tion /.aekja'zeijn/ noun [c] * a claim that someone has done something illegal or wrong: + of There +that The have been further accusations of corruption. police officer denied the accusation that she had behaved dishonestly. make/bring an accusation against sb Several before noun] old-fashioned

level an accusations were made against the government. accusation at sb Accusations offraud have been leveled at

the city council.

accusa-tive /s'kjuzstiv/ noun

[singular] linguistics

form of a noun or pronoun that shows that direct object of a verb

— accu-sa-tive adj

it

is

the the

accu-sa-to-ry /a'kjuza.tori/ ad] formal intended to show someone that you think they have done something wrong: an accusatory look/ remark

accuse /s'kjuz/ verb [T] ***

to say that someone has done something wrong or committed a crime: accuse sb of doing sth I do not want to accuse him of telling lies. accuse sb of sth She claims that her boss accused her of accus-er noun [C]: Davis says he is eager to face theft.

—

his accusers in court.

accused, the

/a'kjuzd/ (plural the accused) noun accused of a crime in a court of law accusing /a'kjuzin/ adj intended to show someone that you think they have done something wrong: Max pointed an accusing finger at me from the doorway. ac*cus*ing*ly adv accuS'tom /s'kAStsm/ verb formal accustom yourself to sth to gradually start to feel that something is normal

someone who

—

or natural

is

accustomed thinking that something is normal or natural because you have experienced it regularly over a period of time: the little luxuries to which she was accustomed accustomed to doing sth He had become accustomed to living without electricity, and missed it very little. 2 [only before noun] formal usual: his accustomed seat

AC/DC

/,ei si

'di

1

an offensive way of bisexual (=sexually attracted

si/ adj offensive

describing someone

who

is

to men and women) 1 /eis/ noun [C] 1 in card games, a card with only one symbol and either the highest or lowest value in a

ace

—

picture -» ci6 2 in tennis, a very your opponent cannot reach with their racket 3 AmE in golf, an occasion in which a player hits the ball into the hole with one shot 4 informal someone who is very good at doing something: an ace at solving puzzles suit: the ace of hearts

fast serve (=first hit of the ball) that

an ace in the hole Am E informal a secret or hidden advantage that you can use when you need it hold/have

all the aces to have a big advantage over other people within an ace of doing sth almost doing something, or nearly succeeding in doing it

ace 2 /eis/ verb

Am

[T] E 1 informal to get the best grade possible on a test, a piece of written work, etc.: I'm sure I aced that geography test. 2 to hit an ace in tennis or

golf

ace 3

/eis/ adj 1

[only before noun]

informal very skillful:

an ace pilot/ player / skier 2 spoken very good: Their new song

is

ace!

a-cer-bic /a's3rbik/ adj showing criticism in a way that is clever and funny, but also cruel: acerbic wit

— a-cer-bi-cal-ly /a's3rbikli/ adv, noun

a-cer-bi-ty /a's3rb3ti/

[U]

ac-e-tate

noun 1 [u] a chemical substance that is used to make various things, for example plastic or fibers for cloth 2 [C] old-fashioned a transparency that you write on and place on an overhead projector a-ce-tic ac-id /a.sitik 'aesid/ noun [u] the acid in /'aesa.teit/

VINEGAR

ace-tone

/'aesa.toon/ noun [u] a liquid used in some types of paint and varnish to prevent them from becoming too thick

a-cet-y-lene /a'setl.in/ noun [u] a gas that is burned with oxygen to produce a flame that can cut metal

ach-cha

/'aetja/ interjection Indian English used for saying that you understand or agree with something

/eik/ noun [c] * a pain that is continuous and unpleasant, but usually not very strong: a dull ache (=slight, but still unpleasant) There was a dull ache in his stomach. aches and pains (=minor pains that continue over a period of time) I'm tired of hearing about all her aches and pains. 2 mainly literary a strong feeling that you want something that you cannot have 3 a long-lasting feeling of sadness

ache

1

1

ache 2 /eik/ verb

[I]

if

began

to ache.

2

literary to want very much to do or have something, when it is impossible mainly literary if your heart aches, you feel very sad, or very sorry for someone a-chieve /s'tjiv/ verb [T] to succeed in doing or having what you planned or intended, usually after a lot of effort: The Republic of Tunisia achieved independence from France in 1957. the first signs that a breakthrough had been achieved We have achieved what we set out to do. a. [T] to become popular, famous, or successful, especially after a long time or after a lot of

especially

3

•*•

His paintings did not achieve the popularity of his actors who achieve fame and fortune in Hollywood be successful by being determined or working hard: Many athletes are driven by a desire to achieve. effort:

books. b.

[I]

to

— a-chieva-ble adj

Metaphor An achievement achieving

is like

is like a building, and the process of the process of building.

The They built up the business over 20 years. organization was built on traditional principles. This web site is still under construction. They laid the foundations for future success with a carefully balanced range of products. * This was the blueprint She was the architect of the company 's for success. expansion overseas. It is a towering achievement. These developments threatened the whole edifice of government. All her life's work was in ruins. Strong foreign markets are the building blocks of a successful economy. Everything seemed to come crashing down around them. -» IDEA, METHOD, SUCCESS

•••

a-chieve-ment

/o'tjivmont/ noun [c] a paryou have achieved: his many achievements a remarkable achievement a. [u] the fact of achieving something: +of They are having a party to celebrate the achievement of their first year's goals. sense of achievement It was hard work, but the sense of achievement is huge. b. [u] the fact of achieving or succeeding at things in general, by being determined or working ticular thing that

hard /a'tjivar/ noun [c] someone who is successful because they are determined and work hard high / low achiever (=someone who is extremely successful /not very successful in life) Bob's not what you would call one of life's high achievers. -> underachiever

a-chiev-er

A-chil-les' heel

/a'kiliz ,hil/ noun [singular] a weak feature of someone or something that could cause failure or be attacked

Achil-les ten-don

/a.kiliz 'tendan/ noun [C] the body part that joins the muscles in the back of your lower leg to the muscles in your heel

a-choo

/a'tju/ interjection used for representing the sound that you make when you sneeze ach-y /'eiki/ adj mainly spoken if a part of your body feels achy, you feel a pain there that is continuous but not very strong acid /'aesid/ noun •• 1 [C/U] a chemical substance with a ph value (=a measure used in chemistry) of less than 7: hydrochloric compare alkali acid 2 [u] informal the illegal drug lsd 2 ac-id /'aesid/ adj 1 very sour: acidic: Add more sugar if it tastes too acid. 2 containing acid or consisting of an acid: acidic: These plants prefer an acid soil. 3 an acid remark or acid humor shows criticism in a way that is 1

—

clever but cruel: acerbic

'acid .house noun [u] a style of house music that developed in the U.S. in the mid-1980s and became very popular in the U.K. in the late 1980s where it was played at rave parties a-cid-ic /s'sidik/ adj 1 containing acid: acidic soil 2 very sour: a very unpleasant acidic taste a-cid-i-fy /a'sidi.fai/ verb [i/T] to become an acid, or a«cicH'fi«ca'tion cause a substance to become an acid

—

*

part of your body aches, you feel a continuous pain there that is unpleasant, but not very strong: All his Philip's head limbs ached and he shivered in the cold. 1

acid test

11

accus-tomed /a'kAstsmd/ ad)

/a.sidifi'keijn/noun [u] [u] 1 the quality of being acid 1a. the amount of acid in a substance, for example Australian Chardonnay is elewater, or dirt: This food, gantly fruity with good acidity. 1b. a medical condition in which the liquid in the stomach becomes too acid and makes you feel uncomfortable: gast ric acidity 2 an unfriendly and cruel quality in written or spoken words: She flinched at the cutting acidity in his voice.

a-cid-i-ty /a'sidati/noun

acid jazz noun

[u] a type of music that mixes various such as funk, disco, and latin, and combines electronic production with acoustic instruments and sometimes singing acid rain noun [u] rain containing a high level of acid that can damage the environment. It is caused by

styles

pollution in the air.

acid test noun

[C usually singular] a fact, event, or situation that proves something, for example whether a plan will work: The state of the economy is usually the acid test of any government's success.

°,

acknowledge 1

to accept or

verb

[T]

admit that something

***

with a person or subject:

exists, is true, or

he has

He never acknowledges his mistakes (=admits made them). +that She won't acknowledge

there's

a problem. 1a.

is real:

ognize

acknowledged

2

know

[usually passive] to

someone or something

that

acknowledge

is

that that or rec-

important:

sth as being /to be sth Wimbledon is widely as one of the premier tennis tournaments.

someone know

that you have received something they sent you: Unfortunately, we cannot acknowledge all the letters we receive. acknowledge receipt of sth We will acknowledge receipt of your order if requested. 2a. to thank someone for something they have done for you or given to you, especially in writing or by saying it publicly: We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of everyone who helped us. 3 to show that you have seen someone or that you recognize them, for example by smiling or speaking to them: They barely acknowledge each other in public. acknowledge sb's presence James acknowledged his lawyer's presence with a small nod. 3a. to show that you are grateful to people who are clapping or cheering for you by waving your hand, nodding your head, etc.: She stood back and acknowledged the applause of the crowd. to let

ac-knowl-edg-ment

or ac-knowl-edge-ment /sk'nalidsmsnt/ noun 1 [singular/u] something that you say or do in order to show that you accept that something exists or is true: + that There is now almost universal acknowledgment that the program has failed, la. in acknowledgment if you move your hand or head in acknowledgment of someone, you do it in order to show that you have seen them, or have paid attention to what they are saying: He nodded his head in acknowledgment. 2 [C/U] a statement of thanks for something that someone has done 2a. acknowledgments [plural] a statement of thanks at the beginning of a book, made by the writer to people who have helped 3 [C/U] a letter telling you that someone has received the thing

you sent them

ACLU, the

/,ei si el 'ju/

the American Civil Liberties

Union: an organization that protects and defends people in situations where their civil rights (^freedom, fair treatment, etc.) are not being respected

ac-me

/'aekmi/ noun the

acme of

sth the highest pos-

sible standard of something: a movie proclaimed to be the acme of the romantic drama

ac-ne

/'aekni/ noun [u] a medical condition in which is covered in pimples. It mainly affects teen-

your face agers.

/'aeks.lait/ noun [C] 1 someone who helps an important person and supports their ideas, often without ever criticizing them 2 someone who helps a priest during a religious ceremony ac-o-nite /'aeka.nait/ noun [c/u] a plant with blue or yellow flowers. There are several different types of

ac-O'lyte

many

which are poisonous. a*corn /'ei.korn/ noun [c] the nut of an oak tree, shaped like a small egg with a cover like a cup at one end acorn squash noun [c] Am E a small round squash (=a hard smooth vegetable), usually orange or yellow, in the shape of an acorn a-cous-tic /a'kustik/ adj 1 relating to sound and the aconite,

of

way people hear things 2 used for describing a musical instrument that does not use electronic equipment to its sound louder: an acoustic guitar 2a. used for describing music that is not made louder with elec-

make

tronic equipment

— a«cous«ti«cal'ly/3'kustikli/adv

acouS'tics

/a'kustiks/ noun 1 [plural] the way that heard in a room, as a result of the room's

sound is shape and

2

[u]

size:

The acoustics

in the hall

were

terrible.

/a'kwemt/ verb

[J]

formal to give someone

information about something: acquaint sb with sth We

aim to acquaint policy makers with some of these issues. acquaint yourself with sth to make an effort to learn about something: She had failed to acquaint herself with the facts. -» acquainted

acquaintance

acquaintance the only writer of my acquaintance a passing acquaintance (=a little knowledge or experience) I'm afraid I have only a passing acquaintance with Baroque music. 2a. make sb's of sb's

acquaintance to meet someone for the first time: I'd been looking forward to making her acquaintance for a long time.

acquaintance rape

noun [c/u] date rape adj formal if two people are acquainted, they know each other, usually not very well: + with She had been briefly acquainted with him more

ac-quaint-ed

a

/

'kwemtsd /

earlier. get/ become acquainted (=start to talking or doing something together) give you two a chance to get acquainted, a. if you are

than 20 years

know someone by I'll

acquainted with something, you

know about

/a'kwemtans/ noun 1 [C] someone you know a little, who is not a close friend: He recognized Mr. Hunter as an old business acquaintance from his years in banking. 2 [u] formal knowledge of or experience

it:

Are we

acquainted with the facts of the case? ac*qui»esce / .aekwi'es/ verb [i] formal to agree to something or to accept something, although you do not want to: + in /to Despite acquiescing in the board's decision, he had never really changed his own view. all fully

acquies-cent

/,aekwi'esnt/ adj formal accepting or agreeing to something, although you do not want to [u], ac>qui*es*cent*ly adv ac-quire /s'kwair/ verb [T]/orma/ to get something, for example by buying it or being given it: We acquired the company for 100 million dollars. newly acquired his newly acquired acquire sth from sb The business was acquired from Orion four years ago. a. to get a new skill or new knowledge by learning it: How can such a large quantity of knowledge be acquired? the way children acquire language b. to get a particular reputation, position, or name: He soon acquired a reputation as a perfectionist, c. to get a disease, illness, or infection: Any drug user who shares a needle is at risk of acquiring AIDS. d. to gradually develop or learn something: acquire a taste for sth (=start to like it) I've never really acquired a taste for wine. acquired taste (=something you do not like at first, but gradually start to enjoy) Decaffeinated acquire the habit (of doing sth) coffee is an acquired taste. (=start to do something regularly, without thinking about why) We want people to acquire the habit of using

— ac-qui'es'cence noun

**

BMW*

public transportation instead of their cars.

acquisition

/.aekwi'zifn/ noun

••

the process of buying something or obtaining it in some other way: + of the acquisition of property 2 [C] a company that is bought by another company: The industry's wave of mergers and acquisitions continues. 3 [C] formal something that someone buys, or obtains by other means: He was showing off his latest acquisition, 1

[u]

a new computer game. 4 [U] the process of learning skills or getting knowledge: theories of language acquisition

ac*quis*i'tive /a'kwizativ/ adj formal trying to get things, especially because you want them, rather than because you need them— acquis-i-tive-ness noun [U]

ac-quit /a'kwit/ verb [T] [usually passive] to state officially that someone is not guilty of the crime they were accused of: acquit sb of sth He was eventually acquitted of the charges.

acquit yourself well/honorably/admirably etc. to behave or perform in a way that other people admire

ac*quit*tal /a'kwitl/ noun [C/u] an official judgment in a court of law that someone is not guilty of the crime they were accused of: The trial ended in his acquittal. a-cre /'eiksr/ noun [c] * a unit for measuring the surface area of land, equal to 4,840 square yards or 4,047 square meters: + of The hotel sits in 400 acres of woodland. acres of sth informal a very large amount of something: Acres of newsprint have been devoted

the study of sound

acquaint

acrimonious

12

ac-knowl-edge /ak'nalu^/

a»cre«age /'eik9nd3/ noun

[c/u]

to the issue.

an area of land meas-

ured in acres ac*rid /'aeknd/ adj 1 an acrid smell or taste is very strong, bitter, and unpleasant in your nose and throat: stinging, acrid fumes of burning rubber 2 an acrid remark expresses criticism in a cruel way ac»ri*mo»ni*ous /.aekn'mounias/ adj an acrimonious situation is unpleasant because people feel angry ac«ritoward each other: an acrimonious divorce

—

mo-ni'ous-ly adv

acrimony angry and unpleasThe campaign has been marked [u]

ant words and feelings: by acrimony on both sides.

acro-bat

/'skr3 baet/ noun

someone who can

[c]

r

balance, jump, and turn their body in skillful ways, especially as a form of entertainment

acro-bat-ic

/.aekra'baetik/ adj involving balancing, jumping, or turning your body with great skill: The

goalkeeper

made an

acrobatic save.

— ac*ro*bat«i*cal*ly

/.aekra'baetikli/adv

acro'bat'ics /.aekra'baetiks/ noun [plural] 1 the skills or movements of an acrobat 2 the skills that you use when you do something difficult or complicated very well, or when you deal with a lot of things at the same time: the acrobatics of balancing a budget acrobatics in this novel are astounding.

ac-ro-nym

/'aekrs.nim/ noun [C]

The

linguistic

an abbreviation con-

NATO

sisting of letters that form a word. For example, is an acronym for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

a-cross

/a'kros/ function word

Across can be used

***

in the following ways:

as a preposition (followed by a noun): / walked across the road. as an adverb (without a following noun): hurried across to meet us.

Our

host

1 from one side to the other la. moving or looking from one side of a place, space, or line to the other: Over 70 airlines fly across the Atlantic between Europe and North America. Barbara stared across the room at her husband. The children ran straight across in front of our car. 1b. reaching from one side of a space or surface to the other: Max's body lay across the doorway where he had

There are four bridges across the Cedar River. stood in silence with his arms folded across his chest. used for showing the width of something: one mile/ two meters etc. across The channel is less than half a mile across in some places. 2 on the opposite side on the opposite side of a road, river, line, etc.: There's a bus stop just across the road. They had opened a new factory across the border in Mexico. +from I'm staying at a little hotel just across from the

fallen.

He

1c.

Libyan Embassy. 3 in a large part of an area or surface 3a. in many parts of an area or country: an insurance company that has over 120 offices across America 3b. used for saying that something hits or affects a large area of a part of your body: Julia felt a burning pain across her forehead. He struck me across the shoulders. 3c. used for saying that something spreads until it covers all of an area or surface: There is a danger of the conflict spreading across all of Central Africa. A broad smile spread across the old man's face. 4 including a large range of people or things used for saying that something includes or affects a whole range of people or things: We need to test students' ability across a wide range of subjects. The figures show that across the economy as a whole there has been steady growth. across-the-board adj 1 involving everyone or everything in a place or situation: They face tough acrossthe-board budget cuts. 2 Am E if you make an acrossthe-board bet, you win money if the horse you choose comes first, second, or third in a race a .cross the

—

board

adv:

The same

criteria will be applied across the

board.

a-cros-tic /a'krostik/ noun [C] a number of lines of writing, for example a poem or a word puzzle, in which particular letters from each line form a word or phrase acrylic /a'knlik/ noun 1 [u] a substance made by a chemical process, used for making many different things, for example fibers for cloth and paint 1a. [only before noun] made of acrylic: an acrylic cardigan 2 [C/U] a paint that is made from acrylic, used by artists: This is an oil painting, although I usually work in acrylics. act 1 /aekt/ noun *•• 1

single thing sb

2 law 3 part

act

13

ac-H-mo-ny / 'aekri ,mooni/ noun

does

of play, etc.

4 performance 5 behavior hiding + PHRASES

truth

a single thing that someone does: act of violence/ vandalism/terrorism/kindness/ bravery /desperation etc. No act of kindness is ever wasted. We strongly condemn any act of violence against innocent people. unlawful/ criminal /wrongful /illegal etc. act groups committing criminal acts 1a. be in the act of doing sth to be doing something at a particular moment, especially when something else happens or when someone interrupts you: She stopped in the act of turning and stared at me. 1b. catch sb in the act (of doing sth) to find someone and interrupt them when they are doing something wrong: He denies all guilt, even though he was caught in 1

[C]

the act.

2

[C] a law passed by a country's government: an act of Congress [C] one of the parts that a play, opera, or bai.i.ki is divided into. Each act is divided into two or more scenes: She has a small walk-on part at the beginning of the first act. Act 1, Scene 2 4 [C] a short performance by a comedian, magician, or other performer: He eats fire as part of his act. 4a. a singer, band, or other person or group who performs on stage. Two people who perform together, especially two comedians, are called a double act: They remain one of rock music's most exciting live acts. 5 [singular] a way of behaving that does not show what someone is really like or what they really feel: She isn't really upset; it's all an act. put on an act She's just putting on an act because the boys are here.

3

balancing /juggling act a situation in which someone has to do several different things at the same time be a hard/tough act to follow to do something so well that others who do it after you do not feel very confident about being successful: Ken's a hard act to follow, but I'll do my best. get your act together informal to organize your life or work in a better way, especially by having clear goals and a plan for achieving them: If you want to be finished by Monday, you '11 have to get your act together. get in on the act to take part in an activity that someone else is doing, in order to gain some of the advantages for yourself: First it was politicians, now a novelist has decided to get in on the act.

act 2

/aekt/ verb

•••

do sth

1

2 do a particular job 3 behave in a certain way

4 perform in plays/movies 5 have a particular effect + PHRASES

do something for a particular reason or in a particular way: act in good faith (=believe that you are acting honestly) We acted in good faith - we did not know act out of necessity/ desperation/ the goods were stolen. love/compassion/curiosity etc. She claims that she acted out of necessity (^because she had to). act on sb's advice/ suggestion/orders I'm acting on the advice of my lawyers. 1a. to do something immediately, especially in order to deal with an urgent problem: Had the paramedics not acted so swiftly, he would have died. act to do sth We must act now to prevent further damage to our rainforests. 1b. if you act for someone, you do something as their representative: Lawyers acting for the family will issue a 1

[I

]

to

statement this morning. act on sb's behalf a dealer acting on behalf of a private buyer 2 [I] [+as] to do the job of a particular kind of person: You speak Greek - will you act as interpreter? 3 [i] to behave in a particular way, especially a way that is unusual or annoying: Stop acting stupid!* act like act suspiciously/strangely A I've acted like a total idiot. man was seen acting suspiciously twenty minutes before act as if Just act as if nothing's happened. the robbery. 3a. to behave in a particular way by doing something: act reasonably /fairly /illegally /responsibly /dishonestly etc. Did the network act reasonably in firing the reporter'.' The court must establish whether the accused acted illegally.

4

perform in plays or movies: I've always wanted act the part/role (of sb/sth) Burt Lancaster acted the part of Joseph. 5 [I] [+as] to have a particular effect: The drugs act as a brake on the spread of the disease. 5a. to start to have an effect: Don 't expect the medicine to act immediately. [l/T]

to

to act.

act out phrasal vb [T] 1 to copy the events that happened in a situation by pretending to be the people involved:

1

*3

ACT

activity

14

The scenarios that the trainees act out are videotaped. 2 to express your thoughts or feelings through your words or behavior: He was acting out his feelings of inferiority by being overly aggressive. act up phrasal vb [i] informal 1 if children act up, they behave badly: The kids have been acting up again. 2 if a part of your body or a piece of equipment acts up, it starts to become painful or to develop problems: / hope my bach doesn 't start acting up again.

ACT

/ ,ei si 'ti/ Australian Capital Territory: the area in eastern Australia where the capital city, Canberra, is

ACT, the

/ ,ei si 'ti/ trademark American College Test: a set of tests that someone must take before they are

admitted to some U.S. colleges and universities 1 / 'aektin / adj [only before noun] doing the work of the usual person in a particular job while they are not there, or until a new person starts .After Smith died, she

against them because of it: His remarks were considered actionable by my attorney.

'action figure noun [c] a toy model of a person or imaginary being, especially a character in a movie or a television program

'action-packed

activate

took over as acting leader of the party. /'aektin/ noun [u] * the job or skill of performing in plays and movies: Most of the acting in the show was excellent. ac-tion /'skjsn/ noun •*•

war

process of doing sth

5

fighting in

2 sth sb does 3 movement 4 effect of drug/chemical

6

exciting events

1

7 events + PHRASES

in

play/movie

1 [U] the process of doing something, especially in order to stop a bad situation from developing or continuing: Officials are not planning any immediate action. take action (=begin to do something to solve a particular problem) We urge the authorities to take action. course of action (=something that you do in order to achieve a particular purpose) We have three possible courses of action. 1a. [C/U] the process of bringing a case to a court of law. This kind of action is also called legal action: bring an action (against sb) (=start a legal process against someone) The magazine will fight the libel action brought by the singer. -> class action 1b. [C/U] the process of stopping work or working less effectively in order to protest about your pay, working conditions, etc.: Twenty strikers voted to suspend their action.

2

[C] something you do, especially something that seems wrong or unusual to other people: How can you

justify

your actions?

movement that you make with your body: She found herself copying his actions. reflex actions such as swallowing 3a. [singular/ U] [+of] the movement of an object as it works or makes progress, especially a particular kind of movement: This switch slows down the the erosive action of a great glacier action of the pump. 4 [singular/u] the effect that something such as a drug or chemical has: the action of sth (on sth) the action of certain chemicals on the brain 5 [U] fighting that is part of a war: Can military action be avoided?* killed/missing/wounded in action a list of soldiers missing in action see action (=take part in military fighting) We've been told we're unlikely to see

3

[C/U] a

informal all the exciting or important events that happen in a particular situation or place: Where's [singular]

town? the events that form part of a play or movie:

all the action in this

7

[singular]

In Scene

Br E an instant replay

•

to make a piece of start working: You can activate the system by buttons or voice recognition. acti-va-tion

/'aektiveit/ verb [T]

—

/,aekti'veiJn/noun[u]

ac-tive 1

/'aektiv/ ad)

doing

many

••* 4

activities

2 making sth happen 3 operating/working

of a

volcano

5 producing a reaction 6 in grammar

1 someone who is active does a lot of different activities and has a lot of energy and interests: People are remaining active into later life. la. very involved in the work of an organization or with a particular activity: active member He is an active member of the American Cancer

+in She continues to be active in politics. 1b. used about someone's mind: meditation techniques keep the mind active and alert 1 c. used about activities and periods of time: We had a very active weekend. 2 doing things to make something happen, instead of just hoping that it will happen: There are already active discussions going on. Active steps are being taken to calm the situation. 2a. used for emphasizing that something practical is or enthusiastic: active involvement/ participation/ support 2b. used for emphasis generally: She had taken an active dislike to the work. 3 operating or working in a particular area or at a particular time: Pickpockets are known to be active in the area. 3a. doing a particular activity: sexually active (=having sex) sexually active young women 3b. an active electrical system is working: The burglar alarm becomes active ten seconds after you set it. 4 an active volcano is likely to erupt (=explode and pour out fire) at any time. When a volcano no longer does this it is extinct. 5 science producing a chemical or biological reaction: Surfactants are the active ingredient in detergents. 6 linguistics an active verb or sentence has the person or thing doing the action as the subject. "You hurt me" compare passive is an active sentence. Society. to

—

ac-tive, the

/ 'aektiv/ noun linguistics the active form of a verb. The active is also sometimes called the active voice, —compare passive

active 'duty noun

AmE

active 'service noun

[u]

[u] a soldier, pilot, etc. who is on active duty belongs to a military force as their main job: on active duty injuries received while on active duty

a soldier,

pilot, etc.

who

is

active service is ready to take part in a battle that taking place, instead of simply preparing for one

active

window

noun

[C]

on is

computing an area on a

computer screen showing the program that you are

action.

6

[c]

equipment or a process

acting

acting 2

of activity or exciting events:

ad] full

an action-packed weekend

action replay noun

1,

the action takes place in

an expensive restaurant.

actions speak louder than words used for saying that what you do is more important than what you say you

do in action will

1 doing what you are good at or what you are trained to do: It 's interesting to watch a good salesman in action. 2 doing what something is designed to do: How long before we can see the new ski lifts in action? out of action 1 if someone is out of action, they are injured or too sick to perform their usual activities: Her broken wrist will put her out of action for at least a month. 2 if something is out of action, it cannot be used, for example because it is broken or is being repaired or cleaned: The swimming pool is currently out of action. put sth into action to start using something such as a plan or idea: Our plans aren't quite ready to be put into

action.

ac-tiorva-ble /'aekfanabl/ adj if someone's behavior is actionable, it is so bad you could start a legal case

using at a particular time ac'tiv-ist /'aektivist/ noun [C] * someone who takes part in activities that are intended to achieve political or social change, especially someone who is a member of an organization: labor union and party activists activism noun [u] ac-tiv-i-ty /aek'trvsti/ noun 1 U things that people do These environmental changes Economic activity was are the result of human activity. greater during the first part of the year. Airline employees should always be on the watch for criminal activity. 1a. [C usually plural] something that someone does in order to achieve a goal: Employees should not engage in political She monitors activities without a manager's permission. the activities offederal law enforcement agencies. We plan to expand our business activities in East Africa. 1b. [C] something that you do because you enjoy it or because it is interesting: Guests can enjoy plenty of activities, leisure like swimming, surfing, and horseback riding.

—

•••

[

]

:

activities

2 [u] a situation in which people are busy doing different things: On Saturdays, there's always lots of activity in the streets.

"

act of

God

15

,act of 'God noun [c] an event such as a flood, lightning, or an earthquake that is produced by natural forces, and that people have no control over

actor

*** someone who performs and movies, especially as their job

/'aektar/ noun [c]

in plays

ac'tress /'aektras/ noun [c] * a woman who performs in plays and movies, especially as her job. Many women performers

prefer

to

be

called

instead

actors

of

a-cute-ly

/o'kjutli/ adv used for emphasizing that a feeling, often an unpleasant one, is very strong: memories that were acutely painful acutely aware He was

acutely

ad

A.D.

di/ abbrev used after a date to show that it / ,ei refers to a time after the birth of Jesus Christ compare

si ti

'jo/

From the Latin expression the year of the Lord."

Australian Council of Trade Unions: of labor unions

Anno Domini meaning

"in

main organization

in Australia, the

ac-tu-al /'aektjual/ adj [only before noun] •*• 1 used for emphasizing what is really true or exact compared with a general idea: The actual number of people killed is not yet known. We don't know her actual date of birth. 1a. used for emphasizing what is really true or exact compared with what people expected: How does your department's actual performance compare with your plan and budget? The actual situation was very different, lb. used for emphasizing that something is real and not imaginary or part of an idea or plan: The play is based on actual events. Do you have any actual experience as a cook? 2 used for emphasizing the word that follows: All I have to do now is write the actual letter.

ac-tu-al-i-ty /.aektju'aetati/ noun formal

1

[u]

what

really exists: Physics deals as much with possibility as it does with actuality. 2 [C] a fact or something that is real: / tell you all of this to educate you in the actualities of war.

in actuality very formal used for emphasizing

what

is

really true

actually /'aektjuali/ adv ••• 1 used for emphasizing what is really true or what really happened: / need to talk to the person who actually made the application. We've exchanged e-mails but we've never actually met. There's a big difference between saying you '11 do something and actually doing it. 2 used for emphasizing that something is surprising: It looks as if Tony is actually doing some work. Some patients actually got worse after receiving the treatment. 3 spoken used when correcting what someone has said or thinks, or what you yourself have said: He's actually very helpful. / don't think they'd let us, actually. It was yesterday, no actually it was Monday morning. 4 spoken used for admitting something: "Did you spend much money?" "Well, yes. Quite a lot, actually.

ac-tu-ar-i-al /.aektju'erial/ culations about risks

adj business

involving

cal-

/'aektju.eri/ noun [c] someone whose job is to calculate the cost of insurance by examining how

ac-tu-ar-y

often deaths, accidents, etc. happen ac-tu-ate /'aektju.eit/ verb [T] technical to make a machine or piece of equipment start working

a*cu*i*ty /a'kjuati/ noun [u] formal the ability to see or think very clearly and quickly a-cu-men /a'kjuman; 'sekjaman/ noun [u] the ability to make good, quick decisions and judgments: business/ financial /political acumen We are looking for someone with both business acumen and technical expertise. ac-u-pres-sure / 'sekju.prejar/ noun [u] a medical treatment from China that involves pressing on different parts of the body with the hands

/'iekju.pAnktJar/ noun [u] a medical treatment from China that involves putting special needles into particular parts of the body ac-u-punc-tur- ist noun [C]

—

a-cute

/a'kjut/ adj [usually before noun) 1 very serious or severe: an acute shortage of medical supplies 1a. an acute illness is one that becomes very bad very quickly: an acute ear infection lb. used for describing pain that is very strong and sharp 2 used for describing the senses and abilities of someone who notices things very quickly and easily: an acute sense of smell her acute observations on life and love 3 an acute angle is less than 90 degrees compare obtuse 2 —picture -» angle 4 an acute accent is the mark above a letter in some languages that shows it is pronounced in a particular way compare grave 3 a-cute-ness noun U

—

1

'

—

ad-age / 'aedid3/ noun something about

life

[c] a well-known phrase that says and human experience

a«da»gio 1 /3'dad30o/adv slowly: used as an

[

]

instruction

music a«da«gio adj a-da-gio 2 /a'dad30o/ noun [C] a piece of music that should be played or sung slowly Ad-am /'asdam/not know someone from Adam informal to not know who someone is ad-a-mant /'aedamant/ adj determined not to change your belief or decision about something: We tried to persuade her but she was adamant. +that He was adamant that he would not pay any more money. + about They are adamant about buying only organic food. in

— ad-a-mant-ly adv

.Adam's 'apple

noun

[c]

lump

at the front of a

slightly

and moves when

the

man's throat that sticks out he swallows

**

a-dapt

/a'daept/ verb [i] to change your ideas or behavior so that you can deal with a new situation: The company was accused of being slow to adapt. +to Most students have little difficulty adapting to college life. a. [T] to change something to make it more appropriate for a new use or situation: Courses can be adapted to suit the needs of each person. a specially adapted car +for You can adapt this fabric for anything from divers' suits to gloves, b. [T] to change a book or play so that it can be made into a movie, TV program, etc.: adapt sth from sth The movie is adapted from a Michael Crichton novel.

a-dapt-a-ble /a'dxptabl/ adj adaptable people can change their behavior or ideas easily in order to deal with new situations: We need adaptable workers who are willing to learn new skills, a. adaptable things can be used in different situations or for different purposes: adaptable office furniture Most people want insurance changing circumstances. a-dapt-a-bil-i-ty /a.daepta'bllati/ noun [u] a-dap-ta-tion /.asdsp'teijn/ noun • 1 [C] a book or play that has been made into a movie, TV program, etc.: The television adaptation of the stage play was very successful. 2 [u] the process of changing something so that it can be used for a different purpose: They specialize in the policies that are adaptable to

adaptation of industrial buildings for housing. 3 [U] the qualities that make it possible for plants and animals to deal with their environment: the remarkable adaptation of the camel to the desert a-dapt-ed /a'dasptad/ ad\ formal especially appropriate for something or someone: well adapted a plant well adapted to warm, dry conditions

a-dapt-er or a-dapt-or /a'daeptsr/ noun [c] an object that allows you to connect two pieces of equipment of different types or sizes a. an object that allows you to use electrical equipment in countries where there is a different type of electricity supply

ac-u-punc-ture

—

—

B.C.

actresses.

ACTU /,ei

aware of his public image. ** an advertisement

/aed/ noun [C] informal

a-dap-tion /a'daepfn/ noun

from your own

[c/u] adaptation

•••

add

/a?d/ verb to put something with another thing or group of add things: When the sauce is thick, add the cheese. Sth to sth They've added two major companies to their impressive list of clients. * Here's another doll to add to your collection. 1a. [i/t] to put numbers or amounts together to calculate their total: What do you get if you add 75 and 63? children who already know how to add and subtract 2 [T] to give something an extra quality: The Italian add sth to sth Add some chairs add a touch of elegance. sparkle to a black dress with a brightly colored scarf. 3 [T] to say something more that is related to what has been said already: "Don't worry," Jenny added hastily. 1

[T]

+ that

/

should add that

I

am

not happy about this decision.

1

ADD + to it

to that the fact that she's incredibly wealthy,

just doesn t

add

make

and

sense.

fuel to the fire/flames to

make

a bad situation

even worse by saying or doing something that makes someone angry add insult to injury to make a bad situation even worse add in phrasal vb [t] to include something as part of something else: We need to add in some information about his family background. phrasal vb [T] to include an extra thing or amount in something: Hidden charges could add on as much as an extra 25%.-* add-on add on to phrasal vb [T] [add on to sth] to build an extra part onto a building: You might want to add on to the kitchen at a later date. add to phrasal vb [T] [add to sth] to make a quality more extreme: The arrival offive more guests only added to the confusion. add up phrasal vb 1 [i/T] to calculate the total of several numbers or amounts: Now add up the number of calories you have eaten. I'm not very good at adding up in my head. 1a. [i] if small amounts add up, they gradually produce a large total: All these little expenses soon add up. 2 [I usually in negatives] if a set of facts does not add

add on

up, you do not believe it is correct because it does not match other information you have already: There's something about this case that just doesn't add up. add 'up to phrasal vb [T] [add up to sth] 1 if separate amounts add up to a total amount, together they form that total: His business expenses add up to around $4,000 a year. 2 to combine to produce a particular result or effect: These new measures do not add up to genuine reform.

ADD

/,ei di 'di/ noun [u] attention deficit disorder: a medical condition that makes someone more active than normal, makes it difficult for them to concentrate, and causes problems with their behavior Ad-dams Fam-i-ly, the /'asdsmz ,faem(3)li/ an imaginary family from a television program. They behave in strange ways and are very interested in

death.

add-in see add-on ad-di-tion /o'dijn/ noun •• 1 [C] something that you add

to

something

else:

The

addition to her business empire is a chain of clothing New additions to the library include reading lamps and comfortable chairs. This program is a useful addition to their range of business-related software. 1a. [u] the action of adding something to something else: The addition of a few drops of lavender oil to your bath water aids latest

stores.

relaxation.

2

[u] the process of adding two or more numbers or amounts together to make a total: Lesley is teaching the and subtraction. 3 [C]AmE a room or area that is added to a building. BrE usually extension in addition used for adding an extra piece of information to what has already been said or written: People gain valuable work experience and, in addition, employers

children addition

can afford to employ them. in addition to sth used for saying that something extra exists or is happening together with the thing that you are talking about: In addition to the twins, Jason has another child by his first wife.

addi-tion-al

**

/s'dijnsl/ ad] extra, and often more will create an additional 400 jobs. This is the total price of your vacation - with no additional charges.

than expected: The new factory

ad-di-tion-al-ly /a'dijnali/ adv as well as what has already been mentioned, agreed, etc.: Members receive six newsletters a year. Additionally, they have the use of a helpline.

ad-di-tive /'aedstiv/ noun [C] a substance that is added in small amounts to something, especially food, in order to make it last longer, look more attractive, or improve it in some way: color /food additives /'aedld/ adj not able to think clearly: In my addled state I couldn't remember for a minute whose house

ad-dled I

was

in.

add-on

noun [c] something that is added to something want the basic blender, with no add-ons. or add-in computing a computer program or of computer equipment that you can add to a a piece computer in order to increase the number of things it is able to do ad-dress /s'dres; 'aedres/ noun [c] 1 the name of the place where you live or work, including the house or office number and the name of the street, area, and town. It may also include a set of numbers, called a zip code in American English and a postcode in British English: I'll need your name and address. He had given a false address to the police. 1a. a series of letters, numbers, and symbols that show you else: / just

added /'aedad/ adj

[only before noun]

**

a.

1 present in larger amounts than usual or than expected: Baby food should contain no added sugar or salt. 2 an added advantage, benefit, etc. makes a good situation even better: New equipment gives them an added an added bonus / love incentive to start training again. my job. The salary is just an added bonus. 2a. an added difficulty, problem, disappointment, etc. makes a bad situation even worse: The illness was an added setback to her floundering career.

ad-den-dum /s'dendam/

(plural

ad»den«da /a'denda/) is added to a

noun [C] formal extra information that book, document, speech, etc.

ad-der

address

16

Add

/'aedsr/ noun [c] 1

America 2 a poisonous snake that lives in Europe ad-dict /'aedikt/ noun [C] * someone who takes illegal or harmful drugs and cannot stop a. someone who likes a particular activity very much and spends as much time as they can doing it: a TV addict ad-dict-ed /a'diktad/ adj unable to stop taking an illegal or harmful drug: +to He admitted he was addicted enjoying a particular activity very

much

and spending as much time as you can doing it: +to / don want the kids getting addicted to stupid TV programs. 't

noun [C/u] * a strong need that feels to regularly take an illegal or harmful drug: There is a growing problem of drug addiction in our cities. +to an addiction to nicotine a. a strong need or wish to spend as much time as possible doing a particular activity: + to His addiction to the Internet is taking over his life.

addiction /s'dikjan/ someone

ad-dic-tive /s'diktrv/ adj if a drug is addictive, people want to take it more and more and then find that they cannot stop taking

it: These sleeping pills are not highly addictive Cigarettes are harmful, highly addictive, and aggressively marketed to young people. a. something that is addictive is so enjoyable that you want to do it or have it as often as possible: Jogging can become addictive, b. someone who has an addictive personality becomes addicted to things very easily

addictive.

**•

1

to find a particular website on the Internet: url: the address of our Web site? a Web address address or e-mail address a series of letters, numbers, and symbols that you need to send someone an e-mail message: What's your e-mail address? 2 /a'dres/ a formal speech given by someone to a group of people, especially as part of an important occasion: The president is to deliver a televised address to the nation. form/mode/term of address the name or title that you give someone when you speak or write to them: What's the proper form of address for U.S. Senators?

where

a harmless snake that lives

in North

to cocaine, a.

add-on

Do you have 1b.

ad-dress 2

•*

/s'dres/ verb [T] 1 to write the name and address of a particular person or organization on an envelope, package, etc.: Would you help me address these envelopes?* address sth to sb This letter is addressed to Alice McQueen. 2 to speak publicly to a group of people: address a meeting / conference I audience I assembly 2a. formal to speak directly to someone who is with you: He turned his head to address me. address sth to sb Throughout the conversation, he addressed his remarks to my husband. 2b. to call someone a particular name or title when you speak to them: We were all addressed by our last " name. His stepchildren address him as "Mr. 3 to try to deal with a problem or question, for example by thinking carefully about it, or by doing things to improve a situation: Governments have been slow to A number of address the problem of global warming. address yourself to sth We issues are being addressed. need to address ourselves to the question of cost.

H

address book [address sth to sb] to officially tell a particular person or organization your complaints, questions, or comments: All inquiries should be addressed to the head office.

book noun [c] a book with spaces in which you can write people's names, addresses, telephone numbers, etc., usually in alphabetical order a. a piece of computer software that you use to record people's names, addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses,

ad'dress

etc.

ad-dress-ee

noun [C] formal the person that a letter or package is addressed to ad-duce /a'dus/ verb [J] formal to give a particular fact as proof that something is true ad-e-noi'dal /.aedn'oidl/ adj 1 if someone's voice is adenoidal, some of the sound seems to come through their nose 2 relating to your adenoids adenoids /'aednpidz/ noun [plural] pieces of soft flesh between the back of your throat and your nose that sometimes become swollen and have to be removed a-dept /a'dept/ adj skillful at doing something: a technically adept musician + at The flatfish is remarkably a-dept-ly adv adept at hiding itself on the ocean floor. 2 a-dept /'adept/ noun [C] someone who is very skilled at doing something or knows a lot about something ad*e*qua*cy /'aedakwasi/ noun [u] the quality of being good enough adequate /'aedakwat/adj 1 good enough or large enough for a particular purpose: sufficient: The state needs to maintain an adequate supply of trained teachers. +for The big house is perfectly adequate for just the two of us. adequate to do sth Existing levels of funding are not adequate to deal /,aedre'si/

1

—

*••

but not extremely good: a merely ad-equate- ly adv adequate knowledge of the subject satisfactory,

ADHD /,ei

—

noun [u] attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a medical condition that makes someone more active than normal, makes it difficult for them to concentrate, and causes problems with their behavior ad-here /ad'hir/ verb [l]/orma/ to stick to something: + to It's the type of surface that paint doesn't adhere to very di eitj 'di/

well.

ad here to phrasal vb [T] [adhere to sth] 1 to obey a rule, law, agreement, etc.: We must strictly adhere to the terms of the contract. 2 to support or believe in an idea, plan, opinion, etc.: His followers adhere Hindu, and Christian teachings.

to

a blend of Buddhist,

ad-her-ence

/ad'hirans/ noun [u] formal 1 the action of continuing to obey a rule, law, agreement, etc.: + to a strict adherence to the rule of law 2 support for or belief in an idea, plan, opinion, etc. + to adherence to traditional :

values

ad-her-ent

/ad'hirant/ noun [C] formal a supporter of a set of ideas, an organization, or a person: adherents of Islam ad-he-sion /ad'hi3n/ noun [u] the ability of one thing to stick to

another 1

ad-he-sive /ad'hisiv/ noun [c] a substance used for making things stick together ad-he-sive 2 /ad'hisiv/ adj able to stick to things or to

make

adjec-ti-val /a-dpk'taivl/ ad) relating to or used as an adjective: an adjectival phrase ad-jec-ti-val-ly adv ad-jec-tive Aedpktiv/ noun [C] • a word used for describing a noun or pronoun. The word "big" in "a big house" is an adjective. ad-join /a'dpm/ verb [i/t] formal to be right next to and connected to another building, room, area, etc.: the land that adjoins the park

ad-join-ing

things stick together: adhesive tape/ labels

ad hoc

/,aed 'hak/ adj done only when needed for a specific purpose, without planning or preparation: She has a very ad hoc approach to management, onanadhoc basis Members of the committee are elected on an ad hoc basis. ad hoc adv a-dieu /a'dju/ interjection literary used for saying

—

goodbye in-fi-ni-tum /,aed mfi'naitam/adv if you do something ad infinitum, you repeat it again and again ad-i-os /.aedi'ous/ interjection informal used for saying goodbye ad'i-pose /'aedi.poos/ adj science adipose tissue is used

ad

for storing fat

adj. abbrev adjective

ad-ja-cent /ageism/ adj * next to or near something else: an adjacent area /room /building +to The site of the new building is adjacent to the park.

/a'd3.->inin/ adj

next to and connected to etc.: owners of adjoining

another building, room, area, properties

adjourn

/a'd33rn/ verb [i/t] to temporarily end something such as a meeting or a trial: The case was adjourned

until Monday. ad-journ-ment noun [C/U] adjourn to phrasal vb [T] formal [adjourn to sth] to leave one place and move to another: Let's adjourn to the bar. adjudge /a'd3Ad3/ verb [J] formal to make an official judgment about someone or something ad-ju-di-cate /a'd3udi,keit/ verb [i/t] to make an official decision about a problem or disagreement ad-ju-di-ca-tion /a ^udi'keijn/ noun [u], adjudi-ca-tor noun [C] adjunct 1 /'gree«a»ble /a'griabl/ adj 1 acceptable or able to be agreed on: +to Can mediators produce a compromise that is agreeable to both sides? 2 old-fashioned pleasant, nice, or satisfactory: an agreeable young woman

be agreeable to sthformal to be willing something a*gree*ab*ly adv

—

agreed

/a'grid/ adj

to

do or accept

•*

1 [only before noun] an agreed price, limit, date, etc. is one that people have talked about and accepted: Her husband failed to pay her the agreed sum of money. We waited for a knock, which was the agreed signal. generally/mutually/nationally agreed (upon) There is no generally agreed upon definition of this term. 2 if people are agreed, they all agree about what to do: + on Are we all agreed on where we're going? 3 spoken used for saying that you agree with a suggestion, or for asking people if they agree: "The last one to arrive pays for the meal." "Agreed." j-gree'ment/a'grimant/ noun *** 1 [C] an arrangement or decision about what to do, made by two or more people, groups, or organizations: Our agreement was that you would pay by the first of Check the terms of your lease agreement. the month. + between NAFTA is the trade agreement between Canada,

the United States, and Mexico. + with a license agreement with the software company + ona/i agreement on military cooperation an agreement to do sth The twenty-six counreach an tries signed an agreement to cut air pollution. agreement Management announced that it had reached an agreement with the unions. come to an agreement (=make a decision after a lot of discussion) We finally came to an agreement: I would cook and Ann would clean. 2 [u] the situation when people have the same opinion or have made the same decision about something: + about /on After a long discussion, there was still no

agreement about what to do next. reach agreement The committee finally reached agreement on two important issues. there is general /wide agreement that (=most people agree that) There is wide agreement that the forest damage is the result of atmospheric pollution. 1 to have the same opinion or have the same decision: We are all in agreement that Mr. Ross should resign. 2 [+with] formal to agree with a policy or decision: City hall is in agreement with government policy. 3 [+with] if a set of facts is in agreement with another, they both show or prove the same thing: These recent findings are in agreement with our previous

be in agreement

made

conclusions.

"

agribusiness Words

frequently used with

agreement

conclude, negotiate, reach,

verbs

1

secure, sign

ag«ri«busi«ness /'iegn.biznas/ noun [C/U] 1 the business of making and selling products that are used in farming, or a company that does this 2 the business of operating a large farm to produce as much food and profit as possible, or this way

one of the farms that operates

in

ag-ri-cul-tur-al /.aegri'kAltftaJral/ adj ** relating to The land is farming: agricultural produce / products only to be used for agricultural purposes, a. involved in farming or used for farming: agricultural workers/ machinery ag-ri-cul-ture /'aegn.kAltJsr/ noun [U] ** the work, business, or study of farming: Most of the population is the UN Food and employed in agriculture and fishing. Agriculture Organization ag-ro-chem-i-cal /.aegroo'kemikl/ noun [c] a chemical used in farming, for example a fertilizer a-gron-o-mist /a'gransmist/ noun [c] a scientist who studies

agronomy

a-gron-o-my /a'gransmi/ noun

[u]

the science of agri-

culture

a-ground /a'graond/

adv run/go aground if a ship runs aground, it becomes stuck on a piece of ground under the water, where the water is not deep enough ah /a/ interjection 1 used for showing that you see or understand something: Have you seen Jackie? Ah, there she is. +Ah yes, I remember now. 2 used for expressing a

example for showing that you are interested, surprised, pleased, or annoyed: "I'm afraid I won't be able to do the work. " "Ah, I see.

feeling, for

a«ha /a'ha/

used for showing that you have suddenly realized or understood something: Aha, so you were the one who called me! ahead /a'hed/ function word ***

Ahead

is

interjection

used in the following ways:

an adverb: I could

end of the tunnel ahead. in the preposition phrase ahead of: We have some difficult problems ahead of us. as

see the

1 in front of you 1a. used for saying that something is in front of you, in the direction you are going or looking: There's a motel just a few miles ahead. His attention was firmly fixed on the road ahead. + of The car ahead of us stopped suddenly. up ahead (=not far in front) We're almost there! That's the place up ahead. 1 b. moving, pointing, or looking toward a place in front of you: Francesca was staring ahead into the darkness. straight ahead Instead of turning left, he drove straight ahead toward the river. 1c. moving in front of someone and in the same direction: She walked ahead of him along

the corridor.

2 in the future 2a. used when saying what will happen in the future: +of We have a busy day ahead of us. a young woman with a brilliant career ahead of her days/weeks/years etc. ahead Where will the money come from in the years ahead? 2b. look/think/plan ahead to think about the future or plan for the future: Looking ahead to next summer, where would you like to go? -^ lie' 3 before 3a. before a time or event: +of There will be an inspection of the track ahead of tomorrow's race. ahead of time If you had warned me ahead of time, I wouldn't have gone. 3b. starting to go somewhere a little before someone and arriving there before them: You go on ahead and tell them we're coming. I'll send my luggage on ahead. 3c. used for saying how much earlier the clocks in one place show a particular time than in another: New York is three hours ahead of Los Angeles. 3d. used for saying that someone finishes a race before

someone else: + of David finished ahead of me in last year's Grand Prix. 3e. ahead of time/schedule at an earlier time than was planned or arranged: The train had left ahead of time. Mexico announced its intention of repaying the loan ahead of schedule. 4 having made more progress 4a. used for saying that someone has made more progress than someone else, or more progress than expected: The Russians were Some of these now ahead of them in space research.

five minutes

aid

29

children are two years ahead in reading skills. 4b. used for saying that a particular idea, product, invention, etc. is more advanced than others: The technology was far ahead of anything available in the West. ahead of sb's/ sth's time (=too modern to be accepted or understood) As a writer, Sterne was ahead of his time. 4c. get ahead to make progress in your work and become successful:// you want to get ahead in politics, you have to look confident. 5 having won more points, votes, etc. used for saying that someone is achieving more success in a competition, election, etc. than someone else: + of Eagles are already ten points ahead of their nearest rivals. Opinion polls show Jacobson pulling ahead of Rodgers well ahead (-vf inning easily) At the end of Round 8, Tyson was well ahead.

get/keep/stay ahead (of the game) to react quickly so that you gain/keep an advantage: Our industries have to keep ahead of the game in world trade. -» GO AHEAD /a'hem/ interjection 1 used in writing to represent a sound that you make to get someone's attention in a polite and quiet way 2 used in writing to represent a sound that you make before you say something that may be slightly surprising or shocking a-hold /a'hoold/ adv get ahold of sth spoken to obtain or buy something after trying to get it for a long time: I finally managed to get ahold of a copy of that book you were looking for. get/grab/take ahold of sth to take something firmly in your hand and hold it tightly there: Grab ahold of the

ahem

rope!

-aholic /aholik/ suffix used with nouns and verbs to make nouns meaning someone who likes something a or who is unable to stop doing something: chocoholic (=someone who loves chocolate) shopaholic (=someone

lot

who loves shopping) a*hoy /a'hoi/ interjection used by

sailors for calling to

people on other ships

AHST abbrev Alaska-Hawaii Standard Time: a time zone that includes Alaska

Al

noun aid /eid/ noun /,ei 'ai/ 1

and Hawaii

[u] artificial intelligence

**

1 [u] money, food, or other help that an organization or government gives to a country or area where people need it, for example because of a war or flood: economic/ medical aid The UN provided emergency economic aid to

foreign /overseas/ international aid She the refugees. said the government should spend more on foreign aid. 1a. money that a government gives to a person, group, or organization that it wishes to help: financial aid for small businesses 2 [u] help with doing something: enlist/seek the aid of sb (=try to get someone's help) The police tried to enlist come /go/ the aid of the public in solving the crime. hurry/ rush to sb's aid Ocome to help someone) A passerby heard her screams and rushed to her aid. with the aid of sth Chromosomes can be seen with the aid of a microscope. The pupils created the wall painting with the aid of a local artist.

3 [C] something that makes it easier to do something: + to Hypnosis can be an aid to giving up smoking. teaching/memory/navigation aid Songs can be very useful as

memory

aids.

4 Am E another in aid of Br E 1

spelling of aide

an event is in aid of an organization or group, it is held to make money to help that organization or group 2 spoken used for asking what something is for or why something is happening if

aid 2 /eid/ verb formal

**

to make it easier for someone to do something: A list of technical terms is included here to aid the reader. aid sb in sth He was aided in his research by the fact that Coleridge had kept very detailed records. 1a. [l/T] to 1

[T]

help something to happen more easily or with fewer problems: Gentle exercise aids the circulation of blood around the body. + in Vitamin Caids in the absorption of iron.

2

[T] to give money, food, or other help to a country or organization that needs it: They appealed for more money to aid the homeless.

aid

and abet

legal to help

someone

to

commit

a

crime

aid

agency

aid

agency noun

30

an organization that gives money, food, or other help to people who have been affected by situations such as wars or floods aide /eid/ noun [C] * someone whose job is to help another person in their work: +to a senior aide to the [C]

President

aide-de-camp officer

/,eid da 'kamp/ noun [c] a military is to help an officer of higher rank

whose job

aide-me-moire that helps

you

to

AIDS/eidz/ noun

mem 'war/

/,eid

noun

[c]

something

remember something [u]

••

acquired

immune

deficiency

syndrome: a serious disease that destroys the body's immune system (=its ability to defend itself against infection) and usually causes death. AIDS is passed from one person to another through body fluids (=liquids),

and semen. People first become HIVpositive and then develop full-blown AIDS. Someone who has AIDS is called a (=person with AIDS): an especially blood

PWA

AIDS

test

'aid worker noun [c] someone who works for an international organization giving help in a place where people need it

ailing

/'eilirj/ adj 1 [usually before noun] mainly journalism an ailing organization or economy is not strong or successful: The company is about to sell its ailing publishing division. 2 literary sick and weak

ail-ment

/'eilmant/ noun [C] an illness, usually not a serious one

/eim/ verb ••* to point a gun or an object you are throwing at something you want to hit: When given the order, the squad aimed their weapons. + at /for He was aiming at the tree but he missed, aim sth at sb/sth / looked up to see Betty aiming a gun at me. aim a kick/blow at sb/sth He leapt into the crowd, aiming a kick at a fan. 2 [I] to intend or hope to achieve something: aim to do sth The project aims to provide an outlet for children's creativity. + for Most of the students were aiming for jobs

aim 1

1

[I/T]

air The baby waved

air.

be aimed at (doing) sth 1 if a plan or idea is aimed at a particular thing, it has the goal of achieving that thing: an energy program aimed at reducing our dependence on fossil fuels The regulations are aimed at the prevention of accidents at work. 2 [aim sth at sb] if you aim something you say, write, or create at a group, you want that group to listen to or use what you have said or created: The book is aimed at people with no specialized knowledge. Dole aimed his criticism at corporations promoting and distributing offensive materials. aim 2 /eim/ noun ••* 1 [C] the thing that you hope to achieve by doing something: +of The aim of this project is to help patients to be more independent. with the aim of doing sth We visit schools with the aim of getting young people interested in the theater. sb's aim is to do sth My main aim in therapy is to gain confidence. achieve/fulfill/pursue your aims The group was committed to achieving its aims through peaceful means. aims and objectives (=things that you intend to achieve) We need to clarify the aims and objectives

2

of the project.

your

[singular]

ability to hit

something when you

throw, kick, or shoot something at it: My aim wasn't very good and the ball went over the fence.

take aim

1

to point a

gun

at

something before you and fired.

shoot: He quickly regained his balance, took aim,

2

to look at

something and decide how

or kick in order to hit

ainvless /'eimbs/ or plan

adj

to throw, swing,

it

without any particular purpose

— ainvless*ly adv, ainvless-ness noun [U]

ain't /emt/ spoken a way of saying "am not," "is not," "are not," "has not," or "have not." Many people consider "ain't" to be incorrect. 1 air /er/ noun **• 1 [U] the mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth and that we breathe: Do we really want all these cars polluting the air? She breathed in the cold air. I'd like Inside the house the to open the window, I need some air. a blast/rush/draft/gust of (=a current of moving air) A blast of cold air swept through the house. 1a. the air the space around things and above the ground: They threw their hats up into the

air smelled like fresh paint. air

conditioner

legs in the air.

birds flying

through the air 2 [singular] a feeling or attitude that someone has: + of She spoke with her usual air of authority. 2a. the feeling that a place or situation gives you: The overgrown lawn gave the house a neglected air. + of There was an air of gloom about the whole trial. 3 airs [plural] behavior that is not natural and relaxed, by someone who wants to impress people and seem important: put on airs My friends are people I trust, and I don 't have to put on airs with them. 4 [C] old-fashioned a piece of music that has a simple tune

be up in the air yet decided still

up

if

what

is up in the air, you have not happen: Our vacation plans are

a plan will

in the air.

by air traveling by or using

airplanes: The flowers are

sent all over the country by air. sth is in the air used for saying that people all have a similar feeling, especially a feeling that something

exciting or new is happening: There was a feeling in the it was time for a change. Spring is in the air. into/out of thin air if someone or something disappears into thin air or appears out of thin air, they disappear or appear in a sudden and mysterious way: When I looked around he seemed to have vanished into thin air. air that

just happened, out of thin air. off the air/off air not broadcasting on radio or television anymore: Wait till we're off air (=stopped being broadcast). After just 3 episodes the series was taken off It

the air.

on the air/on

air on radio or television: The program went on the air 28 years ago. He's always prepared to defend his case on air. take the air old-fashioned to go outside for a walk, ride, or drive take to the air to begin to fly walking/floating on air extremely happy -> clear 2 fresh air, hang hot air, open air 2 air /er/ verb 1 [T] to broadcast something on the radio or on television: Many viewers were shocked when the TV news aired graphic footage of the war. The show was first aired in 1978. 2 [T] to say in public what your opinions or complaints about something are: In an interview, the singer aired his views on family life. We hold meetings where residents' problems can be aired. air your grievances (=complain) Employees should be given first

1

,

,

in television.

its

the opportunity to air their grievances. 3 air or air out [I/T] if you air a place or it airs, you open the doors and windows to let fresh air in 3a. if you air clothes, sheets, etc. or they air, you put them in warm or moving air until they are completely dry and smell clean air 'out phrasal

'air

bag

vb

[T]

Am E same as air

2

3

a bag in a car that immediately fills the car crashes, to protect the driver and

noun

[c]

with air if passengers base noun [c] a military airport air bed noun [C] a mattress (aplastic or cloth bag) that you fill with air to make a type of temporary bed air-borne /'er.born/ adj 1 an aircraft that is airborne is in the air: Once the airplane was airborne, drinks were brought to the passengers. 1a. used for describing groups of soldiers who jump from aircraft using parachutes the 82nd airborne division 2 carried in the air: airborne germs/ dust/ particles 'air brake noun [C] a type of brake (=piece of equipment to make a vehicle stop or go more slowly) that works by air pressure, for example on a bus or truck airbrush 1 /'er.brAjV verb [T] to paint something or change a picture or photograph using an airbrush airbrush 2 / 'er.br aJ7 noun [c] a piece of equipment that uses air pressure to send small drops of paint onto a picture or photograph Air-bus /'er.bAs/ trademark a type of airplane that can carry a large number of passengers air-con ditioned adj having a system that makes the air colder: All the rooms are fully air-conditioned. 'air conditioner noun [C] a piece of electrical equipment that makes the air inside a building, room, or 'air

:

vehicle colder

air

conditioning

aka

31

*

a system that makes the 'air conditioning noun [u] air inside a building, room, or vehicle colder, or the effect that the machines produce 'air

airport

noun [u] a military operation in which airregularly over an area in order to stop the from attacking a. the airplanes that do this fly

enemy aircraft

/'er.kraeft/ (plural aircraft)

noun

*•

[c]

an

[c]

-k-k-k a place

where

air-

planes arrive and leave, consisting of runways (=long roads where airplanes land and take off) and large buildings for passengers called terminals: Our /light arrived at Dallas airport over 2 hours late.

cover

planes

noun

/'er.part/

air air

air-

power noun [u] the strength of a country's air force

pump noun [C] a piece of equipment used for putting

something such as a tire or a ball air raid noun [c] an air strike air rifle noun [cj a long gun that uses air pressure to fire small round bullets air-sea rescue noun [u] the activity of saving someone from the ocean using a helicopter airship / 'er fip/ noun [c] an aircraft without wings that is filled with gas and has an engine air show noun [c] an event at which people watch airplanes fly and perform impressive movements in the sky air-sick /'er.sik/ adj feeling sick as a result of the movement of an airplane — air-sick-ness noun [u] airspace / 'er,speis/ noun [u] the sky above a particular country that is considered to belong to that country:

plane, helicopter, or other vehicle that flies: military/ commercial aircraft They came under attack from enemy The aircraft had 48 passengers on board. aircraft.

air into

,

'aircraft .carrier noun [c] a ship that carries military airplanes, with a long flat area from which they can take off air-crew /'er,kru/ noun [c] the pilot and other people who work on an airplane when it is flying airdrop /'er.drap/ noun [c] an operation to deliver supplies to a place by dropping them from an aircraft airfare /'er.fer/ noun [C] the money you pay to go somewhere by airplane airfield /'er.fild/ noun [C] a place where aircraft arrive

and

leave, especially military or private aircraft

airflow cially

/'er.flou/ noun [u] the

movement

of air, espe-

unauthorized entry into Cuban airspace

around the outside of a moving vehicle

force noun

airspeed

•*

/'er.spid/ noun [c/u] the speed at aircraft flies

the part of a country's military organization that uses airplanes in fighting: the Russian

'air

[C]

,Air Force president

'One

the airplane that

is

used by the U.S.

air fresh-en-er /'er .frefanar/ noun [c/U] a substance that is used for making a room smell nice 'air gun noun [c] a gun that uses air pressure to fire small round bullets: bb gun airhead /'er.hed/ noun [c] informal a silly or stupid person air-i-ly /'erili/ adv mainly literary in a

way

you do not think someone or something

is

that

shows

important

airing /'enn/ noun [C] 1 an occasion when a television or radio show is broadcast 2 an occasion when people

which an

air strike noun [C] an attack in which one or more airplanes drop bombs on a place air-strip /'er.stnp/ noun [C] a long narrow piece of land that can be used by airplanes for landing and leaving

an air force pilot

air force

the ground to

airtight

,

fly

not allowing air to enter or leave noun [u] the amount of time given to someone or something in a radio or television broadcast air-to-air ad] involving two aircraft while they are both flying: air-to-air combat air traffic control noun [u] the activity of organizing

'air

/'er.tait/ adj

time

the

movement

of airplanes a. the people

who work

as

i

discuss a subject or idea: We'll give the plan an airing at the next meeting.

air kiss-ing /'er ,kisin/ noun [uj the action of greeting someone by almost kissing them but not really touching them. This word often shows that the greeting is not

— air- kiss verb

sincere,

air-less

/ 'erlas/ adj

an

[l/T]

airless place does not

have much

fresh air: stuffy

a letter written on one piece of light paper that is folded over to form a type of envelope and is sent by airmail

'air .letter

noun

[c]

1

/'er.lift/ noun [C] an operation in which people or things are taken into or away from a place by aircraft, especially in a dangerous situation

airlift

airlift

2

air traffic controllers

air traffic controller noun [c] someone whose job is to organize the movement of airplanes in a particular area by giving instructions to pilots by radio

air-waves

/'er.weivz/ noun [plural] radio waves used to send radio, television, cell phone, etc. signals a. the airwaves informal radio or television shows: The group

flooded the airwaves with ads attacking the president's plan.

airway

/'er.wei/ noun [C] 1 medical a tube in your body that carries air into your lungs from your nose or mouth 2 a path through the sky that airplanes regu-

larly use

airwoman / 'er .woman/ (plural air»wo»men/'er uimin/) noun [C] a woman in a country's air force, especially one of low rank in the U.S. or U.K. air force /'er,w3rdi/ adj an airworthy aircraft is in air-wor-thi-ness noun good condition and safe to fly

verb [T] to take people or things into or away from a place by aircraft, especially in a dangerous situation: The injured climber has been airlifted to a

airworthy

hospital.

airy

/ 'er.lift/

airline /'er.lam/ noun [C] •• a company that owns aircraft and takes people or goods by airplane from one place to another: Australia's national airline an airline pilot/passenger He'd always wanted to be an airline pilot.

air-lin-er /'er.lainar/ noun aircraft for passengers

[c]

mainly journalism a large

airlock

/'er.lak/ noun [c] 1 a small room with controlled air pressure that you use to move between two places with different air pressure 2 an air bubble that

stops liquid from flowing through a pipe

airmail

/'er.meil/ noun [u] the

system for sending mail

by airplane

airman / 'erman/ (plural air»men/ 'erman/) noun [c) a man in a country's air force, especially one of low rank in the U.S. or U.K. air force 'air

mile noun

[c]

a unit for measuring

how

far

an

AmE

• an aircraft with /'er.plem/ noun [C] wings and at least one engine: plane —picture -* C7 airplay /'er.plei/ noun [u] the number of times a piece of music is played on the radio airplane

—

[u]

/'eri/ adj

1

with a

of fresh air

lot

and space:

The bedrooms were all light and airy. 2 mainly literary showing that you do not think that someone or something is important ,airy - 'fairy ad]

BrE

informal not practical or sensible

aisle /ail/ noun [C] a passage between rows of seats, for example in a church, theater, or airplane, or between Cereals are the shelves of a supermarket: an aisle seat in aisle three.

go/walk down the

aisle informal to get married laughing/rolling in the aisles an audience that is laughing or rolling in the aisles is laughing a lot one side/both sides of the aisle Am E used for referring to one or both major political parties in the U.S.: The welfare proposal has support on both sides of the aisle. aitch /eitJV noun [c] the letter "h," written as a word a-jar /a'd^ur/ ad] [never before noun] a door that is ajar is slightly open —picture -* opbn abbrev Alaska aka /ei kei ei/ also known as: used when giving someone's real name followed by a different name they are 1

airplane travels

D

AK

also called

,

akimbo (with)

ad)

arms akimbo with

your hands on your hips and your elbows sticking out a-kin /o'km/ adj akin to sth similar to something: The political situation here is

more akin

to dictatorship

than

democracy.

AL abbrev Alabama Ala. abbrev Alabama 1

al-a-bas-ter /'aeb.brestsr/ noun [u] white stone used for making statues and other objects used for decoration al-a-bas-ter 2 /'jBla.baestsr/ adj 1 literary very white and smooth 2 made of alabaster a la carte /,a la 'kart/ adj an a la carte menu has dishes that are priced separately instead of combined into a meal that costs a fixed price (=price that will not increase or decrease)

a-lac-ri-ty /a'laekrati/ noun with alacrity quickly and with enthusiasm [c] Br E a place and unexpected things

A-lad'din'sCave/a.Uednz 'keiv/noun that

is full

of exciting

From

the story of Aladdin in the Arabian Nights finds gold, jewels, and other valuable things in a secret place.

Al-a-mo, the /'aetamoo/ remember the Alamo

who

AmE

used for encouraging someone to continue doing something difficult a place in Texas where there was a battle between a small group of U.S. soldiers and a large Mexican army. The U.S. soldiers were all killed, but their brave efforts are still remembered.

la

mode/u

served with families

'mood/ adj, adv [never before noun] Am E cream s'nan/ trademark an organization for the

la

ice

AI-A-non / ,sl

and friends of alcoholics

1

a-larm /alarm/ noun

*•

1 [C] a piece of electrical equipment that warns you of danger, especially by making a loud noise: burglar/fire/ smoke alarm Every new house comes complete with smoke alarms. car alarm My car alarm went off in the middle set off /trigger an alarm The burglars left of the night. empty-handed after triggering the alarm. 2 [C] an alarm clock: Did you hear my alarm go off this

morning?

3

[U] fear or worry that something unpleasant or dangerous might happen: There was a note of alarm in her voice. cause for alarm (^something to be frightened of or worried about) She will need to stay in hospital tonight but there is no cause for alarm.

sound/raise the alarm to tell people about something dangerous that is happening: The other man swam to the shore to sound the alarm. -» false alarm 2

a-larm /a'larm/ verb [t] ** 1 to make someone frightened

or worried that something unpleasant or dangerous might happen: / don't want to alarm you but I think there is a serious problem. 2 to attach an alarm to something

alarm

a-larm-ist 2 /alarmist/

adj

causing unnecessary fear or

worry: alarmist reports a«las /o'la:s/ interjection often humorous an old word used for saying you are sad about something and you wish it had not happened Alas, abbrev Alaska al-ba-tross Aelbs.trDs/ noun [c] a large white ocean bird with long narrow wings

an albatross (around your neck) someone or something that causes you a lot of problems al-be-it /ol'biit/ conjunction formal used for introducing a comment that slightly changes or reduces the effect of

what you said before

it:

The United States finally

agreed, albeit unwillingly, to support the

UN action.

al-bi-no /jel'bamoo/ noun [c] a person or animal with very pale skin, white hair or fur, and pink eyes caused by a medical condition that they were born with

— al-bi-no adj

album /'aelbam/ noun

[c]

••

a CD, record, or cassette with several songs or pieces of music on it: make/record/release an album The band will release its third album in May. debut album (=a first album) a song taken from Placebo's debut album solo album George Michael's first solo album 2 a book in which you can collect things such as photographs, stamps, or autographs Together we looked through her father's photograph album. + of an album of stamps from around the world 1

:

The Alamo was

a

alderman

32

a-kim-bo /o'kimboo/

bell noun

1

[C]

warn you of something that makes you

a bell that rings to

danger 2 alarm bells [plural] something unpleasant or dangerous is going to happen: The report should set off alarm bells about standfeel

ards in education.

albumen

/'aelbjaman/ noun [u] technical the clear substance inside an egg that turns white when you cook

the egg

al-bu-min is in

/'aelbjsman/ noun [u] technical a protein that the white part of an egg, in milk, and in blood

plasma

Al-ca-traz /'aelks.traez/ a U.S. prison on a small island in the San Francisco Bay, which was almost impossible to escape from al-che-mist /'adkamist/ noun [c] someone in the Middle Ages who tried to change ordinary metals into gold

al-che-my

/'aelkami/ noun [u] 1 a type of science that people used in the Middle Ages to try to change ordinary metals into gold 2 literary any special power that seems

like magic al-co-hol /'celka.hol/ noun *•* 1 [u] drinks such as wine and beer that can make people drunk: / used to drink alcohol, but I don't any

more. alcohol abuse 2 [C/U] the substance in drinks such as wine and beer that makes you drunk 2a. a similar substance that is found in chemicals and medicines 1

al-co-hol-ic /.slka'holik/adj

••

containing alcohol: alcoholic beverages /drinks 2 affected by alcoholism alcoholic patients 3 relating to alcohol or caused by alcohol: alcoholic liver 1

:

disease

al-co-hol-ic finds

it

2

/.aelka'holik/

noun

difficult to control the

[c]

•

amount

drink: a recovering alcoholic (^someone be cured of being an alcoholic)

someone who of alcohol they is trying to

who

Alcoholics A'nonymous trademark an organization that helps alcoholics

noun [c] ** a clock that wakes you up at a particular time by making a noise a-larmed /a'larmd/ adj 1 [not usually before noun] frightened or worried that something unpleasant or dangerous might happen Don 't be alarmed, it wasn 't a serious accident. + by/at Economists are alarmed at the prospect of a new wave of lay offs. alarmed to hear/see/find sth / was alarmed to see that the men were carrying guns. 2 protected with an alarm an alarmed door alarming /s'larmir)/ adj frightening or worrying: We are getting alarming reports of refugees being rounded up

al-co-hol-ism /'slkaho.lizam/ noun [u] a medical condition that makes it difficult for you to control the amount of alcohol you drink al-cove / 'rel.koov/ noun [C] a small area in a room that is created by building part of one wall farther back than

and shot, atanalarming rate Violent crime is increasing a-larm-ing-ly adv at an alarming rate. a-larm-ist /alarmist/ noun [C] someone who makes other people frightened or worried in an unnecessary

alder-man

alarm clock

:

:

—

1

way

the rest of the wall al

den-teAel

'den.tei, ael 'denti/ adj

cooked until slightly

firm but not soft

al-der /'oldar/ noun [C] a tree that grows near water and has round leaves and long thin yellow flowers called catkins

/'oldsrman/ (plural al*der*men /'oldarman/) a male politician who is a member of the government of a city in the U.S., Canada or Australia 2 in the past, a male politician who was a senior member of a town council in England or Wales

noun

[C]

1

"

alderwoman al«der*wom>en /'oldar wimin/) noun [c] 1 a female politician who is a member of the government of a city in the U.S., Canada or Australia 2 in the past, a female politician who was a senior member of a town council in England or Wales

ale

/eil/

noun

bubbles a.

[C]

alert

(plural

a type of dark-colored beer without a glass of ale

[u]

1

/a'tert/adj

*

be alert to the symptoms of the disease.

a-lert-ness noun [u] 2 a«lert /3'l3rt/verb [t]

— a*lert«ly adv,

*

someone

in authority about a danger or problem so that they can take action to deal with it: inform: Our neighbors heard the car being broken into and to tell

alerted the police. 2 formal to tell someone about something that may affect them: warn: alert sb to sth Something in his voice alerted Paige to the real danger. alert sb to do sth We will be alerting people not to swim in the water. 3

a«lert /a'brt/ noun [C] a warning that something dangerous has happened or is going to happen: Flood alerts were issued for dozens of rivers. -» red alert

on

alert ready to take action to deal with a dangerous situation: The airplane crashed about 5 miles southeast of Carrollton, and local hospitals were placed on alert. on full alert The troops at the local base were put on full alert. on the alert paying attention to what is happening and ready to react quickly if necessary

al*fal»fa /ael'felfs/ noun [u] a plant with purple flowers that is fed to animals. Some people eat alfalfa sprouts (=young plant stems) in salads. 1

al*fres«co /ael'freskoo/ adv outside, in the open air: Meals can be served alfresco, on the terrace. 2 al'fres-co /ael'freskoo/ adj an alfresco meal is eaten outside, in the open air al-gae /'aeld3i/ noun [plural] plants that have no roots, stems, or leaves and grow in water or in other wet

/'eilioneit/ verb

[t]

1

to

make someone

dislike you, or not want to help or support you: Would they dare risk alienating public opinion'/ 2 to make someone feel that they do not belong in a place or group: The company thinks that noisy crowded restaurants are alienating older customers. 3 legal to give someone else something such as property or rights /'cilio ncitod/ adj feeling that you do not belong in a particular society, place, or group: Many single parents feel alienated from society.

al-ien-a-tion /.eilio'neifn/ noun [u] 1 the feeling that you do not belong in a particular society, place, or group: The novel is a portrait of teenage alienation. 2 the process of making someone dislike you, or not want to help or support you: The party is now suffering for its alienation of women voters. 3 legal the process of giving someone else something such as property or rights

a-light

1

/o'lait/ adj [never before noun] 1

literary if

some-

one's face or eyes are alight, their expression shows a feeling such as excitement or happiness 2 literary' bright or shining 3 mainly Br E burning: set sth alight Dozens of cars were set alight. set the world/place etc. alight to cause great excite ment, interest, or admiration: His first movie didn't exactly set the world alight.

a-light

2

/a'lait/ verb [I] formal 1 to get off a train, bus, or other vehicle 2 if a bird, insect, or other flying creature alights on something, it flies onto it and stops there: land

alight on phrasal vb [T] [alight on sth] to suddenly notice or think of something: Her eyes alighted on an extraordinary sight. [t] 1 to give your support publicly to a group, political party, or country: Many women do The not want to align themselves with the movement. union's leaders are aligned with the ruling party and the

a-lign /a'lain/ verb

military. -» nonaljgned 2 to organize things so that they line or are in the correct position in relation to other things: The graves were all perfectly aligned. 2a. to organize activities or systems so that they match or fit well together: We have closely aligned

form a straight

our research and development work with our business needs.

places

al-gal

al-ien-ate

ahien-at-ed

1 able to think in a clear and intelligent way: He's remarkably alert for his age. Regular exercise could help you to feel better, look better, and be more alert. 2 [+to] paying attention to what is happening and ready to react quickly if necessary: Parents and doctors must

1

alive

33

ahderwonrvan /'oldorwomsn/

/'aelgal/ adj

connected with algae or caused by

algae

alge-bra /'aeld33br3/ noun [u] a type of mathematics that uses letters and symbols in place of numbers al«ge«bra«ic /,aeld33'brenk/ ad] connected with algebra

— al*ge*bra*i*caMy adv

algo-rithm

/'aelgs.nSam/ noun [C] a set of rides for solving problems or doing calculations, especially rules that a computer uses 1

a-li-as /'eiliss/ noun [C] a different name that someone uses instead of their real name: Schneider entered the U.S. using the alias "Schwerte. 2

a-lignment /alammant/

noun [C/U] 1 the position that something is in when it is straight or in the correct place in relation to other things: The bridge was gradually brought into alignment. 1a. the organization of activities or systems so that they match or fit well together: The bill would bring U.S. employment law into closer alignment with global practice. 2 support for a group, political party, or country: There were two main forms of political alignment in 17th-century England. 1

a-like /a'laik/ ad] [never before noun] if people or things are alike, they are similar in some way: The two versions of the text are alike in many ways. The sisters don't really look alike. 2

•

used before a different name that someone uses instead of their real name: Zeljko Raznatovic, alias Arkan 2 mainly journalism used before the name of a character that an actor is famous for playing: Matthew Perry, alias Chandler in the TV show

a-like /a'laik/ adv

Friends

al-i-men-ta-ry ca-nal /aeli.mentari ko'nael/ noun [c] the long tube in your body that carries food from your mouth through your stomach to your anus al-i-mo-ny /'aelimooni/ noun [u] money that someone pays to support a husband or wife they are no longer married to A- line ad] an A-line skirt fits closely around the waist and is slightly wider at the bottom

a-li-as

/'eiliss/ preposition

1

al-hbi /'aehbai/ noun [C] 1 someone who has an alibi can prove that they were somewhere else when a crime was committed and so can claim to be not guilty 2 an excuse for not having done something you should have done: Constant government interference only provides management with an alibi for poor performance. alien 1 /'eilian/ noun [c] ** 1 someone who is not a citizen of the country they are living in: illegal aliens 2 a person or creature 2

a«li«en /'eili3n/adj

from a planet other than Earth

*

1 [only before noun] from a different country, race, or culture: Under the program, alien workers can enter the U.S.

2

relating to a planet other than Earth, or involving creatures from a planet other than Earth 3 completely different from what you usually do, feel, or know: strange: They found the new business environment alien and puzzling. +to The concept is totally [only before noun]

alien to her.

in the same way or in a simdar way: Not everyone acts or thinks alike. 2 used for referring to two people or things equally: It's a show that appeals to young and old alike. 1

A-

list ad] [only before noun] mainly journalism referring to the most famous, most successful, or richest group of people in society who are often seen in newspapers,

on television, a-live /a'laiv/

etc.

—compare

b-i.ist

ad] [never before noun]

**•

and not dead: My father died last year but my mother is still alive. He is lucky to be alive after his fall. stay alive The family was stealing food just to stay alive. 1

living

while still be buried /burned /captured etc. alive The dog was rescued alive after being trapped for not and gone or still existing without 1a. food. 25 days forgotten: Memories of the controversy are still very much
ka*line /'slka.lam/ sisting of an alkali 1

alkaloid

adj

containing an alkali or con-

2

al-ka-loid /'selka.bid/ adj word for alkaline all h\l function word *•*

AmE

technical

—another

All can be used in the following ways:

as a determiner (followed by an uncountable or plural noun): They had given up all hope. All children deserve encouragement.

as a predeterminer (followed by a word such as "the," "this," or "his"): / want to hear all the details. We

our money.

as a pronoun: All was quiet in the street outside, (before a relative clause): I've done all that I can to help her. (followed by of): I want to invite all of you. (after the subject of a sentence): These buildings all belong to the college, (following the pronoun object of a sentence): Pauline said goodbye to them all. (after a modal or auxiliary verb or the verb "to be"): We can all relax. The tickets had all been sold. as an adverb (before an adjective, adverb, preposition, or conjunction): Bernard was all alone in a strange city. They forgot all about everything else. 1 the whole amount of sth 1a. the whole amount or every part of something: There's no cake left. They've eaten it all. Have you spent all your money?** of We need to make sure that all of our equipment has been checked. 1b. the whole amount of a period of time: Sally had spent all her life working for others. all day/night/week/

year etc. I've been awake all night worrying. all the time (=very often or continuously) The situation is changing all the time. She needs to have someone looking after her all the time. all through It kept raining all through March. 1c. the whole of a group: entertainment for all the family 1d. the whole of a situation or problem: You can't blame it all on David. Good luck! I hope all goes well. 1 e. used in expressions for referring to every part of a place or surface: all over/around/across/along etc. We've had messages of support from all around the world. Oh, look, you spilled it all over the carpet. 2 every one every person or thing: We all enjoyed the party. No one can solve all these problems. All seven Over 90% of all astronauts were killed in the explosion. +of / want all traffic accidents result from human error. not all Not all lawyers have of you to listen carefully. large incomes.

3 used for emphasis 3a. used for emphasizing that something is completely true: I'm all in favor of giving children more freedom. Now we're going to be late, and over (^completely finished) Divorce is a very complicated business - I'll be glad when it's all over. 3b. informal used for emphasizing how strong or complete a feeling or quality is: He started to get all excited when I told him Cynthia was coming. 3c. all at once or all of a sudden very suddenly: All of a sudden there was a knock at the door. 3d. all of sth informal used for emphasizing how small an amount is: It took me all often seconds to realize what was going on. 3e. all it's

all because of you.

was just trying to make suggestions - that's all. 5 w hen the scores are equal in a game used for showing the score in a game when each of the two players or teams has scored an equal number of points: Sampras won the next point, bringing the score to 30 all.

fering. I r

1

/'aelka.bid/ noun [C/u] science a substance found in plants that is used in drugs or as a poison

lost all

all

the more/better etc even more/better etc than before: / enjoy playing tennis, and if they're willing to pay me for it - well, all the better! 3f. all too easy/few/often etc used for emphasizing that something is too easy/that there are too few/that something happens too often etc: It's all too easy to borrow money that you can't pay back. 3g. first/best/most etc of all used for emphasizing that you mean before anything else/better than anything else/more than anything else etc: First of all, I want to welcome our guest speaker. His music was the thing he loved most of all. 3h. in all probability/likelihood/honesty/seriousness etc formal used for emphasizing that something is likely/that you are being honest etc: In all likelihood, Mr. Crawford will die before his wife. / must admit, in all honesty, that progress has not been as fast as we had hoped. 4 when there is nothing more 4a. used for saying that there is nothing more except what you are mentioning: All I have left is four dollars. All we can do is sit and wait (=we cannot do anything more). 4b. that's all spoken used for saying that there is nothing more involved than what you have mentioned: / wasn't inter-

all

but almost: Mendel's research was all but forgotten. Br E 1 so tired that you cannot do anything more 2 if the price of something is all in, it includes everything all in all mainly spoken used for showing that you are considering every aspect of something:^// in all, I think it has been a very successful conference. all out having none to sell: We had some Beanie Babies last week but now we're all out. +of We're all out of the pink ones. .and all 1 used for showing that everything or everyone else is included: Barney was in his best clothes - silk tie, diamond pin and all. 2 spoken used for showing that you are considering the whole of a situation: / thought we'd go for a ride, with it being nice weather and all. be all. spoken used for telling someone what other people have said, especially when it was said in an unusual or emotional way: He's all, "I don't have to listen to you!" and she's all, "Yes, you do!" be all smiles/sweetness/charm etc used for saying that a person or situation shows a lot of a particular quality or type of behavior: She was all smiles when the all

all in

.

.

.

new be

.

boss

came

all that

in.

Am E spoken

to

be very impressive, fash-

ionable, or sexually attractive

be

all

there informal

you mean they are

if

you say someone

is all there,

intelligent

there informal if you say that someone is not all there, you mean they lack intelligence or they are crazy for all sb knows/cares mainly spoken used for saying that even if something was true, a particular person would not know/care about it: He might be a murderer, for all we know. / might as well be dead, for all you care. for all sth despite something: For all its faults, Houston is a city that you grow to love. go all out to use all your energy, strength, and determination in order to achieve something: Brazil is going

be not

all

all out to protect its markets.

in all or all told when the whole amount or number is included: In all, there are over 120 languages spoken in the city's schools. all that good/bad/big etc or not as good/bad/big etc as all that used for saying that something is not very good/bad/big etc: I didn't finish the book - it wasn't

not

all that interesting.

of all things/people/places mainly spoken used for expressing surprise that a particular thing/person/ place is the one involved in something: And now she's chosen AT

to live in

*

all-

hM prefix

1

Alaska, of all places! only: used with

many

adjectives

and

to show that something includes only the type of thing or person mentioned: an all-female band an allstar team 2 whole: used with many nouns to show that something includes the whole of something, or all the

nouns

Allah

American final. adj 1 good at doing a lot of different things, especially in sports. BrE all-round: an all-around athlete /hero Bo Jackson is a superb all-around athlete, playing several sports professionally. 2 in every way: Jimmy 's an all-around great guy. [J]

formal

if

you allay feelings such as someone feel less

fears, worries, or doubts, you make afraid, worried, or full of doubt

all 'clear, the noun a signal or announcement that tells people that a period of danger has ended: The bomb had been safely disarmed and the all clear was given, a. if someone who has been sick or injured is given the all clear, doctors tell them that they are well again

all-com-ers /'ol ,kAmarz/ noun [plural] all the people who want to take part in an activity, especially a race or competition, with no limits on their age, ability, or experience

day adj [only before noun] 1 continuing for the whole day: an all-day event/meeting 2 available at any time during the day: an all-day breakfast

all-

al-le-ga-tion / ,aeb'geijn/ noun [C often plural] ** a statement that someone has done something wrong or illegal even though this has not been proved: + of allegations of fraud and corruption +that There were allegations that the movie encouraged violence. make allegations against/ about sb / hear you've been making allegations against your ex-wife. deny allegations (=say they are not true) She denied the latest allegations. al-lege /3ied3/ verb [T] ** to say that something is true or that someone has done something wrong or illegal even though this has not been proved: +that The defense alleges that Jones was beaten up while in police custody. be alleged to have done sth He is alleged to have ordered the murder of a U.S. citizen. al-leged /a'led3d/ adj [only before noun] ** claimed to be true, even though this has not been proved: The alleged victim's evidence could not be relied upon.

al-leg-ed'ly /3'led33dli/ adv * if someone allegedly does something, another person says that they have done it, even though this has not been proved: The second incident allegedly occurred in the spring of 1992. [c/u] strong loyalty to a person, group, idea, or country

al-le-giance /3'lid3ans/ noun

al-le-go-ry /'aebgsri/ noun [C/u] a story, play, poem, or picture in which the events and characters are used as symbols in order to express a moral, religious, or political idea a. [U] in literature, the use of events and aMe-gor'i'cal/.aeb'gonkl/ adj, characters as symbols

—

al-le-gor-i-cal-ly / .aeb'gonkli/ adv 1 /a'legroo/ adv in music, an instruction that aMe«gro adj a piece should be played or sung quickly 2 al-le-gro /s'legroo/ noun [C] a piece of music that should be played or sung quickly aMe-lu-ia /.aeb'luja/ interjection another spelling of hallelujah all-envbra-cing I p\ im'breisirj/ adj including everything or everyone a simple Al-len wrench /'aebn ,rentJ7 noun [c] L-shaped metal tool used for turning a screw that has a hole with six sides in the top al-ler-gen / 'aebrd^sn/ noun [C] medical a substance that produces an allergic reaction in someone

aMe»gro

—

AmE

aMer-gic

reaction 2 [+to] humorous if thing, you do not like it at

/a'l3rd3ik/ adj 1 [+to] affected by an allergy: I'm allergic to nuts. 1a. caused by an allergy: an allergic

you are all:

allergic to someI'm allergic to Monday

morning.

al-ler-gy f'xterd&/ noun (c/u) a medical condition in which you become sick or your skin becomes covered with red marks as a reaction to something you eat, breathe, or touch: a food allergy She has an allergy to cow's milk. /.Vlivi.eit/ verb [T] to make something less painful, severe, or serious: The doctor has prescribed some drugs to alleviate the pain. The U.N.'s most important objective is to alleviate world poverty.

al-le-vi-ate

aMey/'aeli/noun [C] • 1 a narrow street or passage between or behind The attack occurred

ings:

2

Am E one of the two

in

a dark

— picture -^(.w

when

build-

alley.

narrow areas

tennis court that are used

alia round

a May /a 'lei /verb

all-nighter

35

people or things of that type: an all-night celebration 3 including everything: used with some adjectives and participles to show that something includes everything, or to add emphasis: all-encompassing peace talks Al-lah / ab, 'zeta/ the name of God in Islam all along adv from the time that a situation starts to happen: / knew all along that it wasn't his real name. ail-American adj 1 an all-American player is a student at a high school, college, or university in the U.S. who has officially been called one of the best in their particular sport 2 an all-American boy or girl has all the good qualities that many people in the U.S. consider typically American, for example being attractive and healthy, and working hard: an ail-American girl from the heart of Kansas 3 made up only of people or things from the U.S.: It's going to be an ail-

at either side of a

four people are playing

be right up sb's alley informal to be what someone likes or is good at doing: Teaching computers to adults that sounds right up my alley! -» BLIND ALLEY 'alley ,cat noun [c] a cat that lives in the streets of a town or city and is not being taken care of by anyone aMey«way /'ieli.wei/ noun [c] an alley

al-li-ance/a'laians/ noun

**

1 [C/U] an arrangement between two or more people, groups, or countries by which they agree to work together to achieve something: + between an alliance between conservative Democrats and moderate Republicans

+with Successive French governments maintained the alliance with Russia. enter into/form/forge an alliance Independent companies are encouraged to form strategic alliances to help them compete. in alliance with sb (= working together with someone) a marketing campaign by Apple in alliance with other names 2 [C] a group of people, organizations, or countries who have united to work together to achieve something: members of other parties within the alliance 2a. the Alli-

ance [singular] nato al-lied Aelaid; s'laid/adj • 1 Allied [only before noun] belonging to or connected with the countries that united to fight against Germany in World Wars I and II, or against Iraq in the Gulf War: Allied soldiers/forces Allied forces landed in Normandy

summer of 1944. related because of having shared qualities or inter-

in the

2

ests: library science

3

and

allied subjects

if something is allied to or with something connected with it or working together with it: Tax increases, allied to a collapse in export markets, have

[+to/with]

else,

it is

seriously hurt industry. al*li-ga-tor /'aeli.geitar/ noun [c] a large reptile with a long tail, four short legs, a long pointed mouth, and sharp teeth that lives in parts of the U.S. and China. Alligators are amphibious (=they can live both in water and on land), and they are closely related to crocodiles. all-im portant adj very important or the most important of all: We learned what to do in those all-important few minutes after an accident occurs. all-in adj Br E all-inclusive all-in elusive adj including everyone or everything,

especially all the costs, charges, and services that make up the total price of something: a package tour at an allinclusive price of $350

all-in-one adj [only before noun] made up of two or more parts that form a single unit or have a single purpose or use: an all-in-one Internet appliance ahlit-er-a-tion /ohto'reijn/ noun [u] linguistics the use of the same letter or sound at the beginning of words in a sentence, especially in poetry

all-night

adj [only before noun] 1 an all-night party, etc. continues until the next morning: on allnight vigil for peace 2 an all-night store, restaurant, bus service, etc. continues to operate for the whole night:

meeting,

all-night supermarket shopping

all-nighter noun

[C] something that continues for the whole night, especially a party a. Am E informal a whole night that you spend studying while you are in college. You say that you pull an all-nighter when you

study

all night.

"

"

allocate

all

36

al-lo-cate /'sta.keit/ verb (T) • to officially give something to someone, or decide that something can be used

of something that you are officially allowed by a particular set of rules or by the law: the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C* Your baggage

for a specific purpose: Our task is to decide the best way to allocate scarce resources. No agreement was reached on how much money should be allocated. allocate sb sth We allocate each student a personal tutor. allocate sth to sb/sth The committee allocates funds to universities. allocate sth for sth We're not saying that these sites should

allowance

finished the

test in the allotted

time?

out

ad 1 an all-out effort involves all of someone's energy, strength, and determination: There was an allout push to get the applications in on time. 2 an all-out war or attack involves all the forces that are available: an all-out assault/ offensive/ conflict

all-

all-over pletely:

al-low

ad]

an

covering the surface of something com-

all-over tan

/s'lau/ verb

1 give

[T]

•••

permission

2 give sb an opportunity 3 provide enough of sth

4 in a court of law 5 accept sth is true + PHRASES

someone permission

to do or have something: I'm sorry, sir, but smoking is not allowed. allow sb to do sth She only allows the children to watch television on the weekends. I'm not allowed to drive my dad's car. allow sb sth Some prisoners are allowed visitors. allow yourself sth I'm on a diet but I allow myself an occasional piece of cake. allow sb in/back/through etc. If you leave the club, you will not be allowed back in. 2 to give someone or something the time or opportunity to do something: allow sth to do sth Allow the cake to cool for five minutes before taking it out of the pan. allow sb to do sth Unfortunately, they didn't allow me to explain the thinking behind my decision. 2a. if something such as an object or situation allows you to do something, it makes it possible for you to do it: allow sb to do sth A VCR allows you to record programs and watch them later. 3 to make certain that you have enough of something such as time, food, or money for a particular purpose: Please allow 28 days for delivery. How much rice do you allow for each person? 4 legal to decide that a piece of information is acceptable in a court of law: This evidence will not be allowed 1

to give

in court.

5

formal to admit or accept that something is She allowed that the matter was serious. phrasal vb [T] [allow for sth] to consider something when making a plan or calculation: The cost of the new road, allowing for inflation, is around $17 million. The survey does not allow for the fact that some students [+that]

true:

allow for

are attending part-time.

al-low-a-ble /a'laosbl/ adj allowed by a particular set of rules or by the law: Meals are an allowable expense. noun [c] ** 1 an amount of money that parents give a child regularly: I had to pay for the broken window out of my

allowance /a'lausns/

allowance. 1a. an amount of money that someone receives regularly, in order to pay for the things they need: She receives a monthly allowance of $500. a housing/ clothing allowance (=money given to help people with their rent, clothes, or heating) The overseas placement includes a housing allowance. 1b. Br E a tax exemption

pounds. (for) 1

to accept

behav-

you would not normally accept because you know why someone has behaved that way: We have to ior that

make allowances for his lack of experience. 2 to consider something when making a plan or calculation: My calculations make allowance for two paid employees. al-loy /'ae.bi/ noun [c/u] a metal that is made by combining two or more metals all-points bulletin noun [c] Am E an apb

all-powerful

,

adj having complete control over everyone or everything: omnipotent: He denied the existence of an all-powerful God. all-, purpose ad] able to be used in a lot of different ways: an all-purpose stain remover all-purpose flour noun [u] AmE ordinary flour that contains no baking powder. Br E plain flour 1 all right adj. adv mainly spoken •••

al-lot-ment /a'latmant/ noun deciding to give someone part

1 [u] the process of of an amount of something, especially money or time: the allotment of shares to employees 1a. [C] part of an amount of something that is given to someone: an allotment of tickets 2 [C] BrE a small piece of land in a town or city in the U.K. that you can rent and use for growing vegetables

is 75

make allowance/allowances

be allocated for development.

al-lo-ca-tion /.aeb'keijn/ noun • 1 [C] an amount or share of something that is given to someone or used for a particular purpose: The team has received an additional allocation of tickets. 2 [u] the process of deciding to give an amount or share of something to someone: the allocation offunds all-or-nothing adj involving either the whole of something or none of it: The legal system seems to take an allor-nothing approach to punishing young offenders. al'lot /a'lat/ verb [T] to give someone part of an amount of something that is available, or decide that something will be used for a specific purpose: How many students

right

2 an amount

1 fairly/very

2 going

5 6

good

well

3 for permission

4

for

making sb less upset

for admitting sth

+ PHRASES

not hurt/sick

1 satisfactory or fairly pleasant, but not excellent: Chicago's all right, but I'd rather live in New York. My teacher is all right, but she doesn't really listen to me. 1a. very good or nice: "What's the new guy like?" "He's all right!" 2 going well or happening successfully: go all right Did the party go all right?* do all right (=be fairly successful) My brother was unemployed for years but he's doing all right now. 3 used for saying that you will allow someone to do something, or you do not mind if they do it: okay: be all be all right to do sth It's all right to skip some questions. right if sb does sth Is it all right if I open the window?* be right "Is it all all right with /by sb (=they do not mind) with you if I bring a friend?" "Yeah, that's all right by

me!"

4

not hurt or sick: okay: You look terrible, are you all right?* The car's wrecked, but he's all right. 5 used for making someone feel less worried or upset: okay: It's all right, I'm here. Don't cry, everything's going to be all right. 6 used for admitting that something is true, especially when this is not the most important fact in a situation: He's attractive all right, but he's not that bright. it's/that's all right used when someone has thanked you or said sorry to you, to show that you do not mind: "Thanks for the lift. " "That's all right. (it's) all right for sb spoken used for saying that is lucky because they do not have the same problems as you: It's all right for you, you've got a car,

someone

but I have to take the bus home. right for some (people) Br E spoken used for saying that you think someone is very lucky (it's) all

all 'right

2

interjection

•••

1 for

agreeing to sth

2 3

checking agreement

for

for showing you heard

4 forgetting attention 5 for admitting sth 6 for saying hello

1 used for agreeing with a suggestion or agreeing to do something: "Should we ask Kate to come too?" "All right. " "Will you call me when you get there?" "Y&>, all right." 1a. used for agreeing to do something or agreeing to let someone else do something, although you do not really want to: "Can't we stay a little longer?" "Oh, all right, but just five minutes."

for checking that someone understands or agrees: This is where you plug the keyboard in, all right? 3 used for showing that you have heard or understood what someone has said: "We need to leave in ten minutes. "All right, I'll be ready. " 3a. used for showing that you have heard or understood what someone has said and you are annoyed with them for repeating it: "Will you please clean up your bedroom?" "All right! I'm going to!" 4 used for getting someone's attention when you want to start talking about or doing something new: ,4// right,

2 used

E

E

M

all-round open your books to page 23. All right, let's go. 4a. used for getting someone's attention when you want to ask what they are doing or what is happening, especially when you are annoyed: All right children, what's going on here? 5 used when you are going to admit something: okay: / waited for hours. All right, I'm exaggerating, but it seemed like hours. used for saying hello to someone class,

6BrE

all-round adj Br all-around all-rounder noun [c] BrE someone who doing a all-

an is

is

good

at

lot of different things, especially in sports

singing,

"

all-

dancing

adj [only before noun]

Br

all-singing, all-dancing system or piece of equipment very advanced and able to do everything you want it

along used for emphasizing how great, loud, or serious something is: an almighty bang /crash

God/Christ Almighty offensive used for emphasizing what you are saying, especially when you are angry or surprised

Almight-y, the /al'maiti/ god al-mond /'umond, a'lmond/ noun

[Cj 1 a flat white nut with a brown skin that is often used in cooking 2 a small tree with pink flowers that produces almonds al-most/'almoost/adv nearly but not completely: "Are you ready?" "Almost! I'm just putting my shoes on. The baby's almost It's almost a year since she died. walking now. almost all Almost all of the students here are from South America. almost every/everyone/everything almost as. .as etc. Almost everything was lost in the fire. Sam 's almost as tall as his mother. almost certainly Anne will almost certainly get the job, don t you think?

***

.

to

/'ol.spais/ noun [u] a powder made from the fruit of a tropical tree that is added to food to give it

all-spice

extra flavor

all-star ad) [only before noun] containing only very famous or very good performers or sports players: an all-star cast/ team All-Star 'game noun [c] a baseball game played every

summer

in the U.S. that the best professional players take part in

.all-terrain 'vehicle noun [c] a vehicle with no roof, three or four wheels, and usually only one seat, used for driving over rough, soft, or wet ground

all-time someone

adj

[only

noun]

before

comparing

used for

alms /amz/

noun [plural] old-fashioned money, food, or clothes given to poor people

al-oe /'slou/ noun

[C] a plant with thick pointed leaves that contain a lot of liquid

vena /,aeloo 'vira/ noun [u] the thick liquid from the leaves of a type of aloe, used in medicines and in creams that you use on your skin

al-oe

literary high up in the air a>lo*ha /a'loo.ha; s'loua/ interjection hello or goodbye: used especially by people who live in Hawaii alone /a'loon/ function word •••

a*loft /a'bft/ adv

or something with all the other people or things of the same type that have ever existed: Bogart has got to be one of the all-time greats. Interest rates are

at

an

/a'lud/ verb allude

[allude to sth] to

indirect

,to

phrasal vb

[T]

formal

knows where

fight against Germany in Iraq in the Gulf War

World Wars I and

II,

or against

[C] someone who is ready to help you, especially against someone else who is causing problems for you: If you're going to succeed in this job you will need allies.

2

/a'lai; 'ae.lai/

Kim prefers

to travel alone.

He alone

the files are hidden.

without anyone with you la. il you are alone, there is no one else with you: Shelley is divorced and lives all alone ^completely alone) She was all alone alone. in a dark forest, lb. used when two people are together and no one else is there: It was forbidden for an unmar+ with Roger hadn had ried couple to be alone together. 1

al'lure /s'lor/ noun [u] a special, exciting, and attractive quality that something or someone has: sexual allure* + of the allure of gambling al-lur-ing /s'lonn/ adj attractive in an exciting way aMu'Sion /a'lu3n/ noun [c/u] a statement that refers to something in an indirect way: Horvath made an allusion to some problems in his past. al-lu-vi«al /a'luvisl/ adj technical made of earth and sand left by rivers or floods allu-vi-um /a'luviam/ noun [C/u] technical dirt containing earth and sand left by rivers or floods 1 al«ly /'ae.lai; aiai/ noun •• 1 [C] a country that makes an agreement with another country that they will work together to help each other, especially in a war: the United States and its European allies 1a. the Allies [plural] the countries that united to

verb

with another country,

[T] it

1

if

a country allies

itself

makes an agreement with

it

that they will work together to help each other, especially in a war 2 if you ally yourself with someone, you work together to help each other

Am

E a restaurant that serves alladj you-can-eat food will continue serving you as much of that food as you want for a fixed price (=price that will not increase or decrease): all-you-can-eat golden fried

all-you-can- eat

shrimp

al-ma ma-ter / .alms

'matar/ noun [singular] 1 the high school, college, or university where you were a student 2 E the official song of a high school, college, or

Am

university

alma-nac

as an adverb:

mention someone or something in an

way

in

the house.

all-time high.

allude

aMy2

Alone can be used in the following ways: as an adjective (never before a noun): / was alone

/'olmanaek, 'slms.naek/ noun [C] 1 a book published every year that tells you about the movements of the planets, the times of the tides, and the dates of important events 2 a book published every year that tells you about what happened in a particular subject or activity al-might'y/ol'maiti/adj 1 Almighty used for emphasizing that God is believed to have power over everyone and everything: Let us pray to Almighty God. 2 informal

't

a chance before to be alone with Therese. 2 lonely feeling that you have no friends and that no one cares about you: Jim said goodnight and left, feeling alone in the world (=not having any sad and alone. friends anywhere) I felt completely alone in the world.

3 without any help you do

it

3a. if you do something alone, without any help from other people: He is so

severely disabled that he cannot

manage

Was

alone.

the

3b. go it alone to live, work, or decisions on your own, without any help from other people: More women are going it alone in business. killer acting alone?

make

4 without

including anything else [never before noun] without including numbers or amounts from anywhere else: Kazakhstan alone had more than 100 different nationShe earned over a million dollars from television alities. appearances alone last year. 5 the only person or thing 5a. [never before noun] used for emphasizing that a particular person or thing is the only one that has something or can do something: He alone was allowed to make decisions on foreign policy. Time alone will show whether the voters made the right choice. 5b. be alone in (doing) sth [usually in negatives or questions] to be the only person that does something: Miller was not alone in his opposition to the war. alone in thinking that Biggs could be wrong?

Am

I

leave/let sb alone to stop annoying or criticizing someone: / wish they'd just leave me alone. leave/let sth alone 1 if you leave something alone, you do not do anything to it or touch it: Leave those flowers alone - you 're going to ruin them. 2 to stop Drying to deal with something

along

/o'bn/ function word

Along can be used

*•*

in the following

ways:

as a preposition (followed by a noun): Street and turn left.

Go along South

as an adverb (without a following noun): the children along? 1 moving on or beside a line 1a. a line, road, path. etc. toward one

Can

I

bring

moving forward on end of it: Mrs. Klein

1

alongside

alteration

38 2

was hurrying along the path toward us. We walked along in silence. 1b. moving from one place to another while

al-pine /'^el.pain/ noun high mountains

staying near the side or edge of something: They were sailing along the southern coast of Australia.

already

2 used

for

showing where sb or sth

is

2a. continuing

in a line on or beside a road, river, wall, etc.: The stores along 5th Avenue were brightly lit for Christmas. a line of trees along the river bank 2b. at a place on or beside a road, river, etc.: The sound of gunfire was coming from somewhere along the road. 3 coming here or going there 3a. coming to the place where someone is, or going to the place where something is happening: Finally a taxi came along, and we jumped in. 3b. used for saying that you take someone or something with you when you go somewhere: Do you mind if I come along too?* Bring the whole family along. Be sure to take your notes along with you.

along with used for mentioning additional people or things that are also included or involved in something:

Ramos was

arrested along with eleven other men.

be getting/coming along used for saying how well someone is progressing or succeeding: How is your garden coming along? + with How are you getting along with your Russian? a-long-side /a'bin.said/ function word **

Alongside can be used

in the following ways:

as a preposition (followed by a noun): drove up alongside us.

A police car

as an adverb (without a following noun): Peter was riding on a donkey with his father walking alongside. 1 close to the side of sth along the side of something or close to the side of it: The railroad track runs alongside the road. The Russian flag was flying alongside the

American Stars and Stripes. 2 working with sb 2a. if you work alongside someone, you work with them in the same place and for the same purpose: Volunteers worked alongside professional construction workers in a massive reconstruction program. Leslie Caron starred alongside Maurice Chevalier in the musical Gigi. 2b. if you play or fight alongside someone in a game or war, you play or fight in the same team or on the same side with them: In the battle, British troops fought alongside U.S. marines. 3 as important as sb/sth important enough to be considered as being in the same class as someone or something else that is well known: When he dies he will take his place alongside Shakespeare and Dickens as one of the truly great writers of his time. 4 existing together if different systems, processes, or ideas exist alongside each other, they exist at the same time: In Hong Kong a communist government and a capitalist economy operate alongside each other. 5 in comparison with sb/sth used for showing that

you are comparing one person or thing with another: Our profits seem small alongside those of the big multinational companies. /a'luf/ adj someone who is aloof, or who remains or stays aloof from something, is not friendly or does a*loof*ness not want to be involved in something

a-loof

—

noun

[u]

a-loud /a'laud/ adv

*

loud enough for other people to hear: The teacher would read aloud to the group.

al-pac-a /ael'paska/ noun 1 [C] a South American animal with a long neck and long hair that is related to the llama 2 [U] the soft cloth made from the hair of an alpaca al-pha-bet /'aelfa.bet/ noun [C] * a set of letters in a particular order that are used for writing a language

or al-pha-bet-ic /.aelfs'betikl/ /.aelfs'betik/ adj arranged according to the order of letters in the alphabet: Here is a list of words in alphabetical order. al*pha*bet*i*caMy /.aelfa'betikli/ adv

al-pha-bet-i-cal

*

—

al'pha-bet'ize

/'aelfabe.taiz/ verb alphabetical order: an alphabetized

[T]

to put a list in

list

alpha male noun

[C] a man or male animal that behaves in a confident or threatening way adj using letters

al*pha*nu*mer*ic /.aelfanu'menk/ and numbers

al*pine 1 /'ael,pam/ adj relating to high mountains, especially the mountains of the European Alps: an alpine resort

[c]

a small plant that grows on

*••

/ol'redi/ adv

1 before now used for saying that something has happened before now or before another point in time: He's only 24, but he's already achieved worldwide fame. The gang leader had already left the country. Put your wallet

away.

I've already paid for everything. for saying that a situation has started to exist and still continues: By the time the doctor arrived, I was already beginning to feel better. Why waste time telling people things that they already know? 3 before you expected sooner than you were expecting: What, tired already? I don't believe it! Is it twelve o'clock already? 4 used for emphasizing a bad situation if you say that a bad situation exists already, you mean that you do not want it to get any worse: Look, I already have enough problems as it is. We'd better hurry - we're twenty minutes

2 continuing from the past used

late already.

5 immediately Am E spoken used for telling someone they should do something immediately: Stop messing around and get in here already! -> enough 2a that

-» YET

a l«r ight / o\ 'rait / adj, adv all right. Many people consider this to be incorrect.

Ahsa-tian /ael'seiJW noun [C] BrE a German shepherd al-so / 'dIsg-u/ adv ••* 1 used for adding another fact or idea to what you have already said: Ken is a good photographer who also loves to draw and paint. The electric drill can also be used as a screwdriver. Not only is it a comfortable and stylish hotel,

it's

also a popular meeting place.

2 used for showing that what you have just said about someone or something is true about another person or thing: Jeremy is now at Cornell College, where his father not only. ..but also The proposal has the also studied. support not only of a majority of Democrats but also of several Republicans.

Also, as well, and too are

all

used with a similar

meaning.

You can use as well

when you are telling Shut the door, and shut the or too

someone what to do: windows too/as well. But you should not use also

in

this way.

end of a clause: My wife speaks French, too. But also usually comes in the middle of a clause, either before the verb, after an auxiliary or modal, or after the verb to be: She also speaks French. She can also speak French. He was also a fine musician. Also is sometimes used for

As well and too come

at the

starting a sentence.

Also

is not normally used with negatives. Not. . .either is used instead: I don't know him, and Mary doesn 1 either.

[c] someone who is not successful, espesomeone who loses an election or competition noun [C] a special table where religious

also-ran noun cially

altar

/'oltar/

ceremonies are performed, especially in a Christian church 'altar ,boy noun [c] a boy who helps a priest in a religious service, especially in the Catholic

al-ter /'oltar/ verb

Church

•*

1 [T] to make something or someone different: He This doesn't alter altered his appearance with surgery. the fact that what you did was wrong. 1a. [l] to become different: The situation has altered radically since last week. 2 [T] to make small changes to a piece of clothing so that it fits better E to remove the testicles from a male animal 3 [T]

Am

or the ovaries from a female animal

al-ter-a-tion /plts'reifn/ noun ** 1 U the process of making a change in the appearance or form of something: Alteration of the apartment without the landlord's permission is forbidden, la. [C] a change in the appearance or form of something: The editor made a few minor alterations to the text. Have you noticed any [

]

alteration in her behavior?

altercation 2 [C] make

it fit

made

to a piece of clothing to correctly: I'm having some alterations made

to the dress.

al-ter-ca-tion /pltar'keifn/ noun [c] formal a noisy argument alter 'ego noun [c] 1 a part of someone's personality that is different from their usual personality and that other people do not usually see 2 a very close friend alternate 1 / 'oltar.neit/ verb 1 [I] if one thing alternates with another, it happens after it and keeps being repeated: + with Wet days alternated with dry ones. 1a. if someone or something alternates between two things, they keep changing between them: + between His mood alternates between joy and despair. 2 [T] to choose one thing or situation and then another, and keep repeating that pattern: Lay the shapes on the fabric, alternating the colors. alternate sth with sth The class allows students alternate work with education. to al-ter-na-tion /.oltar'neijn/ noun [C/U] 2 al-ter-nate /bltarnat; ol't3rn3t/adj [usually before noun]

—

* 1 happening or coming one after another, in a regular pattern: alternate periods of good and bad weather a pattern of alternate red and green stars 2 happening on one day, week, etc. but not on the day, week, etc., that immediately follows: I go and visit him on alternate weekends. 3 allowing you to choose a different plan, thing, or situation from one you already have: alternative: I don't suppose you have an alternate plan in case you are sick on that day. We can't get home tonight, because there are no alternate flights. al-ter-nate- ly adv

—

3

al-ter-nate /bltarnat; ol'tsrnat/ noun [c] AmE someone who takes the place of another person, especially in sports: She's

and can

't

my

alternate if I'm sick or injured /pltar.neitirj

'kArant/ noun

a flow of electric current that changes direction at

a very fast rate al-ter-na-tive /al't3rnativ/ noun [C] •** something that you can choose instead of something else: Can you suggest an alternative? There was no alternative but to close the road until February. + to The treatment is offered as an alternative to surgery. 2 al-ter-na-tive /al't3rnativ/ adj [only before noun] •* 1 different from something else and able to be used instead of it: Alternative methods of getting there will be 1

investigated.

2

not traditional: an alternative companies were criticized for failing

lifestyle

to

Electricity

develop alternative

energy sources.

al-ter-na-tive-ly /al't3rnativli/ adv used for making another suggestion: We could drive all the way. Alternatively,

we could fly.

[u] medical treatment using methods that are different from the usual Western scientific methods, for example homeopathy and acupuncture -» COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE al-ter-na-tor / 'altar ,neitar/ noun [c] a piece of equipment, especially in a vehicle, that produces an electric current that keeps changing direction as it flows although /ol'dou/ conjunction 1 used for introducing a statement that makes your main statement seem surprising: Although he's got a She used to call me good job now, he still complains. "Tiny" although I was at least as tall as she was. Davidson fought bravely, and although badly wounded, he

***

refused to surrender. 2 used for introducing a statement that makes what you have just said seem less true or less likely: She's a very popular author, although personally I find her books rather boring. The Lamberts liked their new home, although sometimes they missed their friends.

and

is

is

an altitude of 35,000 feet

The Rocky Mounaltitude than the Himalayas Most

tains are lower in balloons will burst at high altitude.

woman who has the lowest man who has the highest adult male singing voice 3 a musical instrument in the same range as an alto singing voice

al-to /'aeltou/ noun [C] 1 a female singing voice 2 a

al-to-geth-er /plta'gedar/adv •*• 1 used for emphasizing that something has stopped or ended completely: Many commuters have stopped using 1

their cars altogether. These rare animals may soon disappear altogether. 1a. used for emphasizing that something is completely ignored or forgotten: / never mentioned our quarrel and Henry seemed to have forgotten it altogether. The problem is too serious to be ignored altogether. 1b. used for emphasizing that what you are saying is true in every way: She looked altogether charming in her white dress. This is a new idea altogether. 1c. not altogether not completely: / was not altogether surprised to hear that Bennet had resigned. 2 used for showing that a total number or amount includes everyone or everything: Altogether, about 50

NATO aircraft took part

in the attack.

How many guests

will there be altogether?

3 used

for introducing a summary of what you have just said: The weather was great and the people were friendly - altogether a perfect trip.

Do not confuse altogether with all together, which means "everyone or everything together": Write down the numbers and add them all together. 2

al-to-geth-er /.alta'gedar/ noun in the altogether humorous not wearing any clothes al-tru-ism / 'aeltru.izam/ noun [u] a way of thinking and behaving that shows you care about other people and their interests more than you care about yourself al-tru-ist noun [U] al-tru-is-tic /,a?ltru'istik/ adj thinking or behaving in a way that shows you care about other people and their interests more than you care about yourself

— al-tru-is-ti-cal-ly /.aeltru'istikli/ adv

[C] Am E informal someone who was a student at a particular high school, university, or college: +of She and I are alums of the same university. al-u-min-i-um /.aela'mmiam/ the BrE spelling of alu-

al-um / 'slam/ noun

minum [u] • a light silver used, for example, to make cans,

a-lu-mi-num /a'lummam/ noun colored metal that

is

cooking equipment, and aircraft parts: an aluminum can 'foil noun [u] a very thin light sheet of shiny metal that you can wrap food in to keep it fresh

aluminum

a'lunvna/a'lAmna/ (plural a*lum*nae/a'l.\m,nai. noun [C] formal a woman who was a student ticular school, college, or university: a

alternative medicine noun

Though

jet cruising at

—

race.

alternating current [uj

always

39

a small change

used with the same meaning as although, in spoken English.

more common

al-tim-e-ter /ael'timitar; 'aeltixnitar/ noun [c] a piece of equipment in an aircraft that tells you the height of the aircraft above sea level (=the surface of the sea) al-ti-tude /'aelti.tud/ noun [C/U] • the height of a place or thing above sea level (=the surface of the ocean): a

a'lAmni/) at a par-

Harvard alumna

a«lum«nus/a'lAinnas/ (plural a*lum*ni/a'lAm,nai, o'l\nini/) noun [C] formal someone who was a student at a particular school, college, or university: Yale alumni a. someone who used to be a member of a sports team, musical group, company, etc.: Microsoft alumni al-ve-o-lar /.aslvi'oolar, sl'vialar/ noun [c] linguistics a consonant sound such as "1," "d," "n," or "t," made with the tongue touching the skin behind your top front teeth

— al-ve-o-lar adj

al-ways 1

/'al.weiz/ adv

•••

on every occasion: / always get the eight o'clock bus. mother and I do not always agree. Starting a new job

My is

2

bit of a shock. the time: Is he always this silly?

always a all

pen

in

There's always a

my purse.

3 for all time in the past: I've always liked Sarah. Has your grandmother always lived with you? 3a. for all time in the future: / will always think of you when I hear this There will always be a demand for English teachers. song. 4 used for saying that something happens often, especially when this annoys you: He's always forgetting my name. People from work were always calling her up at home.

as always as on every other occasion: As always, her father was there to meet her. I/you/they etc. could always spoken used for making a suggestion: You could always iron the shirt yourself.

1

always-on .

I

.

am

P.M.

From

the Latin expression ante meridiem meaning "before noon."

AM A, the

/ ,ei em 'ei/ American Medical Association: an organization that represents doctors in the U.S. a-mal-gam /a'maelgam/ noun 1 [C] formal a combination of two or more things: + of an amalgam of local

traditions 2 [C/U] technical a substance used for filling holes in teeth, made from a mixture of metals

amalga-mate

/a'maelgs.meit/ verb 1 [T] to join two or more organizations, businesses, etc., and make a single large one: amalgamate sth with sth There are plans to amalgamate the village school with a larger one nearby. la. [I] if two organizations amalgamate, they join and make one large organization: Profits have increased since the companies amalgamated last year. + with We were asked to amalgamate with another local group. 2 [l/T] to combine with another thing or to combine two or more things

a-mal-ga-ma-tion /a.maelga'meifn/ noun

[c/u]

1

a

process in which two organizations join and make one large one: the amalgamation ofSetco with Bertrand's 2 a process in which two or more things are combined: an amalgamation of all our proposals

amanuensis /a.masnju'ensis/ noun secretary, especially one

who

[c] very formal

a

helps a writer or artist

amass

/s'maes/ verb [T] to collect a lot of something such as money or information over a period of time: They had amassed a fortune worth about $51 billion in today 's money. 1

am-a-teur 1

*

/'aematsr, 'aems.tjur/ noun [c]

someone who does something because they enjoy

it

instead of as a job

2 someone who does

not do something very well: Let's show them what a bunch of amateurs they are.

anva«teur 2 1

done

*

/'aem3t3r; 'aema.tfur/ adj for pleasure instead of as a job: amateur sports

la. used about someone who does something because they enjoy it and not as their job: an amateur golfer/ photographer / painter 2 done or made in a way that shows a lack of skill

— compare professional

amateurish made

without

1

la

/'aematanj;

much

'aema.tjunj/ adj done or amateurish work

skill:

— anva'teufisfvly adv, anva*teur»ish*ness noun [U] anva-to-ry

'aems.tori/ adj literary expressing or sexual feelings /

romantic

/s'meiz/ verb [i/t] * to surprise someone very much, especially by being very impressive: These guys what continue to amaze with their excellent music. amazes me is that/ it amazes me that What amazes me is sth never ceases to amaze sb that they never get tired. (=it is always surprising) It never ceases to amaze me what people will do to get on television.

a-maze

a*mazed

/a'meizd/ adj [not usually before noun] very surWe were absolutely amazed at the response to

prised: + at our appeal. interested.

amazed

ambivalence

10

it/this was always going to be. used for saying that something has been true from the very start: This was always going to be a difficult game to win. there's always used for making a suggestion: There's always Sue if Jane isn't available. always-on ad] computing an always-on Internet connection allows you to remain online (=connected to the Internet) all the time AlZ'heiiTver'sdis-ease/'ultshairnarzdi.ziz/noun [u] a serious illness affecting your brain that makes it difficult for you to remember things and becomes worse as time passes. Alzheimer's disease is often simply called Alzheimer's. / weak am; strong aem/ see be a.m. /,ei 'em/ abbrev used after a time for showing that it is between midnight and noon: 9:00 a.m. —compare

+(that) Frankly, I

was amazed

be amazed to see /hear/ learn

to learn that

she had

left

that he

etc.

We

was were

the hospital $18 million.

a-maze-ment /a'meizmsnt/ noun

[u] a feeling of being very surprised: in amazement They were shaking their heads in amazement. to sb's amazement To my amaze-

ment, he actually refused to help me.

amazing /a'meizin/ adj •• very surprising: She

1

told

me an amazing

story.

It's

amazing how stupid people can

be. la. used about somealso very impressive: Their last CD sold an amazing 2 million copies. / think you are doing an amazing job with those children. 2 mainly spoken very pleasant or enjoyable: We had an amazing time in Thailand. What an amazing meal! a*maz»ing«ly adv: The weekend has gone by amazingly

thing surprising that

is

—

fast.

ama-zon

/'aemszan, 'aemozon/ noun

[c]

a

tall

strong

woman From the name of the Amazons, a fighters in ancient Greek stories.

group of

woman

am-bas-sa-dor /am'baesadar/ noun [c] •* 1 a senior official who lives in a foreign country and represents his or her own country there. An ambassador is responsible for an office called an embassy: + to the Egyptian ambassador to Belize 2 someone who is considered to represent an activity, organization, company, etc.: Louis Armstrong, one of jazz's most popular ambassadors

ambassadorial

/aem.baesa'dorisl/ adj relating to

an ambassador

anvber

1

/'aembar/ noun [u] a hard yellow-brown substance used for making jewelry

anvber2

/'aembar/

adj

between brown and yellow in

color

am-bi-ance /'aembians/ another spelling of ambience am-bi'dex'trous / .aembi'dekstrss/ adj able to use your right

hand and your

left

hand with equal

skill

anvbi-ence

/'aembians/ noun [C/u] the character of a place or the feeling you have about it: The bar had a comfortable ambience.

am*bi«ent

1

/'aembiant/ adj technical existing or present

around you: ambient sound a. ambient temperature is the temperature of the surrounding air anvbi-ent 2 /'aembiant/ noun [u] a type of music that developed as a reaction against disco and dance music and that uses relaxing electronic sounds, usually without strong beats or singing: chillout

am-bi-gu-i-ty /.aembi'gjusti/ noun * 1 [C] something that is not clear because it has more than one possible meaning: There seem to be some ambiguities in the rules. 1a. [u] a lack of clear and exact use of words, so that more than one meaning is possible: Try to avoid ambiguity and keep your comments brief.

2

[C/U] a confusing mixture of feelings or ideas that

makes something hard

to understand:

Her

stories are

full of moral ambiguities.

am-big-u-ous

/aem'bigjuas/

adj

*

1 not clear, or capable of being understood in more than one way: The wording of the law is highly ambiguous. 2 confusing or not definite, and so difficult to understand: Their position in society remains ambiguous. anvbig*u*ous*ly adv anvbit /'aembit/ noun [singular] formal the range within which something, especially a rule or law, is effective or has power am-bi-tion /aem'bijn/ noun ** 1 C something that you very much want to do, usually something that is difficult to achieve: I had no idea about His ambition was always to Jesse's political ambitions. achieve /fulfill /realize an become a successful writer. ambition She seemed set to achieve all her ambitions. ambition to do sth It had been my lifelong ambition to coach a leading team. 2 [u] the feeling that you want very much to become successful, rich, famous, etc.: a young woman with drive and ambition anvbi-tious /amVbifas/ adj ** 1 determined to be successful, rich, famous, etc.: an ambitious young lawyer ambitious for sb (=determined that someone will succeed) Her parents were intensely ambitious for her and her younger sister. 2 an ambitious plan, aim, or attempt is difficult and will need a lot of effort to succeed: an ambitious strategy anvbi«tious»ly adv for managing health care ambiva-lence /aem'bivsbns/ noun [u] the feeling or state of being ambivalent

—

[

]

—

ambivalent two different things about something at the same time, for example that you like it and dislike it: Leigh's response was ambivalent. Most of us have an ambivalent attitude toward technology. + about Joe was ambivalent about taking the job.

am-ble /'smbl/ Visitors

noun

adj feeling

anvbiva-lent-ly adv verb

[I]

to

walk

in a slow relaxed

can amble along miles of winding

trails,

way: am-ble

[singular]

anvbro-sia /aem'broo33/ noun

food that tastes very

[u]

good In ancient Greek and the food of the gods.

Roman

stories,

am-bu-lance /'smbjabns/ noun

[c]

ambrosia was

**

a vehicle for

1

/'tem.boJV noun [c/u] an attack from a hidden position: The two men were shot and wounded in an ambush. a high risk of ambush lie in ambush The police lay in ambush outside the apartment building.

anvbush 2

/'aem.boJV verb [T] to attack someone after hiding and waiting for them: The unwary tourists were ambushed and robbed while riding in the desert.

a-me-ba

/a'mibs/ another spelling of

a*me*lio*rate /a'milia.reit/ verb improve something or make

amoeba

[T] it

very formal to less severe

— a«me-lio*ra*tion /s.milia'reijri/ noun [U]

a-men

/u'men, ei'men/

interjection said at the

end of a

prayer

amen

to that used for saying that you agree with or approve of something a-me-na-ble /s'minabl/adj 1 willing to do something or to agree with someone: He seemed perfectly amenable last night. +to European leaders were more amenable to the idea. 2 [+to] capable of being treated or dealt with in a particular way: Matters of this type are not amenable to legislation.

/a'mend/ verb [T] *• to make changes to a document, law, agreement, etc., especially in order to improve it: A law amending the Chilean constitution was approved on January 22nd. amend-ment /s'mendmant/ noun *• 1 [C] a change made to a law or agreement: +to an amendment to the Medicare bill table an amendment The House has tabled an amendment to the bill (=has stopped working on it). 1a. [C] one of the changes that has been

a-mend

made

to the U.S. constitution: his First Amendment right to free speech 1b. [u] the process of changing a law or

arrangement 2 [C] a change made in a document or plan: / have made amendments to the script. amends /a'mendz/ noun make amends to try to make a situation better after you have done something wrong: / wish I could make amends somehow. a-meri'i-ty /a'menati/ noun [C usually plural] something several

makes it comfortable or enjoyable to live or work somewhere .Amenities include a gym, apool, anda Jacuzzi. parks, stores, and other local amenities a. [u] the quality of being a pleasant and attractive place: the amenity of our coast and valleys Am-er-a-sian /,2em3'rei3n/ noun [c] someone who has one parent from the U.S. and one parent from Asia that

— Am*er*a*sian adj 1

/a'menkan/ adj 1 someone who is American is from the U.S.: the American president Her husband is American, la. relating to the U.S. or the

A'mer«i'can

people who live there: American English I literature I 2 technical someone who is American is from North America, South America, or the Caribbean 2a. relating to North America, South America, or the Caribbean A*mer»i>can 2 /s'menkan/ noun [c] 1 someone from the U.S.: Two Americans were killed in the plane crash. 2 technical someone from North America, South America, or the Caribbean A*mer«i*ca*na /a.men'kana/ noun [plural] objects, writings, stories, etc., from the U.S. that are considered to be typical of American traditions and history American 'cheese noun [u] a type of yellow or orange cheese that does not have a very strong flavor and is often used in sandwiches in the U.S. citizenship

American Dream, the

noun the idea that the U.S. is a place where anyone can become successful if they work hard enough American football noun [u] BrE the game of football

American Indian

— American

noun

[c]

a

native

a

BrE

amerk an

Indian adj

h menka nai//

Amer-i-can-ise

spelling

of

Americanize

A-mer-i-can-ism

/o 'mcriko ni/om/ noun [c] a

word or

phrase used in U.S. English

A-meri-can-ize /o'menko.naiz/

verb [t] to make something more American, especially the language or culture Of a person or place A-mer-i-can-i-za-tion

/o

taking people to the hospital

anvbush

ammonia

11

am-biv-a-lent /cem'bivabnt/

nicnkom'zeijn/noun

[u]

American League, the

trademark a group of professional baseball teams that play against one another

americano /omen kunoo/ noun made by pouring

a

little

[c] a cup of coffee espresso (=strong Italian coffee)

on top of hot water

American way, the is

how

typical of

noun a way of doing things that people do them in the U.S. or believe

they should be done a yacht race in which teams from different countries, including the U.S. and Australia, are invited to compete Am-er-in-di-an / ^ms'nndian/ noun [c] a native American. This word is used especially in books about Native

America's Cup, the

American

society or languages. 1

anve-thyst AemaGist/ noun stone that

am-e-thyst

[c/u] a valuable purple

used in jewelry

is

2

/'aemaBist/ adj light purple

Am-ex / 'ae.meks/ the American Stock Exchange: a stock exchange in

New York where

shares in a small

amia-ble

/

adj friendly

amiable

funny,

gentle,

people can buy and

sell

company

eimbbl/

/.eimia'bltati/noun

[J],

and pleasant: She

is

a

— a-mi-a-bil-i-ty

person.

a-mi-a-bly adv

am-i-ca-ble /'yemikabl/ adj mainly journalism friendly and without arguments: We have reached an amicable settlement

of

the

— anvi-ca-bly adv

a-mid /s'mid/

an

dispute.

preposition

amicable

divorce

*

something happens amid particular feelings or it happens while people have these feelings or while these events are happening: Banks and stores closed yesterday amid growing fears of terrorist violence. The secretary resigned amid accusations of bribery and 1

if

events,

corruption.

2

if

etc.,

something happens amid noise, shouting, laughter, it happens while there is a lot of noise, etc. all

around: Norman stepped on

to the

stage

amid tumultuous

applause.

3 literary surrounded by things or people a-mid-ships /o'midjips/ adv technical in

the middle

part of a ship

a-midst a-mi-go /a'mi.goo/ noun

/a'nudst/ preposition mainly literary amid [C]

informal a friend

ami*no

ac«id /a.minoo 'aesid/ noun [c] one of the substances in the body that combine to make proteins A-mish /'amiJV noun [plural] a religious group in the U.S. that live in a traditional way, mainly by farming, and refuses to use modern technology — A-mish adj

a-miss

1

/a'mis/ adj [never before noun] likely to cause problems: Convinced that something was amiss, her family insisted she see a doctor. difficulties or

a-miss 2

/a'mis/ adv go amiss to develop in a way that wrong, not appropriate, or that creates a problem: Things began to go amiss after she left. take sth amiss BrE to be offended by something, especially something that was not intended to be offensive is

anvi'ty

/'aemoti/ noun [u] very formal a friendly relationship, especially between nations or groups of people

am-mo f'xmoo/ noun

ammonia

[u]

informal AMMUNITION

/Vmoonio/ noun

[u] a poisonous gas or liquid with a strong unpleasant smell, used in cleaning products

ammunition

amphibious

42

am-mu-ni-tion

noun [u] 1 bullets, bombs, etc. that can be fired from a weapon: a stockpile of guns and ammunition 2 facts or evidence that can be used against someone in an argument: The recent news report provided more ammunition for opponents of gen/.iemja'nijn/

is

Between

[U]

Among

things, often caused

by

someone who has

amnesia

anvneS'ty /'smnasti/ noun

[C/u] a situation in which a government agrees not to punish, or to no longer punish, people who have committed a particular crime: a general amnesty for all political prisoners a. a period of time during which people can give something illegal such as a weapon to someone in authority or admit that they have been involved in something illegal, without being punished

lnterna-tion-al

/.aemnssti

mtar

an international organization that

tries to help in prison or tortured because of their political, religious, or other beliefs

'naejsnl/

people

who have been put

am-ni-o-cen-te'Sis /.aemniousen'tisis/ noun [C/U] a test carried out on liquid taken from a pregnant woman's womb in order to find out if the baby has any medical problems

amoe*ba /s'mibs/ (plural a*moe*bas or a*moe*bae /s'mibi/) noun

[C]

a very small organism (=living thing) that

consists of a single cell

a-mok trolled

— a«moe'bic/3'mibik/adj

/s'mak/ advrun amok and often violent way

a'mong/s'mAn/

to

behave

in

an uncon-

***

preposition

/a'mArjst/ preposition mainly literary among / ,ei 'moral/ adj someone who is amoral does not care whether or not their behavior is morally right a. used about people's behavior, attitudes, etc.: amoral values a«moi-al'i'ty/,eim3'ra3l3ti/noun[u]

a»mor*al

—

amorous / 'aemaras/ adj relating to or involving sexual amorous intentions/ advances anvofous«ly adv /a'morfss/ adj formal with no clear shape, design, or structure: an amorphous mass of buildings and highways arrvortize /'aemar.taiz/ verb [T] business to pay back money that you owe by making payments at regular times: The loan will be amortized over 25 years. anvor«ti«za'tion/3 morti'zeifn/ noun [C/U] amount 1 /a'maunt/ noun [C] •** a quantity of money: This amount should be paid within two weeks. a. a quantity of something: You only need a small amount. + of A computer can store a vast amount of information. A certain amount of stress can be a good love:

amorphous

—

b. informal a number of things. Many people consider this use to be incorrect: The call center handles a huge amount of complaints every day. c. no amount of sth used for saying that something will never be enough to have an effect: No amount of training could have prepared him for this.

1 included in a larger group 1a. used for saying that is included in a particular group of people or things: His family connections helped ensure his position among the elite. from among (=from a group of) Two representatives were chosen from among the 13 candidates, lb. used when you are mentioning a particular person or thing in relation to the rest of the group they belong to: Robert was the only one among them who had ever ridden a horse. Most important among the country's problems is the lack of health facilities.

1c. among other things used when you are mentioning one or more things out of a larger number: They dis-

among

other things, the future of the oil industry.

Among

other things, Larsen to bribe court officials.

was accused of attempting

2 happening or existing within a group

2a. used for saying what happens within a particular group of people: The suicide rate among young male prisoners is high. We want to encourage greater cooperation among the different departments. 2b. used for saying that many people in a group have a particular opinion or feeling: News of the invasion spread panic among the citizens. The general opinion among teachers is that small class sizes are important. 2c. among yourselves/ourselves/ themselves with each other: Republicans were arguing among themselves about minor policy issues. If you can't

agree

among yourselves what you

3 shared between people

want, I can't advise you.

or things used for stating

which people receive parts of something when it is divided up: share/divide/distribute sth among The money has to be divided among several projects. in the middle of other people or things 4a. in a place surrounded by people or things: Robin's house was hidden among the trees. Warner was standing among a crowd of admirers. 4b. moving through a place where there are people or things around you: It was pleasant

4

strolling

among

things: I found

my

4c. searching through Michelle rummaging among the papers in the olive trees.

drawer.

5 with people with a group

of people of a particular type: / was never happier than when I was among these among friends Oh come on, Arthur, you familiar faces.

can speak freely -you're among friends.

When just two people are mentioned, you can say something happens between them: It was an agreement between Carl and me. When three or more people are involved, you can use either among or between: The money was divided up among /between the four children. If the people are mentioned as a single group, among

c

thing,

Amount and number

someone or something

cussed,

is

in the

a*mongst

/aem'nizi.aek/ noun [C]

Am-nes-ty

the entire class.

is

used for saying that someone or something middle of a group of people or things: We were walking among the trees. is

a medical condition that

makes you unable to remember damage to the brain

amne-si-ac

was shared among

used for saying that there are separate people or things on two sides of someone or something: I sat between my parents.

etically modified food.

amne-sia /asm '^33/ noun

used: The candy

quantities, but each

Number cars

is

are both used for talking about

word

is

used in different ways.

used with plural nouns: a small number of

a certain number of people.

Amount

is

used with uncountable nouns: a small a certain amount of confidence.

amount of traffic

Say a large or small number/amount and or little number /amount.

NOT

a big

a«mount 2 /9'maont/ verb ** a'mount to

phrasal vb

[T]

[amount to

as or equal to something else:

sth] 1

Two

to

be the same

dates in nine years

hardly amounts to an active social life. 1a. to have the same effect as something else: The court decided that the company's actions amounted to unfair dismissal. 2 to add up to a particular total: His monthly earnings amount to about $3,500.

not amount to

much /a

great deal to not be very

The results of the research don 1 really amount to much. not amount to a hill of beans Am E informal to not be very impressive, important, etc. a-mour /a'mur/ noun [C] literary a sexual relationship, or someone you have a sexual relationship with amp /aemp/ noun [C] science 1 informal an amplifier impressive, important,

2

etc.:

a unit for measuring the strength of the flow of

electricity

am-penage /'aemp3nd3/ noun of a flow of electricity

anvpere

measuring

[singular/u]

measured

/'aempir/ noun

in

the strength

amps

[C] science

an amp used

for

electricity

am-per-sand

/'asmpsr.saend/ noun [C] the symbol &, used in writing instead of the word "and": Smith &

Company

am-phet-a-mine /aem'feta.min/ noun increases energy and excitement and

[C/u] a

drug that

makes you

less

hungry

amphib-i-an

/aem'fibian/ noun [C] 1 an animal such as a frog or a toad that can live both in water and on vehicle or aircraft that can operate both on land 2 a

water and on land

amphibious

/aem'fibias/ adj 1 capable of being used both on water or on land: an amphibious vehicle 2 capable of living both in water and on land :/ossz7s of amphibious creatures from millions of years ago 3 relating to a military operation that brings soldiers to land in boats: an amphibious landing on the north coast

amphitheater

analytical

43

am-phi«the-a-ter

/'smfi.Giatar/ noun [Cl a large circular building without a roof and with rows of seats that slope up and away from a central area, used for entertainments such as sports competitions

a»nach»ro*nism /ona-kranizam/ noun

/'aempl/ ad] * 1 [usually before noun] enough, and often more than you need: an office complex with ample parking ample supplies offood and fuel There is ample evidence to prove his

an*a*con-da

am-ple

guilt.

2 used

for referring in a positive or humorous way to someone's body, or a part of it, that is large: a woman with an ample figure anvply adv: The book is amply illustrated with color drawings.

/.aena'kanda/ noun

a*nae»mic /o'nimik/ another

spelling of

an*aer>o*bic /.aena'roobik/

adj science living

pening without oxygen from the

/,sn3s'Gi33/ another spelling of anes-

a-naes-the-tist

anvpoule

/'aem.pjul/ noun [C] a small glass container used for holding liquid medicine that is to be injected

someone

anvpu'tate

/'aempja.teit/ verb [i/T] to remove someone's arm, leg, hand, finger, or toe in a medical oper-

ation— am-pu'ta'tion / .aempja'teijn/ noun [C/u] am-pu-tee /.aempjs'ti/ noun [c] someone who has had a part of their body amputated

Am-trak

/'aem,traek/ the company that controls the railroads that carry passengers in the U.S.

anvu-let /'aemjabt/ noun [c] a small object that some people wear around their neck as a protection against bad luck, disease,

a-muse 1 is

/a'mjuz/ verb

etc.

•*

(l/T) to do or say something that other people think funny or entertaining: Her stories never fail to amuse

2

[T] to keep someone interested or entertained, so that they do not get bored: We need something that will amuse amuse yourself Don't a 10-year-old for an afternoon. rush - we can find something to amuse ourselves with until you get here.

amused

/a'mjuzd/ adj * entertained or interested by something: an amused expression

not amused mainly BrE annoyed: A spokesman said the Prime Minister was not amused by the incident. /a'mjuzmant/ noun • 1 [U] a feeling of being amused: Much to everyone's amusement, someone hid his clothes while he was swim-

a-muse-ment ming.

something that you enjoy doing an activity that is provided for entertainment a'musement ar cade noun [c] Br E a place where you can play video games, play on slot machines, etc. a'musement park noun [c] a place where people pay money to go on rides (=large machines that you ride on for pleasure) and play games to win prizes a-mus-ing /a'mjuzin/ adj * funny or entertaining: an amusing article /comment / don't find that type of humor very amusing at all. a*mus«ing>ly adv [C/U] [C]

—

*** used instead the next word begins with a vowel sound: an orange an hour an X-ray -an /an/ suffix 1 used with names of places to make nouns and adjectives meaning relating to a particular place or to someone who comes from a particular place: Californian Russian 2 used with nouns to make nouns or adjectives meaning someone who supports some-

an

I

weak

thetic

noun

/a'nesGatist/

[c]

an

ane-

sthesiologist

a-naes'the-tize /a'nesGs.taiz/another

spelling of anes-

an-a-gram / aeno.graem/ noun [c] a word or phrase that you can make from another word or phrase by putting the letters in a different order. For example

"mean"

is

an anagram of "name." a-nal /'eml/ adj 1 anal

or anal-retentive giving too much attention to details in a way that annoys people 2 relating to the anus / ,aenl'd3izi3/ noun [u] technical 1 the condition of being unable to feel pain while conscious 2 medical treatment to control pain

an*al*ge*si*a

an'al«ge'Sic/,32nl'd3izik/noun reduces pain

ana-log

/'aenl.ag/ adj

[c] technical

a drug that

•

an analog watch or clock shows the time using hands numbers instead of numbers that change

1

that point to

me.

2 3

/.aenss'Getik/ another spelling of anes-

thetize

am-pli-tude /'smpli.tud/ noun [u] science the strength of a wave or signal, for example of sound or electricity

evil,

anemic

or hapanaerobic bacteria

thesia

am-pli-fy

into

air:

anaerobic respiration

anaesthe-sia an*aes*thet*ic

— am-pli-fi-ca-tion

a large tropical

[c]

South American snake

am-pli-fi-er /'amph.fair/ noun [c] a piece of electronic equipment that makes sounds louder, used for example with electric guitars or in stereo systems louder 2 give or it more emphasis /,aemplifi'keifn/noun[C/u]

something

anaemia /a'nimia/ another spelling of anemia

—

/'aempli.fai/ verb [t] 1 to make sounds formal to explain something more thoroughly

[c]

that is no longer suitable for or relevant to modern times: She regards the marriage ceremony as a quaint anachronism. --a-nachTO'nis'tic/omi'kro nistik/adj

an; strong aen/ determiner

every second 2 technical using signals or information represented by continuously changing quantities of space, electrical compare digital current, etc.: an analog mobile phone analogous /a'naebgas/ adj formal similar to another

—

situation, process, etc. so that the same things are true of or relevant to both: +to Remote voting via the Internet is analogous to absentee voting and will have the same

kinds of problems.

a-nal'0»gy /3'nsebd3i/ noun [C/u] * a comparison between two situations, processes, etc. that is intended to show that the two are similar: He uses the analogy of the family to explain the role of the state. draw an analogy (=make an analogy) Our manager is fond of drawing analogies between business and football. anal-re tentive see anal an*a*lyse /'xnl.aiz/the BrE spelling of analyze a-nal-y-sis noun ***

/a'naebsis/

(plural

a*nal*yses /a'naeb.siz/)

[C/U] a process of studying or examining something in detail in order to understand it or explain it: problems for discussion and analysis + of The study included an analysis of accident statistics, la. a process of examining something in detail in order to find out what it contains: The blood samples have been sent away for analysis. 2 [U] the process of examining someone's thoughts, feelings, and behavior as a way of understanding and dealing with their emotional or mental problems: psy1

of "a" when

choanalysis

an accident

in the final/last analysis used for giving the facts that are most relevant in a situation: In the final analysis, it

thing: republican

An-a-bap-tist / .aena'baeptist/ adj

relating to a religious

group of the 16th century that did not agree with the baptism of children and to several modern Christian groups with a similar belief An«a«bap«tist noun [C] an-a-bol-ic steroid /.snabalik 'steroid; .aenabahk 'sti.roid/ noun [C] a drug that increases muscles, used illegally by some sports people to make themselves stronger

—

is

up

to the students to decide.

**

an-alyst

/'aenhst/ noun [c] is to carefully examine a situation, event, etc. in order to provide other people with information about it: an economic analyst 1

someone whose job

2

a doctor

who

helps people with mental or emotional

problems by listening

to

them

talk about their experi-

ences and feelings: psychoanalyst

analyt-i-cal

/.sna'litikl/

or an-alytic

*

/.aena'litik/

using a method of separating things into their parts in order to examine and understand them: an an*a*lyt*i-caMy analytical skills analytical mind adj

—

/.asna'htikli/adv

analyze

and

44

analyze /'aenl.aiz/ verb

[t]

••

1 to study or examine something in detail in order to understand or explain it: the ability to analyze and evaluate information 1a. to study or examine something in

r ^r^O

r

Jok/ noun [u] medical a serious medical reaction caused by someone eating or touching something that they are allergic to (=something that makes them sick). Common causes are nuts, eggs, and drugs such as penicillin. an-ar-chic /a'narkik/ adj behaving in a way that ignores the normal rules or limits of your society or group, especially

when

/.snafi'lasktik

this causes trouble

anar-chism /'aenar.kizam/ noun

the political belief that there should be no government or laws [u]

/'aenarkist/ noun [c] someone who believes that there should be no government or laws an'ar-chis'tic/.aenar'kistik/adj

an«ar«chist

—

an-ar-chy

/'aenarki/ noun [u] 1 a situation in which people are behaving in a way that ignores normal rules and laws, and are unable to be controlled 2 a situation in which there is no government or no social control in a country

anathema /a'naeGama/ noun [singular/u]/orma/ something that you strongly dislike or strongly disagree with: Conservatives have long regarded state intervention in the family as anathema. +to The idea of working late was complete anathema to him.

an-a-tonvi-cal /.aena'tamikl/ adj relating to the physical structure of an animal or plant: an anatomical model

— an'a-tonri'cal'ly/.aena'tamikli/adv

a*nat*o*mize /a'naeta.maiz/ verb

[T] formal 1 to cut up the body of an animal or plant in order to examine it: dissect 2 to carefully examine all the parts of a

problem, situation,

etc.

anat-o-my /a'naetami/

noun 1 [u] the scientific study of the physical structure of an animal or plant 2 [C usually singular] the body of a human or animal, or the structure of a plant 3 [C] informal the human body: Those are parts of your anatomy that we'd rather not hear about. 4 [singular] a careful examination of a situation, problem, etc.: + of an essay on the anatomy of communism

— a-nat'o-mist noun [C] ANC, the /,ei

en 'si/ the African National Congress: a political party in South Africa that for many years fought against the system of apartheid. In 1994, the ANC formed the first government in South Africa to be elected by both black and white people.

ancestor /'aen.sestar/ noun

[c]

a family of

Danish ancestry /'aenkar/ noun [c]

*

a heavy object that is dropped into the water to prevent a boat from moving: at anchor (=held still using an anchor) luxury yachts at anchor in the port drop anchor We dropped anchor off the coast of Cape Cod. 2 someone who presents the news on a television or radio news program: Diane Sawyer, co-anchor of ABC's Prime Time Live 3 someone or something that is strong and reliable, and so makes people feel safe and confident: The exchange rate should be an anchor in inflation control. Bates is the emotional anchor of the movie. 3a. business an important store or business that attracts other businesses to the area where it is

from

^^^

program, especially the news: The program has been anchored by

Georgia coast. [T] to present a television or radio

2

McDonald

anchor

3

since 1992.

[T usually passive] to fix

something

firmly somewhere: Small marine plants were anchored

to

the rocks.

be anchored in sth

be firmly based on a particular set of ideas or beliefs: Their approach is firmly anchored in a Christian world view. to

an-chor-age /'aenkar^/ noun [c/u] 1 a place where ships can anchor 2 a place where something can be firmly attached to something else

anchorman

/'aenka,maen/ (plural an*chor>men Am E a male anchor on television

/'aerjka.men/) noun [c]

or radio

an-chor-wom-an

/'aeqkar .woman/

wo»men/£enkar wimin/) noun on television or radio

an«cho«vy

[C]

(plural

an»chor-

AmE a female anchor

/'aen.tjouvi, aen'tjouvi/

small fish that tastes of salt and

is

noun [c/u] a type of often preserved in

oil

an*cien regime, the /.ansia? rei'3im/ noun an fashioned system or way of doing things

old-

From Ancien Regime, the social and political system that existed in France before the Revolution of 1789.

ancient /'einfant/ adj very

1

old:

an ancient

••* city I book/ tradition

2 relating to people who lived a very long time ago, and to their culture and way of life: the ancient Greeks/ Britons /Egyptians the remains of an ancient civilization .ancient history noun [u] 1 the study of the people and way of life that existed a very long time ago, especially in Greece or Rome 2 informal things that happened a long time ago and so are no longer important: You can

't

still

be upset about that -

it's

ancient history

now. the people who lived a very long time ago, especially in Greece or Rome

an-cients, the /'emjants/ noun

[plural]

1

an>cil*lar*y /'aensa.leri/ adj 1 connected with something, but less important than the main thing: ancillary equipment/ services/ materials +to a task ancillary to the main function 2 staff working with professional people such as doctors and teachers to help them in their work: an ancillary worker 2 an-cil-lar-y /'aensa.leri/ noun [c] 1 an ancillary worker: a nursing ancillary 2 an extra piece of equipment for a system: ancillaries such as tape recorders

And

***

can be used in the following ways:

as a conjunction (joining two words, phrases, or clauses): Rachel plays the piano and sings. as a way of starting a new sentence and relating it to the previous sentence: The telephone isn't working. And "My name is Chris. that's not the only problem. 'And my name is Ivan.

—

1

boat

and/wea/can; wealond; strong send /function word

*•

someone who is related to you who lived a long time ago: Her ancestors came to America with the Pilgrims. 2 an earlier form from which something modern has developed: a game that many see as the ancestor of basketball— arvces-tral/aen 'sestral/ adj: their ancestral home compare descendant an*ces*try /'asn.sestri/ noun [singular/ u] the people related to you who lived a long time ago: They could

anchor

to

*

moving by dropping its anchor into the water: We anchored off the

BT^^^

1

trace their ancestry back to the 16th century.

H/t]

1

verb prevent a

/ 'aerjkar/

_%^^ % ^ \ A

tt^'W

detail in order to find out what it contains: Scientists analyzed samples of leaves taken from the area. 2 to examine someone's thoughts, feelings, and behavior as a way of understanding and dealing with their emotional or mental problems: psychoanalyze: / always feel that he's trying to analyze me.

anaphylac-tic shock

an-chor2

,

used between words, phrases, etc. in order to connect together: the lakes and mountains of Scotland Everyone was singing and dancing. You make lunch, and 1

them I'll

take care of the children.

1

When more

than two words or phrases are joined in list, and is used only between the last two: She speaks German, French, Spanish, and English.

a

2 used for showing that one thing happens after another: He turned off the television and went to bed. 3 used for showing what your intention or purpose is after verbs such as "go," "come," "try," or "wait":/'// Come and see try and find out where we can buy tickets. our new kitchen. 4 used for showing that one thing causes another: The directors lied to us in the past and now no one will believe them.

andante

angler

45

5 used

for connecting words that are repeated for emphasis: The situation is getting more and more complicated all the time. I've tried and tried, but I can't persuade him to change his mind. It's going to take years and years to repair all the damage. 6 used in calculations for showing that numbers are added together: Two and two is four. 7 spoken used for introducing a sentence when you

angel dust noun [u] informal a name for the illegal drug pcp

angel-ic /xn'dgekk/ 1

making an announcement, asking a question, or changing the subject: And now, here with the sports news And so what have you been doing lately? is Kevin Leary. 8 mainly spoken used when you pause to make a remark in the middle of a sentence: Two thirds of the students and I swear this is true - couldn name a single country are

noun

pounds 9a. used between whole numbers and fractions: two and three quarters 1 an-dan-te /an'danti; aen'daentei/ adv at a fairly slow speed: used as an instruction in music— arvdarvteadj an-darvte 2 /an'danti; aen'damtei/ noun [c] a piece of music that should be played or sung at a fairly slow speed

Ari'drew, St. /semt 'aendru/ the patron saint of Scotland. St. Andrew's Day is celebrated on November 30th.

androg-y-nous nous person

is

/aen'drad33nas/ adj 1 an androgyneither clearly male nor clearly female or plant has both male and

2 an androgynous animal female parts

[u]

/acn'djdika/ stems of a tall

plant that are

in Asia.

twenty-five

an

ANGELS

boiled

in

sugar and used for decorating cakes

angel

9

hundred and

adj

beautiful:

an-gelica

't

spoken used in numbers after the word "hundred" or "thousand" when it is followed by words for numbers less than 100: a hundred and ten feet tfour thousand five

very

a ngelic face /smile/ voice I sound 2 kind and good: He didn't become a successful businessman being by angelic. 3 relating to

an-ger /'xngsr/ noun [u] •• the strong get that makes you want to hurt someone 1

feeling

you

or shout at them: Some people express their anger through violence. She cried tears of anger and frustration. Jenny often feels

He was trembling with anger. hear voices raised in anger. an-ger / 'srjgsr/ verb [t] • to make someone feel angry: The school board's decision angered many students. show

it.

anger Maggie woke

to

anger, but doesn 't in

2

angina

/a-'n^aina/ noun

which not enough blood get pain in your chest

[uj

gets to

a medical condition in your heart, so that you

angioplasty

/'acnd^dplaesti/ noun [u] medical a medical operation to repair an artery (=tube carrying blood around the body) that has become blocked or too

narrow

arvdroid / 'asn.droid/ noun [C] in stories, a machine that looks and behaves like a human: robot an-ec-dot-al / .snak'dootl/ adj based on someone's personal experience or information rather than on facts that can be checked: There is now anecdotal evidence that these chemicals are harmful.

an-ec-dote

/'aenak.doot/ noun [c] a story that you tell people about something interesting or funny that has

happened to you a*ne*mi-a /s'nimis/ noun which your blood contains

[u] a medical condition in too few red blood cells (=the your blood that carry oxygen through your body) a*ne»mic /a'nimik/ ad] 1 suffering from anemia 2 weak or not effective: You really can't expect much from such anemic advertising. a«nem«o«ne /a'nemani/ noun [c] a small plant with white, red, or purple flowers that are shaped like cups an-es-the-sia f xn3s'Qi^/ noun [u] 1 anesthetics given to someone before a medical operation, or the use of anesthetics 2 the loss of feeling in your body or part of your body, caused by disease, injury, or the use of cells in

angle

1

/'aengl/ noun [C]

•••

the shape that is made where two straight lines join or cross each other. Angles are measured in degrees. An angle that measures 90 degrees is a right angle, less than 90 degrees is an acute angle, and more than 90 degrees is an obtuse angle. 1a. the shape that is made where two surfaces or objects meet: The rocks stick out of the water at a 45-degree angle. 2 the direction from which something comes, or the direction from which you look at something, especially when it is not directly in front of you: Guns were firing The camera angles at them from several different angles. are chosen before the scene is shot. 3 a particular way of thinking about something: We have considered the whole subject from many different 1

angles.

at an angle not straight, but leaning to the knife at a slight angle.

one

side:

Hold

t

an anesthetic an-es-the-si-ol-o-gist /,aen3s,0izi'abd3ist/ noun

acute angle

obtuse angle

[c]

Am E a doctor who is trained to give people anesthetics before they have a medical operation an-es-thet-ic /.aenss'Getik/ noun [c/u] a drug or gas given to someone before a medical operation to stop them feeling pain. Anesthetics that affect the whole of your body by making you unconscious are called general anesthetics and anesthetics that make you have no feeling in only a part of your body are called local anesthetics: The procedure is usually carried out

under anesthetic.

a-nes-the-tist

/a'nesGstist/

noun

[c]

an

ane-

sthesiologist

anes-the-tize

/a'nesGa.taiz/ verb

[T]

to give

someone

feel pain during a medical operation an-eu-rysm or an-eu-rism /'aenja.nzam/ noun [C] medical a serious swelling in the wall of an artery (=tube carrying blood round the body) a-new /a'nu/ adv literary again, often in a new or

an anesthetic so that they do not

different

way

an-gel /'emd33l/ noun [C] *• 1 a spirit that in some religions is believed to live in heaven with God. In pictures, angels are shown as people with wings. 2 mainly spoken a very kind person: Be an angel and get me a cup of coffee.

angle

an-gle 2

/'aengl/ verb [t] 1 to make something point in a particular direction, especially one that is not directly in front of you: Angle the mirror so that you can see behind you. 1a. to make a ball move in a direction that is not straight in front of you: Gretzky blasted an angled shot wide of the goal. 2 to do or write something in a way that makes one thing seem more important than others, or gives special emphasis to one opinion: Our efforts have been angled very much toward improving customer service.

angle for phrasal vb

[T]

informal [angle lor sth] to try to

make someone it

directly:

give you something without asking for She didn't want Ron to think that she was

angling for sympathy.

angle bracket noun

[c] either of a pair of symbols < or > used to surround words, numbers, or other symbols, especially in instructions for a computer an-gler /'aerjgter/ noun [c] someone who catches fish for sport

Anglican

anklet

An-gli-can

member

/'aenglikan/ noun [C] a Christian who of the Church of England An-gli-can

An-gli-can-ism noun

is

a

Losing your temper is like an explosion. When she told him, he nearly exploded. He blew up at her. Steve couldn't contain his anger any longer. It was an explosive situation. I'm sorry I blew my top. There was another angry outburst from Chris. She'll blow a fuse /a gasket if she finds out. Bob went ballistic when he saw what they had done. A major row erupted at the meeting.

adj,

[U]

an-gli-cism /'xngli.sizam/ noun

a

1

[c]

word

that

is

used in British English but not in other types of English that is used in another language an-gli-cize /'tengli.saiz/ verb [t] to make someone or something more English angling /'xnglin/ noun [u) the sport of catching fish An-glo 1 /'aengloo/ noun [c] a white person who speaks English, especially one whose family originally came

2 an English word

from Britain

An-glo 2

/'aengloo/ adj relating to white English-speaking people in the U.S. In some states, the Anglo population is less than 50%. :

Anglo- /aengloo/ prefix

involving or related to England or the U.K.: the Anglo-Scottish border

.Anglo-American

1

Anglo-A merican

2

adj relating to the U.S. U.K.: Anglo-American relations

and the

someone from the U.S. whose family originally came from the U.K. Anglo- Asian noun [c] someone from the U.K. whose family originally came from Asia Anglo- Catholic noun [c] an Anglican whose beliefs and practices are similar to those of the Catholic Church Anglo-Indian noun [C] 1 someone whose family is partly British and partly Indian 2 old-fashioned a noun

[c]

British person who has lived in India for a long time or was born there, especially during the time when India was ruled by the U.K.

an-glo-phile

someone who

/'aengb.fail/ noun [c]

likes

the U.K., British people, or British things

an-glo-phobe

/'aengb.foub/ noun

[c]

someone who

strongly dislikes the U.K., British people, or British things

an-glo-phone

/'aeggta.foon/ adj

[only before noun]

an

anglophone country is one where English is spoken as one of the main languages Anglo-Saxon noun 1 [c] one of the people who came to England in the 5th century and ruled it until 1066 2 [u] the language of the Anglo-Saxons: old English 1

Anglo-Saxon 2

adj 1

relating to the history, culture,

or language of the Anglo-Saxons 2 mainly journalism relating to the U.S. and the U.K., rather than the countries of Europe: the Anglo-Saxon economies 2a. relating to white English-speaking people in the U.S., especially people whose families originally came from the U.K. or northern Europe: The banking profession was dominated by Anglo-Saxon males.

-» CRITICIZE

angst

/aenst/ noun [u] a strong feeling of worry about what you should do, how you should behave, or what will happen in the future a ngst-r id-den / 'aenst xidn/ adj always worried about things: angst-ridden adolescents

an-guish

/'aerjgwiJV noun [u] formal a feeling of great physical or emotional pain: The rejection filled him with anguish.

an-guished

/'aengwijt/ adj suffering great physical or

emotional pain: She gave an anguished cry and collapsed. an-gu-lar /'aengjabr/ adj 1 an angular part of your body is not covered by much flesh so that you can see the shape of the bones: a tall man with an angular face

2

containing a

lot of angles:

angular handwriting

•••

an-i-mal 1

/'aennnl/ noun [c] 1 a living creature that is not a human: lions, tigers, and other wild animals *Heis accused of cruelty to animals. 1a. any living creature, including humans: Man is the only animal that uses language. 2 informal someone who behaves in a very violent, cruel, or rude way: That man is an animal! 3 informal used when you are talking about the particular type of person someone is, for example what they enjoy doing: / know how to deal with James, but Michael is a different animal. a political/ social animal -» PARTY ANIMAL

an-i-mal 2

/ 'aennnl/ adj [only before noun] • relating to animals: Try to cut down on the amount of animal fats you eat. an animal shelter 2 relating to people's basic physical needs such as food and sex: animal instincts/ urges/ desires

1

animal

'rights noun [u] a belief that animals should be treated well by people and not killed or used for scientific experiments

an-i-mate 1 /'aenirneit/ verb [T] something more lively, active, or

to make someone or interested: Sports were the only thing that really animated him. an attempt to animate the discussion

an-i-mate 2

/'aenimat/ adj formal alive: animate beings

— Opposite INANIMATE

an-i-mat-ed

look/sound angry Some of the parents looked extremely angry. get/ become angry There's no point in getting angry. make sb angry His attitude makes me really angry. 1a. used about people's behavior: an angry shout The speech provoked an angry response from teachers and

/'aenixneitad/ adj 1 lively or active: an animated conversation 2 an animated movie or cartoon consists of a series of drawings that are shown quickly one after another so that they look as if they are moving an-i-ma-tion /.aeni'meijn/ noun 1 [u] the process or result of making animated movies or cartoons: the first movie to be made using computer animation 1a. [C] an animated movie or cartoon 2 [u] a quality that shows energy and excitement -» suspended animation a-n i-ma-tor / 'aeni.meitar/ noun [c] someone who makes animated movies or CARTOONS ani-ma-tron-ics /.aenima'traniks/ noun [u] technology that uses electronic systems to operate puppets (=models of people or animals) an-i-me /'aenimei/ noun [u] a type of Japanese animated

community leaders. 2 an angry wound (=cut

an-i-mism

an-go-ra

/aen'gors/ noun 1 [c] a type of goat, rabbit, or cat that has long soft hair 2 [u] soft wool made from the hair of an angora goat or rabbit

an-gos-tu-ra

/.aengs'stora/ noun [u] a bitter substance used to flavor alcoholic drinks an«gry/'2engri/adj *•• 1 very annoyed: + about/at/over He is very angry about the way he's been treated. Patients are angry at the increase in the cost of medicines. + with Are you angry with me?* feel angry / was left feeling angry and bitter.

movie that often shows a in

your skin)

is

very red and

painful

3

literary

is

a storm or there

an angry sky or ocean is

is dark because there an-gri-ly going to be a storm

—

adv

is like

being hot or

on

hot under

trees, and mountains, have spirits an-i-mos-i-ty / ,aeni 'masati/ noun [C/u] a strong feeling of disliking someone or something: hostility: There is no

an-i-seed fire.

She burned with indignation. He has a fiery temper. Jack was a hot-tempered young man. Their parents were having a heated argument /debate about where to go. She often flares up over nothing. It made my blood boil.

violence or sex

personal animosity between them.

Metaphor Being angry

lot of

/'aeni.mizam/ noun [u] a religion in which people believe that things in nature, such as animals,

/ lost my cool. the collar.

Alison was getting very

/'aeni.sid/ noun [u] the seed of a plant called anise, used for adding flavor to food and drink /'aerjkl/ noun [C] ** the part at the bottom of your leg where your foot joins your leg: I fell and twisted my ankle. ankle socks/boots (=that come up to your

an-kle

ankle)

— picture -» body, foot

anklet

1

/'aenktat/ noun [c] a piece of jewelry that

wear around your ankle

you

annals an-nals

anorexia

noun [plural] the official records of an organization, arranged according to their date /'aenlz/

the annals of sth the whole history of something: an event unprecedented in the annals of war /s'mepahs/ the United States Naval Academy, the college where people go to train as officers

Annapolis in the U.S.

Navy

From Annapolis, Maryland, is

the city where the college

based.

annoyed

find that the plane was overbooked. annoyed with/at yourself Beth was annoyed at herselffor not saying anything. to

/o'nonrj/ adj •• making you feel slightlyangry or impatient: an annoying habit/problem What's really annoying is that we made the same mistake last time. arvnoying-ly adv

an-noy-ing

1

an-nu-al 1

/'aenjusl/adj

•••

happening once a year: an annual festival I vacation

t

report

annex

1

/a'neks; 'ae.neks/ verb

country or region by Soviet Union in 1940.

to take control of a force: Moldova was annexed by the [T]

— an-nex-a-tion

snek'seijn/noun

2

calculated or considered over a period of one year: an annual salary/ total/ average an-nu-al-ly /'acnjuali/

adv

an-nu-al 2

of people or things completely 2 to defeat an opponent completely and easily an*ni*hi*la*tion /a.naia'leijn/

/'aenjual/ noun [c] 1 a book or magazine published once every year 2 a plant that grows and dies in the same year compare perennial' i an-nu-aMzed/ 'a,'nju3,laizd/ adj 6usmess an annualized amount uses a number for a period of less than a year to produce a calculation for the whole year annual meeting noun [c] a meeting that a business or organization has every year to discuss issues and

noun [U] an-ni-ver-sa-ry /,aeni'v3rs(3)ri/ noun [C] •• a date when you celebrate something that happened in a pre-

an-nu-i-ty /a'nuati/ noun [c] 1 a fixed amount of money that someone receives regularly each year 2 an

[C/U]

annex

2

/'ae.neks/ noun [c] 1 a building added to a larger building or built next to it 2 a section that is added to the end of a document

annexe

/

'ae.neks/

noun

[c]

a Br

an-ni-hi-late /a 'nais.leit/ verb

E

spelling of

[t] 1

annex

to destroy a

2

group

—

vious year that is important to you: our second wedding anniversary There was a concert to mark the 10th anniversary of Mandela's release from jail.

an-no-tate

/'aena.teit/ verb [T] to put notes in a piece of writing in order to explain parts of it an -no -taction /.aena'teijn/ noun [C/U]

—

aivnounce/a'nauns/ verb [t] *** 1 to make a public or official statement,

especially

about a plan, decision, or something that has happened: There was a press release announcing the Senator's resignation. Exxon has announced a 26% increase in profits. +(that) / am pleased to announce that the Board has agreed to create 500 new jobs in our sales division. 2 to tell people something clearly or loudly: "Well, I must be going, " she announced. + (that) Bill just suddenly announced he was taking the day off 2a. to say formally that someone has arrived or that something is about to happen: Dinner will be announced shortly. 3 to give information over a loudspeaker in a public place such as an airport: When your flight is announced, make your way to the departure lounge. +(that) They've just announced that our train will be delayed. aivnounce'inent/a'naonsmant/ noun 1 [C] a public or official statement that gives people information about something: The talks are continuing, make but no announcements are expected at this time. an announcement An announcement made by the senator seemed to contradict this. +that Ms. Baker stunned her fans with an announcement that she was quitting the music

••*

business. 1a. [u] the act of publicly or officially stating something: + of The announcement of his visit caused wide-

spread media interest. 2 [C] a short statement in a newspaper, often about a birth, death, or marriage 2a. a card that you send to people to tell them something personal, for example that your baby has been born or that you are going to get

married

announc-er

/a'naunsar/ noun

[c]

someone whose job

give information or describe a sports event on or radio is to

TV

an«noy/3'noi/verb[T] ** to make someone feel slightly angry or impatient: irritate: / don't dislike her, but she just annoys me sometimes. It annoyed her to think that she had trusted him. it annoys sb that/when/how etc. It really annoys me when you don't listen to what I'm saying. annoyance /s'noians/ noun 1 [u] a slightly angry or impatient feeling: Shaking his head in annoyance, Patrick left the room. to sb's annoyance To her surprise and annoyance, Lisa found that the others had gone without her. 2 [C] something that makes you feel slightly angry an-noyed /a'noid/ adj •• feeling slightly angry or impatient: / couldn't see her face, but she sounded pretty annoyed. get annoyed (with sb) The kids wouldn't stop talking, and I was beginning to get annoyed with them. + at /about /with We were all annoyed with him for forgetting. + (that) / was really annoyed that I hadn been invited. annoyed to find /discover /hear etc. We were 't

—

elect

new

amount

officials

of

money

that

is

interest that is then paid to rest of their life

invested in order to earn someone each year for the

an-nul

/s'nAl/ verb [T] to state officially that something such as a marriage, an agreement, or an election has an-nul'ment noun [C/U] no legal authority An»nun«ci»a*tion, the /3,n\nsi'eifn/ noun March 25th, which Christians remember as the day when the Virgin Mary was told by a messenger from God that she would be the mother of Jesus Christ an-ode /'ae.nood/ noun [c] science the part of a piece of electrical equipment where electrons leave or an electric current enters— compare cathode an-o-dyne /'aena.dain/ adj formal containing nothing that will offend anyone or cause disagreements, and

—

therefore rather boring: bland

a*noint /a'nomt/

verb [t] 1 to put oil on a part of someone's body in a religious ceremony 2 often humorous to decide that someone should be given a particular important job: His colleagues predict he'll be anointed party chairman next year.

anom-alous /a'namsbs/ adj formal unusual or unexpected

a-nom-a-ly /s'namali/ noun

[c/u] formal something unusual, unexpected, or different from what normally happens: a curious anomaly in the regulations a-non /a'nan/ adv literary an old word meaning "soon"

anon,

abbrev anonymous an-o-nynvi'ty /.aena'nimati/ noun [u] 1 a situation in which the name of a person who does something such as write a book or give information is not known or is

kept secret: The informant spoke on condition of anonymity (=in return for his name not being mentioned). the bustle and anonymity of a big city (=where people do not know each other) 2 a situation in which something has no interesting or unusual features: the anonymity of the airport hotel

a'non'y-mous/a'nanimas/adj • 1 if someone is anonymous, no one knows their name: The bomb threat was made by an anonymous caller. a witness who wished to remain anonymous la. used about something that is done, written, etc. by someone whose name is not known: an anonymous phone call letter 2 something that is anonymous has no interesting or unusual features

anonymous

— a^non-ymous'ly adv

FT'P noun

[C]

computing anonymous

file

transfer protocol: a set of rules for moving computer files from one computer to another, especially over the Internet, without

having

to say

who you

are or use a

password /'ania ,riek/ noun [C] BrE y a short coat with a hood (=the part that covers your head) 2 informal someone who is very interested in something that most people think is boring or not fashionable an-o-rex-i-a /a-n.Vreksi.V noun [u] a serious illness that makes you want to stop eating and that mainly

an-o-rak

o

anorexic affects

antagonise

young women.

Its full

medical

name

is

anorexia

nervosa, —compare bulimia 1

arvo«rex-ic /.aena'reksik/

2

exia

adj

1

suffering from anor-

informal extremely thin 2

aivo-rex-ic /.eena'reksik/ noun

[c]

someone who has

ANOREXIA

answer the description of

another /a'nAdar/ function word ***

to look like the

person or

thing described

Another can be used in the following ways: as a determiner (followed by a singular countable noun): Can I have another glass of water, please? as a pronoun (without a following noun): We're changing from one system to another, (followed by "of): /

low-cost housing. answer sb's prayers When they saw the plane, they knew their prayers had been answered. 5 [l/T] to do something as a reaction to what someone else has done: answer (sth) with sth He answered her look with a smile. be answered by sth The attack was answered by an immediate military crackdown.

answer back phrasal vb [l/T] [answer sb back] to reply rudely to someone who has more authority than you: Don you dare answer me back! / don like children who 't

't

answer back.

answer

have another of his books somewhere.

one more person or thing of the same type as before: There's another news show at ten o'clock. Peter's mom is expecting another baby in June. "These sandwiches are delicious. " "Would you like another?"* + of / hope this isn another of Donald's stupid tricks. another one We're doing a big concert tomorrow night and another one on Saturday. yet another (=used when there are already a lot) The

for phrasal vb [T] [answer for sth] to agree to be responsible for something: You have to answer for any errors in the calculations.

1

't

administration

is

involved

in

yet

another corruption

another two/ten/hundred

etc. used for saying how many more people or things there are: Another 200 nurses are needed in local hospitals. 1 b. (and) another thing spoken used for introducing an additional

scandal,

la.

subject that you

want

to

mention when you are annoyed

about something or when someone has done something that you do not like: And another thing - what about that $10 you borrowed from me? 1c. not another spoken used when something annoying or boring that has happened several times before is starting to happen again: Oh no, not another planning meeting! 2 a different person or thing of the same type: Isn't there another word that has the same meaning? Fatima 's husband was working in another part of the country. another (one) of / lent the book to my teacher, and he lent it

to

another one of his students.

3 used with the name of a person, place, or event to mean someone or something else that has similar qualities: Music fans are already calling him another There were fears that the war in Bosnia Sinatra. might become another Vietnam.

Frank

another time spoken used for saying that something cannot be done now but can be done at a future time: "Do you want to join me for lunch?" "Another time, Nick, I'm really busy right now. -> ONE ANOTHER

ANSI, the

/'aensi/ the

American National Standards

Institute: a U.S. organization that decides the standards of safety and quality for electronic and scientific equip-

/'aensar/ verb

1 reply to question, etc.

2 in a test/competition 3 explain your behavior

to the name of 1 if an animal answers to the name of something, it comes to you when you call it this name 2 to have a particular name: a small boy

answer

answering

an-swer2

to the

name

of Andrew

/'aensar/ noun

•••

[C/u] a spoken reply to a question: It was a tough but Ginny had her answer ready. +to The answer to your question is yes. give sb an answer I'll give you a definite answer tomorrow. in answer to In answer to your inquiry, no he is not married. 1a. [C] a written reply to something such as a letter or an advertisement: / wrote to her in May but I never got an answer, lb. [singular] a situation in which someone comes to the door when you go to their house or picks up the phone when you call them: / tried calling her again, but there was still no answer. get no answer Ring the doorbell and if you get no answer, knock on the window. 2 [C] a spoken or written reply to a question in a test or competition: Write your answers in the space provided. get the I'm sorry, but "Paris" is the wrong answer. answer right/wrong You got all the answers right. 2a. the correct reply to a question in a test or competition: All answers are printed in the back of the book. + to Do you know the answer to question 10? 3 [C] a way of solving or dealing with a problem: solution: Ifyou can t afford a decorator, the obvious answer is to fix it yourself. +to There are no easy answers to this 1

question,

sth's answer to someone or something that is similar to a more famous person or thing from a different place:

••* 4 do what is needed 5 do sth as a reaction + PHRASES

a spoken reply to a question: / want you to answer one simple question. "I don't know," she answered truthfully. I'm still waiting for you to answer. What's the matter? Answer me! + that I could only answer that I'd seen them leaving together. 1a. [T] to send a written reply to something such as a letter or an advertisement: She answered an advertisement asking for models, lb. [l/T] to come to the door when someone arrives at your house, or pick up the phone when it rings: / knocked and a young man answered the door. The phone rang and rang but she couldn 't bring herself to answer it. 2 [l/T] to try to give the correct reply to a question in a test or competition: Answer one question from each answer correctly / incorrectly Not everyone section. answered correctly. 3 [T] to explain your actions to someone who has accused you of something: answer charges /criticisms How would you answer charges that your company puts The president made no attempt to profit before safety? answer their criticisms. 4 [T] to provide what is needed, wanted, or asked for. especially in order to deal with a bad situation: Their answer request for help was answered by the Red Cross. a need The development was built to answer a need for [l/T]

except the president.

crisis.

ment

an-swer 1

1

answer for sb used for emphasizing that you cannot say what someone else will do or think about something: / can't answer for my colleagues, but as far as I'm concerned this is a great proposal. have a lot to answer for to be responsible for a lot of bad things that have happened answer to phrasal vb [T] [answer to sb] to have to explain to someone why you did something: J answer to no one can't

to give

These boys were going

to

be America's answer to The

Beatles.

->

NO

1

answerable

/'aens(3)rabl/ adj

1

[+to]

if

you are

answerable to someone, you have to explain to them the reasons for your actions or mistakes: The police force here is answerable only to the governor of the colony. 2 [+for] if you are answerable for something, you are considered to be responsible for it: Customers are answerable for any damage they cause. an«swer-ing machine /'£ens(3)nn majin/ noun [c] a machine that answers your telephone and records messages that people leave for you answering service /'32ns(3)nn ,s3rvis/ noun [C] a business that receives telephone calls for other businesses or companies, taking messages or giving information ant /aent/ noun [c] • a small insect that lives under the ground in large organized groups called colonies —picture -» ci3 have ants in your pants informal to be unable to sit still, for example because you are nervous or full of energy ant-ac-id /aent'ssid/ noun [C] a medicine that reduces the amount of acid in your stomach an-tag-on-ise /asn'taegs.naiz/a Br E spelling of antagonize

antagonism

antagonistic

/aen.taegs'nistik/

1

adj

disliking

someone or something very much and behaving in a very unfriendly way toward them: + toward /to You sound very antagonistic toward her. 2 opposing something strongly

an-tag-o-nize /aen'taegs.naiz/ verb [T] to make someone feel angry with you, so that they start to dislike you or have a negative attitude toward you: They were always careful not

to

antagonize rural

voters.

Antarctic, the

/aen'tarktik/ the extremely cold the most southern part of the world. The most northern region is the Arctic.

region that

is

an-te 1

/'senti/ noun up/raise the ante to try to get a greater advantage from a situation by taking a bigger risk

an«te

2

/ 'aenti/ (present participle an*te*ing; past tense

verb ,ante 'up phrasal vb informal to pay an amount of money participle

airted)

and past

[i/T]

AmE

ante- /aenti/ prefix before: used with some nouns, adjectives, and verbs: an anteroom (=a small room leading to a larger room)

antedate (=to exist or happen before

something else) /'aent.itar/ noun [c] a tropical animal with a very long nose and tongue that eats ants and other small insects an«te-ce-dent /,aenti'sidnt/ noun 1 [c] formal something that happened or existed before something else

ant-eat-er

and

is

similar to

it

in

some way 2 antecedents [plural]

formal the members of your family who lived a long time ago: ancestors 3 [C] linguistics the antecedent of a word is the noun or phrase nearer the beginning of the sentence that it refers to. In the sentence "I threw the keys to him and he caught them," "keys" is the antecedent of "them." an-te-cham-ber / 'aenti, tjeimbsr/ noun [C] old-fashioned an ANTEROOM an-te-date / ,aenti'deit/ verb [t] formal to exist or happen before something else antediluvian /.aentidi'luvisn/ adj humorous very old or old-fashioned

an-te-lope /'aenti.loop/ noun [c] a brown animal with horns and long thin legs that can run very fast. Antelopes live mainly in Africa and Asia. antenatal /.aenti'neitl/ adj Br E prenatal an*ten*na /aen'tens/ noun [c] 1 (plural an*ten*nas or wire or metal pole used for receiving or sending radio and television signals. Br E usually aerial picture -» ci 2 (plural an*ten*nae) one of the two long an*ten*nae) a

—

thin parts on an insect's head that

it

uses to feel things

with an*te*ri*or /aen'tiriar/ adj medical near the front of a part of your body an-te-room / 'aenti ,rum/ noun [c] a small room that leads to a larger and more important room an-them /'aenBsm/ noun [c] 1 the official song of a particular country or organization that people sing on special occasions 2 a song that is important to a particular group of people 3 a song that is sung during a Christian religious service by a choir only ant-hill / 'aent.hil/ noun [C] a pile of earth that ants make above the underground place where they live an-thol-o-gy /aen'6abd3i/ noun [c] a book containing poems, stories, or songs written by different people. Someone who produces an anthology is called an anthologist.

an*thrO'poid

/'aenBrs.poid/ adj an anthropoid other animal is very similar to a human an-thropoid

noun

[u]

a type of very hard

coal

an»thro«pol«o«gy

/,icn0ro'pul3d3i/ noun [u] the study of human societies, customs, and beliefs. Someone who studies anthropology is called an anthropologist. -an*thro*po*log«i«cal/,a.'n0r.'>pr>'lud3ikl/adj

an-thro-po-mor-phic /aenOropoo

irnrfik/ adj considering something such as a god, animal, or object as having human features or qualities an-thro po'mor-phism / .aenOrapoo'mDr ,fiz3m/ noun u [

an*ti

/'aen.Braeks/ noun [u] a very serious illness affecting cows and sheep and sometimes people.

sometimes used

/'aentai;

]

preposition informal opposed to very anti smoking in this

'aenti/

someone or something: We're office.

anti- /aenti/ prefix 1 opposed to someone or something: used with many nouns and adjectives: antiwar protesters 2 with the opposite qualities or effects: used with some nouns and adjectives: antihero 3 preventing or curing something: used with some nouns and adjectives: antibacterial an anti-tetanus injection

antiaircraft

/,aenti'er,kraeft/

noun]

[only before

ad)

designed to destroy aircraft an-ti-bi-ot-ic /.aentibai'atik; .aentaibai'atik/ noun [c] a drug that cures illnesses and infections caused by bacteria. Doctors often give people a course of antibiotics, when they have to take a fixed number of pills each day for several days.

an-ti-bod-y /'aenti.badi/ noun [C] • a substance that your body produces in your blood to fight illnesses and infections. Antibodies are an important part of the immune system that protects your body against disease.

••

antic-i-pate

/aen'tisi.peit/ verb [T] 1 to think that something will probably happen: The organizers hadn't anticipated the huge interest there was in the event. The building will be completed around six

earlier than anticipated. -t-(that) We anticipate anticipate (sb/ that the river level will rise very slowly. sth) doing sth We don't anticipate this causing any difficulties, la. to be excited about something enjoyable that is going to happen soon: look forward to: The movie, due to be released in the spring, is being eagerly anticipated by the critics. 2 to guess that something will happen, and be ready to deal with it: Luckily we had anticipated the question. The businesses that will survive will be those that anticipate changes in technology.

months

an-tic-i-pa-tion /aen.tisi'peijn/ noun [u] * a feeling of excitement about something enjoyable that is going to happen soon: a quiver /thrill /buzz of anticipation in anticipation of sth if you do something in anticipation of an event, you expect it to happen and you prepare yourself for it

anticlerical

/.aenti'klenkl/ adj disliking priests

and

churches, or not wanting them to have power in political or social issues

an*ti*cli*max

/.aenti'klai.maeks/ noun [c/u]

something

not as exciting as you expected it to be so that you feel disappointed: The day had proved something of an anticlimax. 4 a feeling of anticlimax— arvti-cli-mac-tic that

is

/.aentiklai'maektik/adj

an-ti-co-ag-u-lant /.aentikoo'aegjabnt/ noun [C/u] a substance that prevents blood from coagulating an'ti'CO-ag'iHant adj (^becoming more solid) an«ti-convpet'i'tive /.aentikam'pctativ/ adj intended to prevent people from competing against each other

—

fairly, especially in business: anticompetitive practices/

behavior

antics

/'aentiks/

noun

[plural]

1

behavior that

is

funny

or silly in an enjoyable way 2 behavior that is considered to be deliberately stupid and likely to cause problems: Community leaders condemned the antics of right-wing extremists. /.aentai'sai.kloun/ noun [c] an area of high air pressure, producing clear weather with very little

an-thrax

is

—

[C]

an-ti-cy-clone

an'thra'Cite/'aenBra.sait/noun

Anthrax

antidepressant

49

an«tag«0'nism/aen'taeg3,niz3m/ noun [c/u] 1 a strong feeling of disliking someone, usually a feeling that has existed for a long time: + between the growing antagonism between management and the union + toward/to It was difficult to explain their antagonism toward strangers. 2 opposition to something such as an idea or proposal an-tag-o-nist /aen'taegsnist/ noun [c] formal your opponent, for example in a competition or fight

in biological warfare.

wind

antidepressant

/

.aentidi'presnt/ noun [c] a

used for treating someone

unhappy

who

is

that they are considered sick)

depressed

drug (=so

1

antidote an-ti-dote

1

a substance that

prevents a poison from having bad effects 2 something that helps to improve the effects of something bad or negative: + to The book is a refreshing antidote to the usual guides to communication between men and women.

an-ti-freeze /'a^nti.friz/ noun [u] a chemical that you add to the water in a car engine to prevent it from

anti-social

not interested in meeting other people or not enjoying friendly relationships with them 1a. making it difficult to meet people and have normal relationships: He works antisocial hours. 2 showing a lack of care for other people or for society in general: antisocial activities such as dropping litter

/'aentid33n/ noun [C] medical a harmful substance that causes your body to produce antibodies to it

anti-hero

/'aenti.hiroo/ noun [C] a main character (=person) in a story who does not have the qualities that a hero usually has, such as being brave or morally

good

an-ti-his-ta-mine /.aenti'hista.min/ noun [c/u] a drug used to treat an allergy (=a bad reaction to something you swallow or touch) anti-in flammatory noun [c] a drug taken to reduce inflammation (=swelling, heat, and pain) —.antiinflammatory adj an-ti-lock bra-king sys-tem /aenti luk breikin .sistam/ noun [C] a piece of equipment in a car that helps you to keep control of the car when you stop it quickly. The equipment is often simply called ABS. an-ti-mat-ter /'aenti.maetsr/ noun [u] science particles (=the smallest pieces that make up all substances) that are the exact opposites of

all

the particles in the universe

antioxidant / .aentai'aksidsnt,

.aenti'aksidsnt/ [C] science a substance that prevents oxygen from

noun com-

bining with other substances and damaging them

an-ti-pas-to /.aenti'pasti/)

/,aenti'pastoo/

(plural

an*ti*pas*ti

noun [C/U] cold food that you eat at the

start of an Italian meal an-tip-a-thy /aen'tipaOi/ noun [u] formal a strong feeling of not liking someone or something: +for/to/ toward She found it hard to hide her antipathy toward her colleagues.

— an-tip-a-thet-ic

anti-personnel

/

.aentips'Oetik/ adj

anti-personnel weapons are rather than destroy

adj

designed to injure or buildings or weapons

kill people,

an-ti-per-spi-rant /,£enti'p3rsp(3)r3nt/ noun [C/u] a substance that you put on your skin to stop you from SWEATING

An-tip-o-des, the /am'tips.diz/ BrE Australia and

New Zealand— An-tip-o-de-an/aen.tipa'disn/ adj,

noun

[C]

an-ti-quar-i-an

ad]

1

vehicles with big guns)

an-tith-e-sis /am'tiGasis/ noun [singular] formal the exact opposite of something an-ti-thet-i-cal

—

/,aenti'8etikl/adj

/.aentai'uwst/ adj legal intended to prevent companies from controlling prices and reducing competition: ant it rust laws/ legislation ant-ler /'aentbr/ noun [c] one of the horns on the head of a male deer / 'aentanim/ noun [C] a word that means the opposite of another word compare synonym ant-sy /'aentsi/ adj informal nervous and unable

antonym

AmE

to relax

which you

+

communicate our anxieties

anxious

*

/.aen'tik/ adj

old

to the children.

••

We were

all

anxious for peace.

3 an anxious time

or situation is one in which you worry about something: We had an anxious time waiting for the results of the X-rays.

an-y

/'eni/ function

Any can

— anx-ious-ly adv

*•*

word

be used in the following ways:

as a determiner (followed by a singular countable noun): It's a puzzle that any intelligent child could solve, (followed by a plural or uncountable noun): Are there any cookies left? He doesn't have any money. as a

pronoun (without

a following noun): / looked

around for toilet paper, but there wasn't any. (followed by "of): Have you read any of his books? as an adverb (usually followed by the comparative form of an adjective or adverb): Are you feeling any

or too oldmodernize the

antiquated telephone system.

and valuable: antique

better?

furniture

an-tique 2

/'asnkfas/ adj

worried because you think something bad might happen: His silence made me anxious. an anxious glance + about People are naturally anxious about these tests. 2 wanting something very much, especially when this makes you nervous, excited, or impatient: anxious to do sth We're anxious to hear from anyone who can help. +for 1

adj too old to

your bottom through

cause anxiety, depression, and insomnia. about /over There was increasing anxiety over the outcome of the talks. 1a. a nervous or impatient feeling that you have because you want to do something very much or want it to happen very much: anxiety to do sth their anxiety to do better than their competitors 2 [C] something you are worried about: We try not to

2

1

[c] the hole in get rid of solid waste

an-vil /'aenvil/ noun [c] a metal block on which a blacksmith shapes metal objects with a hammer anx-i-ety /aerj'zaiati/ noun •• 1 [u] a worried feeling you have because you think something bad might happen: Too much caffeine can

an-ti-quar-i-an /.aenti'kwerian/ or antiquary /'aentikwari/ noun [C] someone who studies, collects, or sells old books and other historical objects fashioned to be useful: There are plans

—

a-nus /'einas/ noun

1

an-ti-quat-ed /'aenti.kweitad/

AmE

antitrust

/.aenti'kwerian/ adj relating to the study, collection, or sale of historical objects, especially old and rare books

an-tique

/.aenti'soojl/

.anti-tank adj designed to destroy tanks (=large mUitary

freezing

anti-gen fight

any

50 /'aenti.doot/ noun [c]

noun [C] * an old object such as a piece of furniture or jewelry that is valuable because it is rare, beautiful, or well made: The desk is an antique.

Any

is used especially in questions, in negative sentences, and in clauses with "if ': Is there any coffee There weren't any complaints. / can lend you left?

/aen'tik/

a

an antique dealer /sale

antique shop

a store that sells old and

map

if that's

any

help.

/.aentai 'semi.tizsm, ,aenti

used instead of "some" for saying or asking whether there is a small amount of something or a small number of people or things: If you need any help, just let me know. I tried to get a ticket +of Did any of her friends but there weren't any left. come?* any. ..at all Without any hesitation at all, Jane came forward to volunteer. few if any (=not many and possibly none) Few if any pianists have performed the Grieg concerto with such sensitivity. 1a. any more/ better/bigger etc used for saying or asking whether something is more/better/bigger etc even by a small amount: If your headache gets any worse, you should see a doctor. The army couldn't advance any further. 2 used when it is not important to say which person

— an-ti-sep-tic adj

or thing you are referring to, because what you are saying applies to everyone or everything: If any member It's a of the team was sick, Gary would take his place.

noun

[C]

valuable objects

an-tiq-ui-ty /aen'tikwati/ noun 1 [u] ancient times, especially the period of time before the end of the Roman Empire in 476 a.d. 2 [C usually plural] an object or building that existed in ancient times and still exists 3 [u] formal the state of being extremely old an-ti-Sem-ite /,aenti'se,mait/ noun [C] someone who hates Jewish people an-ti-Se-mit-ic /.aentai ss'mitik, ,aenti ss'mitik/ adj anti-Semitic people, opinions, writings, etc. show a feeling of hate toward Jewish people— an-ti-Sem-i-tism

'semi.tizsm/nounM an-ti-sep-tic /.aenti'septik/ noun [C/u] a substance used for cleaning injured skin and preventing infections

1

[usually

in

negatives or questions]

!

anybody

- they're all the same price. [always in negatives or questions] spoken used for emphasis after a verb to mean "at all": Have things

want

3

improved any? (old) how spoken in a careless and messy way: Don 't just stuff your things into the drawer any old how. be any use/any good [usually in negatives or questions] used for saying whether something is at all good, useful, or effective: boat like this wouldn't be any good in a storm. * It's no use complaining - they never listen. not. .any longer used for saying that a situation has

any

A

.

ended or someone has stopped doing something: She any longer, —compare anymore not just any (old) informal used for referring to someone or something that is special or important: They crossed the continent by car, and not just any car, but a 1933 Rolls

couldn't wait

Royce. -» CASE

1

anybody

anyway

51

very simple test - any idiot could pass it. *+oi It was the first time that any of the children had ever been abroad. * any other The new card can be used in the same way as any other credit card. 2a. used when it is not important which person or thing you choose: Pick any design you

••• anyone: Is there anybody who doesn't understand what to do?* anybody else I'm not taking care of anybody else's children. /'eni.badi/ pronoun

an-y-how /'eni.hao/ adv • Anyhow can be used in the

following ways:

not just anyone used for referring to someone special: He's not just anyone - he's my best friend.

an*y*place With this [usually

1

/

AmE

eni pleis/ function word you get to go anyplace you

ticket

an-y-thing in

anywhere: want to.

•*•

/'cni.Oin/ pronoun negatives or questions] used instead of "some-

thing" when saying or asking whether there is one thing or even a small amount of something: Do you know anything about baseball?* He never does anything to help. * If anything goes wrong, the manager always gets the blame. * I promise I won't do anything stupid * hardly anything It was so dark I could hardly see anything at all. * anything else Is there anything else I can do for you'' * anything to do/see/say etc. Is there anything to eat in the house?* what, if anything? (used when you think there is probably nothing) What, if anything, can the UN do without American support? 2 used when it is not important to say which thing, idea, action, etc. you are referring to, because what you are saying applies to everything: You can buy anything you want on the Internet. * Anything made of wood needs to be protected from the weather. * She really loves those kids - she'd do anything for them. * almost anything /just about anything Pigs will eat just about anything. 3 used with numbers to show that you are not giving exact information, but that any number is possible within the range you mention: A good diamond could cost anything from $10,000 to $300,000. * You may have to wait anything up to six months for an appointment.

as a way of showing how a sentence is related to what has already been said: I'm not going to resign. Not yet,

anything but used for emphasizing that a particular word does not describe someone or something, because

anyhow.

the opposite is true about them: Unfortunately, our hosts were anything but friendly. anything goes used for saying that any type of behavior is possible or allowed in a particular situation anything like similar to someone or something else in some way: Is Tom anything like his brother? anything you say spoken used for telling someone that you are ready to agree with them or do what they want, even when you do not really want to: Okay, I'll put on a

as an ordinary adverb: Don't just stick pictures on the wall anyhow. Arrange them properly. 1 despite sth else spoken despite something you have previously mentioned: Martin's been sick, but anyhow, I think he's hoping to come with us tomorrow. * Make the speed limit 30 miles an hour, and people will drive at 40 anyhow. 2 when sth is not important spoken used when stating a particular fact which shows that something that has just been mentioned is not important: Did you bring a map? Oh well, it doesn't matter anyhow - I know the way. * There's nothing to eat. Anyhow, I'm not really hungry. 3 used for limiting a statement spoken used when adding a statement that limits what you have just said: / don 't want to talk about it, not tonight anyhow. * The world, my world anyhow, is full of stupid guys like Gary. 4 used for changing the subject spoken used when you are changing the subject of a conversation back to what you were talking about earlier: Oh well, anyhow, as we were saying, nobody cares about the poor old farmers. 5 used when telling a story spoken used for introducing what happened next: / could see the poor animal was sick. Anyhow, I gave it antibiotics, and it started to

recover.

for ending a conversation spoken used for ending a conversation, or for showing that you have come to the end of what you were telling someone: Anyhow, I shouldn t keep you from your work. 7 in a careless way in a careless or messy way .Account books and documents lay scattered anyhow across his desk. -» ANY any-more / ,eni'mDr/ adv [usually in negatives or questions] ** used when talking or asking about a situation that has ended, or about something that someone has stopped doing: any longer: Don you love me anymore?* No one comes here anymore. an-y-one /'eniwAn/ pronoun *** 1 [usually in negatives or questions] used instead of "someone" when asking or saying whether there is even one person: Was there anyone at home?* Did he mention anyone special? * I'm not blaming anyone for what happened. * anyone else Is anyone else coming with us? 2 used when it is not important which person you are referring to, because what you are saying applies to everyone, or everyone of a particular type: Anyone can make a mistake. * If anyone asks for me, tell them I'm busy. * You can invite anyone you like. * anyone else Sherwood probably knows more than anyone else about the subject. * almost anyone It was the kind of accident that could happen 't

almost anyone.

.

anything. as much as anything spoken used for saying that something is one of the main reasons for a situation, feeling, etc.: I've been feeling miserable. I think it's the weather as much as anything. like anything spoken very much: When she stuck the needle in, it hurt like anything. not. .anything better/worse used for saying that something is the best/the worst thing you can think of: It was wonderful to have a place of my own. I couldn t have asked for anything better. not anything like/near not at all or not nearly: They didn t get anything near the price they were asking. not. .for anything spoken used for emphasizing that you definitely will not do something: / wouldn't get married again for anything. .or anything spoken used for referring to or asking about other things of the same type: Can I get you a sandwich or anything? * He never brought me flowers or anything. .

.

6 used

to

tie and jacket. Anything you say. as. .as anything spoken used with adjectives or adverbs to mean "very" or "extremely": She was as nervous as

.

.

/'eni.taim/ adv • at any time: You can come me anytime you like. * anytime soon The strike going to end anytime soon. * They should be here anytime now.

an-ytime and

see

isn't

an-y-way

••*

/'eni.wei/ adv spoken 1 despite sth else despite something that you have previously mentioned: Even if the drug is banned, a lot ofpeople will go on using it anyway. * No one expected house prices to fall, but anyway that's exactly what happened. 2 when sth is not important used when stating a particular fact that shows that something just mentioned is not important: "Sorry about the stain. " "Never mind. I was going to have it cleaned anyway." * I don't understand politics, and anyway I'm not really interested. 3 used for changing the subject used when you are changing the subject of a conversation back to what you were talking about earlier: Anyu ay. as I was saying, things really have started to improve. 4 used for ending a conversation used for ending a y

anyways I

unemployment?

6 used

for limiting a statement used when adding a statement that limits what you have just said: It's something I can 't tell you - not just now, anyway. He would never blame his wife, not in public, anyway. 7 used for asking for the real reason used for asking about the real reason for something: What did you come here for anyway? 8 used when telling a story used for introducing what happened next: Alan told me to get a doctor. So anyway, I phoned Dr. Bentley.

anyways / 'eni.weiz/ adv Am E spoken anyway any-where / 'eni.wer/ function word *** Anywhere can as a

pronoun: a

tiny island a long

way from anywhere.

used instead of "somewhere" when you are saying whether someone or something exists in even one place or goes to even one place: He never travels anywhere without his camera. Did you go anywhere interesting? Is there anywhere where I could hire a bike?* anywhere else These giant tortoises are not found anywhere else in the world. 2 used when you are not referring to one particular place, because what you are saying applies to every place: If you see my keys lying around anywhere, put them on my desk. You can sit anywhere you like. He was prepared to travel anywhere in the world in search of [usually

in

negatives or questions]

adventure. 3 used for saying that a number or amount is within a particular range, when you cannot give a single exact figure: + between A principal can earn anywhere between $40,000 and $110,000 a year, depending on the size of the school. anywhere from. .to The trip can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour. .

not be getting/going anywhere to not be making any progress or not be likely to achieve anything: + with/on So far, Jack doesn't seem to be getting anywhere with his writing career. It is clear that Congress is not going anywhere on welfare reform. not get sb anywhere informal used for saying that a particular action or type of behavior does not help someone to achieve anything: Losing your temper won't get you anywhere. -» NEAR /'aen.zaek/ noun [c] a soldier from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, especially in 1

ANZAC

World War

ANZAC

I

,Day noun

in Australia

AOB

/,ei

ou

and 'bi/

[c/u] April 25th, a public holiday

New Zealand that honors ANZACs BrE any other business: things that

are discussed at the end of a meeting a«or«ta /eibrts/ noun [c] the main artery that carries blood from your heart to other parts of your body AP 1 /,ei 'pi/ Associated Press: an international organization that collects news stories and sells them to newspapers and television companies 2 /,ei 'pi/ noun [u] Advanced Placement: college-level classes and tests that students take at high school. Most

AP

colleges in the U.S. give credits to students

who

receive

high scores on their AP exams. a-pace /a'peis/ adv formal very quickly

a-part /s'part/

function

word

it came apart in my hands. except sb/sth [never before noun] without considering or including someone or something in a judgment: Bribery apart, there is almost no method of persuasion that is not allowed. 5 separated if you pull two things or people apart, you separate them: We managed to drag the two men apart before they could harm each other. 5a. if two people are apart, they are not in the same place together: We hate being apart, but Gary e-mails me every day. Aitken and his wife have been living apart. 6 different if two people, opinions, or ways of living are far apart, they are very different: Galbraith's views and my own are not far apart on the issue offree trade. When the talks ended, the two sides seemed as far apart as ever. be worlds apart (=be very different) They were worlds apart and doubted they could make the relationship work. 6a. different from all the other people or things: The Swiss economy is a case apart, unlike any other. set sb apart (=make someone different from others) He has a unique genius that sets him apart from other writers. -» TELL APART 7 when an organization, country, or relationship fails used for saying that an organization, country, or relationship is in a very bad state and is failing to stay together: fall apart Costello lost his job, and soon afterward his marriage fell apart. come apart The county health system is coming apart, and only a large investment of cash can save it. tear sth apart (=destroy an organization, country, etc.) Yugoslavia was being torn apart by ethnic

conflicts.

apart from

1 except for someone or something: / hardly know anyone in town apart from William and you. 2 in addition to someone or something: Apart from providing humanitarian aid, the U.N. is also supposed to enforce agreements. 3 quite apart from used for saying that even if you ignore one thing, there is still another important fact or question to consider: Quite apart from the fact that he has no qualifications, Mr. Berry is not a suitable person to work here.

a*part*heid itical

/a'part.heit; 3'part.hait/ noun [u] the polsystem that existed in the past in South Africa, political rights and

which only white people had power in

a-part-ment /a'partmant/ noun

**

Am

[C]

***

AmE *

a building containing

Br E block of flats

Madagascar

is

— picture -»

a'partment .complex noun

many

apartments.

ci

[C]

AmE a large group of

apartment buildings ap-a-thet'ic /.aepa'Getik/

apart.

in the preposition phrase apart from: Everyone there apart from Ann and Gayle.

[c]

1 a set of rooms for living in, usually on one floor of a large building. Br E usually flat la. a set of large rooms with expensive decorations and furniture, kept for a special purpose or used by someone important 2 E an apartment building

apartment building or apartment house noun

Apart can be used in the following ways: as an adverb: We had to take the engine apart. after the verb "to be": I'm never happy when we're as an adjective (only after a noun): world apart.

at a distance away from each other if two people or things are apart, there is a space between them: Stand with your feet apart. 1a. used for saying how far away from each other people or things are: Their two farms are about a mile apart. Plant the seeds 10 inches apart. 1b. used for saying that one person or group is some distance away from the others: The man was alone, sitting apart, watching people come and go. +from / saw Theresa at the graveside, standing apart from the rest of the family. 2 with time between events used for saying how much time there is between events: Two surveys carried out 30 years apart show little change in attitudes toward childcare. The two brothers were born six years apart. 3 into separate pieces broken or divided into many different parts or pieces: tear/ rip /pull sth apart The explosion tore the body of the plane apart. take sth apart If the problem is in the printer, we'll have to take the whole thing apart, fall/come apart When I picked the book up 1

4

be used in the following ways:

as an adverb: I'm not going anywhere today.

1

apathy

52

conversation, or for showing that you have come to the end of what you are telling someone: Anyway, in the end we decided to stay at home. It was all Kevin 's fault. That 's what I think anyway. 5 when sth is not surprising used for saying that something is not surprising: Of course, there's a lot more crime. Anyway, what do you expect with such high

a

was

adj not at all interested in or enthusiastic about anything, and not willing to make ap«a«thet'i'caMy any effort to change things

—

/.aepa'Getikli/adv /'aepaBi/ noun [u] a feeling of having no interest in or enthusiasm about anything, or of not being willing to make any effort to change things

ap-a-thy

apatosaurus a*pa*to«sau*rus

[c]

a

dinosaur

with a very long neck and tail and a small head /,ei pi 'bi/ noun [c] all-points bulletin: an urgent message to all police officers in a particular area about a criminal they need to arrest ape 1 /eip/ noun [c] 1 a large monkey without a tail that can stand nearly straight and walk on two feet. Chimpanzees and gorillas are apes. 2 informal an insulting word for a man who is rude or stupid

APB

I'd like

for.

to apologize

a

more

hole

ape-shit / 'eipjit/adj

very informalgo apeshit to

very excited or angry /'ei.peks/ noun

apex

formal 1 the top or highest part of something that ends in a point: the apex of a triangle 2 the most important or successful part of something a*pha*sia /s'fe^a/ noun [u] medical a medical condition in which you are unable to use or understand some words, caused by damage to the brain a*phid / 'eifid/ noun [c] a very small insect that lives on plants

and destroys them

aph-o-rism

/'aefa.nzam/ noun [c] a short statement that says something wise and true

aph-ro-dis-i-ac /.aefra'dizi.aek/ noun [c] a food, drink, or drug that makes people want to have sex

— aph*ro*dis*i*ac adj

/'eipi.eri/ noun [C] a place where bees are kept so that their honey can be collected

a-pi-ar*y

a-piece

/a'pis/ adv each or for each one: Tickets were being sold on the black market for $200 apiece.

a-pleri'ty /a'plenti/

adj old-fashioned

a-plomb /a'plam/ noun

[U]

more than enough

a confident relaxed manner,

when dealing with a difficult situation a-poc-a-lypse /s'pakslips/ noun [singular] 1 a time when the whole world will be destroyed 2 a situation which many people

die

ally

and many things are

destroyed

a-poca-lyp-tic

that

Excuse

me

used when you realize have treated someone badly, for example by

not interested in pola par-

A-pol-lo /a'paloo/ a

you

blaming them for something that is not their fault

Please accept my/our apologies

used when making a written or formal apology

I/We regret.

used when making an apology in an official

.

announcement Examples: I'm sorry I'm

late.

didn't quite hear

I missed the train.

what she

I'm sorry,

/

said.

I'd like to apologize for Julie's behavior. She's normally so reliable.

Oh, excuse me, / didn 't see you standing there.

We've discovered

who

the thief was,

owe you an apology. We accept that this was you

to accept

and

it

seems we

the company's fault

and ask

our sincere apologies.

We

regret to announce that tonight's performance of "La Traviata" has been canceled.

apology /s'pabd3i/ noun * 1 [C] a statement that tells someone that you are sorry doing something wrong or causing a problem: We would have been happy with an apology. make an apology

for

He made a public apology for his remarks. owe sb an apology (=to feel that you should apologize, especially for accusing someone unfairly) / think I owe you an apology. demand an apology We wrote to the editor demanding an apology. accept sb's apology Of course we accepted his apologies - what else could we do? 1a. apologies [plural] BrE a statement from someone saying that they are sorry that they cannot go to a meeting 2 [C]formal a statement in which you defend or explain something such as an idea

my

1

2 not connected with

something

else has

used when apologizing for something you did

owe you an apology

apoliti-cal

/ .eips'litikl/ adj

someone

accident I

for a house.

or political issues ticular political party

when you

done

/apakaiiptik/ adj describing or expecting a time when very bad things will happen or the world will be destroyed a-poc-ry-phal /s'pakrsfl/ adj probably not true, but believed by a lot of people to be true ap-o-gee /'sp3d3i/ noun [C] 1 formal the time when something is at its most successful or important 2 technical the point farthest from the Earth that the Moon or a satellite reaches while it moves around the Earth itics

and formal

-lble for

become

[c]

polite

.

AmE

go ape very informal to become very excited, enthusiastic, or angry about something ape 2 /eip/ verb [T] to copy someone, especially the way they behave or speak aperitif /a.pere'tif/ noun [C] an alcoholic drink that is drunk before a meal aperture /'aepart Jar/ noun [c] 1 technical the hole in a camera that lets light in 2 formal a small narrow

in

apostolic

53 /a.pasta'soras/ noun

an apology for sth informal something that is of very bad quality: They lived in what was a miserable apology make/offer no apologies used for emphasizing that you believe you have done the right thing and you do not feel ashamed about it: / make no apologies for encouraging

my

children to succeed in school.

(humble/deepest/sincere etc.) apologies formal used for saying that you are sorry for something: My apologies if I have misunderstood your intentions.

Words frequently used with apology

U.S. space program that sent rockets into space in the 1960s and 1970s and put the first man on the Moon a-pologetic /3,pata'd3etik/ adj showing that you are sorry for doing something wrong or causing a problem: The manager was very apologetic. a small apologetic smile a«pol'0'get'i«caMy/3,pal3'd3etikli/adv

ap'O'plec-tic /.iupa'plektik/ad] 1 informal extremely angry 2 old-fashioned relating to a stroke ap-o-plex-y /'aepapleksi/ noun [u] informal extreme

a-pol-o-gist /a'pabd3ist/ noun [c]formal someone who defends something such as a belief a-polo-gize /a'pata^aiz/ verb [i] ** to tell someone that you are sorry for doing something wrong or

a-poS'tate /a'pus.teit/ noun [C] formal someone who has given up their religious or political beliefs a pos-te-ri«o«ri /u pastiri'ori; ,ei pastiri'o rai/ adj, adv

—

'

+for / to apologize. +to You should be apologize for taking so long to reply. apologizing to your customers for wasting their money. apologize profusely /sincerely /unreservedly The newspaper has apologized unreservedly for printing false allegations about her.

causing a problem: There's no need

Ways

of

apologizing

adjectives

abject,

full,

heartfelt,

profound,

anger

very formal using knowledge, evidence, or experience make a judgment or decision about something that compare a priori has already happened a-pos'tle /o'pusl/ noun [c] 1 one of the 12 disciples (=men chosen by .Jesus Christ to help him spread Chris tianity around the world) 2 someone who lias a Strong belief in an idea and tries to get other people to support to

—

it

m

sorry

the usual way of apologizing to someone you know well

ap-os'tol'ic /xp.Vstulik/

adj 1 relating to the pope (=the leader of the Roman Catholic Church) 2 relating to the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ or their work

apostrophe •

'

/a'pustrafi/ noun [C] the symbol used in writing. In English, it marks the possessive form of a noun, for example "Bob's car," or a place where one or more letters have been removed from a word or phrase, for example "isn't."

a-poth-e-car«y /a'paGa.keri/ noun [C] an old word for someone whose job was to prepare and sell medicines a-poth*e*o*sis /o.paBi'oosis/ noun [usually singular] very formal 1 the perfect example of something 2 the best point in someone's

or career

life

ap-pal /a'pol/the BrE

spelling of appall

ap-pall /a'pol/ verb [t] to shock or offend someone very much: The scale of the destruction appalled us. ap-palled /o'pold/ adj offended or shocked very much by something, because it is extremely unpleasant or bad: appalled to see/hear/find/discover etc. She was appalled to hear that her husband had been arrested. + at/by / was appalled by his arrogant attitude. + (that) I'm appalled that a doctor could make a remark like that. appalling /a'polin/ adj * very unpleasant and shocking: The conditions in the camps were absolutely appalling. a. very bad or disappointing: appalling weather The jokes were absolutely appalling. ap«pall*ing*ly adv. At

—

peak times the airport

is

appallingly crowded.

appa-ra-tchik works in an

/.aepa'netfik/ noun [c] someone who organization, especially a political party

or large corporation, but or beliefs of their own

apparatus

is

considered to have no views

.aepa'reitas/ noun 1 [C/u] the machines, tools, and equipment needed for doing something, especially something technical or scientific: They were setting up the apparatus for the experiment. breathing apparatus 2 [singular] the people and organizations involved in some aspect of government .changes within the administrative apparatus of the ruling party 3 [C/U] medical the organs responsible for the way a part of the body or mind works /.aepa'raetas;

ap«par«el/3'per3l/noun [u] 1 Am £ a word for clothes, used especially in stores or other businesses: Men's apparel is on the second floor. 2 literary the clothes someone is wearing, especially unusual or formal clothes

/s'perant/ adj 1 easy to see or understand: obvious: +from The children's poor health was apparent from their physical appearance. it becomes apparent that It soon became apparent that the two women knew each other. for no apparent reason Emma suddenly blushed for no apparent reason. +to It should be apparent to any reader that there are several inconsistencies. only/all too apparent (=very obvious in a way that is unpleasant or worrying) The potential for injury was all too apparent. 2 an apparent quality, feeling, or situation seems to exist although it may not be real: His apparent lack of Williams won interest in her work always annoyed her. the tournament with apparent ease. apparent paradox/ contradiction/discrepancy the apparent paradox ofpeople migrating during periods of low unemployment

ap-par-ent-ly /a'perantli/ adv •** 1 based only on what you have heard, not on what you is

true: Apparently, she resigned because she

had an argument with her boss. 2 used for saying what seems

know

appa-ri-tion

all

/.aepa'njn/ noun [C] 1 formal a strange

image or creature that someone sees 2 humorous someone who looks very strange or unusual

appeal

1

/a'pil/verb

***

make an urgent request for people to give you something that you need such as help, money, or 1

[i]

[i/T]

ity

to

information: appeal (to sb) for sth They're appealing to The police have local businesses for sponsorship money. appealed for witnesses to the accident. 1a. to ask people to do something or to behave in a particular way, especially in a difficult situation: appeal for calm/ unity/ restraint As the crisis

grew worse,

to

to formally

change

its

ask a court of law or similar authordecision: The magistrate has given appeal his decision. + against Green 's

Levinson 30 days to family say they will appeal against the verdict. 4 [I] to try to get someone to do or accept something by making them think it is a sensible or fair thing to do: + to Max appealed to her good sense to make her change her mind.

ap-peal 2

/a'pil/

noun

•••

1 [C] an urgent request for people to give you something you need such as help, money, or information: + for The police have renewed their appeal for help from the public. launch an appeal They have launched an appeal to send food to the flood victims. 1a. a request for people to do something or to behave in a particular way: +for There have been several appeals for an end to the fighting. make an appeal Seddon made an emotional appeal for his daughter to contact him. 2 [u] a quality that something has that makes people like it or want it: How do you explain the appeal of horror movies? Soccer has popular appeal (=many people enjoy it). broaden/widen your appeal (=try to become popular with more people) The organization is clearly trying to broaden its appeal among women. -» sex appeal 3 [C/U] a formal request for a court of law or similar authority to change its decision: Jones has been released on bail pending an appeal (=until there is an appeal). an appeal judge /tribunal/ hearing + against An appeal against his conviction is being considered.

Words

frequently used with appeal broad, mass, popular, universal,

adjectives

2

wide

appealing /s'pilirj/ adj * 1 attractive and interesting: Max had an appealing oldfashioned charm. +to We've tried to make the design more appealing to young people. 2 [only before noun] an appealing look, voice, etc. shows that you want help, approval, or agreement: She cast an appealing glance in my direction. ap*peaMng*ly adv

—

ap'peals court noun

[c]

Am E a court of appeals

appear /a'pir/ verb •** 1 seem 2 begin

4 be to be

3 be on TV

seen

etc.

5

in

court

start to exist

6 be

written/printed

1 [linking verb] to make other people think that you are something or feel something. Appear is a slightly more formal word than seem: This job is not as easy as it Matt appears unaffected by all the media first appeared. attention. appear to do sth No one appeared to notice me. it appears that It appears that she has changed her mind. there appears to be There appears to be very little we can do about it. appear to have done sth The building appears what appears to to have been used as a place of worship. be Gibbs was shot in what appears to be a gangland killing.

2 [i] if someone or something appears somewhere, you begin to see them suddenly or for the first time: Cracks One day a stranger began to appear in the ceiling. appeared on my doorstep. 2a. to arrive somewhere: As soon as she appears, we can get started. 3 [i to be on television or in a play, movie, concert, Tony etc.: She appeared on television with the President. is currently appearing in a Broadway musical. 4 [i] to go to a court of law, committee, or similar institution, so that people can ask you questions and make decisions about what you say: He is due to appear + before/ in front of Jackson will appear in court today. before a congressional committee to explain the budget ]

to be true when people the facts of a situation: Seven people were shot yesterday in two apparently unrelated incidents.

do not yet

3

***

ap-parent

are certain

appearance

54

a-postrophe

local

community leaders

appealed for unity. appeal to sb to do sth She appealed to her former husband to return their baby son. 2 [i] if something appeals to you, you like it or want it: + to The show's direct approach will appeal to children.

package.

5

[I]

if

something new or different appears,

it

starts to

known about for the first time: Yet another rap group has appeared on the music scene. 5a. to become available for the first time: This was when sushi began the latest to appear on restaurant menus in New York. personal computer to appear on the market 6 [I] to be written or printed somewhere: Jane's name did not appear on the list. ap-pear-ance /a'pirans/ noun 1 [C/U] the way that someone or something looks: His thinning hair gave him the appearance of a much older exist or to be

***

appease Recent initiatives have done a lot to improve the appearance of the district. The twins are almost identical in appearance. 1a. the way that someone or something looks, when this is different from the way it really is: He doesn't look well off, but you shouldn't judge by give the appearance of (doing) sth He had appearances. always given the appearance of agreeing with her ideas. to/by all appearances (=based on the way a situation seems) She was, to all appearances, enjoying the challenges of the new job. 2 [u] the time when something starts to exist or be seen: The disease is contagious only before the appearance of its initial symptoms. 2a. the fact of someone appearing, especially when you do not expect them: Julie's sudden appearance in the doorway startled me. 3 [C] an occasion when you are on television or in a play, movie, concert, etc.: a public appearance make an

appearance She has made numerous appearances on

game

4

TV

shows.

an occasion when you go

[C] to a court of law. committee, or similar institution so that people can ask

you questions and make decisions about you: He has had 14 other court appearances. keep up appearances to pretend that everything is good, for example with your marriage or your financial situation, even though you are having problems: Their marriage was over, but they wanted to keep up appearances for the children's sake.

—

icpo taizar/ noun (C) a food part of a meal

main appe-tiz-ing the

/

you eat before

appetizing food smells ap-petiz-ing-ly adv

'aera tai/in/ ad]

or looks very good

ap-plaud/a'plnd/verb

1 [i/tJ to show that you enjoyed someone's performance, speech, etc by hitting the palms of your hands together: clap 2 [t] to praise a decision, action, idea, etc.: They have been applauded for their humanitarian work in Ethiopia. ap-plause /a'pbz/ noun [uj the sound made by people applauding a performance, speech, etc.: Her speech drew enthusiastic applause. a round of applause 1a/i's have a round of applause for all the organizers. thunderous/ rapturous applause Gere walked onto the stage amid thun-

derous applause.

ap-ple /'spl/ noun [C/u] -k-k a hard round fruit that is white inside and has a smooth red, yellow, or green skin, which is called a peel when it has been removed. The middle part of the apple containing the seeds is called the core. Apples grow on apple trees, -picture -»cio

the apple of sb's eye the person that someone loves most of all and is very proud of-> rotten apple ap-ple-cart /'acplkart/ noun upset the applecart to spoil someone's plan or arrangement apple pie noun [C/u] a sweet food made from apples in pastry

as American as apple pie something as American as apple pie has its origins in the U.S. or has qualities that are thought to be typical of the U.S. or of American people

Apple pie is a very popular type of food in America that reminds people of home and represents the good things in

American

life.

ap-ple pol-ish-er /'aepl .palijar/ noun [c] AmE informal someone who tries to get approval from another person by helping them or praising them without being sincere

ap»plet /'aepbt/ noun program

[C]

computing a simple computer

appliance /a'plaians/

title

ap'pend

/a'pend/ verb [J] formal to add something to the end of a piece of writing

ap-pend-age

/a'pendid^/ noun [c] formal something is joined to something larger or more important, example a small part of your body such as a hand

that

or foot

ap-pen-deC'to-my

/.aepandektsmi/ noun [c] a medical operation in which your appendix is removed ap-pen-di-ci-tis /spendi'saitis/ noun [u] an illness in which your appendix becomes infected and has to be removed in a medical operation ap'peri'dix/s'pendiks/ noun [C] ** 1 (plural ap*pen*dix*es) a small tube that is joined to your large intestine. It has no particular use and is removed in a medical operation if it becomes infected.

2

(plural ap*pen«di*ces /a'pendi.siz/) a section giving extra details at the end of a book, part of a book, or document: Technical specifications are included in the appendix to Chapter 9.

ap-per-tain/aepar'tem/appertainto formal [appertain

to sth] to

/ 'aepa.taizar/

phrasal vb[T] very

belong to or be about some-

thing: regulations appertaining to the

ap-petis-er

appetizer /

baked

put in/make an appearance to go somewhere for a short time, especially because you feel you have an obligation to go there: / think I ought to put in an appearance at the office before lunch. ap-pease /s'piz/ verb [t] 1 to give your opponents what they want: By failing to condemn the march, she was appeasing left-wing elements in the party. 2 to say or do something in order to make someone feel less angry: ap-pease-ment noun [u] placate ap'pel-lant /a'pebnt/ noun [C] legal someone who appeals against a decision of a court of law ap-pel-late court /s.petat kort/ noun [c] a court of law that can change the decision made in other courts appellation /.aeps'leijn/ noun [C] formal a name or

for

application

56

man.

army

a Br E spelling of appetizer

ap-pe-tiS'ing / 'aeps.taizin /a Br E spelling of appetizing ap-pe-tite /'spa.tait/ noun •• 1 [C/u] the natural feeling of wanting to eat: a chubby baby with a good, healthy appetite The symptoms include fever and loss of appetite. All that fresh air and exercise spoil /ruin your appetite has given me an appetite. (=make you want to eat less at a meal) Don't have any more chocolate - you'll spoil your appetite. work up an appetite (=do something that makes you hungry) Ella had worked up a big appetite in the gym. 2 [C] a feeling of being very interested in something or wanting it very much: +for The public's appetite for sexual appetite He is celebrity gossip seems insatiable. portrayed as having an immense sexual appetite.

noun [c] • a machine or piece of equipment that you have in your home, for example a washing machine or refrigerator: We stock a wide range of kitchen appliances.

ap'pli-ca'ble/'aeplikabl; a'phkobl/adj [not usually before noun] • relevant to or affecting a particular situation or group of people: Western notions of human rights are +to This not necessarily applicable in other societies. section of the law is applicable only to corporations. ap«pli«ca«biM«ty/,£plik3'bil3ti/noun[u]

—

applicant

/'sphkant/ noun

[C]

*

someone who

applies for something, such as a job or a loan of money: job Successful applicants will be notified by telephone. applicants

application 1

/.sph'keijn/ noun

request for sth

2 particular use sth has 3 effort/determination

•••

4 computer software 5 putting sth onto surface

1 [C/U] a formal request for permission to do or have something: +for His application for membership in the application to do sth The hospital club was rejected. submitted an application to build a new orthopedic wing. make /submit /put in an application I'm supposed to submit my application before the end of the week. grant/ approve an application The bank has approved their mortgage application. 1a. a written request for a job or a place at a college, university, etc.: The university welcomes applications from older students. * a letter of appli-

cation

2 [C] a particular use that something has: the practical applications of this technology 2a. [U] the use of a particular method, process, law, etc.: He pioneered the application of scientific techniques to police work. 3 \U] formal hard work and determination that you put into something for a long period: With the right degree of application and dedication the team should win a medal. 4 [C] computing a piece of computer software that is designed to do a particular job

application form 5

such as paint

or glue onto a surface

application .form noun

*•

[c] a printed list of questions that you answer in order to try to get a job, borrow money, get into a university, etc.

ap*pli«ca«tor /iepli.keitar/ noun [c] an object used putting a substance on the surface of something

for

/o'plaid/ ad) [usually before noun] * used for describing educational subjects when they are studied for their practical uses: applied mathematics/ linguistics ap*pli»que /.aepli'kei/ noun [c/u] the process of attaching small pieces of cloth to larger pieces of cloth to make a decoration, or the decoration itself ap-pli-que

applied

verb[T]

apply 1

/g'plai/ verb

requests job

•••

etc.

2 use method/law etc. 3 be relevant to/affect

[J]formal 1 to divide something such as payments between two or more people, organizations, etc.: apportion sth among /between Costs will be apportioned between the federal and local governments. 2 to say who should be blamed for something: apportion blame /liability The report carefully avoids apportioning blame to any individuals.

— ap'por-tiorvment noun [smgular/u]

ap-pO'Site /'aepazit/ ad) formal relevant and appropriate to what is happening or being discussed ap-po-si-tion /;cpoziJn/ noun [u] linguistics the relationship between two noun phrases that are used in the same way and refer to the same person or thing. For example in "My best friend, Jane, likes swimming", "my best friend" and "Jane" are said to be in apposition.

:

he's over eighteen.

4

[T] to put a layer of something such as paint onto a surface: Sara applied her lipstick carefully. apply sth to sth Apply two coats of varnish to the table. 5 [T]/orma/ to use physical force in order to make something happen or work .Apply pressure to the wound to stop it bleeding. Apply the brakes smoothly as you approach the junction.

apply yourself to work very hard on something for a long time /a'pomt/ verb [T] •*• 1 to choose someone to do a particular job or have a

appoint

particular position: We need to appoint a new treasurer. the newly appointed editor of the magazine appoint sb (as) sth Picard has been appointed chief executive of the new division. appoint sb to do sth A subcommittee should appoint sb to sth be appointed to assist the chairperson. She was the first woman to be appointed to the board. 2 formal to choose a time or place for something to happen: Proceedings will be brought to a conclusion at a time appointed by this committee. the appointed time/ place He arrived at Ella's office at the appointed time.

ap-point-ed

/a'pointsd/ adj a building or room that is beautifully appointed, well appointed, etc. has everything you need and is decorated very well

/a.pom'ti/ noun [c] someone who has been do a particular job: government appointees ap-point*ment /s'pomtmant/ noun *** 1 [C] an arrangement to see someone at a particular time, especially for a business meeting or to get a professional service: make an appointment Sue called to make a dental appointment. +with Fd like to make an appointment with the doctor. appointment to do sth I have an appointment to see my lawyer next Saturday. keep an appointment (=go to an appointment that you have arranged) Please notify us if you are unable to keep your appointment. by appointment (=at a time already arranged) Viewing of the property is by appointment only. 2 [C/U] the fact of being given a new job, especially an important one: +as/to his appointment as governor of

ap-point-ee to

California/ to the governorship of California 2a. [C] a job, especially an important job: Her first academic appointInternal ment was as an assistant professor at Yale. appointments are advertised on the bulletin board.

appointment .book

apportion /o'por J'n/ verb

appraisal

4 put sth on surface 5 use physical force + PHRASES

1 [I] to make an official request for a job or a place to study at a college or university, or for permission to do or have something: We advertised three jobs, and over 50 people applied. +for / have applied for a scholarship. +to You have to apply to the U.S. embassy for a visa. apply to do sth Why don't you apply to join the fire department? 2 [T] to use a particular method, process, law, etc. The trial judge had applied an incorrect principle of law. apply sth to sth A similar technique can be applied to the treatment of cancer. 2a. to use a particular name or word for someone or something: In the past, unhelpful terms were often applied to children who were dyslexic. 3 [i] to affect or be relevant to a particular person or thing: + to The restriction no longer applies to him because

chosen

appreciative

56

[C/u] the process of putting a substance

AmE

noun [c] a book that has spaces or pages for each day of the year, where you can write down things you plan to do. Br E usually diary: CALENDAR, DATEBOOK, PLANNER

/s'preizl/ noun

*

1 [C] an official statement about how valuable a piece of property is: We had an appraisal made on the house. 2 [C/u] an opinion about how successful, effective, etc. someone or something is: a critical appraisal of the government's economic strategy 3 [C/U] Br E business an evaluation between a manager

and someone who works

for

them

appraise

/s'preiz/ verb [t] 1 to say officially how valuable a piece of property is: You really should have the land appraised. 2 formal to form an opinion about how successful, effective, etc. someone or something is: The company will hire bankers and lawyers to appraise the terms of the deal. 3 Br E business to evaluate a person who works for you: Staff will be appraised twice

a year.

ap*pre*cia»ble

/a'prijabl/ adj enough to be noticed or considered important: Her help on the project has made an appreciable difference. ap-pre-cia-bly adv

—

appreci-ate

/s'prifi.eit/ verb

**

1 [T never progressive] to understand the true nature of a situation, and realize why it is important or serious: realize: / began to appreciate the difficulties my father had + how /why /what etc. Doctors are only now faced. beginning to appreciate how dangerous this drug can be. +that We appreciate that you cannot make a decision immediately, fully appreciate / don 't believe the President fully appreciates the complexity of the problem. 2 [T never progressive] to recognize the good or special qualities of a person, place, or thing: She feels that her family doesn't really appreciate her. a restaurant that is popular with people who appreciate good service and fine wines 2a. to realize that someone has good qualities and that they are important: be truly /properly appreciated Many of the office workers feel that they are not properly appreciated. 3 [T] to be grateful for something: / appreciate this opportunity to put my point of view to the committee. Thanks for helping me out, Donna, I really appreciate it. 4 [i] if something appreciates, its value increases gradOpposite DEPRECIATE ually

—

etc would appreciate it if... spoken used for politely asking someone to do something, especially when you are slightly annoyed: / would appreciate it if you would just let me deal with this.

I/we

ap-pre-ci-a-tion /apriji'eijn/ noun

**

pleasure in understanding something that is good or beautiful: We share an appreciation of music. 1a. [C] a speech or piece of writing about someone, praising their good qualities 2 [U] the feeling you have when you are grateful to someone: This is just a small token of our appreciation. in appreciation (of) The award is given in appreciation of her huge contribution to the movie business. 3 [singular/u] the ability to understand the true nature of a situation, and realize why it is important or serious: There is a growing appreciation of the need for environmental reforms. The course allows students to gain an appreciation of what life was like then. 4 [singular/u] an increase in the value of something 1

[singular/u]

— Opposite DEPRECIATION

/s'prijativ/ adj showing that you are you enjoyed something: The applause was warm and appreciative. an appreciative smile + of He was sincerely appreciative of their support.

ap-pre-cia-tive grateful or that

— ap*pre*cia*tive«ly adv

apprehend

feeling of worry or fear that something bad might happen: anxiety: Many of us face our retirement with apprehension. Anja noticed the look of apprehension on his face. 2 [u] formal the act of arresting someone

apprehensive

/.aepn'hensrv/ adj slightly worried or nervous: +of It's a strategy that many teachers are apprehensive of using. * + about Leonora felt very apprehensive about his visit. ap-pre-hervsive-ly adv

ap-pren-tice 1

/3'prcntis/ noun [c] someone who works for a particular person or company, usually for low pay, in order to learn the type of work they do: He became an engineering apprentice with a local firm. an apprentice carpenter

apprentice 2

/a'prentis/

verb

usually passive]

[t

if

someone is apprenticed to another person, they are employed by that person to learn the type of work they do: He was apprenticed to a carpenter.

apprenticeship

/a'prentisj'ip/ noun [C/U] employment as an apprentice: serve an apprenticeship (=work as an apprentice) At 16, he served an apprenticeship as a commercial paint sprayer, a. someone's early experiences in a particular type of work or activity: She was elected party leader without serving the normal political apprenticeship.

ap-prise /a'praiz/ verb [t] formal tell someone about something

ap-proach

1

/a'prootj"/ verb

[apprise sb of sth] to

•••

1 [i/T) to move closer to someone or something: She heard footsteps approaching from behind. *A strange boat was approaching the shore. 1a. [l] if an event or a particular time approaches, it will happen soon: The day of the election approached. Winter is fast approaching. 2 [T] to speak to someone about something for the first time, especially in order to ask for help or make an offer: Have you thought about approaching Sally? She might be able to help. approach sb about sth I have already approached my boss about a raise. 3 [T] to almost reach a particular level, number, or condition: There is no one who even approaches his talents. They played in temperatures approaching 100 degrees. 4 [T] to deal with a situation or problem in a particular way: Governments tend to approach the issue from different 2

*••

/a'prootJV noun 1 [C] a particular way of thinking about or dealing with something: We need a fresh approach to sports in education. + to He has a relaxed approach to life. adopt/ take /use an approach As a writer she takes a completelynew approach to the classic horror story. 2 [singular] the fact of coming closer in time or in distance: With the approach of war, many children were evacuated. We watched the carriage's slow and steady approach. 3 [C] the path that a plane follows when it is preparing to land: + to /into The plane crashed during its final approach to the airport. 3a. a path or road that leads to a place: +to Soldiers were guarding all approaches to the

[T] 1 to decide that money will be used for a particular purpose: The legislature appropriated funds for computers in the public schools. 2 formal to take something for yourself: She had appropriated his role as chief provider for the family. 2a. legal to take something illegally

officially

ap-pro-pri-a-tion /o.proopri'eijn/ noun [C/U] formal 1 money that must be used in a particular way, according to an official decision: +for The budget includes an appropriation of $385 million for infrastructure improvements. 2 the action of taking something, especially when you have no right to take it

•••

approv-al

/a'pruvl/ noun [u] a positive feeling that you have toward someone or something that you consider to be good or suitable: The children longed for a sign of affection or approval from him. Her ideas on the family are often quoted with approval by Mr. Bush. meet with sb's approval (=be approved of by someone) Most of his girlfriends failed to meet with his father's approval. a nod/smile/murmur of approval A murmur of approval ran through the crowd. sb's approval rating (=a measure of people's approval of a political leader) By July, the President's approval rating had risen 1

to

over 60 percent.

2

official

The board has finally given

on approval send

it

to the loan.

satisfied

with

it

/a'pruv/ verb

•••

have a positive feeling toward someone or something that you consider to be good or suitable: You 're leaving college! Do your parents approve? 1

[I

never progressive] to

+of He seemed to approve of my choice. approve of sb doing sth / don't really approve of children wearing makeup, —opposite disapprove 2 [T often passive] to give official agreement or permission to something: This year's budget package has been formally approved by the legislature. The new stamps were approved by a special panel of artists. be approved for sth These chemicals were only approved for use in animal foods.

Words

frequently used with heartily,

approve

thoroughly, warmly,

1

wholeheartedly formally, narrowly, officially, overwhelmingly, personally, unani-

2

mously /o'pruvd/

*

ap-prov-ing

/a'pravrj)/ adj showing support for someone or satisfaction with something they have done: Susan's joke was greeted with approving laughter.

1

someone who

is

approachable is friendly and easy to talk to 2 capable of being reached from a particular direction or by a particular means: The site is approachable only by sea. ap-pro-ba-tion /.aeproo'beij'n/ noun [u] formal approval

ap-pro-pri-a-cy /a'proopriosi/ noun [u] linguistics the degree to which a word, expression, or grammar pattern is

approval

if

adj accepted officially as being suitable in a particular situation: The plane was Jiving approved minimum altitude of 500 feet. below the

1

down-to-earth, flexible, methodical, pragmatic, structured, systematic

ap«proach«a-ble /a'prootjabl/ad)

its

you buy something on approval, you can back within a particular time if you are not

ap*proved

Words frequently used with approach constructive,

— opposite disapproval

agreement or permission, given by someone

in authority: give/grant (your) approval The program has yet to be given the mayor's approval. We sent the design to the planning department for approval. subject to sb's approval (=needing to be approved by them) Any recommendations are subject to the approval of stockholders.

the action of starting to speak or write to someone when you are asking for something or making an offer: make an approach to sb The company has made some approaches to the Department of Commerce.

common-sense,

•••

ap'pro-pri'ate 2 /o'proopri.eit/ verb

[C]

adjectives

1

/.Vproopriat/ adj suitable or right for a particular situation or purpose: This isn't the appropriate time to discuss the problem. The manager should take appropriate action if safety standards are not being met. + to /for We need to ensure that the teaching they receive is appropriate to their needs. +that It is entirely appropriate that his music should be played at this festival, a. as appropriate in the way that is relevant or suitable: Vary your presentation, using handouts and overheads as appropriate, —opposite inappropriate ap-pro-pri-ate-ly adv: appropriately dressed ap*pro*pri*ate*nes5 noun [U]

adverbs

palace.

4

appropriate

ap-prove

angles.

approach

approximate

57

ap-pre-hend /^epnhcnd/ verb [T] 1 formal to arrest someone 2 very formal to understand something ap-pre-hen-sion /.iepn'henjan/ noun 1 [c/uj a

natural or acceptable in a particular situation

— ap-proving'ly adv approx. abbrev 1 ap-prox'i-mate

approximate

2 approximately

1

/.Vpruksimat/adj not exact, but close to an exact amount, number, time, etc.: the approximate time of death cost of repairs a. not exact or accurate, but good enough to be useful: I can give you an approximate idea of where she lives.

ap'prox-i'mate 2

pmksimeit/ verb

1

[\/T] formal to

be close to a particular number: The crowd approximated

approximately I

aquaplane 2

exact

aquarium ••

ap-prox-i-mately

/s'praksimstli/ adv used for showing that an amount, number, time, etc. is not exact: roughly: Approximately 60,000 people filled the stadium.

approximation

/a.praksi'meijn/ noun [c/u] 1 a nearly exact calculation, amount, number, time, etc.: + of / can only give you an approximation of the cost. 2 something that is similar to something else but is not exactly the same: +of That's a reasonable approximation of what happened.

Apr. abbrev April a-pres-ski

noun [singular] social activities you have spent the day skiing a-pri-cot Aepn.kat/ noun 1 [c] a soft fruit with an orange-yellow skin and a large hard seed inside —picture-* cio 2 [u] an orange-yellow color a-pri-cot /,;eprei 'ski/

that take place after

—

adj

A-pril /'eiprsl/ noun [C/U] *** the fourth month of the year, between March and May: Her birthday is in April. My appointment is on April 8th. We moved here last April.

April 'fool noun [C] a trick that you play on someone on April Fools' Day a. someone who is tricked on April

Day

Fools'

[c/u] April 1, a day when people try to trick each other, especially by making other people believe something that is not true

April 'Fools' .Day noun

a

arbitration

58

something but not exactly the same: This flavor approximates what I remember. 2 [T] to calculate something in a way that is not 1a. formal to be similar to

10,000.

pri-O'ri /,a priori; ,ei pri'o.rai/ adj, adv very formal using knowledge or experience you already have in order to make a judgment or decision compare a

—

POSTERIORI

apron

/'eipran/ noun [C] 1 something that you wear to protect the front of your clothes, especially when you are cooking 2 a place at an airport where planes wait or turn around 3 apron or apron stage the part of a theater stage that sticks out toward the audience

apron

.strings noun

[plural]

influence or control that

someone has over you because you are afraid of making your own decisions or of not doing what they say: be tied to sb's apron strings (=be influenced or controlled

by someone) Even apron

at 25

Jenny was

tied to

her parent's

strings. 1

ap-ro-pos /.spra'pou/ used

preposition formal relating to: for saying something else about the subject you

are talking about

ap-ro-pos 2

/.aepra'poo/ adj formal appropriate or rele-

vant

apse

/asps/ noun [C] a curved area at one end of a

church /aept/adj • 1 something that is apt, especially a name, description, or comment, is very appropriate: an apt comparison It seemed apt that the winning goal was scored by the captain. 2 good at learning: an apt pupil

apt

to have a tendency to do something: They are apt to become a little careless if you don't watch them carefully. The cars were old and apt to break down. apt'ly adv: the aptly named Mr. Savage* The title aptly describes how this music makes you feel. apt. abbrev apartment apti-tude /'aepti.tud/ noun [C/U] natural ability that makes it easy for you to do something well: an aptitude test +for J had no aptitude for accountancy and began to

be apt to do sth

—

hate

it.

aq-ua /'askwa/ noun [u] 1 a light 2 technical water — aq«uaadj Aq-ua-lung /'skwa.lAn/ trademark

green-blue color a piece of equip-

ment that provides air for you to breathe when you are swimming under water aq-ua'ma-rine/.aekwama'rin/noun 1 [u] a green-blue color 2 [C/u] a green-blue stone used for making jewelry

— aq-ua-ma-rine adj

aquaplane

1

/'askws.plem/ noun [C] a board on which fast boat pulls you across the surface

you stand while a of the water

/'a;kwo,plcin/ verb [i] 1 to stand on an aquaplane and move across the surface of the water

2 Br E

to

hydroplane on a wet road

/o'kwcriom/ noun [c] a glass or plastic container in which fish and other water animals are kept a. a building with aquariums where people can go to look at fish and other water animals

Aquarius /a'kwerias/

noun [C/u] one of the 12 signs of the zodiac, represented by a person pouring water. An Aquarius is someone born between January 20 and February 19, believed to be influenced by this sign.

a*quat*ic /a'kwaetik/

adj growing or living in or near water: aquatic birds a. relating to or involving water: aquatic pollution

aq-ua«tint

/'aekwa.tint/ noun [c] a picture like a watercolor that is printed by using acid to cut a design into a sheet of metal a. [u] the method used to make aquatint

pictures

aq-ue-duct

/'aekwa.dAkt/ noun [c] a structure like a bridge that takes water across a valley

aque-ous

/'eikwias; 'aekwiss/ adj technical containing water aq-ui-fer /'aekwafar/ noun [c] technical a layer of earth or rock that contains water or that water can pass through aq'iiMine/'aekwi.lam/ adj formal 1 relating to or like an eagle (=a large bird) 2 an aquiline nose is large and curved

AR abbrev Arkansas Ar-ab 1

1

/'erab/ noun [C]

•

someone from the Middle East or North Africa who

speaks arabic 2 Br E an Arabian horse

Arab 2 /'erab/ adj

relating to the Middle East or North Africa or to the people, language, or culture of those regions: Arab states/ leaders* the Arab world (=the Middle East and North Africa)

ara-besque

/.era'besk/ noun [C] 1 a position in ballet dancing in which you lift one leg up behind you 2 a pattern of curved lines used as decoration

A-ra-bi-an /a'reibian/ or

Arabian horse

noun [c] very fast and graceful Ara-bic /'erabik/ noun [u] the language that most people speak in the Middle East and in most countries

Am E a type of horse that

is

of North Africa and exists in a. the system of writing that

language —Ar«a«bic

many is

different dialects

used for the Arabic

adj

.Arabic 'numeral noun [c] one of the written symbols 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 that are used in the writing systems of many countries to represent numbers

—

compare roman numeral ar-a-ble /'erabl/ adj arable land is suitable or used for growing crops a-rach-nid /a'raeknid/ noun [c] technical a member of a large class of animals that includes spiders ar*bi*ter / 'arbitar/ noun [c] 1 a person or organization that has official power to settle disagreements: The U.S. Supreme Court acts as final arbiter when district courts disagree. 2 someone whose opinions about a subject have a lot of influence: The guidebook is the ultimate arbiter of culinary excellence.

ar«bi«trage /'arbi,tra3/ noun [u] business the process of buying something, especially currencies or company shares, in one place and selling it in another at the same time for profit ar«bi'tra«geur/,arbitra'33r/ noun

—

[C]

ar-bi-trar-y /'arbi.treri/ adj * not based on any particular plan or done for any particular reason: an arbiThe selection of the 100 participants was trary decision completely arbitrary, a. used about actions that are considered to be unfair: This is a country where arbitrary ar«bi'trarM«ly /'arbi.trerali; arrests are commonplace.

—

.arbi'trersli/adv

ar-bi-trate /'arbi.treit/ verb [i/t] to settle a disagreement by considering

officially try to all

the facts and

opinions ar-bi-tra-tion / .arbi'treifn/ noun [u] the official process of trying to settle a disagreement between two people or groups by considering all the facts and opinions: go

arbitrator to arbitration

Arctic (=use arbitration) Some salary claims will

go to arbitration. ar-bi-tra-tor /'arbi.treitar/ noun [C] someone who is officially chosen to hear both sides of an argument and to make a decision about what should be done arbor /'arbar/ noun [c] a shelter in a garden that is made by growing plants over a frame 'Arbor ,Day noun [c/u] a U.S. public holiday on which people plant trees, celebrated at the end of April

ar-bo-re-al /ar'borial/

ad] technical relating to

or living

in trees: arboreal mammals ar-bo-re-tum /.arba'ritam/ noun [c] a place where trees are grown so that they can be studied arc 1 /ark/ noun [c]

a curved shape: The mountains formed an arc around city. 1a. a movement that follows a curved line: He swung his flashlight around in a wide arc. of 2 technical a flash light that happens when electricity flows between two separated points 3 technical a part of the line that forms the outside of a circle arc 2 /ark/ verb [i] 1 to move somewhere in the shape of an arc 2 science if electricity arcs, it makes a flash 1

the north of the

it flows between two separate points /ar'keid/ noun [c] • a VIDEO ARCADE a covered passage at the side of a building a covered area with stores on both sides

of light as

arcade 1

tryside

arcane /ar'kein/ adj formal mysterious and difficult to understand

**

a curved structure at the top /artjV noun [C] of a door, window, or gate: the arch above the front door a. a structure with a curved top and two straight sides that you can walk through: a garden arch Marble Arch b. the curved part on the bottom of your foot —picture -> foot' c. a curved structure, especially one that supports a building or a bridge: Many people sheltered under the arches of the bridge. the St. Louis Arch

arch 2

/artJV verb [i/t] to form the shape of an arch: Scully arched an Trees arched eyebrow in surprise. over the road.

arch 3

i

/artJV adj speaking or looking as though you think it is funny that you know something that someone else does not know: an arch smile/ arch-ly adv tone

J

—

^~~~arcn

arch- /artJV prefix main: used with some nouns: archenemy archbishop

ar-chae-o-log-i-cal /,arki3'lad3ikl/

ad] relating to or sites / evidence ,arki3'lad3ikli/ adv

involving archaeology: archaeological research

— ar-chae-o-log-i-cally

/

ar-chae-ol-o-gist/,arki'atad3ist/noun [c] • someone who studies archaeology ar-chae-o-lo-gy /,arki'atad3i/ noun [u] * the study of ancient societies, done by looking at tools, bones, buildings, and other things from that time that have been found ar-cha-ic /ar'kenk/ adj 1 old and no longer used: archaic language 1a. used about something that is oldfashioned and needs to be changed: archaic laws that forbid the sale of liquor on Sunday 2 relating to ancient times ar-cha-ism / 'arki.izam/ noun [c] an old word or phrase that is no longer used arch-an-gel / 'ark,emd33l/ noun [c] an important angel (=a spirit that lives in heaven) in the Muslim, Jewish,

and Christian religions

arch-bish-op

/artj'bijap/ noun [c] a priest of the highest rank in some Christian churches who is responsible for all the churches in a particular area

Archbishop of Canterbury, the /art J bij'op 'kaentsr.beri/ the

England

most senior priest

in the

arch-dea-con rank

is

responsible for

the area the rank of

2

/urtj'dikon/ noun [cl a priest of a high Church whose job is to help a

in the Anglican

BISHOP J

arch«di«0'Cese /urtj'daiosis;

urt 'dan sis/ noun (c] the area that an archbishop is responsible for arch-duke /artfduk/ noun [c] a prince in the Austrian royal family arched /artjt/ adj with an arch (=curved shape) at the top: an arched window arch-en-e-my /urtjcnami/ noun [cl someone who is

your main enemy ar-che-o-log-i-cal /,urkio'lud3ikl/ another spelling of archaeological

ar-che-ol-o-gist /,urki'abd3ist/ another

spelling

of

archaeologist

ar-che-ol-o-gy

/,urki'al3d3i/

another

spelling

of

archaeology

arch-er /'artjor/ noun [C] someone who shoots arrows from a bow arch-er-y /'artjsri/ noun [u] the sport of shooting arrows from a bow /.urko'taipl; 'arks.taipl/ adj [only before noun] very typical of a particular type of person or thing: In his dark suit, he looked like the archetypal businessman.

game noun [c] a type of computer game that you find in a video arcade Ar-ca-di-a /ar'keidis/ literary an imaginary place where people have a simple pleasant life in the coun-

arch

that an archbishop archbishop

[cl 1

ar-che-typ-al

2 3 ar'cade

1

arch-bish-opric /urij'bijopnk/ noun

o\

Church of

ar-che-type

/'urks.taip/

noun

[c]

a

very

typical

example of a particular type of person or thing: + of He was the archetype of a scientist. ar-chi-pel-a-go /.arki'pebgoo/ noun [c] 1 a large group of small islands 2 a sea or area of ocean with

many

islands in

it

ar-chi-tect /'arki.tekt/ noun [cl •• 1 someone whose job is to design buildings 2 [+of] the person who has the idea for something such as a plan or policy and makes it happen: the chief/ principal architect He was the chief architect of the country's new economic policy. ar-chi-tec-tu-ral / .arki'tektjaral/ adj relating to archiThe little town of tecture: architectural features /details ar-chiStein-am-Rhein is an architectural gem.

—

tec-tu-ral-ly adv

ar-chi-tec-ture /'arki.tektjar/ noun

[u]

*•

a particular style or way of designing buildings: The church is a typical example of Gothic architecture. 2 the study or practice of designing buildings: Andrea is studying architecture in Paris. 3 computing the design and structure of a computer system or program and the way that it works in relation to other systems and programs: database architecture 1

archive

1

/'ar.kaiv/ noun [c]

•

a collection of historical documents and records about a place, organization, etc.: The reports are preserved in the official archives. 1a. a place where you store historical documents and records 2 computing a copy of a computer file that you save on a disk or tape 2a. computing a copy of information that is put on the Internet so that other people can use it 3 computing a collection of computer files that have ar-chi-val been saved together in compressed form 1

[often plural]

—

/ar'kaivl/adj

archive 2

/'ar.kaiv/ verb [T] 1 to collect and store hisdocuments and records 2 computing to collect and store computer files in an archive: It's a good idea torical

to archive your files once a week. ar-chi-vist /'arkivist/ noun [C] someone whose job is to collect and store historical documents and records arch-ri-val /.urtj'raivi/ noun [c] the main person, company, etc. that you compete with in sports, business, etc.: The two supermarket chains are archrivals. arch-way /'artj.wei/ noun [c] a curved roof over an entrance or passage arc .light noun [c] a light that is produced when electricity flows between two separated points arc-tic /'aktik/ adj extremely cold: freezing

Arc-tic /'urktik/ landscape

adj relating to the Arctic: the Arctic

Arctic

argyle

60

Arc-tic, the

urktik/ the region that is the most northern part of the world. The most southern region is the Antarctic. /

ctic 'Circle, the an imaginary AEarth near the north pole r

line

around the

ardent

/'urdnt/ adj 1 feeling or showing a particular emotion very strongly, especially in support of someone or something: They remain ardent supporters of the Democratic Party. an ardent feminist 2 literary showing very strong feelings of love toward someone ar*dent*ly adv ardor /'ardar/ noun [u] 1 very strong feelings of admiration or determination: He carried out the task with ardor. 2 literary very strong feelings of love ardour the Br E spelling of ardor arduous /'ardjuas/ adj extremely difficult and involving a lot of effort: an arduous task The journey was long and arduous. ar*du*ous*ly adv are 1 / weak ar; strong ar/ see be 2 are /er; ar/ noun [C] a unit for measuring area in the metric system. One are is equal to 100 square meters. ar-e-a /'eria/ noun ••• 1 [C] a particular subject, type of activity, etc.: Mathematics is a subject that has links with all other curriculum areas. What is your main area of concern? His particular

—

—

area of expertise is engineering. 2 [C] a part of a city, town, country, etc.: Bus service in rural areas is not very good. / went on a tour of Vancouver + of My family has lived in and the surrounding area. this area of New England for years. 2a. a part of a building, space, etc. used for a particular purpose: You can park only in designated areas (=places available for this Visitors should wait in the reception area. purpose). 3 [C] a place on the surface of something such as a part of your body: Be sure to apply sunblock to sensitive areas of your skin. 4 area or surface area [c/u] the amount of space that the surface of a place or shape covers. Area is expressed in square units, such as square kilometers or square miles: The surface area of the screen should be at least one square meter.

area code noun [c] a series of numbers that you have to dial when you are making a telephone call to someone in a different area.

Br E dialling code

area ,rug noun [c] Am E a floor in a room a-re-na /a'rina/ noun

[c]

carpet that covers part of the

*

1 a large area that is surrounded by seats, used for sports or entertainment: a sports arena 2 the people and activities involved with a particular subject or activity: A business must be able to compete in Publishers must move into today's international arena. the electronic arena.

short form 1 the usual way of saying or writing "are not." This is not often used in formal writing. We aren 't going to Florida this year. 2 the usual way of saying or writing "am not" in questions: I'm looking thinner, aren 't I?

aren't /arnt/ :

argon

/'ar,gan/ noun [u] a gas that is in the air and that does not produce a chemical reaction when mixed with other substances. It is sometimes used in electric lights.

argot

/'argoo; 'argat/ noun [C/u] words that are used by a particular group of people: jargon: military argot argu«a«ble/'argjuabl/ad| 1 if something is arguable, you are not completely certain whether it is true or correct: It is arguable that retired football players become good managers. 2 formal if a fact or statement is arguable, there is evidence that it is true or that people agree with it: The judge held that there was an arguable case of

libel.

/'argjuabli/ adv * used for stating your opinion or belief, especially when you think other people may disagree: Mo's is arguably the best club in

argu*a*bly

gives people a chance to argue their ideas. + about/ over They are still arguing over the details of the contract.

to give reasons why you believe that something right or true: Successful economies, she argues, are those with the lowest taxes. + for/against Woolfs report argued for an improvement in prison conditions. +that Ruben opposed the new road, arguing that it wasn't worth spending $25 million to cut seven minutes off drivers'

2

[l/T]

is

journey times.

argue sb into/out of (doing) sth Br E to persuade someone to do/not to do something can't argue with sth spoken used for emphasizing that something is clearly true and no one could disagree with it: His record as coach is impressive - you can argue 't

with that.

Words

frequently used with

adverbs

argue

consistently, convincingly,

2

forcefully, passionately,

persuasively, plausibly, strongly

argu-ment 1

[C]

/'argjamant/ noun

**•

an angry disagreement between people: quarrel:

a heated argument (^extremely angry disagreement) without an argument They won't accept higher prices have an argument (with sb) I've without an argument. had an argument with my girlfriend. get into an argument (with sb) Every time we visit my family, he gets into an argument with my sister. + about/ over / try to avoid arguments about money. 1a. a discussion or debate between people with different views, opinions, etc.: win/ lose an argument We can win this argument if we present the facts clearly. + about/ over The party is involved in an argument over economic policy. 2 [C/u] a reason or set of reasons that you use for persuading other people to support your views, opinions, etc.: The Court of Appeals rejected her arguments. His main argument is stated in the opening chapter. + for/ against There are powerful arguments against releasing You could make an argument for them from prison.

working shorter hours.

Metaphor An argument

is like a fight or war, with people attacking each other's opinions and defending their own.

tried to defend herself against his attacks on her That is an ideas. She shot down his argument. indefensible point of view. / decided to pursue We had a big fight last another line of attack. There was a lot of night, and I went home early. They clashed over conflict over what to do next. who to appoint. It was a real battle of wits. We I've did battle with the council about the plans. Tom is always crossed swords with them before. the first to leap to her defense.

She

-» ANGRY, CRITICIZE, IDEA

town.

argue

argue

program

***

/'ar.gju/ verb 1 [I] if people argue, they speak to each other in an angry way because they disagree: quarrel: Those girls are always arguing! +with Don't argue with me - you + about/ over We used to argue over know I'm right. who should drive. 1a. [i/T] to discuss something with someone who has a different opinion from you: The

argu«men-ta«ti ve / ,argja'mentativ/ adj someone who is argumentative often argues or disagrees with people. This word shows that you dislike people like this. argyle /ar'gail/ noun [c/u] a pattern on clothing such as socks or sweaters, consisting of different colored diamond shapes

a"a /

'aria/

—

a-rise /a'raiz/

(past tense a«rose /o'rooz/;

a»ris«en/3'rizn/) verb

[I]

past participle

***

a particular situation or problem arises, it begins to exist or to develop: Problems arose over plans to build a new supermarket here. if the need arises We can have another meeting if the need arises. 1a. to exist or start developing because of something: Some confusion has arisen as a result of the new system. + from /out of Did anything interesting arise from the meeting? 2 literary to get up from bed, or to stand up 1

arm candy

61

noun [c] a song for one of the main singers in an opera or oratorio ar«id /'end/ adj 1 an arid place is very dry without many plants because of a lack of rain: the arid desert landscape 2 something that is arid is not very interesting or exciting: Anna was in an arid spell in her career. a*rid*i*ty /s'nctati/ noun [u], ai-icMy adv Aries /'eriz/ noun [c/u] one of the 12 signs of the zodiac, represented by a ram (=male sheep). An Aries is someone who is born between March 21 and April 20, believed to be influenced by this sign. a-right /s'rart/ adv old-fashioned correctly a«ri-a

if

Words frequently used with arise nouns

need, opportunity, problem, question, difficulty, issue, matter,

Jim was carrying a package under his arm. into sb's arms The children threw themselves into their grand mother's arms. fold /cross your arms put one arm on top Of the Other) She folded her arms across her chest. take sb in your arms He took her in his arms and kissed |

—

picture -» hody the part of a chair that you rest your arm on when you are sitting in it 2a. the part of a piece of clothing

her.

2

that

your arm

into 3 a long thin part of an object that sticks out from the main part: The crane's huge metal arm lifted tin- load into the air. 3a. a long narrow area of land or water 4 a part of an organization that deals with a particular subject or activity: the retailing arm of the business an arm of the Justice Department fits

an arm and a leg mainly spoken if something costs an arm and a leg, it is very expensive arm in arm if two people are arm in arm, they are next to each other, with the left arm of one of them bent around the right arm of the other person: The lovers strolled arm in arm by the river. at arm's length 1 held away from your body with your arm stretched out straight: He held the sword in front of him at arm's length. 2 in a situation where you avoid dealing with or becoming involved with someone else: keep /put sb at arm's length Sheryl's unfriendly manner kept most people at arm 's length. -» ARMS, LONG OPEN RIGHT

1

situation

1

1

/.era'stakrasi/ noun [c] the people in the highest class of society, who usually have money, land, and power and who often have special titles, such as "duke" or "countess": the aristocracy She married into the aristocracy.

a-ris-to-crat /a'nsta.kraet/ noun

[c]

a

member

arm

in

1

,

,

aristocracy

arm

of the

arms folded

aristocracy

a-ris-to-crat-ic /a.nsta'kraetik/ adj belonging to or typical of the aristocracy: She comes from an aristocratic family. 1 ar-ith-met-ic /a'nGmatik/ noun [U] * 1 the part of mathematics that involves basic calculations such as adding or multiplying numbers: He's very good at arithmetic.

2

the process of doing a calculation: I'm not sure my arithmetic is correct, but I think the total is 75. 3 the number of people or things that are involved in a situation, and the way in which they affect the situation: According to the arithmetic, there could be six new cases each day. 2

ar-ith-met-ic /criG'metik/ or ar-ith-met-i-cal / end 'metikl/ adj relating to arithmetic: an arithmetic problem

— ai-ith'met'i'cally /.enG'metikli/ adv

—

to

produce the next, for example

3,

6,

9,

12

compare geometric progression Ariz, abbrev Arizona ark, the /ark/ noun come out of the ark or go out with the ark Br E informal to be extremely old-fashioned the name of the boat in the Bible that Noah built to save his family and two of every type of animal from the great Flood.

From

Ark.

abbrev Arkansas

the 6th century b.c /,ei

ar

'el/

Australian Rugby League: the organRugby League in Aus-

ization that governs the sport of

sth

I'll

need

to

arm myself with

all the facts before

meeting

them formally.

ar-ma-da /ar'mada/ noun

[c]

a large group of

war

The Spanish Armada was

a group of ships sent from

Spain to attack England in

1588.

ar*ma»diMo / .arma'diloo/ noun

[c] a small wdd animal from hot parts of North and South America whose body is covered with pieces of a hard substance forming a

shell

Armageddon

/.arma'gedn/ a battle in the future

that will destroy the world

Armageddon is mentioned in the Bible as the place where the final battle between good and evil will be

Armagnac

/'armanjaek; .arman'jaek/ noun (c/u) a type of French brandy (^strong alcoholic drink)

ar-maments

/'urmamants/ noun

[plural]

weapons and

military equipment used by an army, navy, air force, etc.: Half their total spending is allocated to armaments. an armaments factory

arm-band

tralia

Ar-ling-ton

**

fought.

,Ark of the Covenant, the a chest in the ancient Jewish Temple in Jerusalem containing the stones on which the Ten Commandments were written. The Temple and the Ark of the Covenant were destroyed in

ARL

[T]

1 to provide yourself or other people with weapons: arm sb with sth They quickly armed themselves with sticks. No government should be arming terrorists. 2 to provide yourself or other people with useful or impressive equipment, information, etc.: arm sb with

ships: FLEET

arithmetic progression noun [singular] a series of numbers in which the same number is added to each number

arm 2 /arm/ verb

National Cem-e-ter-y

.naejnal 'sema.teri/ a

/urlirjUm

cemetery near Washington, D.C.,

used for burying the bodies of American soldiers and famous Americans such as presidents

arm /arm/ noun 1

[c]

••*

1 one of the two long parts of your body with your hands at the end: I put my arm around his shoulders. under in sb's arms She was holding the baby in her arms. sb's arm (^between the arm and the side of the body)

/'orm.bffind/ noun [C] a small piece of cloth to show that you have a particular job or belong ton particular organization. People sometimes wear a black armband to show respect for

worn around one arm, someone who has 'arm candy noun you take

died. [U] informal

an attractive person thai

event because they are attractive rather than because they are intelligent or because you are having a romantic relationship with them compare BYE candy

—

to a social

1

armchair arm-chair I

'arm.tjcr / noun [C] a large comfortable chair with parts for you to rest your arms on —picture -> CHAIR /

1

arm-chair 2

/'arm.tjer/ adj [only before noun] interested in a subject or activity, but lacking any practical experience of it: a magazine that is essential reading for arm-

struggle 2 [+with] having useful or impressive equipment, information, etc.: a group of reporters armed with telephoto cameras and recording equipment

the noun

[plural]

a country's army,

navy, and air force

arm-ful /'arm,ful/ noun

[C] the amount of something that you can carry in your arms: +of She scooped up an armful of clothes and stuffed them in a drawer. arm-hole / 'arm.hool/ noun [C] one of the holes for your

arms in a shirt, jacket, etc. ar-mi-stice /'armistis/ noun

[C] a formal agreement between enemies to stop fighting a war —compare cease-

fire

Armistice ,Day

noun [c/u] November 11th, the anniversary of the date in 1918 on which World War I ended,

now

called

Veterans Day

armor /'armar/ noun

[u]

*

metal clothing that soldiers wore in the middle ages a suit of to protect their bodies: a knight in armor 1

armor

-> chink

1 ,

knight

used for describing something such as a business deal in which the different sides avoid having a close relationship with each other arm 's-length

1

2 layers of hard metal that cover a military vehicle to protect it from attack: missiles that are capable of penetrating a tank's armor 2a. technical specially protected military vehicles carrying weapons, for example TANKS and ARMORED CARS 3 hard layers that cover the bodies of some animals, such as a rhinoceros or an armadillo

:

negotiations between

arms

number

competition between or power of their war

attack

[c]

•••

colonel [+of] an organized group of people who are working together or helping someone: Armies of rescue workers are sorting through the rubble. 2a. a large number of people who are doing the same thing or in the same situation: She was surrounded by an army of adoring fans. the growing army of the unemployed

2

Arnold, Benedict

/'arnld, 'benadikt/ a U.S. army leader who betrayed his country by supporting the British during the American Revolutionary war

a-ro-ma /a'raoma/ noun

[c]

a smell that

is

strong but

pleasant: the aroma of bread baking a-ro-ma-ther-a-py /a raoma'6erapi/ noun [u] a health treatment in which oils with a nice smell are rubbed into your skin to make you feel relaxed. Someone who is trained to do aromatherapy is called an aroma-

therapist.

ar-o-mat-ic

/

.aera'maetik/ adj [usually before noun]

an

aro-

matic plant, substance, or food smells especially good: aromatic herbs /leaves /soap

arose the past tense of arise a-round /a'raond/ function word Around can be used

***

in the following ways:

as a preposition (followed by a noun): around the old town.

We walked

an adverb (without a following noun): She turned around and smiled at me. (after the verb "to be"): as

/'armard/ ad] [usually before noun] an armored such as a tank or a car for an important person, covered with layers of hard metal to protect it from

Don't discuss this when the children are around.

used for showing movement 1a. moving in a cirThe wind cular way: The Earth goes around the Sun. makes the windmill's sails spin around. 1b. moving to many different parts or areas: We drove around looking I wish you 'd stop following me around. for a hotel. There's a rumor going around that she's leaving her job. 1c. moving so that you face in the opposite direction: 1

armorer / 'armarar/ noun [c] a person or organization makes or supplies weapons armor- plated adj covered with a layer that

to give protection, for example against explosion: the armor-plated doors at

— armor- plating noun [U]

ar-mor-y /'armari/ noun

[c]

1

a

of hard metal an attack or the

building

embassy

where

amount or types

of weapons that a country has proposals to reduce our nuclear armory 2 [usually singular] a set of skills, equipment, or powers that is available for someone if they need it: DNA testing is one of the newest weapons in the police's armory.

weapons are kept

1a. the

:

armour / 'armar/ the Br E spelling of armor armoured / 'armard /the Br E spelling of armored armoury / 'armari/ the Br E spelling of armory arm-pit /'armpit/ noun

[C] 1 the part of your body under your arm, where the arm joins the shoulder

-» body 2 the ugliest place in a city or region: + of Leadville is the armpit of the state. arm-rest / 'armrest/ noun [c] the part of a seat on which

—picture

you

management and employees

[c usually singular]

1 [often singular] a large organization of soldiers who are trained to fight wars on land. Together with a country's navy and air force, the army makes up the armed forces: After graduating from school, he joined the army. Both of her sons are in the army. The U.S. army has been involved in peacekeeping operations. an army officer/

vehicle,

rest

arms

.race noun

countries to increase the

ar-mored is

adj

army /'armi/ noun

1 carrying a weapon, especially a gun: Be careful - I think he's armed. +with a bank robber armed with a shotgun 1a. involving the use of weapons: armed robbery former terrorists who have abandoned the armed

'forces,

arm's-, length

weapons

chair financial analysts

armed /armd/ adj •*

armed

around

62

•*

1

your arm

**

weapons, for example [plural] guns or bombs: countries that sell arms to terrorists The British police do not usually carry arms. the international arms trade

/armz/ noun

lay down (your) arms to agree to stop fighting: The President appealed to the rebels to lay down arms. take up arms to begin fighting with weapons: Minority tribes took up arms against the new government. under arms formal trained and ready to fight as an

army up in arms angry and complaining about something: + about Residents are up in arms about the closure of the local library. -» coat of arms 'arms con,trol noun [u] agreements between countries to reduce or limit the number of weapons in the world

Martha heard a noise and spun around to see what it was. When we got to the border, the guards made us turn around and go back. 1d. moving so that you get to the other side of something: At that moment a truck came rushing around the corner. Go around to the back of the house and see if anyone's in the yard. 2 used for showing where sb/sth is 2a. surrounding or enclosing something: Arrange the chairs around the table. Sam was sitting on the couch with his arm around Mandy's waist. Everyone crowded around the little dog. a cabin with beautiful woods all around 2b. in many different parts or areas: They have about 15 offices scatWhy are all those clothes lying tered around the country. around on the floor?* The Games were watched by millions of people around the world. 2c. in or close to a place or 7s area: the quiet country roads around my hometown your wife around? I'd like to talk to her. in and around area were the Chernobyl and around People living in somewhere around The factory is in the worst affected. Sacramento, or somewhere around there, formiles around

one of the most popular restaurants for miles around. 2d. in a place with other people, because you live there or spend a lot of time there: She said her husband hadn't been around when she really needed him. The place gets Blake had been so messy when the children are around. around Washington for years, and knew all the right It's

people.

3 searching, looking, or trying to find sth 3a. used saying that someone looks in different places because they want to find something: She walked in, It seemed like glanced around the hall, and went out. someone had been snooping around in my office. 3b. used for

around-the-clock

4

not an exact amount or

number

4a. used

for

showing that you are guessing a number or amount: There must have been around 500 people there. Damage was estimated at around $20 million. 4b. used for referring to a time that is not exact: It was around that time that people started worrying about the ozone layer. We got back around 11. 5 used for showing how sb is spending their time 5a. spending time in a place not doing much: We got tired of waiting around. A group of old men were sitting around playing cards. They spent the day lounging around the pool. 5b. wasting time and behaving in a stupid way:>i bunch of kids was messing around outside the school. / was goofing around and I broke my arm. 6 existing or available now 6a. used for saying that a certain type of person, product, etc. exists or is available at this time: There are some really good new video games around. 6b. the biggest/best/fastest etc. around used for talking about the biggest/best etc. thing that exists: It's one of the biggest shopping malls around. 7 concerning about a particular subject: regarding: There is a lot of anxiety around the whole process of globalization. -» ABOUT adj

AmE

—another word

for

ROUND-THE-CLOCK

a-rous-al /a'raozl/ noun

[u] 1 a feeling of being sexually excited 2 the moment during which someone wakes after sleeping: a sudden arousal from sleep [T] ** to cause an emotion or rumors have aroused intense interest among investors. a controversial plan that is sure to

/a'raoz/ verb

attitude: These

arouse strong opposition a. to make someone feel sexually excited b. mainly literary to wake someone who has been sleeping: Beth dozed peacefully until she was aroused by the dogs barking.

ar«peg«gi'0/ar'ped3i3o/ noun [c] a set of musical notes produced by playing each note in a chord separately instead of together

KLM

arraign

/a'rein/ verb [T usually passive] legal to order to go to a court of law to be formally charged with a crime:^ 52-year-old Detroit man has been arraigned on charges of murder. ar*raign«ment noun [C/U]

someone

—

/9'reind3/ verb

*•*

1 [i/T] to make plans for something to happen, for example by agreeing a time and place: I'm trying to

arrange a meeting with their sales director. We're flying arrange for sb to do out on the 18th - it's all arranged. sth Please arrange for a cab to pick me up at six. arrange to do sth They arranged to go swimming the following day. +that It was arranged that he'd meet us at 9:00. 1a. to provide what someone needs, by doing what is necessary: The bank can arrange travel insurance for you. 2 [T] to plan and manage the details of a project or event that involves many people: Who is arranging the wedding?* A helicopter food drop is being arranged by the

Red

Cross. to put things in a neat, attractive, or useful order: We'll need to Here is the list arranged chronologically. arrange the chairs around the table. [T] to change a piece of music so that it is appropriate for a particular type of voice or instrument: an old folksong arranged for the piano

3

[T]

4

arranged marriage

/3,remd3d 'mend3/ noun [c] a is arranged by the parents of the man and woman getting married, instead of the man and woman choosing to marry each other marriage that

arrange-ment 1

[C often plural]

•**

/s'reindsmant/ noun a way of organizing things so that

problems are solved or avoided: I'm staying with Sally until

ment.

my

to

make

arrangements

2

[C/U] an agreement or plan that you make with else: +with They have an arrangement with Pepsi-Cola to share distribution facilities come to an arrangement We're trying to come to an arrangement about who should pay the legal fees. by arrangement Evening meals are available by arrangement if you agree in advance). 3 [C/u] a set of things that have been arranged to look attractive: a floral arrangement 3a. the way that things are arranged in a particular order or pattern: the arrangement of bones in the skull 4 [C] a piece of music that has been changed for a particular type of voice or instrument: He will play his own arrangement of Handel's Water Music.

someone

(

Words

frequently used with

verbs

arrant

come

to, finalize,

put

place

in

/'icrant/ adj [only before noun]

used for emphasizing is:

arrangement

formalize, make,

1

formal complete: or something

how bad someone

arrant nonsense /sexism

array

1

/a'rci/

noun

*

a large group of people or things that are related in some way: an impressive array of musical talent a dazzling array of products I colors I fruit/jewels 2 [C usually singular] technical a number of pieces of equip ment of the same type, connected together to do a particular job: An array of solar panels supplies the site with electricity. 3 [C] computing an arrangement of numbers and [C

usually singular] [+of]

symbols organized

in

rows and columns

4 [U] literary beautiful or impressive clothes Words frequently used with array adjectives

array

2

bewildering, dazzling, fascinating, impressive, vast, wide

1

/a'rei/ verb [t usually passive] to place or arrange in a particular way: Security cameras were

something

arr. abbrev 1 arrives: used for showing the time when a plane, bus, or train arrives somewhere: flight 603 dep. Amsterdam 10:20 a.m., arr. New Delhi 7:35 p.m. 2 arranged by: used to show that someone has changed a piece of music that someone else wrote

arrange

have

other childcare arrangements 1a. arrangements [plural] practical plans for managing the details of an event involving many people: How are the wedding arrangements coming along'' sleeping seating she'll

1

around-the-clock

arouse

arresting

63

for saying that someone asks many people in order to find something: I'll ask around and see if anyone has his It's a good idea to shop around to get the best address. deal on your insurance.

heating gets fixed -

it's

just a temporary arrangeis away, so

make an arrangement Her husband

arrayed at every angle around the entrance.

arrayed against ready

to oppose or fight a person, group, or idea: With such powerful interests arrayed against it, the bill would never succeed. arrayed in sth mainly literary wearing beautiful or impressive clothes

arrears

/a'naz/ noun [plural] money that you owe because you have failed to make payments at the correct time: tax /rent /payment arrears in arrears late in making a regular payment: Your mortgage payment is a month in arrears.

arrest

**

1

/a'rest/verb [t] the police arrest someone, they take that person to a police station because they believe he or she has committed a crime. Someone who has been arrested is under arrest, and if they are not allowed to leave, they are in custody: Police raided the store at dawn, arresting arrest sb six men and seizing hundreds of pirated CDs. for sth He was arrested for possession of illegal drugs. arrest sb on charges/suspicion of sth She has been arrested on suspicion of using a stolen credit card. 2 formal to stop a process from continuing, especially to stop a bad situation from getting worse: A cut in 1

if

interest rates failed to arrest the decline in prices.

3 formal if something arrests your attention, you notice it

arrest 2

/a'rest/ noun [C/U] • a situation in which the police arrest someone that they believe has committed a crime: International cooperation led to the arrest of three suspects. After a third arrest for drunk driving, she lost her license. One of the women is suing tor wrongful arrest (=having been arrested illegally). under arrest Six men are under arrest in connection with the drug smuggling operation. make an arrest We hope to make an arrest in the near future. -» CARDIAC ARRBST, HOUSB ARREST arresting /.Vivstin/ ad] formal attracting your atten tion: strikim;: She was an arresting figure in her bright

summer

dress.

arrival

and

2

verb

[i]

**•

to reach a place, after

having been somewhere

else:

What time does your plane

arrive? I finally arrived home + at / in Four police officers at five in the morning. suddenly arrived at their house, la. to reach a place after

having been sent or ordered from somewhere else: A letter arrived for you this morning. Our furniture arrived information arrives, it is published or heard somewhere: Reports are just arriving about the earthquake in Mexico. 1c. to come to a place in order to live there permanently: Her parents arrived in America in 1926. 1d. to join an organization or start a new job: She was just 21 when she arrived at the Washington Post as a trainee reporter. 2 to happen, take place, or begin to exist: When radar safely by truck yesterday, lb. if

arrived, the course of the war changed. 3 if a baby arrives, it is born: Sally baby brother arrived.

4

arson

/'ursn/ noun [u] the illegal use of fire to destroy a house, building, or property

ar-son-ist / 'ursnist/ noun

was four when her

1

art /urt/ noun

effort:

Running

their

own

business,

lot of

they felt they

had

finally arrived.

arrive at phrasal vb [T] [arrive at sth] to reach a result, decision, or solution to a problem: How did they arrive at that figure? The two studies arrive at very different conclusions.

ar-ri-viste /.aeri'viist/ noun [c] someone who has recently joined an organization or community, and is disliked by its members who have been there longer arrogance /'aeragans/ noun [u] * behavior that shows that you think you are better or more important than other people ar-ro-gant /'aeragant/ adj * someone who is arrogant thinks they are better or more important than other people and behaves in a way that is rude and too confident: an arrogant look / remark / manner his arrogant disregard for other people's opinions How arrogant of her to say that. ar*ro*gant*ly adv arro-gate /'aerageit/ verb [J] formal to take power that is not legally yours arrow /'aerao/ noun [c] 1 a weapon in the form of a thin straight stick with a sharp point at one end and feathers at the other. Arrows are shot through the air using a bow. 2 a sign that looks like an arrow t. used for showing people which direction to go in, or where to look for something: Turn left with the green arrow. Arrows on the photograph indicate the chemical's presence. ar«row*head /'aeraohed/ noun [c] the sharp pointed

—

••

part of an arrow

arrow-root

/'aeraoruit/ noun [u] a substance similar to flour that is used in cooking for making liquids

thicker

ar«roy»o /a'raioo/ noun [c] a narrow valley in a North or South American desert that is usually dry but carries water during a rain storm arse /ars/ noun [C] Br E offensive someone's ass arse«hole/'ars,houl/ noun [C] Br E offensive an asshole arse»nal /'arsnal/ noun [c] 1 a large collection of weapons and military equipment: an arsenal of guns/ ammunition / nuclear weapons 2 a building used for storing guns and military equipment 3 [+of] a large collection of things you can use to achieve a particular purpose: In its arsenal of evidence, the government has more than 1,000 hours of taped phone calls.

someone who deliberately

*••

1

painting, drawing, etc.

4

2 3

beautiful objects

5 special

film, theater, etc. skills

non-scientific subjects

1 [u] the activity of painting, drawing, or creating sculptures: She devotes her spare time to her art. 1a. painting, drawing, and sculpture as subjects you study: He studied Art and Design at the university. -» work of ART 2 [U] paintings, drawings, and sculptures that are created to be beautiful or to express ideas: Do you like modern art? the art of ancient Mexico 2a. something that people feel has value because it is beautiful or expresses ideas: Are these films art or entertainment? 3 arts [plural] subjects of study that are not scientific, such as history, literature, and languages: the School of Arts and Sciences an arts graduate /degree /subject the decorative /graphic arts 4 the arts [plural] activities such as art, music, film, theater, and dance, considered together 5 [C usually singular] an activity that needs special skills or knowledge: Bringing out the best in your students is an art. +of doing sth / have now mastered the art of letterwriting. an art to doing sth There's an art to parking this truck. have /get sth down to a fine art Fred's got carbuying down to a fine art.

art

informal to achieve a goal, especially after a

[c]

starts fires, especially in buildings

[U]

arrive /a'raiv/

house

ar-se-nic / 'arsnik/ noun [u] a very strong chemical that is used in industry and as a poison for killing small animals such as rats

departures.

the time when something begins or comes into existence: +of the arrival of spring Our lives have been revolutionized by the arrival of the personal computer. 3 [C] someone who has arrived or joined a group: Early arrivals get all the best parking spaces. 3a. new arrival a baby that has just been born 1

art

64

•**

ar-ri-val /s'raivl/ noun 1 [singular/u] the time when someone or something arrives at a place from somewhere else: Her arrival livened up the party. The arrival of Flight 106 from Boston has been delayed. on sb's arrival (=as soon as arrive) they Parkes was arrested on her arrival from New York. la. the time when someone joins an organization or starts a new job: Since her arrival at the company, she has re-organized several departments. 1b. arrivals [plural] airplanes, trains, or buses that have just arrived at a place after a trip: Check the airport monitors for arrivals

2

/art/ verb thou art an old phrase meaning "you are"

art dec-o or Art Dec-o /,art 'deku/ noun [u] a style of art, decoration, and architecture with simple strong lines that was especially popular in the 1920s and 1930s in Europe and the U.S. art di rector noun [c] someone whose job is to decide about the clothes, lights, and scenery for a play or movie ar-te-fact /'urti.faekt/ another spelling of artifact arte-ri-al /ar'tiarial/ adj 1 relating to the arteries: arterial blood / bleeding arterial blood pressure 2 an arterial road or railroad is part of a larger road or rail

system ar-te-ri-o-scle-ro-sis /ar.tiariaoskla'rusis/ noun [u] medical a serious medical condition in which the sides of the arteries

your heart has your body

become thick, hard, and stiff, so that work harder to force blood through

to

artery

/'artari/ noun [c] 1 one of the tubes in your body that carries blood from your heart to the rest of your body. A tube that returns blood to your heart is called a vein. 2 an important road, railroad, or river: one of the city's main arteries ar-te-sian well /ar,ti3ian 'wel/ noun [c] a place where natural pressure under the ground forces water to the

earth's surface

art .form noun

[C] an activity that involves creating or expressing something, such as painting, poetry, or music: Jazz has become an important art form. art-ful /'artfl/ adj 1 skilled at achieving an effect or getting something from people, especially in a dishonest way: an artful evasion of responsibility 2 done using art art-fuMy or skill: an artful performance /photograph

—

adv, art-ful-ness

art'ful

noun

[U]

dod-ger noun

manages

someone who

is

clever and

to get out of difficult situations

and avoid

[C]

answering questions

From

the

name

of

an imaginary character who who steals money from

is

a

pickpocket (=someone

people's clothing) in Oliver Twist, a novel by the British writer Charles Dickens.

art gallery noun [C] a building where people go to see paintings and other art art house noun [c] a movie theater that mainly shows movies made by small or foreign companies: the best of foreign and art house movies

arthritis a medical condition affecting your joints (=the place where two bones meet) making them very swollen and painful: + in / have severe arthritic /ur 'Or it ik/ adj arthritis in my hands. [u]

—

Arthur who

/'ar(hr/ in ancient stories, a king of Britain was leader of a group of soldiers called the Knights

of the

Round Table /'artitj'ook/ noun

ar-ti-cle /'cntikl/ noun

[C]

***

piece of writing

2 object 3 part of

legal

4

in

5

legal training

grammar

document

1 a piece of writing about a particular subject that is published in a newspaper or magazine: He has written + on/about We several articles for The New York Times.

article about her in our magazine. object, usually one of a group of similar objects: article of clothing She left articles of clothing all around The store sells small household articles. the living room.

ran an

2 an

3 part of a legal document or agreement that deals with a particular point: Article 180 states that one third of the members must be women. 4 a type of determiner (=word used before a noun) that shows whether you are referring to a particular thing or to a general example of something. The indefinite article is "a" or "an" and the definite article is "the." 5 articles [plural] Br E the final part of the education of a professional person, for example a lawyer, during which they work for a company -» genuine ar-ti-cled /'artikld/ adj BrE if someone is articled to a company, they are employed by that company through a legal agreement while they finish their education or training [C] something that people who support a particular religion or idea believe completely, although it has not been proved articles of articles of incorporation or associ'ation noun [plural] the business rules that are agreed upon when people form a company that sells shares to the public 1 ar-tic-u-late /ar'tikjubt/ adj 1 able to express your thoughts, arguments, and ideas clearly and effectively: She is a highly articulate woman. 2 articulate writing or speech is clear and easy to understand: It gives an

article of 'faith noun

effect. 3 technical an animal has joints (=parts of the body where ar«tic«u«late*ly adv two bones meet) 2 1 [T] to express ar-tic-u-late /ar'tikjuleit/ verb thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively: It's difficult to articulate what Ifelt then. 2 [l/T] to speak very clearly, so that every word you say can be understood: Ben She carefully articulates so clearly for a two-year-old.

articulate description of the drug's

articulate

3

artificial

—

articulated every syllable.

ar-tic-u-lat-ed /ar'tikjuleitid/ adj BrE an articulated vehicle has two or more parts that are connected so they can move in different directions at the same time: an articulated lorry ar-tic-u-la-tion /ar.tikju'leifn/ noun [U] 1 the production of speech or music: By the age of six most children develop clear articulation. 2 the expression of thoughts, ideas, or feelings in words: Here is a clear articulation of our goals. 3 technical the ways in which the different parts of a structure or system are connected ar-ti-fact /'arti.faekt/ noun [C] * a tool or other object that was made a very long time ago ar-ti-fice /'artifis/ noun [U] behavior that is intended to trick someone: a friendly manner, free of artifice ar-ti-fi-cial /.arti'fifl/adj

**

1 made by people and used instead of something natural: The growers use both natural and artificial light. The product contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, la. made by people to look very like something natural: artificial flowers/fur I snow 2 caused or created as a result of human influence or action: Our new policies are designed to break down artificial barriers to women's advancement. 2a. not done, dealt with, or expressed in a normal or natural way: An interview is a very artificial situation.

behavior

is

lily

not sincere: She laughed a bright

artificial laugh.

4

something that looks or sounds artificial does not real: To some people, the clarity of CI) sound seems afti-fi-ci-al-i-ty noun |.|. urlili|i ;cbti

seem

artificial.

ar-ti-fi-cial-ly

/

urtl'fij'oli/

adv

insemi nation noun

artificial

[C/u] a round green vegetable with thick pointed leaves arranged close together in layers. After cooking it, you pull off each leaf and eat the soft bottom part. -» Jerusalem artichoke

ar-ti-choke

1

arum

65

ar-thri-tis /ur'Oraitis/ noun

[u]

a medical treat-

which a man's SPERM cells from his sex organs) are put into a woman's womb the part of her body where a baby can grow) so that she can become pregnant artificial intelligence noun [u] the use of computer technology to make computers and other machines think and do things in the way that people can .artificial respi ration noun [u] the process of forcing

ment

in

(

(

air into the lungs of a person who has stopped breathing by blowing into their mouth or nose in order to make them start breathing again: kiss of life

ar-til-ler-y /ar'til(a)ri/ noun [u] large powerful guns that are used by an army and are moved on wheels or fixed in one place

the artillery the part of an army that uses large powerful guns ar-ti-san /'cirtizan/ noun [C] a worker who has special skill and training, especially one who makes things art-ist /'artist/ noun [C] *•• 1 someone who makes paintings, sculptures, etc.: He had his portrait painted by the Spanish artist Daniel

Quintero. a professional performer in music, dance, or the theater: Their lead singer has left to become a solo artist. 3 someone who writes, makes movies, or writes music with great skill: one of the great artists of the cinema 3a. someone who shows a lot of skill in their work: It's a pleasure to watch an artist at work.

2

[C] someone who is a professional entertainer, for example a singer or a dancer

artiste /ar'tist/ noun

ar-tis-tic /ar'tistik/ adj

•*

relating to any form of art, including painting, music, acting, and dancing: cultural and artistic activities a dazzling display of artistic talent a director's high artistic standards 1a. sensitive to art and beauty, and able to enjoy it: an artistic temperament an artistic 1

literature,

eye

2 relating to drawing, painting, etc.: She has considerable artistic ability. 2a. skillful at drawing, painting, etc. You don 't need to be very artistic to produce great designs. 2b. painted, arranged, or done in a way that shows skill and imagination and looks beautiful: an ar-tis-ti-cal-ly /ar'tistikli/ adv artistic floral display :

—

[u] 1 the skill and imagination typical of an artist, writer, musician, or actor: the artistry of Hooker and his band 2 great skill in a sport or profession: his artistry in the game of soccer art-less /'artbs/ adj very sincere and willing to trust art*less*ly adv, art-less-ness noun [u] other people

art«ist«ry /'artistri/ noun

—

art nou-veau or Art Nou-veau /.art nu'vou; ,a nu'voo/ noun [u] a style of art, decoration, and architecture that uses curved patterns of leaves, flowers, and other natural objects, and was popular at the end of the 19th century in Europe and the U.S. .arts and 'crafts noun [plural] art or objects that are made by hand, for example pottery or needlework: an arts and crafts fair art-sy /'artsi/ adj Am E 1 pretending to enjoy art or be interested in it 2 showing a great interest in art. but in a

way

that

may

not be sincere: artsy intellectual types

art'Sy-craft'sy /.artsi 'kraeftsi/ adj AmE informal made by someone who enjoys creating and decorating things themselves, but who you think lacks skill art-sy-fart«sy / urtsi 'fartsi/ adj AmE very informal someone who is artsy-fartsy is always trying to show

how interested they are in art art-work /'art,w3rk/ noun [u] 1 paintings, sculptures, etc. 2 pictures, photographs, or drawings that are used in a book, magazine, etc. art'y /'arti/ adj Br E &rts\ a-ru-gu-la /a'rugala/ noun [u] Am E a plant with tlat green leaves often eaten in salads arum lil-y /Worn ,hli/ noun [C/u] an African plant with a singh large white flower 1

I

Aryan

ascetic

Ar*y»an

explanation for it that you know is not the real one: The house was in such a mess - it looked as though a bomb had dropped on it. as is in the original condition, including any faults or problems: We've agreed to take the house as is. as it is already: I don't want to hear any more complaints. I've got enough problems as it is. as it is/as it turns out used for saying what the situation really is when something different might have happened: They said the repairs would cost around $20,000, but, as it turns out, the final bill will be twice that amount. He was expecting to have completed his training by now. As it is, he's only halfway through it. as it were used for making a description sound less definite or less exact: Mandela became, as it were, the

/'erian/ adj used for describing people from northern Europe, especially tall people with blond hair and blue eyes. This word is connected with Nazi theories of race. Ar*yan noun [C]

as I weak az; strong aez/ function word *** As can be used in the following ways: as a conjunction (connecting two clauses): As I was leaving, the phone rang. The results were not as bad

as I had expected. as a preposition (followed by a noun):

He works as a

waiter.

as an adverb (followed by an adjective, an adverb, or a word such as "much" or "many"): Nylon is cheaper than leather, and it's just as strong. 1 used for showing comparison 1a. used for comparing one person, thing, or situation with another:

as.

.

.as

Simon

isn't

as

tall

as his brother.

/ don't

smoke

much as I used to. / can't run as fast as you. just as We all need regular exercise, but a healthy diet is just as important. half /twice/three times etc. as much A house in San Francisco costs twice as much as a similar house in

as

some nearby cities. the same as Barbara's suggestion was almost exactly the same as mine. 1b. as. .as usual/ possible/necessary/expected equal to the amount or .

level that is usual/possible/necessary/expected: There were twice as many visitors as usual last weekend. Our goal is to collect as much information as possible. The damage wasn't quite as bad as expected. 1c. used in particular expressions for emphasizing a quality in someone or something: Her skin was white as snow. He's as tough as nails. -» less 2 used for referring to what is known spoken used for mentioning that something is already known or has already been talked about: As I was saying, we expect 2002 to be a good year. As everyone knows, the farming

industry

is

in serious difficulties.

3

in the same way 3a. used for saying that something happens or is done in the same way: I invested the money as you suggested. Leave everything just as you found it. as usual Judith was late, as usual. 3b. as is/does/ has etc. sb formal used for saying that someone or something else is the same/does the same thing/has done the same thing etc.: Frank is a fine athlete, as was his father before him. / take the subway to work every day, as do most of the people in my office. 4 having a particular job, use, or appearance used for referring to what someone or something does or how they appear: As chief executive, I am expected to provide effective leadership. a portrait of the princess as a child An electric drill can also be used as a screwdriver. 5 how sb/sth is considered used for saying that someone or something is considered or described in a particular way: Van Dyck was regarded as the greatest painter of his time. was still seen as a threat by many Russians. as being /having Madeira is described as having the best climate in the world. 6 when or while 6a. used for saying that something happens at the same time as something else: As the family was sitting down to dinner, there was a knock at the door. just as We got to the check-in desk just as they were about to close. 6b. as soon as immediately after something has happened: I'm ready to go out as soon as it stops raining. 7 because used for giving the reason for something: As it was getting late, we took the children home. We chose Doug to lead us as he said he knew the way. 8 although used after an adjective or adverb to mean that something is true despite what you are saying: Strange as it may seem, I never really wanted to be rich. Much as I sympathize with your difficulties, there is little I can do to help you.

NATO

as for used for introducing a subject that is related to what you have just been talking about: As for the children, they were happy enough to spend all day on the beach. as if spoken used for emphasizing that something is not true or is not important: "Don't get lost or anything, will you?" "As if I would - Fm not stupid. " Why was he worrying about the interview? - As if it mattered anyway! as if/ as though 1 in such a way that something seems Jack smiled to be true: It looks as if it's going to rain. as though he was enjoying a private joke. 2 used when you are describing something and you imagine an

father of the nation. as of used for saying that something will start to happen on a particular day, and will continue after that day: As of April 6, all applicants must complete both forms. as to formal concerning someone or something: There is some doubt as to whether the information is totally accurate.

not as if. spoken used for saying that something not true and therefore it cannot be the explanation someone's behavior: / can't understand why he disapproves of me. It's not as if I've done anything wrong. -» GOOD LONG 2 SOON, WELL YET abbrev used for showing how sensitive to light a particular type of film for a camera is it's

.

.

is

for

1

1

,

,

,

ASA

asap

/,ei es ei 'pi/ as soon as possible: used especially for asking someone to do something quickly: / want those files on my desk asap.

as-bes-tos

/aes'bestas; aez'bestas/

noun

[u]

a substance

that does not burn easily that was used in building materials in the past. It is now known to cause cancer and is no longer used.

/s'send/ verb formal * 1 [T] to climb a mountain, stairs, etc.: They began slowly ascending the rock face. 1a. [i] to rise into the air: We watched as the airplane ascended. 1b. [i] if a road, path, or set of stairs ascends, it goes up 2 [I] to get a more important job or position: Through hard work and perseverance, she ascended through the ranks to become vice president.

as-cend

ascend the throne to become king or queen of a country /s'sendansi/ noun [u] the advantage, power, or influence that one person or group has over another: Two early goals established the team 's ascendancy

as-cervdan-cy in the first half.

aS'Cen-dant

1

/s'sendsnt/ adj formal in the process of gaining power or influence over another person, group, etc.: an ascendant political party as-ceivdant 2 /a'sendant/ noun be in the ascendant formal to have or gain power or influence over another person, group, etc.

ascend-ing

/s'sendin/ adj

[only before noun]

moving

toward a higher level or position: in ascending order (=with each one higher or bigger than the one before) The results were ranked in ascending order. as-cervsion /a'senjan/ noun [u] the process of moving to a higher level or position: the story of a young man's rapid political ascension

assent

/a'sent/ noun

*

a climb upward, especially up a hill or mountain: the first ascent ofMt. Everest 2 [C] a slope, or the path that someone uses to climb a slope: the southeast ascent of the mountain 3 [C/U] the process of moving to a higher level or 1

[C]

position: the airplane's ascent to 35,000 feet 4 [C/U] the process of becoming more important or famous: her rapid ascent in the world of entertainment

as-cer-tain /.aesar'tem/ verb something: I am simply trying case.

+whether/what/how

[i/t]

formal

*

to find out of the

to ascertain the facts

etc.

We need

to ascertain

+ from This much could whether the project is feasible. ascertain the easily be ascertained from the newspapers. cause /nature /extent of sth Experts were unable to +that The police have ascertain the cause of the accident. ascertained that he

knew

the victim.

1

/a'setik/ adj living a very simple cially for religious reasons

as-cet-ic

life,

espe-

ascetic someone who

[c]

lives a very

simple

life, especially for religious as-cet-i-cism /o'seti.sizam/ noun [U]

reasons

ASCII

/'aeski/ noun [u] American Standard Code for Information Interchange: a system for changing computer information into numbers, so that different types of computers and software can exchange information

a-scor-bic ac-id /a.skorbik 'sesid/ noun [u] vitamin c aS'Cribe/a'skraib/ verb ascribe to phrasal vb [J] formal 1 [ascribe sth to sth] to believe something is the cause of something else: Their defeat was ascribed to a poor defense. 2 [ascribe sth to sb/sth] to believe that something is a typical quality of someone or something: He ascribes melodramatic behavior to teenagers in general. 3 [ascribe sth to sb] to believe that a particular person wrote a book or a piece of music, painted a picture, etc. so that people generally accept this to be true: a work

Homer

ascribed to

ASEAN

Association of Southeast Asian Nations: an organization of countries for increasing trade and development in Southeast Asia /'aesi.aen/

a-sep-tic /ei'septik/

not infected with bacteria, or

adj

preventing infection from bacteria: an aseptic wound a-sex-u-al /ei'sekfusl/ adj 1 an asexual creature does not have sex organs 2 someone who is asexual does not show any interest in sex a-sex-u-ai-iy /ei'sek Juali/ adv

**

ash 1

/sej/ noun [C/U] the gray

powder

has burned: cigarette ash

was a pile of ashes. 2 ash or ash tree

that remains after something All that remained of the fire

with a smooth gray bark trunk) 2a. [u] the wood of

[C] a tree

(=substance that covers

its

an ash tree 3 ashes [plural] the substance that remains after a person's body has been cremated (=burned after death): His ashes are

to

be scattered at sea.

/a'Jeimd/ adj •• feeling guilty or embarrassed because you have done something wrong, or think that you have not reached a standard that people

a-shamed

expect: / regret the incident and am deeply ashamed and embarrassed. + of He's extremely ashamed of his behavior last night. -(-{that) I felt ashamed that I hadn't visited with her more often. ashamed of yourself You ought to be ashamed of yourself using that kind of language! a. be ashamed to do sth to fail to do something, or not want to do it, because it would make you feel guilty or

embarrassed: He was ashamed to tell his family what had happened, b. I'm ashamed to say /admit used for admitting something that you think people might be surprised or disappointed about: I'm ashamed to admit that I've never read any of her work. c. nothing to be ashamed of used for telling someone that they should not feel ashamed: Being poor is nothing to be ashamed of. d. be ashamed of sb to feel disappointed and upset by someone's behavior: I'm ashamed of you - lying to your teacher! e. be ashamed of sb to feel embarrassed because you are related to someone or connected with them: / could tell they were ashamed of me. ash-can /'asj.ksen/ noun [C] AmE old-fashioned a trash CAN ash-en /'aefn/ adj very pale, especially because you feel sick or upset

religious

/

'aejrsm; 'ajram/

community

noun

[C]

the

home

of a small

of Hindus

/'ajtrei/ noun [C] a small flat container where people who smoke put ash and the cigarettes they have finished smoking

ash-tray

,Ash 'Wednesday noun period

before

Easter

[c/u] the first day of lent (=the

during which

Christians

trad-

itionally eat less)

A-sian

1

/'ei3n;

'eijn/ adj

•

someone who

from Asia: 90% of our students are Asian, Asia or

its

Differences between American and British English: Asian In the U.S., Asian usually refers to people from countries in East and Southeast Asia, such as China, Japan, Thailand, or Korea. In the U.K., it usually refers to British people whose families originally came from the countries of South Asia (India, Pakistan. Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka).

A-sian 2

noun [c] • someone who is from Asia Asian-A merican noun [C] • someone who the U.S. but whose famUy is from Asia Asian-

culture: Asian cuisine

a.

is

Asian

is

relating to

/'ei3n; 'cijn/

one of the countries

American

in

adj

A-si-at-ic /.©ra'aetlk; ei/i ;etik/ adj technical relating to Asia or its culture: Asiatic porcelain a-side /a'said/ adv •• used for telling someone that what you are mentioning is not as important as what you are going to say next: You're right to mention her home circumstances, but that aside, how is her school work? aside from 1 except for: Aside from hanging around in the street, there's nothing for kids to do here. 2 used for saying that something exists, is true, or happens in addition to something else: He'd eaten half a loaf of bread, and that was aside from the sandwich he'd had 1

earlier.

brush/sweep/cast sth aside to refuse to consider or deal with something: Railroad companies brushed aside fears that staff cuts would compromise safety. move/step etc. aside to move away from someone or something, or to move something or someone away from you: Helen stepped aside to let him pass. The little boy was pushed roughly aside. set/put/leave sth aside 1 to deliberately not consider or include something: Leaving aside the question of how young they are, do you think the boys are guilty? They'll have to put aside their political differences and find a solution. 2 to stop using, doing, or dealing with something: He set his pen aside and read over what he had written. 3 to keep time, money, land, etc. for future use or a particular purpose: Try to set aside half an hour every day for something you really enjoy doing. turn aside to turn your head or body away from someone or something so that you are no longer looking at them: She looked appealingly in his direction, but he turned aside. -» stand aside

a-side 2 /a'said/ noun [C] a remark about something that is not the main subject of your discussion a. something that you say quietly to someone because you do not want other people to hear b. something that a character in a play or movie says that they want the audience but not the other characters to hear

as-i-nine /'yesi.nam/

adj

extremely stupid or unrea-

sonable

ASIO /'eizi,oo/ Australian Security Intelligence Organization: an Australian government organization responsible for protecting the country against foreign spies (=people whose job is to try to find out secret information

about a country)

ASIS /'eisis/ Australian

Secret Intelligence Service: an

Australian government organization responsible for finding out secret information about the activities of foreign countries

ask

a-shore/s'jDr/adv • 1 to or onto land from the water or a ship: He quickly rowed ashore. All the crew have come ashore. 2 on land, and not on the sea: After two weeks on the rig, they had three days ashore.

ash-ram

ask

67 2

as-cet-ic /o'setik/ noun

/aesk/ verb

1 try to

•••

get information

2 tell sb you want 3 expect sth

sth

4 say you want sth done 5 invite sb to do sth + PHRASES

1 [i/T] to speak or write to someone in order to get information from them: / wondered who had given her the ring but was afraid to ask. ask (sb) why/how/ whether etc. She asked me how I knew about it. ask (sb) about sth Did you ask about the money?* ask sb a question The police wanted to ask us a few questions. ask yourself Sth (^consider it carefully) He ought to ask himself why nobody ever invites him. 2 [i/T] to speak or write to someone because you want them to give you something: If you need any help, just ask (sb) for sth The children were asking for drinks. ask. ask sb's permission/advice/opinion etc. / think we'd ask sb a favor Can I better ask your mom s opinion first.

askance I

aspirin

ask you a favor? Would you look after the children for an hour? 3 [I/T] to expect someone to do something or give you something: ask sth (for sth) It's a nice house, but they're asking over half a million dollars. ask a lot/too much It's asking a lot of teenagers to expect them to see what's wrong with consumerism. All I want is five minutes' peace and quiet: is that asking too much? ask sb (not) to do sth We ask guests not to smoke in the hotel. 3a. ask sb to believe sth informal used about things that are difficult to believe because they seem false or wrong: Are you seriously asking me to believe that you knew nothing about this? 4 [I/T] to say that you want something to happen, or that you want someone else to do something: ask sb (not) to do sth Then the computer will ask you to restart it. He asked us to join him. ask to do sth / asked to see the manager. ask (not) to be The writer has asked not to be named. ask that sb (should) do sth The committee has asked that this project be stopped for now. 5 [T] to invite someone to do something or go somewhere with you: ask sb to sth How many people have you asked to the party? ask sb for sth We should ask them for a meal sometime. ask sb over (=to your house) The neighbors have asked us over for a drink. ask sb in (=ask someone to come into your house, room, office, etc.) We stood on the doorstep for ages before he asked us in. ask sb to do sth They asked me to stay the night. don't ask spoken used for telling someone that you do not want to talk about something because it was not good, pleasant, enjoyable, etc. don't ask me spoken used for telling someone that you do not know the answer to their question when you are annoyed or surprised that they have asked you for the asking available if you ask for it: There are sales jobs for the asking. I ask you spoken used for emphasizing that you think something is silly or shocking: He arrived over an hour late for the meeting - 1 ask you! if you ask me spoken used before you give someone your opinion about something: If you ask me, she doesn't

want the job. used for showing that you are angry about something that has happened, but want to ask about it politely: Might I ask what you are doing with really

may /might I ask spoken my

wallet?

who asked you?

spoken used as a rude

way

of telling

someone that their opinion is not important you may/might well ask spoken used for showing that you think someone's question is difficult to answer ask after phrasal vb [T] [ask after sb] to ask for news about someone: / met Bob and he asked after you. ask around phrasal vb [l] to ask several people for information or advice: / asked around, but nobody had seen him for days. ask for

phrasal vb [t] 1 [ask for sth] to speak or write to someone because you want them to give you something: He's always reluctant to ask for anyone's help. 2 [ask for sb] to say that you want someone to come and speak to you: There's someone in the store asking for the manager.

to behave in a way that makes it likely that a particular unpleasant thing will happen to you: She's asking for trouble speaking to people like that. be asking for it Anyone who drives while they're drunk is just asking for it. ask out phrasal vb [T] [ask sb out] to invite someone to go with you to a movie, theater, restaurant, etc. because you want to start a romantic or sexual relationship

be asking for sth

with them: Finally he asked her out. /a'skaens/ adv look askance (at sb/sth) to show that you do not approve of someone or something or that you do not feel certain about them: A lot ofpeople on Capitol Hill would look askance at this new regulation.

askance

a-skew paused

/a'skju/ adj at an angle instead of straight: straighten his bow tie, which was askew.

He

to

asking price

/'askin ,prais/ noun [singular] the price wants for something they are selling

that someone a-sleep /a'slip/

adj [never before noun]

**

fast/sound asleep 1 not awake: Are you asleep yet? (=sleeping very deeply) The children are fast asleep in their rooms. half asleep (=not fully awake) I groped for the phone, still half asleep. fall asleep (=begin to sleep) She was so tired she fell asleep sitting in her chair.

2

your

if

feel

foot,

hand,

etc. is asleep, it is

numb (=you

can't

it)

asp Acsp/

noun

in Africa, Asia,

[C]

a small poisonous snake that lives

and Europe

as-para-gus

/a'speragas/ noun [u] a long thin green vegetable whose stems and tips (=pointed ends) are eaten

— picture -» en

ASPCA, the /

ci cs pi si ci/ the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: a U.S. organization that protects animals

as-pect

/'ffispekt/

noun

•**

1 [C] a particular part, feature, or quality of something: + of a system of rules that covers almost every aspect of their lives the safety/security/health etc. aspect Th? car has to look good, but without forgetting the safety aspect. consider/discuss/deal with/focus on an aspect This chapter will consider several important aspects of the teaching process. 2 [C usually singular] formal the direction in which a building or window faces 3 [singular]/orma/ the appearance of someone or something 4 [C/U] linguistics the form of a verb that shows whether an action is continuing, is repeated, or happens only once: the progressive aspect

as'pen

/'aespan/ noun [c] a tall thin tree that grows in North America and Europe and has leaves that rustle (=make a noise as they rub against each other) in the wind As»pen /'aespan/ a town in the Rocky Mountains in the U.S. state of Colorado, known as a place where rich

people go for the winter sport of skiing as«per«i'ty /ae'sperati/ noun [u] very formal an unkind way of speaking or behaving that shows you are not patient

as-per-sions /a'sp3r3nz/ noun cast aspersions (on) to say or write things about someone that attack their character, work, my opponent.

asphalt

etc.:

I have no wish to cast aspersions on

noun [u] a black sticky substance that is used for making roads as*phalt verb [T] as*phyx>i*a /aes'fiksia/ noun [u] a situation in which you cannot breathe because the airway to your lungs is blocked /'aes.folt/

—

as*phyx*i*ate /aes'fiksi.eit/ verb [i/t] to kill someone by preventing them from breathing, or to die when someone prevents you from breathing: suffocate

— as«phyx'i«a'tion/£es,fiksi'eiJn/noun[U]

as-pic /'sespik/ noun [u] a clear slightly brown jelly that you put fish or meat into and allow to become cold before eating

as-pi-dis-tra

/.aespi'distra/ noun [c] a plant that has large leaves and is grown as a houseplant (=plant grown in a container inside)

aspirant

/'aesparant; a'spairant/ noun [c] very formal to achieve something such as an

someone who wants important position

as'pi»rate

1

/'aespi.reit/ verb [t] 1 linguistics to breathe out air while pronouncing a sound, for example the "h" in "hat" 2 medical to remove liquid from inside

someone's body 2 aS'pi-rate /'asspirat/ noun [c] linguistics a sound produced while breathing out air, for example the sound of the "h" in "hat" as-pi-ra«tion /,aespi'reifn/ noun * 1 [C usually plural] something that you want to achieve, or the wish to achieve something: ambition: He has no aspiration to do sth When I was 12 political aspirations. 1 had aspirations to play professional basketball. 2 [U] linguistics the sound produced when you pronounce something by breathing air out through your

mouth /a'spair/ verb [I] * [+to] to want to achieve something or to be successful, especially in your career: She aspires to nothing less than the chairmanship of the

aspire

aspire to be/do sth a number of film students aspire to be documentary makers

company.

who

aspirin

/'aesprm/ noun [C/U] • a drug, usually in the pill, that you take to cure minor pains such

form of a

as headaches

aspiring

assessor

aspiring

/a'spairaj/ adj hoping and trying to be successful at something, especially in your career: an aspiring actor

ass Aes/ noun 1

sit

4

on

for

emphasizing orders

5 sexual + PHRASES

activity

but with long ears: donkey 4 [C] impolite used in some expressions for emphasizing that you want someone to hurry, leave, or go to a particular place: Tell him to get his ass over here. move your ass (=hurry) Move your ass or we '11 be late. 5 U Am E impolite sexual activity 5a. a piece of ass someone who you are only interested in because they are sexually attractive [

]

cover your ass impolite to do or say something that prevents other people blaming or criticizing you my ass impolite used for showing that you do not believe something that has just been said: "He seemed genuine enough. " "Genuine, my ass!" not know your ass from your elbow Am E impolite to be very stupid -> bust2 kick kiss', pain 1

,

1

,

make someone feel worried or upset: He was assailed by doubts. 2 formal to physically attack or severely criticize someone 3 mainly literary /a'seil/ verb [t] 1

a noise, smell, or sight assails you, you notice it immediately because it is very unpleasant or offensive if

as»sail*ant /a'seibnt/ noun [c] formal someone who violently attacks another person aS'Sas*sin /a'saesm/ noun [c] someone who kills a famous or important person, especially for political reasons, or

someone who

is

paid to

a particular

kill

/a'saesi.neit/ verb [T] to kill a

famous or

important person, especially for political reasons or for

payment

assassination

noun [c/u]

*

the murder of a famous or important person, especially for political reasons: an assassination attempt +of the assassination of John Lennon -» character assassination

assault

1

/a'solt/

/a.ssesi'neijn/

noun

•*

on someone, or the crime of physically attacking someone: an assault on a young student He was charged with assault. guilty of sexual [C/U] a physical attack

assault

difficult

assault 2

/a'solt/ verb [T]

to attack

someone

•

violently:

An

elderly

woman was

robbed and sexually assaulted. 2 mainly literary if a noise, smell, or sight assaults you, you notice it immediately because it is very unpleasant or offensive

as sault and 'battery noun

[u] legal the crime of threatening someone and then physically attacking

them as-say

in-

putting all its parts together. The shelves are sold in kits that you have to assemble yourself.

*•*

/o'sembli/ noun

1 [C] a part of a government consisting of people who have been elected to make laws: the French National

The ruling party holds only a three-rote majority in the assembly. 1a. a group of people who have been elected in order to discuss issues and make decisions affecting a particular region: the United Nations General Assembly the assembly of the Organization of American States 1b. [only before noun] belonging to or relating to

an assembly: an assembly member

the assembly election

race

a meeting of people who represent different parts of a large organization: The trade group held its assembly in Santiago, Chile. 2a. a group of people who meet together for a particular reason: a public assembly 2b. [C/u] a regular meeting of students and teachers in a school: AW important announcements are made during morning assembly. 2c. [u] legal the action of gathering together for a meeting: freedom of assembly 3 [U] the process of building something by putting all its parts together: car assembly an assembly plant 3a. [C] a group of parts that are connected and form one unit

2

[C]

assembly

line noun [c] a system for making products in a factory in which each worker or machine is responsible for adding or checking a particular part: production line a. a moving belt in a factory that moves the product being made from one stage to the next

as-senvbly-man /a'sembliman/ /s'sembliman/) noun

(plural as«sem«blymen a male politician who has been of a U.S. state assembly

[c]

elected as a member as»sem*bly»wonvan /a'sembli woman/ (plural as«sem-

who has been

wimm/) noun

elected as a

a female politician of a U.S. state

[c]

member

ASSEMBLY

assent

1

/a'sent/ noun [u] formal agreement with or approval of a plan or suggestion as-sent 2 /a'sent/ verb [i] formal to agree with or officially give permission for something

••

assert

/a's3rt/ verb [t] 1 to state firmly that something is true: He asserted his innocence. +(that) The governor asserted that no more money would be available. 1a. to behave or do something in a confident way: She always manages to assert her point of view. assert yourself = to state your opinion firmly and confidently) Don 't be so shy - you need to learn to assert yourself. 2 to claim that you have the right to do something or behave in a particular way: This system discourages people from asserting their rights in court. He quickly asserted his authority as a leader. fact, idea, or 3 if a tendency asserts itself, it begins to influence someone or something: After a while her old bad habits began to assert themselves. (

2 [C] an attack by the military: a NATO air assault + on the assault on Pohang-dong 2a. [only before noun] used in a military assault: an assault rifle /vehicle /weapon 3 [C] a strong criticism: The article was a vicious assault on Bell's integrity. 4 [C] formal a serious attempt to achieve something

1

something, for example furniture,

blyworreen/a'sembli

person

as-sas-si-nate

1

to build

Assembly

the part of your body that you sit on. Br E usually arse 2 [c] a stupid or annoying person: The man's an ass. 3 [c] an animal similar to a small horse [C] impolite

as»sail

[T]

as-senvbly

part of body you

2 stupid/annoying person 3 animal like a horse 1

2

/a's3r|n/ noun [C] * a definite statement or claim that something is true as-ser-tive /s's3rtiv/ adj behaving in a confident way in which you are quick to express your opinions and feelings: You need to be more assertive to succeed in business. as-sei"tive*ly adv, as-ser-tive-ness noun [U]

as-sertion

—

as-sess

noun [c] science a chemical test to what a substance contains as«say verb [T] ,ass backwards adv impolite in an extremely confusing way, especially in a way completely opposite to the correct way: Look, you put this together ass back/'ae.sei; a'sei/

—

establish

AmE

a group of things or people gathered together 2 [u] the process of building something by putting all its parts together 2a. [C] a work of art made up of different objects put together 1

[C]

assemble /a'sembl/ verb •* 1 [T] to bring a group of things or people together in one place for a particular purpose: How long would it take to assemble a team for a project like this? 1a. [i] to come together and form a group: The children assembled

outside the building.

[t]

••

2 to calculate what something costs or is worth: Our agent will assess the value ofyour property.

assessment /o'scsmnnt/

wards.

as«senri'blage/3'semblid3/ noun /orma/

/a'ses/ verb

to carefully consider a situation, person, or problem in order to make a judgment: We tried to assess his suitability for the job. 1

noun

••

process of making a judgment or forming an opinion, after considering something or someone carefully: The investigation was reopened after careful assessment of new evidence, la. [C] a judgment or opinion that is the result of this process. 2 [C/u] calculation of the cost or value of something, or the amount of the cost or value: the assessment of 1

[U] the

property taxes

as-ses-sor

/.Vsesor/ noun [C] someone whose job is to calculate the cost or value of something, for example so that tax can be paid on it

asset /'icset/

totaling $5.1 million. a major benefit: Youth is a tremendous asset in this job. +to He is a definite asset to the team.

2

asset-strip-ping /'aeset .stnpin/ noun [u] a way of making a profit in business by selling the valuable parts of a company, usually a company bought for a low price because

it is

asS'hole

unsuccessful

Am E offensive a

thorough -as'si-du'i'ty/.aJSl'djuati/ noun ous-ly adv assign /a'sam/ verb [t] •* 4

give sb job

2 send sbto place/group 3 give money/equipment

stupid or

to give

give sth

[U],

as-sid-u-

name/use

etc.

5 decide time for sth give sb ownership

someone a job

Two

senior officers were

2 [usually passive] to send someone to a particular place, especially in order for them to work there: He was assigned to the company's branch in Cairo. 2a. to put someone in a particular group: Tina has been assigned to the intermediate learners group. 3 to give someone money or equipment so that they can use it for a particular purpose: / was assigned a car for my personal use. 4 to decide that something has a particular name, use, or value: The operation was assigned the code name "Rita. 5 to decide that something should take a particular amount of time: / have assigned four hours for recording '

the data. 6 legal to give the ownership of or rights to property to

someone as-sig-na-tion /.aesig'neijn/ noun [c] formal a secret meeting with someone, especially someone you are having a sexual or romantic relationship with aS'Sign-ment/a'sainmant/ noun [c/u] *• 1 work that you must do as part of a course of study or as part of your job: Please hand in your completed assignment as a reporter was to cover the local election. on assignment (=doing a particular job for a period of time) Joe's still away on assignment for a Swiss newspaper. 2 the process of giving someone or something a particular job, title, or status: + of The judge had to agree on the assignment of points for each part of the competition. 3 legal the act of giving the ownership of or rights to property to someone assignments by October

as-sim-i-late

30.

His

/a'simi.leit/ verb 1

first

[T]

to help

someone

they are part of a community or culture rather than feeling foreign 1a. to begin to consider yourself part of a community or culture rather than being foreign 2 [T] to take in an idea or information and make it part of your knowledge so that you can use it effectively: Picasso assimilated an amazing variety of techniques in his art. 3 [T] to take in and use food or

feel that

[

I

]

other NUTRIENTS

as-sim-i-la-tion /a.simiieijn/ noun

the process of making new ideas or pieces of information part of your knowledge so that you can use them effectively: the rapid assimilation offacts 2 the process of becoming part of a community or culture: the successful assimilation of many different peoples 1

as-sist /a'sist/verb 1

[i/T]

to help

[u] 1

*•*

someone or something: These measures

They were designed to assist people with disabilities. The new eventually agreed to assist the investigation. + in /with technique will assist rapid identification. Several top landscape designers assisted in the creation of the garden. 1a. to help someone more skilled to do their job, for example by doing the easier parts of the work: Her job is to assist the head chef. 2 [T] to make a job or piece of work easier to do: information that will assist the police with their search assist sb to do sth The program assists young people to find work.

as-sist 2

/s'sist/

noun

[C]

same team

to score a

*••

assistance

/a'sistans/ noun [u] help given to someone or help that allows something to be done: He's been running the financial I military assistance company with the assistance of his son. be of assistance (=help someone) Can I be of any assistance? come to sb's assistance

(=do something to help someone) / waited

patiently hoping that someone

would come

to

my assistance.

/a'sistant/ noun [c] BrE •• someone whose job is to help another person in their work, for example by doing the easier parts of it: a personal 1

assistant

as-sis-tant

2

•• used as

/a'sistsnt/ adj [only before noun] someone whose job is to help

someone

an

assistant

part of a

title for

who

in charge of doing something:

is

manager

6

to do: assigned to the investigation. 1

that helps another player in the point or goal

as-sis-tant

/'aes.hool/ noun [c]

annoying person. Br E arsehole as-sid-u-ous /a'siu^uas/ adj formal hard-working and

1

association

70

noun [c] •* 1 [usually plural] something such as money or property that a person or company owns: The business has assets

as-set

something done by a player

assistant professor noun [C] • a teacher at a U.S. college or university who is above the level of instructor and below the

level of associate professor

assisted living

/s.sistad 'livirj/ noun [u] living conditions in houses or apartments that are designed for people, such as old or sick people, who need help in

doing ordinary things su-i-cide /a.sistad 'sui.said/ noun [c/U] the act of helping someone to die when that person is already dying and in pain and has asked for your help:

assisted euthanasia

Assn. abbrev Association Assoc, abbrev Association as-so-ci-ate /s'souji.eit/ verb [T] ••• to form a connection in your mind between different people or 1

things: How do humans associate these seemingly opposed ideas? associate sth with sb/sth The study found that many people associate science with masculinity, a. be associated with to be connected with something in some way: His social problems were associated with heavy drinking. occupations closely associated with farming

as sociate with phrasal vb [T] [associate with sb] to spend time with someone: While she was in Paris, she associated with many well-known artists. associate yourself with to say publicly that you support someone or agree with something 2

aS'SO'Ci«ate /3'souJi3t/ noun [c] • 1 someone you work with, especially

in business: a business associate a member of an organization who has only some of the rights or benefits that ordinary members have 3 an associate degree

2

3 as-so-ci-ate /a'soujiat/ adj [only before noun] someone who is in an associate position has a job at a level below the highest level: an associate director /producer /editor as sociate de'gree noun [c] the qualification you get when you have completed a two-year course of study at a community college in the U.S.. An associate degree is usually given by a community college and is the lowest undergraduate degree.

as sociate pro'fessor noun works

[c]

*

a teacher

who

at a college or university in the U.S. Associate

professor is the position above assistant professor and below the highest teaching level of professor aS'SO'Ci»a-tion/3,souJi'eiJn; a.saoji'eijn/ noun 1 [C] a group of people who have joined together because they have similar interests or goals: a prothe Parent Teacher fessional association of engineers

***

Association

2 [C] a connection between two things: + between Some studies show a strong association between pesticide use and +with Smoking has a close association certain diseases. with lung cancer. 2a. a memory or feeling that is connected with a particular place, event, etc.: The town has many happy childhood associations for me.

3

[C/U] a connection with a person, group, or organization: The police knew all about his associations with

organized crime. in association with 1 with the help of a person or organization: The exhibition was organized by the school in association with local artists. 2 if one thing happens or exists in association with another, they happen or exist together: These ancient tools are often found in association with broken animal bones.

assonance the repeating of sounds in words that are close together, especially for literary effect, for example "read" and "ride" or

"wish

list"

—compare rhyme

[u] linguistics

1

as-sort-ed

/a'sortod/ adj including various types: assorted fruits and vegetables tools in assorted sizes

as-sort-ment

/a'sartmant/ noun [c] a group or set of things of various types: an assortment of chocolates

as-suage /3'sweid3/ verb

[J] formal to make an unpleasant or painful feeling less severe as'sume /s'sum/ verb [t] 1 to believe that something is true, even though no one has told you or even though you have no proof: Everyone accepted she was telling the truth, although in fact this was quite a lot to assume. + (that) I'm assuming everyone here has an e-mail address. / think we can safely assume that he is out of town. assume sb/sth to be /do sth / have always assumed her to be British, la. to be based on the idea that something is true: This forecast assumes there will be no recession. This score is assumed to represent the achievement of an average 7-year-old. 2 formal to officially start a new job or position: He formally assumes the presidency next week. She has been invited to assume the role of mentor. 3 to start to control something although no one has officially asked you to: His first priority was assuming control of the army. 4 formal to begin to have a particular quality, shape, expression, etc.: The animals assumed their normal resting position. Time with the family has started to assume greater importance. 4a. to pretend to have a particular feeling or attitude, especially when this does not show how you are really thinking or feeling: Fay assumed an air of innocence.

•**

Words frequently used with assume authority,

command,

control,

3

leadership, power, responsibility

/a.sumd 'neim/ noun [c] a name someone uses so that no one will know their real name:

ALIAS

as-sum-ing /a'sumirj / conjunction * if: sometimes used for emphasizing that something may not be true: + (that) calculations are correct,

we should

travel

northeast.

assumption /a'sAmpJan/

noun •* 1 [C] something you consider likely to be true even though no one has told you directly or even though you have no proof: Your argument is based on a completely +that There is an assumption that false assumption. make an all the people who live around here are rich. assumption (=make a decision based on poor evidence) People tend to make assumptions about you based on your appearance. on the assumption that The law works on the assumption that it is preferable for children to be with their mother. [U] a process in which you begin to use your power or status, or begin to be responsible for something: the assumption of adult responsibilities

2

as'sur-ance/sjurans/ noun

•

a statement that something will happen or is true, in order to remove any doubt about it: Make sure you get some kind of written assurance. 2 [U] a feeling or attitude of being certain that something is true: He said it with complete assurance. 3 [U] a feeling or attitude of confidence: She seems to 1

[C]

made

lack assurance. 4 [u] BrE business life insurance

as-sure

/a'Jur/ verb

[T]

•

1 formal to tell someone that something will definitely happen or is definitely true, especially in order to remove doubt about it: There's not much more I can say

assure you. assure sb of sth She assured me of her assure sb (that) The president assured me that he would sign the bill as amended. 2 to do everything that you can in order to make certain that something happens: guarantee: We all worked hard to assure the mayor's re-election. 2a. be assured to be certain to happen: Her success is now to

support.

virtually assured.

/o'Jord/ ad) confident and certain: an assured reply I found her to be relaxed and assured rest assured (=feel certain about something) You can rest assured that the salesman won't bother you again. -» shi-assi red

assur-edly

/ojorodli/ adv formal certainly

AST abbrev Atlantic Standard Time: the time used from October to April in the area that includes Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Canada's Atlantic provinces /a'ster ,1'rcd/ a U.S. movie actor known especially for his dancing. He appeared in many musical movies in the 1930s and 1940s with the actress Ginger Rogers.

as-ter / 'aester/ noun

[c]

a plant with small white, purple,

or pink flowers

asterisk

1

/ aestsnsk/ noun [c] the symbol *. In a piece of writing, an asterisk is used after a word or phrase to show that more information is given in a footnote.

as'ter-isk 2 / iestonsk/ verb [t) to mark something with an asterisk as-ter-oid /'assta.raid/ noun [c] a mass of rock like a very small planet that goes around the Sun, especially between Mars and Jupiter asth-ma /'aezma/ noun [u] * a medical condition that

makes it difficult to breathe asth-mat-ic /iuz'rmctik/adj 1

tO

suffering from or relating

ASTHMA 2

[c] someone who suffers from ASTHMA As-ti /'aesti/ noun [C/u] a type of sweet sparkling white wine from Italy

asth«mat«ic /a;z'mxtik/noun

a-stig-ma-tism /a'stigma.tizam/ noun

[u] medical a condition in which someone's eyes cannot focus coras-tig-mat-ic rectly without the help of glasses

—

/.aestig'maetik/ adj

a-ston-ish /a'staniJV verb [T] * to surprise someone very much: Beth astonished her by refusing to help. + that It always astonished him that his children did not feel closer to their grandfather.

assumed name

Assuming your

as-sured

A-staire, Fred

asst. abbrev assistant

nouns

astringent

71

as-so-nance /'iesanons/ noun

*

a-ston-ished

/a'staniTt/ adj very surprised about something that you did not expect: Mike gave a sudden snort of astonished laughter. + at Elizabeth was astonished at her sister's courage. +that Claire seemed astonished that I should think such a thing. +to / was astonished to see so many people there.

a-ston-ish-ing /a'stanifin/ adj * very surprising: He It's astonwas eating his food with astonishing speed. ishing how much the place has changed. — a-stonish-ing-ly adv

a-stori'ish-ment/a'stanijmant/ noun

* very great

[u]

A

Some look of astonishment crossed his face. executives expressed astonishment that they could no longer travel first class. in astonishment 'Are you really leavto your/his/her etc. ing?" asked Felix in astonishment. surprise:

astonishment To

my astonishment it was dark when I woke

up.

As-ton Mar-tin

/.aestan 'martn/ trademark an expenmade in the U.K. /a'staond/ verb [T] * to surprise or shock someone very much a-stound-ed /a'staondad/ adj extremely surprised or

sive high-quality car

a-stound

shocked

a-stound-ing /a'staondirj/adj extremely shocking

— a-stound-ing-ly adv

as-tra-khan

/'aestra.kaen/

noun

(u)

surprising or

black or gray fur

with tight curls that comes from lambs, or cloth like this, used to make coats or hats

an

artificial

astral

/'astral/ adj 1 technical relating to or using the stars: astral navigation 2 relating to a world of spiritual, not physical, ideas and experiences

a-stray to the

/a'strei/

adv go astray 1 to become lost or go to go wrong or do something

wrong place 2

wrong lead sb astray 1 to

make someone

make someone behave badly 2

believe something that

is

to

not true

a-stride /a'straid/ preposition 1 with one leg on each side of something 2 on each side of something 1 /a'strmdpnt/ adj 1 an astringent as-trin-gent remark is one that criticizes someone severely 2 medical an astringent substance or liquid makes your

astringent

at

skin drier or helps to stop a cut from bleeding 3 an astringent taste is one that is strong and bitter as*triivgen*cy noun [U]

—

astrin-gent 2 /o'strmdpnt/ noun [C] used for making your skin more dry

a liquid or cream or stopping a cut

from bleeding

astro- /a;stroo/ prefix the planets and stars or space: used with some nouns, adjectives, and adverbs: astronomer astronaut as*trol*o*ger /a'straladsar/ noun [C] someone who studies astrology to

tell

people about their lives

astro-log-i-cal

/a-stro'lud.^ikl/ adj relating to the the stars and planets move and how they might influence people's characters and lives as-tro-loyi-cal'ly /,aestr3'lad3lkli/ adv

study of

how

as-trol-o-gy /a'strabd3i/ noun [u] the study of the movement of the stars and planets and how some people think they influence people's characters and lives as-tro«naut /'aestrsnot/ noun [C] * someone who travels and works in space as-trorvo-mer /a'stranamar/ noun [c] someone who studies the stars and planets using scientific equipment including telescopes

astro-nom-i-cal

/.asstra'namikl/ adj

1

informal an

astronomical amount, price, or charge is one that is extremely high and much higher than you would expect 2 relating to the scientific study of the stars and planets as-tro-nom-i-cal-ly /.gestra'namikli/ adv informal by a very large amount as'troivo-my /a'stranami/ noun [u] * the scientific study of the stars, planets, and other objects in the universe

as-tro-phys-i-cal research or study

adj astrophysical the study of astrophysics

/.asstrou'fizikl/

is

aS'tro-phyS'i'Cist

/.aestroo'fizisist/

noun

[c]

someone

who studies astrophysics astro-phys-ics / .aestrou'fiziks/ noun

[u] the scientific study of the physical and chemical structure of the stars, planets, and other objects in the universe

As«troTurf

/ 'yestroo,t3rf/ trademark a type of artificial surface that looks like grass and is used to cover fields where games such as baseball and football are played

student noun

'A,

a student

[C]

who

is

very intelligent

and does well in class activities and tests as-tute /a'stut/ adj good at judging situations and people quickly and able to use this knowledge for personal benefit

— as-tute-ly adv, as*tute*ness noun [u]

a-sun-der /s'sAndar/ adv

literary

apart

asylum /a'saibm/ noun *• the right to stay in a country, given by a government to protect someone who has escaped from war or political trouble in their own country: seek asylum More than half a million people sought asylum in Europe last year. political asylum The number of refugees seeking political asylum has risen recently. grant sb asylum Of the 1,000 refugees who initially came here, only 50 were granted asylum. 2 [C] old-fashioned a mental hospital (=a hospital for people with mental illnesses) 1

[u]

asylum seeker

noun [c] someone who has to leave their own country because they are in danger and who arrives in another country and asks to be allowed to live there

asym-met-ri-cal /eisi'metnkl/ or a-sym-met-ric eisi'metnk/ adj something that is asymmetrical does not have the same shape and size on both sides a«synrmetTi«cal-ly; eisi metrikli/adv, a'synrmetTy

/

—

/ae'simstri; ei'simatri/

noun

works) Dad should be at work by now. at the doctor's/ dentist's/ hairdresser's etc. Andy's at the doctor's - he'll be back soon. 1b. used for saying where you stop on a trip: Does this train stop at Newport? The ship docked at Bombay and Singapore. 1c. sitting or standing close to something, especially in order to do something: Lambert was seated at the piano. She was standing at the window, staring out across the yard. 1d. in a particular part of a process, activity, program, or book: At some point in the process things started to go wrong. 2 used for stating what sb is doing 2a. used for saying that someone is doing something or taking part in an activity somewhere: at a party/concert/meeting etc. We were at a party last night when you called. at school /college etc. (^studying at an educational institution) Has Karen graduated, or is she still at college? 2b. at lunch/dinner/breakfast etc used for saying that someone is having a meal: I'm sorry, the person you want is at lunch. What were we talking about at breakfast? 2c. used for stating what state or situation someone or something is in: at rest /war /peace etc. The country was at war and life was difficult for everyone. The tail markings are less visible when the bird is at rest. 3 used for stating when sth happens 3a. used for stating the exact time when something happens: The game starts at3o 'clock. There 's a flight at 11:40. 3b. used for saying when a particular situation exists: at present/ at the moment (=now) Everyone's busy with exams at present. / can't give you any more information at the moment. at the time (=when something happened in the past) Monica was born in 1972. We were living in Atlanta at the time. at the beginning/start/end of sth It's a style that was popular at the beginning of the 20th century. 3c. during a particular period: My wife's parents came to stay with us at Christmas. at night (=during any night) At night temperatures sometimes fall to 30 degrees below zero. 3d. when someone is a particular age: Mozart was already composing music at the age offive. 4 used for stating what sb reacts to used for stating what makes someone react in a particular way: Audiences still laugh at his jokes. She was annoyed at being disturbed in the middle of the night. 5 used for showing prices, temperatures, speeds, etc. used for showing the level of prices, temperatures, His speeds, etc.: Tickets are now on sale at $15 apiece. Ferrari crashed at 120 miles an hour. * The plastic pipes will melt at high temperatures. 6 looking, aiming, etc. in a particular direction used for stating the direction in which you look, point, or aim something: Armed gangs were shooting at police cars. Why are you staring at me like that? 7 trying to hold or hit sb or sth used for stating what someone is trying to catch, hold, or hit: He grabbed at my sleeve, but I pulled away. She struggled, hitting out at her attackers. 8 continuing to do sth used for showing that you repeat an action many times with small movements but without doing it completely: / muttered to myself, sipping at my coffee. Stop picking at the scab, or it won't heal. 9 used for stating what sb can do well used for stating the activity or subject that someone is skillful or not skillful in: Brownstein is an expert at cooking as well as gardening. good/ bad at sth I've never been very good at

sports.

AmE

used for 10 used for giving phone numbers stating the phone number where someone can be Br E on: You can reach us at 555-3964.

reached.

when you are saying or asking whether something is even slightly true, especially after words such as "any," "anything," "anyone," or "nothYou don't have ing": Has the situation improved at all? any money at all? He doesn know anything at all about at all used for emphasis

't

[u]

a-symp-to-mat-ic /.eisimpta'mxtik/

medical if a asymptomatic, they show no physadj

disease or person is ical signs of a medical problem

at / weak at; strong aet/ preposition •*• 1 used for stating where sb or sth is 1a. in a parI'll ticular place: There's a pay phone at the gas station. meet you at the main entrance. She's staying at the Clarence Hotel. We live at 23 Brookfield Avenue. at sb's (=at their house) I'm babysitting at Sally's tomorrow night. at home He wants to spend more time at home with his family. at work (=in the place where someone

computers. at sb's best/worst/strongest etc. used for saying that someone or something shows their best/worst etc. qualities in a particular event or situation: This is an example of old-fashioned prejudice at its worst. At his most forceful, Cox can be a very persuasive speaker. at sb's request/suggestion/invitation etc. because

someone has asked you

to

do something/suggested

something etc.: A meeting was arranged at the ambassador's request. At my suggestion, Mrs. Carey wrote to her former employer. be at it spoken if someone is at it, they are doing

AT

attach

73

something that you do not approve

of:

He's at

it

again,

trying to cheat the customers.

while you're at it spoken used for telling someone to do something while they are doing something else: "I'm just going to clean my boots. " "Well, you can clean mine too while you're at

AT abbrev

it.

Atlantic Time: ast

AT&T/ei

ti

an

'ti/

Company: a large

atavistic

bomb

/.aeta'vistik/ adj

formal relating back

had

apart)

a-tonvic /a'tumik/

AmE

the past tense of eat

atelier

/.astljei/

noun

[c]

formal a room where a

painter or other artist works: studio

ATF /

,ei ti 'ef/ (Bureau of) Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms: an organization in the U.S. that works to reduce violent crime, collect taxes, and protect the public a-the-ism / 'eiBi.rzam/ noun [u] the belief or theory that God does not exist a«the-ist /'eiGiist/ noun [c] someone who believes that God does not exist —compare agnostic a*the*is»tic 1

—

/.eiGiistik/ adj

ath-lete /'xG.lit/ noun [C] * someone who is good at sports, and takes part in sports competitions: Green was one of Canada's top professional track and field athletes. athlete's 'foot noun [u] an infection in which the skin between the toes becomes sore, cracked, and itchy

athletic 1

2

/yeB'letik/ adj

•

physically strong, active, and good at sports relating to athletes or athletics

ath-let-i-cism AeB'letisizam/ noun [u] physical strength and the ability to do sports and physical exercises well

athletics

/eeG'letiks/ noun [u] other physical activities 2 Br E

1

AmE

sports

and

track and field

ath letic supporter noun [c] a special type of underwear used by men or boys when they are playing sports -athon /aBan/ suffix used with some nouns and verbs to make nouns meaning an event or activity that lasts for a long time. These events are often organized in order to make money to help people: walkathon

At-lan-tic

Rim

/at.lxntik

'rim/ the countries that its northern part

border the Atlantic Ocean, especially

— compare pacific rim

noun [c] a book of maps machine noun [c] auto'em/ or mated teller machine: a machine outside a bank or in a public place that you use to take money out of your

at»las

ATM

/'setlas/

/,ei

ATM

ti

bank account.

BrE

at-mos-phere

usually cashpoint

/'aetma.sfir/ noun

**

the air around the Earth or around another planet: Saturn's moon, Titan, has an atmosphere mainly made of nitrogen. the atmosphere (=the Earth's atmosphere) The burning of fossil fuels results in the pollution of the atmosphere. 1a. the air inside a room or other place: She doesn't like going to bars because of the smoky atmosphere. 2 [singular] the mood or feeling that exists in a place and affects the people who are there: After Joe left there was a more relaxed atmosphere at home. + of There is an atmosphere of tension in the city today. 1

[C]

atmospheric /.ietma'sfenk/ ad] • 1 [only before noun] relating to or existing in the atmosphere around the Earth or around another planet

creating a special mood or feeling: a great piece of atmospheric movie-making. atmos-pherics /.astma'sfenks/ noun [plural] the special way a piece of music is written to give you a particular feeling or mood: a smoky jazz sound and spooky atmospherics a«toll /'ae.tol/ noun [c] an island in the form of a ring, made of coral (=the pink or white outer structure of very small sea animals) a. Atoll used in the names of places:

2

[usually before noun]

It's

Bikini Atoll

atom /'aetam/ noun 1

[c]

**

the smallest unit of a chemical element, that can

adj science

•

1 relating to or using the energy that is produced by splitting atoms (=breaking them apart): atomic power

to

in the distant past

,at 'bat noun [c] an occasion in baseball when a player tries to hit the ball, used for calculating that player's batting average

ate

bomb


ment noun [U] a-top /a'tap/ preposition literary at the top of something to Z /,ei ta 'zi/ noun [singular] all the facts or information about something: a book entitled The A to Z of Sewing at-risk adj [only before noun] in a situation where bad things can easily happen to you: used especially by social workers to describe children who are being treated badly by adults at home: a program to identify

A

at-risk children

atrium

/'eitriam/ noun [c] 1 a large open hall that goes up through all the levels of a building to the roof, which is usually made of glass 2 medical each of the two upper spaces in the heart, which force blood into the ventricles (=lower spaces) a«tro«cious/a'troujas/adj 1 very evil or cruel 2 very a-tro'cious-ly adv unpleasant 3 very bad in quality

a«troc«i«ty /a'trasati/ noun [c/u] a cruel and violent act, often in a war: The recent atrocities have been con-

demned by

religious leaders all over the world.

at-ro-phy 1 Aetrafi/ noun dition in

[u]

medical a medical con-

which a part of your body becomes weaker or

smaller because you are not using is not reaching it

at«ro«phy

it

or because blood

2

/'stroll/ verb [i/T] 1 formal if an organization or practice atrophies or is atrophied, it becomes weaker and less effective 2 medical if a part of your body atrophies or is atrophied, it becomes weaker or smaller because you are not using it or because blood is

not reaching

ATSIC

it

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission: an Australian government organization /'aetsik/

that represents the interests of aborigines

at-ta-boy /'aeto.boi/ interjection used you want to encourage a boy or man This can be considered offensive man or boy.

attach

/a'taetJV verb

if

for

showing that

to do something. used towards a black

••

1 [T] [+to] to fasten or join one thing to another: Attach There was a message the rope to the branch of a tree. attached to thejlowers. la. to send something with something else, for example an extra document or a photograph with a letter, or a file with an e-mail: / attach a

copy of his reply. 1b. to connect one machine or piece of equipment to another: He attached a color printer to his computer. 2 [i] to have a connection with or be part of something: The field was used by horses from the riding school that is attached to the farm. 3 [I] if a quality attaches to someone or something, they have that quality: There's inevitably an element of There will be risk attached to sports such as skiing. considerable prestige attached to his new position. 4 [t usually passive] to be sent to work with a different group of people or in a different place, especially tern

attache porarily: She I

now

attached to the American Embassy in

Beijing.

attach a condition (to sth) to allow something only if someone agrees to a condition: The license renewal had two special conditions attached. attach a label to sb to think of someone as having a particular character or nature: She is a writer to whom the label "feminist" is often attached.

attach importance/significance/value/weight to sth to think that something is important or true and that it should be considered seriously .Both her parents attach great importance to education. attach yourself to to spend time with someone or become part of a group: They soon attached themselves to a group of women discussing the next day's activities. at«ta»che /.icta'Jci; a'taejei/ noun [c] an official who is in charge of a particular subject or activity at an embassy (=an office for representatives of one country in another country) attache case noun [c] a small flat case used for carrying documents /a'tstjt/ adj 1 joined or fixed to something: To take advantage of this offer please complete the attached forms. 2 liking someone very much or loving them: +to She found herself growing deeply attached to the old lady. 2a. liking or supporting an idea, place, organization, or thing: He's sentimentally attached to the house.

•*

at-tach-ment

/a'taetjrnant/ noun [C/u] a feeling of loving or liking a person very

much: She formed no close attachments during her time in Boston. +to He felt a particular attachment to his father's family.

1a. a feeling of liking or supporting a place,

idea, or organization: to Regional firms need to lose their attachment to their regions to succeed. 2 [C] something you send with a letter, contract, or other document to give extra information 2a. a computer file that you send with an e-mail 3 [C] a special tool that you can fix to a machine or piece of equipment to make it do a particular job: The food processor has an attachment for slicing vegetables. 4 [U] the process of fixing one thing to another: The filter has suction cups for attachment to the side of the tank.

on attachment Br E working with another organization or company for a time at-tack /a'taek/ noun *** 1

a violent attempt to harm a person, animal, or place: a vicious attack + on measures to reduce the number of sexual attacks on young women 1a. [C/u] an organized attempt to defeat an enemy, using weapons: a nuclear attack + on Government forces renewed their attacks on a key communications tower. launch /mount an attack We mounted a surprise attack against their ammunition depot. be/come under attack The city was under attack through1

[C]

out the night. 2 [C/U] strong criticism: + on The book is widely seen as launch /mount an an attack on the education system. attack He was outraged by the personal attacks launched against him. be/come under attack Both candidates have come under attack for their health-care proposals. 3 [C] the beginning or return of an illness, or the period during which you have it: a severe asthma attack +of an attack offlu 3a. the beginning of a strong feeling or need, or the period during which you have it: a hunger attack an anxiety attack + of an attack of spring fever -» HEART ATTACK 4 [C] an attempt to score points against an opponent in a game or sport: Their attack in the final minutes

wasn

't

enough

Words

attack 2 1

to

win the game.

frequently used with attack

adjectives

attacked. attack sb with sth Two prison officers were brutally attacked with a knife. 1a. to use weapons to try to defeat an enemy: The enemy attacked at dawn. U.S. jets attacked five air-defense sites in the north. 2 [T] to strongly criticize someone or something for their ideas or actions: Opponents attacked the government's plan to increase highway taxes. * attack sb/sth for sth Congress is being attacked for failing to take action. attack sth as sth The mayor last night attacked the decision as foolish. 3 [I/T] to cause damage or disease in something: The virus attacks the body's red blood cells. The wood had

been attacked by a fungus. [T] to begin working on something or doing something with enthusiasm and determination: We need to

4

attack the problem now before it gets worse. She was just about to attack a plate of spaghetti when the phone rang. 5 [I/T] to try to score points against an opponent in a game or sport: They attacked with determination and well.

Words

•

attached

1

attend

74 is

bitter, concerted, fierce, harsh, scathing

/a'taek/ verb

2

2 strongly criticize 3 cause damage/disease

attack dog

1 [l/T] to use violence to harm a person, animal, or place: It was shortly before midnight when the terrorists

openly, sharply,

noun

[c]

AmE

a dog that

is

trained to

and attack people who try to come in at-tack-er /s'taekar/ noun [C] •* someone who physically attacks someone else at-tagirl / 'aet3,g3rl/ interjection a way to show that you want to encourage a girl or woman to do something. This can be considered offensive when used toward an protect property

adult

woman.

at-tain /a'tem/ verb [J] formal • 1 to succeed at achieving something, especially after much effort: achieve: Not all athletes attain this standard ofphysica I fitness. 2 to reach a particular age, amount, or level: On attaining the age of 20 she will inherit the remainder of the estate. The adult female attains a length offour inches.

attain-a-ble /s'temabl/

adj possible to achieve, reach, or get: performance standards attainable by every employee

at-tain-ment /a'temmant/ noun formal

1 [u] the process of achieving a goal or particular level of success: achievement: Salaries are based on the attainment of pro-

duction targets. 2 [C] something that you have succeeded in doing or having: achievement: educational/ academic attainments

at-tempt

*••

1

an effort to do /a'tempt/ noun [C] something: one last desperate attempt The government has made no attempt to avert the crisis. + on an attempt on the world record + at It's his fourth attempt at flying a an attempt to do sth balloon around the world alone. Their spokesperson has rejected all our attempts to talk to him. a. an illegal act that is unsuccessful: a burglary/ robbery /escape /kidnap attempt b. an attack on someone that is intended to kill them but fails: an assassination/ murder /suicide attempt an attempt on sb's life an unsuccessful attempt on the President's life to try to do someat-tempt 2 /a'tempt/ verb [T] thing: They are attempting a climb up the mountain's

•••

north face. Few people knew that she had once attempted suicide. attempt to do sth The book attempts to explain the origins of the war. at-tempt-ed /s'temptad/ adj • used about things that someone tries to do but does not succeed in doing, especially things that are wrong or illegal: attempted murder /rape /robbery /suicide Leaders of the attempted coup were rounded up and executed.

at-tend /s'tend/ verb

•**

1 [l/T] to be present at an event or activity: Everyone in I've voiced my opinion the office was expected to attend. at every meeting I've attended. 1a. to go regularly to a place, for example, to a school as a student or to a church as a member: Born in India, he attended high

and medical school in Madras. to take care of someone, especially someone who sick or someone in an important position: She is attended by a 24-hour nursing staff. 3 [T] very formal to exist along with something else or happen as a result of it: Secondary symptoms usually The occasion was attended by a mood attend the disease. of sadness.

2

4 begin with enthusiasm 5 try to score points

bitterly, fiercely,

strongly, vigorously

school

•*•

use violence to harm

frequently used with attack

adverbs

is

[T]

attendance attend to

[t]

[attend to sth) 1

to deal with

something: We still have a number of other matters to attend to. He likes work that requires him to attend to a lot of details. 2 very formal to pay attention to something

at-tervdance /a'tendans/ noun •• 1 [C/U] the number of people who

pay attention to or someone very because you '11 to the

listen to, watch, or consider something carefully: / hope you 're paying attention, be tested later. + to Pay particular attention

warnings printed on the

label.

attention .span noun

are present at an event or in a place such as a school or church: Games this season have attracted record attendances. Church attendance dropped sharply in the 1970s. 2 [U] the fact of being present at an event or of going regularly to school, church, etc.: It is a parent's responsibility to ensure children 's regular attendance at school. The lecture series was canceled because of poor attendance. If you look at our attendance record, you'll see that it is

(c) the length of time that you can pay attention to one thing without becoming bored or thinking about something else a short limited alien tion span attentive /o'tentiv/ adj 1 listening to or watching something carefully: Jurors were attentive, taking notes during her testimony. 2 behaving in a way that shows you care about someone and are willing to help them:

Service at this small hotel is friendly and attentive. +to happy children with parents who are attentive to their at'teirtive-ly adv, at-tervtive-ness noun [u] needs at-ten-u-ate /a'tenju.eit/ verb [i] formal to reduce the strength, amount, or size of something — at-ten-u-ation

—

exceptional.

in attendance/orma/ 1 present somewhere, often at an important or official event: The governor and his wife will be in attendance at tonight's gala concert. 2 staying or traveling with someone in order to serve or take care of them: +on The two ladies in attendance on the Queen were sitting in a corner talking quietly. -» DANCE

attract

75

phrasal vb

1

/3,tenju'eiJn/noun [u]

at»ten-u-at-ed /a'tenju.eitad/adj 1 technical long and thin: an attenuated beam of light 2 medical made weak or less harmful: a

live

attenuated vaccine

attendant

at'test/a'test/ verb 1 [\}[+\o] formal to give proof or be evidence that something is true 2 [T] legal to state formally that you believe something is true, correct, or real: a witness who will attest the signature +to She can

2 someone whose job is to take care of another person, especially a person who is in an important position or one who is sick: We'll have an attendant with him 24

at-tes-ta-tion /.aete'steifn/ noun [c/u] legal a formal statement in which someone swears that something is

1

at-teivdant /s'tendant/ noun [c] * 1 someone whose job is to help customers or people

who

a public place: a gas station / parking

visit

hours a day,

to

lot

keep an eye on him.

at-ten-dant 2 /s'tendant/

formal

existing along with something or happening as a result of it: Behavior problems and their frequently attendant learning difficulties cannot be resolved in the ordinary classroom. 2 staying or traveling with someone in order to serve them or take care of them: +on At least three staff were attendant on the CEO at any one time. adj

at'ten-tion /a'tenfan/ noun 1

1

*** 4 way of standing straight 5 show of love/interest

interest/thought

2 fact that you notice sth 3 special care/treatment

+ PHRASES

the interest or thought you give to something you are listening to or watching: The speaker was dull and their attention soon wandered. May I please have your attention? turn your attention to sth It's time now to turn our attention to the committee's recommendations. undivided /full attention Please give the demonstration your undivided attention. hold/keep your attention The conversation failed to hold my attention. 1a. interest, especially interest that the public has in a person, event, situation, etc.: Recent violence has focused attention on the issue of racism. He avoided publicity and disliked the attention his acting brought him. divert/distract attention from sth They engineered a news story to divert attention from the scandal. catch sb's attention What first caught my attention was his voice. 2 [U] the fact that you notice something, often something that causes problems: It had escaped my attention at the time. sth comes to sb's attention I followed up his 1

[U]

request the moment it came to my attention. draw (sb's) attention to sth J have been asked to draw your attention to the following matters. bring sth to sb's attention a campaign to bring human rights abuses to the government's attention 3 [U] special care, help, or treatment for someone or something: As the sixth of ten children, he never received

much

attention.

Your

letter will receive

immediate atten-

tion.

4

[u] if people in the military stand to attention or stand at attention, they stand straight with their feet together to show respect or to receive orders 5 attentions [plural] behavior that shows someone that you love them or that you take a great deal of interest She had in them: / was flattered by her kind attentions. to deal with the unwelcome attentions of a drunk.

attract

(sb's)

attention

to

make someone

someone or something: He waved of the waitress.

The

trial

notice

to attract the attention

has attracted international

attention.

for the attention of sb mainly Br E used on a business letter to show that you intend it for a particular person: Mark the report for the attention of the principal.

attest to the facts.

true, correct, or real at-tic /'aetik/ noun [C] the top floor of a house, directly under the roof —picture -» ci at«tire /a'tair/ noun [u] formal the clothes that someone is wearing: formal/ casual attire at-tired / a 'taird/ adj formal dressed: + in elegantly attired in a red gown at-ti-tude/'aeti.tud/noun 1 [C/u] someone's opinions or feelings about something, especially as shown by their behavior: The prevailing attitude at the time was antiwar. an unhealthy social environment that encourages negative attitudes The move reflects changing attitudes among management. We can win only if the team adopts a positive attitude. + toward Attitudes toward seniors and their role will have to change. +to People here have a more relaxed attitude to their work. an attitude problem (^negative feelings and inappropriate behavior) What we don 1 need is somebody with an attitude problem. 2 [U] informal a proud confident way of behaving that some people consider rude: There's no denying the guy has attitude. 3 C formal the position of your body

•••

[

]

in a way that attracts attention: These are designs with attitude.

with attitude informal unusual

Words

frequently used with attitude

adjectives

aggressive, ambivalent, cavalier, changing, dismissive,

1

enlightened, favorable, hostile, negative, positive, relaxed,

uncompromising

at-titudi'nal /.ajti'tudml/ adj formal relating to or affected by what someone feels about something attn. abbrev attention: used for showing that a letter or document is for a particular person

at-torney /a't3rni/ noun [C] *•* a one who represents people in court attorney general noun [c] •*

lawyer, especially

the most senior lawyer in some countries or U.S. states at-tract/s'trskt/verb [t] ••• 1 to make someone interested in something so that they do it or come to see or hear it: The show attracts viewers from every sector of society. They hope to attract Tourists are attracted by its more foreign investors. attract sb to endless sandy beaches and perfect weather. sth What first attracted you to the study of Buddhism'.' 1a. to produce or cause an interest in something or someone, or have an opinion about them: Their behavior has attracted considerable public criticism. Their attempts to attract the support of peasants and workers failed. attract sb's attention They tried to leave the hotel without

attraction

2

to

make something move near someone

or some-

thing: Insects are often attracted by scents that aren't to us. the electromagnetic force that makes

obvious

magnets attract pins

at-traotion /a'traekjsn/ noun •• 1 [C] somewhere or something you can visit that is interesting or enjoyable: Navy Pier is Chicago's most popular attraction. The plane this weekend's air show.

2

is

main

the

attraction at

the feeling of liking someone, especially in a sexual way: You could sense the undeniable attraction between them. 3 [C/U] a reason for liking something or being interested in it: One of the car's main attractions is its low [singular/ u]

price.

4

[C/U] science the force that pulls or keeps things together: electrical attraction between atoms opposite REPULSION

—

at-trac-tive /a'traektiv/ adj ••• 1 an attractive person is pleasant to look at, especially in a way that interests you sexually: a stunningly attractive movie star 1a. something that is attractive is pleasant in some way: a cozy cabin in a scenically attractive setting

We saw

a

less attractive side

of his personality

that day.

2 worth having, considering, or doing: Of all the proposals we've seen, theirs is the least commercially attractive. a superficially attractive proposition + to a company that will be increasingly attractive to investors at'tractive'ly adv, at-trac-tive-ness noun [U]

—

at-trib-ut-a-ble /a'tnbjatsbl/

adj [+to] caused by a particular event, situation, activity, or person: illnesses attributable to cigarette smoking 1

attribute

/s'tn.bjut/ verb

attribute to phrasal vb

[T] 1

•* [attribute sth to sb/sth] to

believe that something is the result of a particular situation, event, or person's actions: Her teachers attributed her learning difficulties to emotional problems. 2 [attribute sth to sb] to believe or say that something was written, said, painted, etc. by a particular person: Marcello's work was at first attributed to his brother Benedetto. Quotes attributed to him have been taken out of context. 3 [attribute sth to sb/sth] to think of someone or something as having a particular quality or feature: People are attributing qualities to me that I just don't have. 2

/'setn,bjut/ noun [C] formal * a quality or feature of someone or something: Peter had all the attributes of a first-class athlete. The job requires you to have personal attributes such as the ability to work as a team member.

at-trib-ute

audit

76

attracting anyone's attention. 1b. [usually passive] to interest someone in a romantic or sexual way: be attracted to sb She's old enough now to be attracted to boys.

a-typ-i-cal

/.ei'tipikl/ ad)

au-ber-gine /'oobDr^in/ noun

auburn

/'.iborn/ adj 1

auotion 2 /bkfn/

verb [t] to sell something at an auction: Six examples of his work will be auctioned for charity tomorrow night. + off Some of the land was auctioned off last year.

auction-eer /pkJVnir/ noun is to sell

auda-cious

/o'deijos/ adj done with extreme confidence, despite difficulties, risks, or the negative attitudes of other people: an audacious plan to take control of the company a. used about people: a group of audacious young writers au»da*cious*ly adv

—

au-dac-i-ty /o'daesati/ noun [u] the confidence to say or do what you want, despite difficulties, risks, or the negative attitudes of other people: have the audacity to

do sth She had the audacity to tell him off. au-di-ble /'odibl/ adj loud enough for people to hear: The sound of a door opening was clearly audible. barely audible a barely audible whisper

audience /bdians/

size,

Fifty

a surprisingly high attrition rate. 2 a deliberate gradual reduction in the number of workers in an organization, as a result of the organizations not replacing those who leave or die: Another 500 jobs are being eliminated through retirement and attrition. 3 formal the process of making an enemy physically and mentally weaker by continuously attacking them: war of attrition Since 1985 they had been fighting a bloody war of attrition with hundreds of casualties on both volunteers

left

in the first year,

sides.

attuned

/a'tund/ adj [never before noun] familiar with something and able to deal with it in a sensitive way: The company needs people who are attuned to today's youth culture.

ATV / ei

ti

'vi/

noun

[C]

all-terrain vehicle

[c]

— au*di*bly adv

***

ticipation

and

several

women came up on

stage.

1a. all

the people who watch a television program, listen to a radio broadcast, or are reached by advertising: The series has attracted an audience of more than 10 million. target audience Our target audience has always been the affluent underSOs. 1b. the people who see the work of a particular artist or read the work of a particular writer: His detective novels are beginning to appeal to a wider audience.

2 a group of people who admire or support a particular person, belief, idea, etc.: Disaffected young people are an ideal audience for his outrageous political opinions. 3 a formal meeting with a very important person: + with He had an audience with the Pope in 1996. 1

audio book

at-trhtion /s'trifn/ noun [u] 1 a reduction in numbers, or strength: attrition rate/rate of attrition

noun

a group of people who have come to a place to see or hear a movie, performance, speech, etc. The people who watch a sports game or other large event are usually called spectators or the crowd: Chaplin's movies captivated audiences throughout the world. He offended many in the audience with his insensitive remarks. The music was performed before an enthusiastic audience. audience participation He was soon encouraging audience par1

before the noun it describes. For example, in the phrase at'trib«u«tive«ly "a nice man," "nice" is attributive. /a'tnbjativli/ adv compare predicative

—

someone whose job

AUD abbrev Australian dollar

audio- /Ddioo/

—

[c]

things at an auction

an attributive adjective or a word in an attributive position comes adj linguistics

Br E an eggplant brownish red in

is

/ bk Jon/ noun [C/U] • a public occasion when things are sold to the people who offer the most money for them: at auction They bought the paintings at auction in 1989. up for auction (=being sold at an auction) The house is now up for auction, a. [only before noun] connected with an auction or bought at an auction: Internet auction sites

au-di-o

at'trib'U'tive /a'tnbjativ/

[c/u]

auburn hair

color

auction

/,astn'bjujn/ noun [U] the act of attributing something to a particular cause or person, especially the act of saying that something was written, said, painted, etc. by a particular person: the attribution of drawings to Vincent van Gogh

attribution

not usual or typical

/ bdi.oo/ adj relating to sound that or broadcast: an audio system

au-di'O that

is

2

is

recorded

/'odi.oo/ noun [u] sound, especially music, recorded, broadcast, or played on electronic

equipment prefix sound or hearing: used with some and nouns: audiovisual equipment noun [c] a book that is read out loud, usually by an actor or a famous person, and recorded On a CASSETTE TAPE aU'di'O'tape/'odioo.teip/noun [C/u] magnetic tape on which sound can be recorded audiovisual /pdioo'v^ual/ adj using both recorded sounds and images: audiovisual resources for

adjectives

natural science classes

au-dit

1

*

an official examination of the /'odit/ noun [C] financial or tax records of a company, organization, or person to see that they are accurate: A udits by the IRS of his tax records did not result in findings of wrongdoing. a. a careful examination of something, especially one done to find the amount, size, or effectiveness of something: an audit of transportation services for the elderly

au-dit 2

/'odit/ verb [T]* 1 to officially examine the financial or tax records of a company, organization, or person to see that they are accurate: The Directors submit their report to the shareholders, together with the audited financial statements for

audition examine something

carefully, especially committee will audit the

to decide on its effectiveness: A department's performance. E to go regularly to class for a college course 2 without asking for or receiving credit for taking the

Am

course 1

au-di-tion /o'dijn/ noun [C] * a short performance in which you sing, dance, or act so that someone can decide if you are good enough to perform in a particular play, concert, etc. 2

au-di-tion /o'dijn/ verb

1 [I] to perform at an audition: +for She's been invited to audition for the part. 2 (T]

someone's performance at an audition au-di-tor/'oditar/ noun [c] • to judge

AmE

1

a large

room

or building used for meetings, lectures, or public performances 2 the part of a theater where the audience sits

au-di-to-ry /'odi.tori/ adj technical relating to hearing 'audit ,trail noun [c] information that is recorded, for example on paper or in a computer, and that proves that events happened in a particular way au fait /,oo 'fei/ adj informed of the most recent facts or information about something: be au fait with sth I'm not really aufait with the latest computer technology.

Aug.

abbrev August tool

used for making holes in

aught /at/ noun [C] Am E old-fashioned zero aught 2 /ot/ pronoun an old word meaning "anything" aug-ment /og'ment/ verb [T] formal to increase the 1

—

aug-men-ta-tion size, amount, or value of something /pgmen'teiJn/noun[C/U] au-gur/ 'ogar/ verb [l/T]/orma/tobeasign of what may happen in the future: The look on her face did not augur well.

/bgjari/ noun literary 1 [C] a sign of what in the future 2 [U] the skill or practice of telling what may happen in the future

may happen

/o'gASt/ adj formal old, serious, and respected

***

Au-gust /'ogast/

the eighth month of noun [C/U] the year, between July and September: We'll be on vacThey ation in August. It's my birthday on August 6. were married last August.

auk /ok/ noun

a black-and-white sea bird with small wings that goes under water to catch fish [C]

Auld Lang Syne

/, old last]

'zam/ a Scottish song that

people sing at midnight on new year's eve, when the new year begins au na-tu-rel /oo .nxtJVrel/ adv 1 served without being cooked or with nothing added 2 humorous wearing no clothes: sunbathing au naturel the sister of your mother or aunt /sent/ noun [c] father, or the wife of your uncle / loved visiting my aunt

••*

—

:

picture -» family tree and uncle. Hello, Aunt Betty. aunt-ie or aunt-y /'snti/ noun [c] informal your aunt au pair /oo 'per/ noun [c] someone, especially a young woman, who lives with a family in a foreign country and helps with the children and housework in exchange for the opportunity to learn the language

au-ra /'ora/ noun [C] a quality that seems to surround or come from a person, place, or situation: + of an aura of innocence the aura of history that surrounds the place au-ral /'oral/ adj relating to your ears or hearing au-re-ole /'ori.ool/ noun [C] literary a circle of light around the head of a holy person in a picture au re-voir /oo ra'vwar/ interjection goodbye Aurora Aus-tra-lis, the /o.rora o'streilis/ the south-

ern LIGHTS

Au-ro-ra Bo-re-al-is, the /o.rora ern LIGHTS

i

aus-pi-cious

/o'spijas/ adj formal showing signs that suggest that something is likely to be successful This is not an auspicious time to be opening a new Jnctory aus-pi-cious-ly adv

Aus-sie

1

noun

/'ozi/

[C]

informal someone from Aus-

ad]

informal relating to Australia or

bori'iclis/

the north-

its

culture

austere

/o'stir/ adj 1

oration: The church

is

plain in style and without declarge and austere. 2 strict and

serious in manner: An austere, silent woman showed him the small apartment. 3 an austere way of living is simple and not very comfortable: He was a man of austere habits. 4 severely reducing the amount of money that is spent, in a way that is likely to produce unpleasant effects: austere measures austere economic policies aus-tere-ly adv

around

aus-ter-i-ty /o'sterati/ noun [u] 1 an economic policy by which a government reduces the amount of money it spends by a large amount: austerity measures/ policies/ programs 2 a situation in which economic conditions are bad and people's living standards fall 3 the quality or fact of being plain, strict, simple, or severe: a life of prayer, austerity,

Aus-tral-a-sia

/

and poverty .ostra'le^a/ a region that includes Aus-

New

Zealand, Pacific islands

New

Guinea, and some South

Australia Day

/o'streilia ,dci/ noun [c/u] a public holiday in Australia that celebrates the day when British people first arrived to live there permanently. It takes place on the first Monday after 26 January every year.

Australian Rules foot-ball

/ostrcilian

rulz

a team sport similar to rugby au-teur /o't3r/ noun [C] very formal a movie director who has almost total control over their movies

fotbol/ noun

[u]

au-then-tic/o'Gentik/adj

augury au-gust

its/

people were killed during World War II aus-pi-ces / ospiso// noun under the auspices offormal with the help and support of a particular person or organization: Talks were held under the auspices oj ///.World Trade Organization.

tralia,

au-ger /'ogar/ noun [C] a wood or in the ground

aoJ\

Aus-sie /ozi/

someone whose job

[C]

the largest Nazi camp (=a type of prison) where more than 1.5 million /

2

cial or tax

au-di-to-ri-um /pdi'toriam/ noun

Ausch-witz

tralia

is to officially examine the finanrecords of a company, organization, or person to see that they are accurate someone who goes regularly to class for a 2 college course without asking for or receiving credit for taking the course

1

authoritarian

77

the year. 1a. to

•

1 real, not false or copied: genuine: The letter is certainly authentic. 1a. used for describing things that are copied but are very similar to the original ones 2 accurate or based in fact: an authentic insight into

working-class boyhood traditional or original, or very similar to this: authenThey're replacing the windows with more tic Italian food au-then-ti-cal-ly /o'Gentikli/ adv, authentic ones. au-then-tic-i-ty/,o6en'tisati/noun [u]

3

—

au-then-ti-cate /o'Genti.keit/ verb [t] to prove or show that something is real and not false or copied: A team of experts has authenticated the document. ti-ca-tion /oGenti'keiJn/ noun [u]

author

1

— au-then-

•••

/'o9ar/ noun [c] 1 someone who writes books, articles, etc., especially as their job: Nobel Prize winning author, Alexander Solzhenitsyn 1a. the person who writes a particular document or other piece of writing: the author of the committee report

the person who is responsible for something: the author of his own misfortune. au-thor /'oGar/ verb [T] to be the writer of a book, document, etc.: The book is authored by six leading his-

2 formal

Wray was 2

torians.

/'oGares/ noun (C) old-fashioned a woman writes books, articles, etc., especially as her job au-thor-i-al /o'Gorial/ adj formal relating to the author of a book, play, etc. au-thor-ing /'oGarirj/ noun [u] the process of creating documents and programs on a computer using special software: a web authoring tool

au-thor-ess

who

au-tho-ri-sa-tion

/oOon'/eiJ'n/ a

BrE

spelling

of

authorization /'oOa,raiz/a BrE spelling of authorize au-thor-i-tar-i-an/o Oon'tcrian/adj controlling everything and forcing people to obey strict rules and laws: an authoritarian government I regime

au-tho-rise

authoritarianism

autonomous

78

au-thor-i-tar-i-an-ism /D,6on'teri3,niz3m/ noun [u] the belief that people with power should control what other people can do, or a situation in which this happens au-thor-i-ta-tive /D'8Dn,teitiv/ adj 1 based on the best, most complete, and most reliable information: an authoritative report on drug use among teenagers 2 showing that you are used to being obeyed or expect to be obeyed au-thor-i-ta-tive-ly adv au-thor-i-ty /o'Gorsti/ noun •••

—

1 power to make decisions 2 people with power 3 organization/institution

4 expert in subject 5 official permission

au-to-crat-ic /pta'kraHik/

ruling with complete power: His autocratic government has reduced the nation to poverty and desperation, a. telling people what to do without caring what they think: an autocratic boss/ management style au-to'crat-i'caMy/pta'knetikli/adv

—

au-to-cross / otoo.kras/ noun

1 (U] the power to make decisions or tell people what to do: In practice it is difficult for the President to exercise his authority. have the authority to do sth They don't have the authority to close the canal. + over Parents have legal authority over their children. 1a. the power to influence

other people because they respect your opinions or knowledge: with authority It is a subject on which she can write with authority. 1b. the power to make other people obey you because of a quality in the way you speak or behave: There was a tone of authority in her voice. 2 the authorities [plural] the police or people in other official organizations with legal power to make people obey laws or rules: The girl told the authorities that The French she had been kidnapped from her home. authorities have refused to issue him a visa. 3 [C] an organization or institution that controls something, often a public service: the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey The rules are set by the city transit

auto-graph

someone who

have it on good authority (that) used for saying that your information comes from someone you trust authority figure noun [c] someone who is or seems strong and powerful authorization /pGsn'zeifn/ noun [c/u] official permission to do something: The action was taken without the authorization of the leadership, a.

[C]

must be authorized by your supervisor. authorize sb to do sth This officer was authorized to carry a gun. [u] the fact of being the person who has written a particular book, document,

au-thor-ship /'oGarJip/ noun

— au«tis«tic/D'tistik/adj

1

in

an auto

accident.

2

to cars:

He was

Am E old-fashioned a car

au-to-mat-ed /

otaxneitad/adj using machines or done by machines, instead of people: a fully automated assembly line

auto-bio-graph-i-cal /ptoubais'grsfikl/

teller

ma, chine

au-to-mat-ic /pta'maetik/adj •• 1 an automatic machine or process works by 1

—

1

2 happening

as a result of specific conditions, rules, or laws, without a special decision being made: Taxpayers who do not send in their forms face an automatic penalty. 3 done without conscious thought or intention, especially because of habit: an automatic response

au-to-mat-ic 2 /pta'maetik/ noun

[c] 1 a car in which the gears change by themselves without any action by the driver 2 an automatic weapon

au-to-mat-i-cal-ly /pts'mstikli/ adv

•*

without conscious thought or intention, especially because of habit: I just automatically said "Yes. 1

2

as the result of specific conditions, rules, or laws,

without a special decision being made: You are automatically entitled to three weeks' vacation a year. 3 by a machine, without people doing anything: The computer automatically numbers the lines. automatic pilot noun [c/u] a system that controls the direction of an airplane, ship, or spacecraft

on automatic pilot doing things without thinking about what you are doing, especially because you have done the same thing many times before

automatic transmission

noun [c/u] a system in

which the gears of a car change by themselves without any action by the driver

au-to-ma-tion / pta'meijn/ noun [u] a system that uses machines to do work instead of people, or the process of changing to such a system: Automation will result in the loss of 450,000 jobs.

au-tom-a-ton /o'tamatsn/ noun [c] 1 a machine that can move and do things without being controlled by someone 2 someone who behaves like a machine and a

shows no feelings -to-mo-bi le / 'otama.bil / adj 1

* relating to cars: auto-

mobile plants /imports /production 2

au-to-bi-og-ra-phy /ptoobai'agrsfi/ noun [c] a book about your life that you write yourself au-toc-ra-cy /D'takrasi/ noun 1 [u] a form of government or management in which one person has complete power 2 (C] a country or organization that is

au-to-mo-bile /'otamoo.bil/ noun

completely controlled by one person au-to-crat /'ots.kraet/ noun [C] someone who has complete power in a country or organization a. someone who tells other people what to do without caring what

au-ton-o-mous

they think

itself

rather than being operated by people: an automatic garage door 1a. an automatic weapon continues to shoot bullets until you take your finger off the trigger: an automatic machine gun compare semiautomatic —compare manual

adj relat-

ing to someone's life or autobiography: Her first novel was largely autobiographical.

teller machine or automatic noun [C] formal an atm

automated

relating to yourself: used with

autobiography adjectives: his alone without any person being involved: used with some nouns, verbs, and adjectives: an autoloading gun

2 working

mainly

/'ota.meit/ verb [t] to change a factory, or process so that machines do the work instead of people

killed

auto parts

au-to /'Dtoo/ noun [C] auto- /Dtou/ prefix 1 some nouns and

AmE

office,

etc.

communicate with other people au-to /'otou/ adj *** relating

someone famous

auto-mate

au-tism

/'D.tizsm/ noun [u] a serious mental condition that makes it difficult for someone to react to and

if

toid arthritis

a docu-

ment that gives you permission to do something au-thor-ize /'oGa.raiz/ verb [T] • to give official permission for something to happen: All overtime payments

[T]

au-to-mak-er /'otoo.meikar/ noun [c) journalism a company that produces cars

is

1

/bta.graef/ verb

autographs a book, photograph, etc., they sign their name on it: He was autographing copies of his latest novel. auto-immune /ptooi'mjun/ adj relating to conditions and diseases in which the body's immune system (=parts of the body that fight disease) attacks normal cells: research into autoimmune diseases such as rheuma-

considered an expert in a particular subject: + on Charles was an authority on antique musical instruments. 4a. a book or information that people respect because it contains a great deal of knowledge about a particular subject: + on The book is widely acknowledged to be the authority on regional expressions. 5 [u] formal official permission to do something: He believed he had authority to ride the bike. [C]

a sport in which cars

1

/'Dta.graf/ noun [c] a famous person's name that they sign for someone else to keep: My mother got Frank Sinatra's autograph in the 1970s.

authority.

4

[u]

race over rough ground

au-to-graph 2

+ PHRASES

adj

[C] old-fashioned

a

car adj relating to cars and autoother motor vehicles: the automotive industry motive parts

au-to-mo-tive /pts'moutrv/

/o'tanamas/ adj 1 an autonomous organization is independent and has the govern itself: independent 2 an autonomous person is independent and able to make their own au'ton'o«mous«ly adv decisions: independent state, region, or

power

to

—

autonomy au-ton-o-my

aviation

79

/o'tanami/ noun

•

the region.

av-a-tar / aeva.tor/ noun [c) 1 computing a picture on a computer screen that represents a particular computer user, especially one of several users who are having a conversation with each other on the Internet 2 formal someone who is a perfect example of a particular

2 the power to make your own decisions: independence: New regulations have severely restricted the autonomy of

Ave.

[u]

a situation in which a state, region, or organization independent and has the power to govern itself: independence: Rebel leaders are demanding autonomy for 1

is

doctors.

au-to-pi-lot /'otoo.paitat/ noun [c] an automatic pilot au-top-sy /'o.tapsi/ noun [c] a medical examination of a dead person's body to find out why they died 'auto racing noun [u] a sports event in which fast cars race on a special track. BrE motor racing autumn /'otsm/ noun [C/u] mainly BrE formal • the season of the year that comes between summer and

Am

winter. E usually fall: a cold autumn afternoon haven't heard from him since last autumn.

au-tum-nal /o'tAmnal/ to autumn

adj

We

formal typical of or relating

aux-il-ia-ry /og'ziljari/ adj 1 auxiliary equipment or systems are available for use if the main one fails: an auxiliary power unit 2 auxiliary workers help more senior or permanent workers: auxiliary nurses /troops/ pilots

auxiliary 2

/og'ziljsri/ noun [C] • 1 a worker who helps more senior or permanent workers 2 an AUXILIARY VERB auxiliary 'verb noun [c] a verb that is used with another verb to show its tense, form questions, form the passive, or change an aspect of its meaning. The main auxiliary verbs in English are "be," "have," and

"do." 1

'vi/

abbreviation audiovisual

noun to/of no avail formal without you wanted or intended: His words of encouragement were to no avail. 2 a-vail /a'veil/ verb [T] formal if you avail yourself of something, you use it: Only a few companies have availed themselves of the free training program. availability /sveib'bibti/ noun [u] •• 1 the state of being able to be obtained or used: +of Whether I take the job depends on the availability of

a-vail

/a'veil/

getting the effect

daycare. 2 the state of not being too busy to do something: have to check my availability before I commit myself.

available

I'll

***

/a'veibbl/ adj able to be obtained, taken, or used: The dish is made with ingredients available in most superWe'll notify you markets. the best available equipment as soon as tickets become available. +to Not all the facts are made available to us. + for There is no money available readily/freely/easily/widely available for this project. The information is freely available on the Internet. 2 [never before noun] not too busy to do something: I'm available next Tuesday ifyou want to meet then. available to do sth My professor is always available to talk to her students. available for comment (=not busy and able to speak to reporters) No one at company headquarters was available for comment. 3 not married or involved in a romantic relationship and therefore able to start a new relationship: Your friend is cute. Is he available? av-a-lanche /'aeva.laentJV noun [c] 1 a large amount of snow and ice that suddenly falls down a mountain 1a. a large amount of a substance that falls somewhere: an avalanche of rock /stones /mud 2 [+of] a large quantity of similar things that happen within a short time: The companies are fighting an avalanche of lawsuits nation1

[often after noun]

wide.

a'vant-garde/.avan'gard/adj avant-garde music, art, etc. is very modern and may shock people because it is so different from what has gone before a-vant-garde, the /.avan'gard/ noun 1 the people

who produce

avant-garde music, art, etc., or their style and attitudes 2 the art that is produced by avant-garde

—

.aeva'n fas/ adj, a va-ri-cious-ly

/o'vend3/ verb [T] 1 formal to react to somewrong that has been done to you, your family, or your friends by punishing the person who did it: He vowed to avenge his father's death. avenge yourself on sb They began to avenge themselves on their neighbors for the years of suppression. 2 to win a sports event against a team that has recently defeated you - a-veng-er noun thing

[c]

avenue f'xvsnuf noun

/

.aeva'njasli/

adv

••

[c]

a wide straight road, especially one with trees on each side 1a. Avenue used in street names. The written abbreviation is Ave.: Park Avenue 2 one of the methods you can use to achieve something: We are left with no other avenue but to go to court. explore /pursue /try an avenue Believe me, we have explored every possible avenue to find funding. a«ver /a'v3r/ verb [T] very formal to say something in a very determined way because you believe strongly in it or you are certain it is true

av-er-age

•••

1

/'aev(a)rid3/ noun [C/U] the amount, level, standard, etc. that is typical of a group of people or things: Incomes here are nowhere above /below average Her near the national average. performance on the test was way below average. 2 [singular/ u] an amount that is calculated by adding 1

several numbers together and dividing the total by the original number of things you added together: mean: + of The people 20, 10, and 30 and find the average. in the study lost an average of six pounds each.

Add

for talking about what is usually true, although it may not be true in every individual situation: On average, women live between five and seven

on average used

years longer than men.

av«er«age 2 1

/'aev(3)nd3/ adj

*•*

around a usual or ordinary

level or standard: a

He's about average height. child of average intelligence 1a. neither good nor bad: Her work as an actress has never been better than average. 1b. like most others of the same type: The average child spends around ten hours

a week watching television. 2 not very good: mediocre: a decidedly average performance 3 [only before noun] calculated by adding a group of numbers together and dividing the total by the amount of numbers: winds with an average speed of 15 miles per aver*age«ly adv hour

—

av«er«age 3

/'aev(3)nd3/ verb • [T] to usually do, have, involve, etc. a particular level or amount: It's a small The cost of store, averaging around 500 customers a week. developing a new drug now averages around $500 million.

average out phrasal vb 1 [l] to have a particular number or amount as an average: +to/at Total giving averages out to over $1,000 a week. 2 [T] to calculate the average of a set of

numbers or amounts

a-verse

/a'\ 3rs/ ad| not averse to sth liking or enjoying something: I'm not averse to a glass of whiskey now and

then. -* RISK-AVERSE

a-ver-sion /a'v3r3n/ noun [C/U] formal a strong feeling that you dislike someone or something aversion .therapy noun [u] a treatment to change someone's behavior or get rid of a bad habit by giving them an unpleasant experience every time they behave in a particular way or do a particular thing a-vert /o'v3rt/ verb [t] to prevent something bad or harmful from happening: Violence may have been averted with a greater police presence.

avert your eyes/gaze/head etc. to turn your eyes or face away from something that you do not want to see

a-vhar-y

artists

av*a*rice /'aevans/ noun [u] formal a strong feeling that you want to have a lot of money and possessions and ava-ri-cious keep them for yourself: greed /

abbrev Avenue

avenge

1

1

AV/,ei

quality or a particular type of person

/eivi.eri/ noun [c]

an enclosed area where

birds are kept

aviation

/civi'eijri/

noun

airplanes a. the industry of before noun]

[u] the practice of flying

making airplanes

b. [only

connected with making or flying airplanes

aviator a-vi-a-tor

noun

[c]

old-fashioned an aircraft

pilot

a-vi-a-trix /'eivieitriks/ noun

[C) old-fashioned

a female

aircraft pilot

av-id / 'aevid/adj very enthusiastic about something you do regularly: an avid reader /fan — a«vid«i«ty /a'vidati/ noun [U], avid'ly adv a-vi-on-ics /,civi'aniks/ noun [u] electronic equipment used in airplanes, or the practice of designing such equipment av-o-ca-do 1 /,a,>v3'kadoo/ or .avocado 'pear noun [C/u] a fruit with green or black skin, a very large seed in the middle, and pale green flesh that does not taste sweet. It is usually eaten raw in salads, —picture -» cio

av-o-ca-do 2 /.a'vo'kadoo/ adj with a pale green color av-o-ca-tion /^evou'keijn/ noun [C] formal an activity that someone does for enjoyment in addition to their usual work a-void /avoid/ verb [T] •** 1 to try not to go near someone or something: We went Avoid that area after dark. brake hard to avoid hitting the deer. 1a. to make certain that you do not meet or communicate with someone: We crossed the road to avoid avoid doing sth / want to avoid speaking to him him. until I've got more details. 2 to try to prevent something from happening: Try to avoid confrontation. avoid doing sth They could not avoid early to avoid the crowds.

avoid doing sth

He had

to

drawn

into the argument. 3 to choose not to do something in order to achieve a better result: When taking this medication it is advisable to avoid alcohol. avoid doing sth Where possible, we have

being

avoided using technical terms. 3a. to choose not to do something because it is unpleasant or not convenient: He hates cutting the grass and will avoid it whenever he can. avoid doing sth She's just avoiding having to go back to work.

avoid sb/sth like the plague to be determined to keep away from someone or something completely: I avoid chocolate like the plague because it makes my face break out. After they broke up he avoided her like the plague. a'void-a'ble/a'voidsbl/adj capable of being prevented: The tragedy is that the conflict was largely avoidable. avoidable costs /mistakes /errors

avoidance /a'voidons/ noun

[u] the practice or policy of avoiding someone or something: the avoidance of open confrontation

avow

/a'vau/ verb

[T]

formal to publicly claim or

promise something

a-vow-al /s'vaool/ noun [C/U]formal a public statement that true

you intend

to

do something or that something

a-vowed /s'vaod/ adj avowed aim/ intention

is

publicly claimed or promised: an

— a-vow-ed-ly /3'vauadli/adv

a-vun-cu-lar /s'vArjkjabr/ adj an avuncular man is kind and helpful to younger or less experienced people aw hi interjection AmE used for expressing sympathy or disappointment

AW ACS

/'ei.waeks/ noun [U] Airborne Warning And Control System: an electronic system in military airplanes that tells pilots when other airplanes are attacking them

/a'weit/ verb [J] formal * 1 to wait for something that you expect to happen: They were awaiting the birth of their first child. 1a. to wait for something that is the next stage in a process: The legislation is still awaiting congressional approval. 2 if something awaits you, it will happen to you: Well I wonder what surprises await us today. a-wake /a'weik/ adj [never before noun] * not sleeping: I've been awake for hours. lie awake Do you lie awake at night, worrying about things? stay awake (^remain awake) / managed to stay awake long enough to watch the video. keep sb awake (=prevent someone from sleeping)

a-wait

1

We've been kept awake all night by the noise.

awake

to sth formal knowing about a situation and ready to deal with it wide awake 1 completely awake: I was already wide awake before the alarm went off. 2 able to think clearly and react quickly: / want to be wide awake for the board

meeting at

awareness

80 /'eivi.eitor/

ten.

a-wake 2

/o'wcik/ (past tense awoke /a'wook/; past participle a«wok«en/o'wookon/) verb -k 1 [i/T] mainly literary to wake up, or wake someone up: They awoke to find that several inches of snow had fallen. 2 [t] to make you remember something or begin to experience a particular feeling: Going back to the house awoke memories that he wanted to forget.

a-wak-en

verb formal 1 [T] to make feeling or emotion: An object from the past can be used to engage the students' interest and awaken curiosity. 2 [i/T] to wake up or wake someone up 3 [i/T] to begin to notice something or make someone begin to notice something, especially danger:

/o'weikon/

someone experience a

ALERT

a-wak-en-ing /o'weiksnin/ noun you

first realize

[c] the moment when or experience something: a sexual awak-

ening

a rude awakening a shock that comes from learning what you had believed or expected is not true: They expected a friendly reception but were in for a rude awakening. a-ward 1 /sword/ noun [c] 1 a prize or other reward that is given to someone who has achieved something: She won the Player of the Year award. +for an award for outstanding services to the that

•••

industry

2 an amount

of money or a judgment given by a court award for damages /compensation 2a. mainly an amount of money that the government or another organization gives to someone so that they are able to do something: grant of law: an

BrE

a-ward 2

/s'word/ verb

[T]

••*

1 to give someone a prize or other reward because they have achieved something: The prize is awarded annually.

Students

who complete

the training successfully will be

awarded a diploma. to officially give someone an amount of money so that they are able to do something: After graduation he was awarded a scholarship to do research. 2a. to officially give someone a contract 2b. to make a legal decision to give someone an amount of money, for

2

example because they have been injured: Damages awarded for the loss offuture earnings can be substantial. 3 to make a legal decision to give someone the right to do something, for example to care for a child: award sb sth An appeals court judge awarded her custody of the children.

a ward- winning adj [only before noun] an awardwinning product, business, or person has won a prize or prizes: an award-winning restaurant/ movie/ newspaper

a-ware

/a'wer/

adj

•••

1 [never before noun] knowing about a situation or a fact: As far as I'm aware, he didn't say anything of the kind.

+ of They're aware of the dangers. +that / was not aware make sb aware of that she had already spoken to you. sth (=tell someone about something) If you have any problems, you should make management aware of them. well /fully /acutely (=very) aware / was well aware of this fact. 1a. enthusiastic about and involved in something: a lively magazine for aware and dynamic young people environmentally /politically /socially etc. aware The organization aims to create a new generation of environmentally aware consumers and producers. 2 if you become aware of someone or something, you notice it: / became aware of someone following me. +that He suddenly became aware that the music had stopped.

not that I'm aware of spoken used for saying that you are almost but not completely certain of something: "Has anyone in your family had heart problems?" "Not that I'm

aware of

"

a-ware-ness /o'wernss/ noun

[singular/u]

**

knowledge or understanding of a subject, issue, or was a general lack of awareness about raise /increase awaracism awareness safety issues. reness (of) The campaign aims to raise awareness of the dangers of passive smoking. increased/heightened awa1

situation: There

reness Increased environmental awareness has led to a greater demand for recycled paper. 1a. [only before noun] relating to increasing people's awareness: an awareness campa ign /program / course 2 the ability to notice things: She lost all awareness of time and place.

awash 1

thoroughly covered with a liquid:

+ with The roads were awash with mud and rainwater. 2 [+with] containing a lot or too much of something: The town is awash with tourists this time of year. a-way 1 /a'wei/ adv 1 in a different direction 1a. moving so that you go farther from a person, place, or thing: When Sykes saw the police, he ran away. +from People had been driven away from their homes by the invading army. 1b. used for talking about the direction of a road, path, etc.:+from A path led away from the back of the house. 1c. turning or looking toward a different direction: Bruce was staring at her. She looked away, feeling suddenly shy and embar+from He turned away from the window and rassed. walked over to the table. 2 not in your usual place not at home, or not at the place where you work or study: My brother looks after the farm while I'm away. + from I'm writing to ask Amy's parents why she's been away from school. away on vacation/business Graham's away on vacation this week. go away (=leave your home for more than a day) / haven 't seen our neighbors around - they must have gone away somewhere. 3 not near sth 3a. not near something or someone, especially because of danger: keep/stay away Police have warned people to stay away from the area. +from Keep away from the stove - it's very hot. 3b. far from people, places, or things, especially so that you feel separated from them: +from It's nice to have a weekend away from the city. She's been away from her family for too long. 4 used for showing distance or time 4a. used for saying how far it is to a place: 5 miles/ 100 yards etc. away The nearest hospital is about eight miles away. + from Robert's brother was standing only a few feet away from me. 4b. used for saying how much time will pass before a date or event in the future: 2 weeks/3 months etc. away Final exams are less than three weeks away. 5 gradually disappearing used for saying that something gradually disappears: The sound of their voices faded away into the distance. Martha's anger suddenly melted away.

*•*

6 used

showing continuous activity [usually progressive] used for showing that someone does something continuously or for a long time: Molly was at her desk working away as usual. The children were all chattering away happily. 7 in order to remove sth used for showing that something is removed: The company should really pay to have all this garbage taken away. She wiped away her tears and tried to smile. 8 changing from sth used for showing that there is a change in people's opinions or ways of doing things: a move/shift away from There has been a shift away from for

manufacturing industries toward high technology. move/shift away from We're moving away from the idea that what's modern is necessarily good. 9 in a safe or usual place in a safe place, or in the place where something is usually kept: store /hide sth away He's got lot of gold coins hidden away somewhere. put /clear sth away Put your toys away before you go to the old

bed.

10 used

a for showing where a game is sports team plays away, they go to their opponents' ground to play a game. If they play in their own ground, they play at home. -> FAR

played

if

2a

a«way 2 /o'wei/ adj in

awry

81

a-wash /o'waj'/ ad]

[only before noun] an away game is one which a team goes to their opponents' place to play. is one in which a team plays in its own

sibility I power

2

informal extremely good. This word

is used mainly by young awe-some-ness noun [u]

awe-struck

••

1

used for emphasizing how unpleas/ ofl / ad) ant someone or something is: terrible: The smell was absolutely awful. This wine tastes awful. He had tinawful feeling that everyone was laughing at him. There were these awful people sitting behind us who talked all through the movie, a. very bad at doing something: I'm awful at remembering names. He's an awful actor b. very cruel or unkind: That's an awful thing to say. They committed the most awful atrocities, c. very serious or severe: / was worried that something awful had happened to him. d. complete: used for emphasizing a particular quality: / made an awful fool of myself last night, didn't I?* It's an awful shame to waste all this good food.

an awful

lot spoken a very large amount: There were an lot of people just standing around. feel awful 1 to feel guilty or sad: I feel awful about not inviting her. 2 to feel sick or unhappy: She said she had a sore throat and was feeling awful. look awful 1 to look sick, sad, or worried: What's wrong? You look awful. 2 to look ugly or not attractive: I don't like these curtains. They look awful. aw-ful-ness

awful

—

noun

[u]

aw-f ul

2

/ 'ofl/ adv spoken used for emphasizing what you are saying: Three weeks is an awful long time to wait. She's awful cute.

aw-ful-ly /'of(3)li/ adv spoken * used for emphasizing what you are saying: It's awfully good of you to come by and see us.

a-while

/o'wail; o'hwail/ adv literary for a short time

awkward / bkword/ adj ** 1

with and embarrassing: After he spoke

difficult to deal

there was an awkward silence. Luckily nobody asked any awkward questions about what he was doing there. It a 's

awkward, because he's my friend but I'm still his something that is awkward is difficult to deal with or use because of its shape or position: The crates were much too heavy and awkward for one person to carry. little

boss. 1a.

1b.

BrE someone who

is

awkward

is difficult to

deal

with or please, and causes problems, often deliberately 2 not comfortable, relaxed, or confident: He stood there looking

stiff and

awkward in his uniform. feel awkward awkward about asking to borrow

about (doing) sth She felt

more money.

3

slightly

wrong and not

arranged

all

the

attractive or graceful: She had at awkward angles. furniture

— awk-ward-ness noun [U] awk-ward-ly

/'okwardli/ adv 1 in a way that shows you are not comfortable, relaxed, or confident: They She responded awksmiled awkwardly at the camera.

wardly that

is

to the allegations. 2 with difficulty or in a way not graceful: He scrambled awkwardly to his feet.

awkwardly to fall or land in a way that is uncomfortable or hurts you: He moved to get out of the way and fell awkwardly. awl hi I noun [C] a tool used for making small holes in wood and leather, consisting of a wooden handle and a thin sharp metal point awn-ing /'onin/ noun [C] a sheet of cloth hung above a window or door as protection against the rain or sun, fall/land

especially outside a store

awoke

the

past

tense

of

awake-

place.

awe hi

noun [u] * a feeling of great respect and admiration, often combined with fear: The place has always inspired me with awe and wonder. in awe They gazed in awe at their hero. be/stand in awe of sb He is 1

awe of his father. awe hi verb be awed by sth to feel great respect, admiration, and sometimes fear for something: We were awed by the pictures of Earth that the astronauts sent back from space, —awed /ad/ adj: We sat in awed silence. awe-in spiring adj making you feel great respect and admiration, and sometimes fear: an awe-inspiring sight awe-some /'ossm/ adj 1 very impressive and sometimes a little frightening: an awesome task/respon-

adv,

the building.

a w-f ul

A home game

totally in 2

awe-some-ly

people.

\k/ adj feeling extremely impressed by something: She was awestruck by the magnificence of / 'd sti

awoken the past participle of

awake

AWOL 1

2

/'ei.wol/

adj

absent without leave:

if

someone such as a

L/\\ B^i^^B^^^ I

goes

AWOL.

soldier they leave

the place where they are

working

I±

==5=ya |

awning

not straight or neat: His

without permission 2 Br E informal lost or missing

a-wry

/o'rai/ ad] not in the correct position, especially hair was all awry.

damp

1

ax I

go awry planned

azure

82 to not

happen

in the

way

that

was hoped or

ax oraxe/aeks/noun[c] * a tool used for cutting down 1

and cutting up large pieces of wood, consisting of a long wooden handle and a heavy metal blade trees

the ax mainly journalism a situation in which a government, a company, or an organization decides to end something or to get rid of a worker or their job: Two schools face the ax. give sb/sth the ax Many workers were given the ax in the merger of the two companies. have an ax to grind informal to have an opinion that you are trying to persuade others to share or an idea that you are trying to persuade others to take action about: Unlike some government departments, these organizations have no political ax to grind. ax 2 /asks/ verb [T] mainly journalism to close a business, stop providing a service, or make people lose their jobs: The program will be back on television in the fall, five months after it was almost axed by the network.

ax'i'om / 'seksism/ noun

[c] a statement that is generally believed to be obvious or true: The advertisements seem to prove the axiom that sex sells.

ax-i-o-mat'ic

/.aeksia'maetik/ adj generally believed to

be obvious or true— ax«i'o«mat«i«cal«ly/,aeksi3'mastikli/ adv ax»is /'aeksis/ (plural ax«es /'aek,siz/) noun [C] 1 an imaginary line that passes through the middle of a planet or other round object and that the object seems to spin around: The Earth rotates barely perceptibly on its axis. 1a. an imaginary line that divides a square, circle, or other regular shape into two equal halves: an axis of symmetry 2 in mathematics one of the two fixed

showing measurements or finding the position of points on a graph: the vertical/ horizontal axis 3 an agreement between two or more countries or people that gives them power or influence: the Parislines used for

Berlin axis

Ax-is, the /'aeksis/ the group of countries including Germany, Italy, and Japan that fought against Britain, France, the United States, and other countries in World War II. The group is also known as the Axis powers or the Axis countries. ax-le /'aeksl/ noun [c] a metal bar that connects a pair of wheels on a car or other vehicle a»ya*toMah /.aia'tab/ noun [c] an important religious leader in Iran who often has political as well as religious influence

aye

1

/ai/ noun [C] formal a vote in support of something, or someone who votes this way: The ayes have it (=most people have voted yes).

aye 2

/ai/ interjection BrE a word used for saying "yes" by people in some parts of the U.K., especially Scotland Ayurvedic med-i-cine /ajo.veidik 'medism/ noun [U] a traditional system of medicine from India that gives people advice on food and the way they live

— A*yur«ved«ic adj

AZ abbrev Arizona azal-ea

/a'zeilia/ noun [C] a bush with pink, purple, or yellow flowers grown in yards

az-i-muth

/'aezimaO/ noun [c] technical the angle of the imaginary line between the position of an airplane, and the position of another object aZ'Ure /'x^r/ adj literary bright blue az«ure noun [u] ship, etc.

—

Bb B

b

/bi:/ (plural b's) or (plural B's) noun 1 [c] the second English alphabet. B is a consonant. 2 B [C/U] the seventh note of a musical scale in C major 2a. [u] the musical key based on the note B 3 B [C] a grade that is given in a school, college, or university for work that is a little better than average: I got a B on my History assignment. 4 B [u] a common blood type -» B AND S, B-LIST letter of the

B

abbrev be: used in e-mails and text messages a. used for replacing "be" in other words: B4 (=before)

b. abbrev born: used before the date of someone's birth in a book, article, etc.

B2B /,bi

ta 'bi/ adj business business-to-business:

a type

of business activity in which companies use the Internet to trade with each other: There has been a rapid rise in

B2B e-commerce

B2C / ,bi

in recent years.

ta 'si/ adj business business-to-consumer: a type

of business activity in which companies use the Internet and services directly to customers

to sell products

B-52 / ,bi

fifti

noun

'tu/

[C]

a large U.S. bomber (=military

airplane that drops bombs)

B

&B

noun [c] a bed and breakfast B.A. /,bi 'ei/ noun [C] Bachelor of Arts: a first degree in a subject such as languages or history from a college or university. A first degree in a scientific subject is a B.S. Jen has a B.A. in literature, a. used after someone's name for showing that they have earned a B.A. degree baa /ba/ verb [I] to make the sound that a sheep makes baa noun [C] bab*ble 1 / 'baebl/ verb 1 [i/T] to speak quickly in a way that other people cannot understand easily: He was babbling something about his mother. 1a. to talk for a long time about things that are not interesting or important 2 [l] to make the gentle pleasant sound of water as it moves along in a river: a babbling brook 3 [I] to make a sound like a baby who cannot talk yet bab-ble 2 /'baebl/ noun [singular] 1 the noise of a lot of / ,bi

an

'bi/

:

—

talking at the same time: a confused babble of voices 2 the gentle pleasant sound of water as it moves along in a river voices

all

babe /beib/ noun [C] 1 informal an attractive young woman or man. Many women find this offensive: What 2 spoken used

a babe!

for talking to a close friend or

someone you love: Let's go, babe. It's getting late. 2a. used by some men when they are talking to a young woman. Many women find this offensive. 3 literary a baby babe in 'arms noun [c] 1 someone who is young and does not have much experience 2 literary a very young baby ba*bel /'beibl; 'baebl/ noun [singular] formal the noise of a lot of voices all talking at the same time

From

the story in the Bible of the "tower of Babel." tried to build this tower to reach heaven,

2

informal a project or piece of work that you care about a lot, especially because it was your idea: Steve has always seen the book as his baby. 3 someone who is behaving in a way that is weak, silly, or not brave: Don't be such a big baby! 4 spoken used for talking to someone you love, especially to someone you are in a romantic relationship with or to your child: What's the matter, baby? 4a. sb's baby the person that someone loves or is having a romantic relationship with 4b. used by some men when they are talking to a young woman. Many women find this offensive.

5 informal the youngest member of a family or other group: At 18, Owen was the baby of the team. this/that baby spoken used for referring to an exciting or interesting vehicle or machine: Let's take this baby out for a drive. throw the baby out with the bathwater to get rid of the good and useful aspects of something without intending to, while you try to get rid of its negative aspects

Talking or writing about talking

unborn child or fetus medical a baby when it is developing in its mother's body: There is strong evidence that smoking can affect the unborn child.

newborn

who was born very recently who is too young to walk or talk

a baby

infant a baby

talking about being pregnant pregnancy the time when a woman has a baby developing in her body: It was an easy pregnancy. Maria felt sick throughout her pregnancy.

be having a baby or going to have a baby to be pregnant: She's having another baby in the fall. be expecting informal to be pregnant: Did you know that Sarah is expecting? prenatal used for describing medical care that is given women who are pregnant: J have a prenatal checkup tomorrow.

to

maternity relating to the period before and just after a baby is born: maternity clothes six months' maternity leave

when

a

baby

is

born

birth the process of being born

delivery the process of helping a woman with the birth of her baby: an easy delivery the delivery room

labor the period of giving birth, from the time a starts feeling pains until the time the baby

woman

contractions or labor pains the pains that a while giving birth

feels

God punished them by making

midwife someone who

it

impossible for them

magnet

noun

[c]

owns

it:

This car

is

a

something that person that babe magnet. 2 an attract-

humorous

attracts people, especially

women,

definite

1

to the

man ba-boon /bs'bun/ noun ive

[C] a type of large monkey from Africa or South Asia that lives on the ground

baby

1

/'beibi/ noun [C]

is

trained to help

woman

women

give

birth

understand each other's languages.

'babe

is

born

When people to

having a baby

about a baby

***

obstetrician a doctor whose job is to care for women they are pregnant and help them give birth

when

cesarean a medical operation to deliver a baby by making a cut in the woman's stomach miscarriage the birth of a baby before it has developed enough to stay alive premature used for describing a baby who is born before the usual time

young child/animal 2 project you care about 3 sb being weak or silly 1

1

a very young child

4 sb you love 5 youngest member + PHRASES

who cannot

yet talk or walk.

A

is old enough to walk is a toddler: May I hold give birth to/ baby? their new baby daughter be have a baby I'm hoping to have the baby at home. expecting/having a baby (=be pregnant) She's expecting a baby in November, —picture -» child la. [usually before noun] a very young animal: a baby elephant baby seals

baby who the

ba«by 2 /'bcibi/ verb [t] to treat someone like a young child when they are old enough to do things for themselves: Grandma still likes to baby us. ba«by 3 /'beibi/ adj [only before noun] baby vegetables are smaller than usual and have a sweeter taste: baby carrots

baby corn

baby- blue adj light blue in color— baby bluenoun[u] baby blues noun [plural] informal 1 a feeling of sadness that some women have for a short period after

°l

baby book

boom

1964.

'baby

boomer noun [C]

someone who was born during II. Baby boomers are

the baby boom after World War often simply called boomers.

to celebrate the fact that

first university degree. degree that you can study for after your bachelor's degree is called a master's degree.

A

bacillus

/bs'sibs/ (plural ba»ciMi /ba'si.lai/) noun [C] medical a type of bacteria with a long straight shape,

back 1

with / beibi ,feist/ ad] a baby-faced adult has a like a young child's

'baby and

,fat noun [u] extra fat that some children have that they often lose as they become teenagers

baby food

noun [u] special food for babies that has been cut into small pieces and cooked so that it is soft and smooth baby 'grand noun [c] a small grand piano Ba-bygro /'beibi.groo/ BrE trademark a sleeper (=piece of clothing) for a baby ba*by*ish /'beibiiJV adj 1 appropriate only for a baby or young child, not for an adult or older child: The students found the exercises a little babyish. 2 like a baby: her babyish looks

'baby ,milk noun

BrE

[u]

formula (=liquid food for

babies similar to milk)

baby

oil noun [C/u] a gentle type of onto your skin to make it softer

oil that

you put

[u] a type of plant with many small white flowers that is often used for decoration with other flowers baby shower noun [C] Am E a party for a woman who is going to have a baby at which her friends give her

.baby's 'breath noun

presents for the baby

baby

sit

/ 'beibi.sit/ (past

/'beibi.saet/) verb [i/t]

tense and past participle ba-bysat

•

1 to take care of children in their home while their parents are not there, especially in the evening: I'll ask my mother to babysit. 2 to stay with or take care of a person or thing that you do not want to be left alone: Would you babysit my ba-bysit-ting noun [u] plants while I'm on vacation?

—

babysitter /'beibi.sitsr/ noun

[c]

*

in the evening

AmE

someone whose job is to take care of other people's children while they are at work. BrE childminder: The job wouldn't even pay enough to cover the cost of a babysitter for my kids.

baby

.talk noun [u] sounds and words that babies make are learning to speak, or similar sounds and words that adults use when talking to babies 'baby .tooth noun [c] one of the first set of teeth that young children get

when they

baccalaureate

/.baeka'brist/ noun [c] 1 formal a bachelor's degree 2 an examination that you take when you are 18 years old in France and some other countries that allows you to study at a university -» international baccalaureate

bacchanalian

/.baeka'neilian/ adj formal a bac-

chanalian party involves noisy and uncontrolled enjoyment and usually a lot of alcohol or sex bach«e*lor /'baetjsbr/ noun [c] a man who has never been married. It is more usual to say that someone who is

not married

is

single.

who many women want and

attractive.

A

An

eligible bachelor

is

one

marry because he is rich confirmed bachelor is a man who to

does not intend ever to get married. noun [c] a small apartment, consisting of a main room for living in, a kitchen, and a bathroom, suitable for a person who is not married

bachelor apartment

which cause diseases:

/bask/

the

TB

bacillus

adv***

returning to place/state

5 toward beginning of 6 in/into the past 7 in a different place + PHRASES

sth

1 returning to a place or position: I'm never going back home. Put those CDs back where you found them. la. returning to an earlier state or condition: We're hoping things will be back to normal again soon. / couldn 't get back to sleep. 1b. returning to a previous point in a discussion: Can we go back to what we were talking about

earlier?

2

as a reply to someone: Jane phoned, and I said you'd her back later. "Do you have any idea where we are?" Dan shouted back. 2a. doing the same thing to someone as they have done to you: He punched me, so I punched him back. look/stare/smile etc. back Jeff was staring back at me in disbelief. 3 in the direction that is behind you: Don 't look back, but there's a man following us. He asked us to move back a few yards. 3a. in a position where your back is leaning backward: lean/sit/lie back She leaned back in her chair. I'm going to sit back and read the paper for a while. 4 away from someone or something, especially because they are dangerous: Get back - he has a gun! Everybody stand back while I light the fire. 4a. away from an original position or place: The band started playing as the curtain slowly went back. 4b. away from your face: Her hair was tied back in a pony tail. 5 toward the beginning of something such as a trip or a book: You should have gotten off three stops back. Go back a couple of pages. 6 used for talking about a period of time in the past: Back in the 70s, disco music was very popular. She had a minor operation a few years back. Things were different back then. 6a. to a period of time in the past: Think back; don't you remember anything? 6b. to an earlier time on a clock or watch: set/ put the clock back Don't opposite forget to set the clocks back an hour tonight. call

"No, "

—

forward

someone you pay to come to your house and take care of your children while you are not there, especially 1

2

of 1

2 as reply or reaction 3 away from the front 4 away from sb/sth

baby-faced round face

one of them will be getting

married soon. Br E stag night bachelor's de.gree noun [c] a

wheels and a handle to

to sit or lie in, that has four it

bachelor pad noun [c] informal an apartment where a man who is not married lives bachelor party noun [c] AmE a party for men only

some

baby buggy noun [C] 1 Am E old-fashioned a baby carriage 2 Br E a stroller baby .carriage noun [c] Am E a type of bed for a baby push

back

84

they have had a baby: postnatal depression 2 someone's blue eyes baby book noun [c] a special book for keeping pictures and information about someone when they are a baby noun [C] informal a big increase in the baby number of babies being born. There was a famous baby boom in the U.S. and Europe between about 1945 and

7

in a place that you have mentioned before, but that is different from the one you have just been talking about: Back at the hospital, the baby had just been born. 7a. used for talking about a place where you live or work or used to live or work when you are in a different Back place: / have no idea what's going on back home. in Missouri, the summers are much hotter than here.

back and forth moving

first in one direction and then in the opposite direction many times: We ran back and forth, carrying buckets of water. -» back-to-back, back to front

back 2

/baek/

adj [only before noun]

***

farthest from the front: There's a map on the back the back bedroom -» back door page. the back porch 2 used for describing money that is owed from an earlier date and has not been paid yet: back pay /taxes/ rent 1

back street/road/alley a street/road from any main streets

back 3 /baek/ 1 part of

noun

[c]

etc. that is

away

••*

your body

2 part farthest from front 3 outside behind a building

4 5

of page/picture etc. in

sports

+ PHRASES

1 the part of your body between your neck and your bottom, on the opposite side to your chest and stomach. The row of bones inside the back is called the backbone or spine: Will you scratch my back for me? He's broken (flat) on your back She was his back, but he's still alive.

I

back

Am

back 2a. the part of a chair that you lean on when you are sitting on it: What's that mark on the back of the sofa? 3 an outside area behind a house or other building: out back The kids are playing out back. 4 the side of a page, card, picture, etc. that is not the main side: on the back a concert program with Madonna's autograph on the back + of I'll put my name on the back of the envelope. 4a. the last part of a book, newspaper, etc.: + of A page had been torn out of the back of the book. in the back a dictionary with a list of irregular verbs in the back 5 a player on a football or soccer team whose job is to defend (=stop the other team from scoring goals) 5a. one of the positions on a team where a back plays, behind the front line of players

behind sb's back if you do something bad or unkind behind someone's back, you do it without them knowing: The kids were always making fun of him behind his back.

my

back spoken used for telling someone to stop get off criticizing you or telling you what to do get/put sb's back up BrE informal to annoy someone so that they make things difficult for you glad/happy /pleased to see the back of mainly BrE informal happy when you do not have to deal with someone or something anymore because they are annoying or unpleasant: can't wait to see the back of His wife couldn't wait to see the back of him.

have your back to the wall to be in a difficult situation with few choices, so that you have to work or fight very hard: Penn State had its back to the wall throughout the second half. in back of Am E behind someone or something: We caught them hiding in back of the house. in the back of your mind if something is in the back of your mind, you are thinking about it or it is affecting how you behave, perhaps without your realizing it: The thought that Paul might leave was always in the back of her mind. know sth like the back of your hand to be very familiar with something, especially a place or way of going

somewhere on sb's back informal always criticizing someone, or telling them to do things: You're always on my back about something. on the back of sth because of something, or helped by something: Share prices rose sharply on the back of a rise in profits.

put your back into sth Br E informal to do something, especially physical work, with a lot of effort when sb's back is turned when someone is not there, or is not paying attention 2 -» BEYOND TURN 1

,

support sb/sth

2 move backward 3 bet on sb/sth

4 play/sing music 5 have sth behind

[t]

to give

structure projects. phrasal vb [l] to stop asking for something, or stop saying that you will do something, because a lot of people oppose you: Neither side will back down because both believe they are right. + on We will not back down on the decision to strike. back off phrasal vb [I] 1 to move backward in order to get farther away from something: Everyone back off and let the doctor through. 2 to stop criticizing someone or telling them what to do: Back off will you? I'll tell you

back down

when I'm ready! back .onto phrasal vb

[T] [back onto sth] if a building, yard, etc. backs onto a place, that place is directly behind it: afield that backs onto the railroad tracks back out phrasal vb [l] to decide not to do something you agreed to do: I promised to help and I'm not backing out now. +of We're hoping that no one will back out of the

deal.

.back up phrasal vb

1 [T] [back sb up] to give support to telling other people that you agree with them: If I ask for more money will you back me up? 2 [t] to show that an explanation or belief is probably true: All the evidence backs up her story. 3 [l/T] to make a copy of information on your computer 4 [l/T] if traffic backs up, or is backed up, the vehicles are in a long line and waiting to continue moving: Cars were backed up for miles. Traffic is backing up on all routes out of town. 4a. if a toilet, sink, or drain backs up, or is backed up. water cannot flow through it because something is blocking it 4b. if a system backs up, or is backed up, it has slowed down or stopped working because there is too much of something for it to deal with: Orders are really backed up this month. 5 [i] to move backward a short distance: / need everyone to back up about 10 steps. 6 [l/T] to make a car go backward: See if you can back up a little farther. back sth up sth I'll back the car up the driveway. 7 [\]AmE used for telling someone to return to something that was said earlier: Back up: didn't you say they had already met? backache /'baek.eik/ noun [C/U] a pain or pains in your back: She often suffers from backaches.

someone by

back-alley illegally

adj

[only

before noun]

by people who are not very

done secretly or skillful:

a back-alley

abortion

backbench /baek 'bent

J; 'bsk,bentJ/noun[C]Br£one of the seats in the British Parliament where ordinary Members of Parliament sit. The leading members of each party sit on the front bench: a backbench Member

back-bit-ing /'b£ek,baitin/ noun [u] unpleasant comments and criticisms made about someone who is not it

+ PHRASES

support to a person, organization, or plan, making them more likely to succeed: Both main parties are backing these proposals. back sb on sth We'll back you all the way on this one! 1a. [usually passive] to make an order or request more effective by threatening to do something if people do not do what you want: Schools need to have clear rules on bullying, backed by a system of punishments. 2 [I/T] [+into/onto/out of etc] to move backward or make someone move backward: She backed out of the room carrying a tray. He backed me into a corner at the party. 2a. to make a car move backward: reverse: Could you just back onto the driveway? 3 [T] to bet (=risk money) that a particular person or animal will win a race or competition: I'm backing France to win the championship. 4 [T often passive] to play or sing the music that goes with the main singer or musician's performance: Manilow was backed by a full orchestra. 5 [T always passive] if a place is backed by something, it has something at the back of it or directly behind it: a large garden backed by trees 1

back the right/wrong horse to support someone or something that succeeds/fails back a way phrasal vb [i] 1 to move away backward from someone, for example because you are afraid: + from The photo showed a woman backing away from a man with a gun. 2 to gradually become less involved in something: + from The World Bank is backing away from big infra-

of Parliament

back 4 /back/ verb ••• 1

backcloth

85

lying flat on her back on the bed. —picture -> body 2 the part of something that is farthest from the front: + of Get in the back of the car. The sun burned the back E: a cotton dress with a bow in of my neck. * in back

there

back-board

/'baek.bDrd/ noun [C] in basketball, the picture -» cis board behind the basket (=net) back-bone / 'baek.boon/ noun * 1 [C] the row of small bones that goes down the middle of your back: spine —picture -> body 2 [U] the determination and strong personality that you need in order to do what is right or deal with a difficult situation: Martha will do whatever Walter tells her, she has no backbone. the backbone of sth the part of something that makes it successful or strong: mainstay: Ordinary volunteers form the backbone of most charitable organizations. back-break-ing /'b;ck breikin/ adj physically very hard and tiring: Cleaning all the floors was backbrcaking

—

work.

back burner

noun put sth on the back burner inforwith something until later back 'catalog noun [c] all the books, movies, or records a company or artist has produced in the past back-chat / ba.'k.ljict/ noun [U] Br E informal back talk back-cloth /'ba.'k.k b()/ noun [c] Br Ea backdrop

mal

to decide not to deal

^

b

backcomb baek.koom/ verb

[t]

mainly Br E to tease

your hair

back copy

back passage

86

back-comb /

noun

[c]

a back issue of a newspaper or

situation in which people do not notice you: Jo does the publicity work, while Ed stays pretty much in the

background.

AmE mainly journalism if someone speaks to a reporter on background, they provide information that can be published but do not allow their name to be used on background

magazine

back country

noun

AmE

[u)

a country area

where

many people / baek'deit/ verb [t] 1 to make a rule or law be effective from a date in the past 2 to write a date on a document or check that is earlier than the there are not

back-date

Words

start to

date

when

it

back door

was noun

really written [c]

*

frequently used with

adjectives

a door at the back or side of a

religious, social

by /through the back door using secret or dishonest methods to achieve something, and hoping that people do not realize what is happening: They managed to sneak the legislation in through the back door.

back-door / 'baek.dor/ adj or illegal: a backdoor plan

secret and usually dishonest lend money to candidates for

to

local office

/'baek.drap/ noun [c] * everything that you can see behind the main thing you are looking at: The lake and mountains provided a dazzling backdrop for the ceremony. 1a. a painted cloth

back-drop 1

back of the stage in a theater 2 the situation or place in which something happens: Her new novel has 19th-century China as its backdrop. at the

Negotiations were carried out against a backdrop of continued fighting.

-backed

/baekt/ suffix 1 used with some nouns to make adjectives meaning that a group or action is supported by an organization or country, usually a powerful one: the military-backed government a U.S.backed peace plan 2 used with some adjectives to make adjectives describing what type of back someone or something has: a high-backed chair 3 used with some nouns to make adjectives meaning that something has a particular substance or material on the back .foam-

backed carpet

/'baek.graundar/ noun [C] an informal meeting in which a government official gives reporters extra information about a political situation

background music

noun [u] 1 quiet music that plays in a public place 2 the music used in a movie to create a particular mood

background noise heard in addition

back-hand

1

/'bskhaend/ noun [C] in tennis and similar sports, a movement made to hit the ball in which the back of your hand moves toward the ball

— picture -» ci4 back-hand 2

/'baek.haend/ verb

similar sports, a backhanded shot is made by the back of your hand toward the ball

back-hoe

who

/'baek.hou/ noun

back f or mation

noun

[i]

1

if

[c] linguistics

a

new word

that

formed by removing a part of another word. In English, "burgle" is a back formation from "burglar." back-gam-mon /'baek .gasman/ noun [u] a game for two people played on a board using two dice and counters (=round pieces) in two different colors back-ground /'baek.graund/ noun ••• is

the type of career, training, or education that helps him a his job. +in We are looking for writers with a background in law. la. the type of culture, economic situation, or social status that someone comes from: students from very different backgrounds The mayor's background is solidly middle class. 2 [C/U] the general situation in which something happens: +of The talks have been taking place against a background of increasing violence. 2a. information about what has happened in the past that helps you to understand the present situation: Let me give you a little background about myself. +to We need to know the background to the case. background information/ knowledge /reading /material You'll need some background information on the local economy. 3 [C] the part of a picture or pattern that is behind the main people or things in it. The main person or thing is in the foreground: a red cross on a white background 1

a large machine used

/'baeknj/ noun [u] support, help, or active approval: endorsement: The the backing of several leading Democrats. material used for making the back of something:

2

mainly

BrE music

that

main singer's voice back issue noun [c] an

is

played or sung to add to

the

old copy of a magazine or

newspaper

a plan or idea backfires, it has the opposite effect of the one that you wanted: His plan backfired when Sue discovered the hidden presents. 2 if a car backfires, its engine makes a loud noise like an explosion /'baek.fair/ verb

[C]

moving

**

back-ing

3

play in the backfield

back-fire

using a

for digging holes

carpet backing

/'baek.fild/ noun [u] in football, the position the first line of players on a team a. the players

to hit a ball

/.bsk'hasndad/ adj 1 said in a way that seems to express admiration but really expresses the opposite: a backhanded compliment 2 in tennis and

a crucial meeting with our

back-field

[t]

backhand

backhanded

1

bill.

noun [C/u] noise that can be main thing you are listening

to the

to

new policy has

of the key backers of the financial backers

AmE

back-ground-er

back-er /'baeksr/ noun [c] someone who gives help or money to a plan or organization: Senator Taylor is one

behind

1

ethnic, middle-class, privileged,

building

hanging

background

blue-collar, cultural,

disadvantaged, educational,

[C]

someone has had: His musical background lot in

in the background 1 behind the main person or thing you are looking at: a picture of palm trees with mountains in the background 2 a sound in the background can be heard in addition to the main thing you are listening to: / could hear a TV in the background. 3 in a place or

back-lash

/'bcek.laeJV noun [c] a strong, negative, and often angry reaction to something that has happened,

especially a political or social change: They feared a backlash against the new laws.

back-less / 'baekbs/ adj

a backless dress does not cover a woman's back and shoulders

back-list

/'baek.hst/ noun [c] a fist of all the books that a company has published in the past that are still available /'baek.ht/ adj someone or something that backlit has light shining at them from behind

back-lit

is

back-log

/'baek.lag/ noun [singular] an amount of work or other things that you should already have done or dealt with: We're working weekends in order to clear a backlog of orders.

back 'number

noun

[c]

a back issue

business a department of a bank or other financial institution in which people check the work of other people who work for the institution, for example by checking that all business deals are legal and correct

.back office noun

[c]

back-pack

/'baek,paek/ noun [c] a large bag that you carry on your back, especially when you are going picture -» bag climbing or walking

—

back-pack-er

/'bsek.paeksr/ noun [C] someone, especially a young person without much money, who travels around an area on foot or public transportation, often carrying a backpack

back-pack-ing

/'bsk.paekin/ noun [u] the activity of traveling around an area without spending much money, often on foot and carrying a backpack

back passage

noun [C] BrE a person's rectum (=the part of your body where solid waste comes out), used for example by doctors to avoid embarrassing people

back pay [u]

back-ped-al-ing or back-ped-al«ling; past tense and past parback-ped-aled or back-ped-alled) verb [l] 1 to show

ticiple

that you are no longer certain about a previous opinion, intention, or promise: Congress is backpedaling on the proposed legislation. 2 to pedal backward on a bicycle

back-rest

/'baek.rest/ noun [c] the part of a piece of furniture that supports your back

back-room

/'back.rum/ adj [only before noun] used for describing work that is important but is done in a private or secret way, or the people who do this work:

backroom

political deals

the

backroom

staff

back-scratch-ing

/ back .skraet Jin/ noun [u] informal help that two people or organizations give to each other, often secretly or illegally, so that each of them gets

benefits

back seat

noun

[c]

a seat behind the driver of a car

take a back seat 1 to become less important: +to Other issues must take a back seat to this crisis. 2 to deliberately become less active, and give up trying to control things: I'll be happy to take a back seat when Robin takes over.

.back seat 'driver noun

[c]

someone who keeps

1

giving advice about things that they are not responsible for 2 someone in a car who keeps telling the driver what to do and how to drive

back-side

/'baek.said/ noun [c] informal the part of sit on: bottom

your body that you

back-slap-ping

/'baek.slaepm/ noun [u] praise or friendly support expressed in a very enthusiastic way

back-slash

/'baek.slaeJV noun [cj the symbol \ used for separating words or numbers, especially in the names of computer files. The similar symbol / is called a

forward

slash.

back-slid-ing/'baek.slaidin/noun [u] informal the lazy behavior of someone who goes back to doing something bad after not doing it for some time: I've quit smoking again, and there'll be no backsliding this time. back-slid-er noun [C] back-space 1 /'baek.speis/ noun [singular] the key that you press on a keyboard to move one space backward

—

in a

document

back-space 2 more

/'baek.speis/ verb [i] to move back one or spaces along a line of writing on a computer

screen or on a typewriter

back-spin

/'baek.spm/ noun [u] the movement of a ball it goes forward back-stab-bing /'baek.staebnj/ noun [u] unpleasant things that people say or do in order to harm someone's reputation: Harman claimed she was the victim of backstabbing by jealous colleagues. back-stage 1 /bsek'steid3/ adv 1 in the area behind the stage in a theater, including the rooms where the actors get dressed 2 informal in a position where you know about private or secret things back-stage 2 /,baek'steid3/ adj 1 relating to the area behind the stage in a theater, including the rooms where the actors get dressed: a backstage pass (=a special ticket that allows you to go backstage) 2 informal happening in private or in secret that spins

backward as

back-stairs

/.baek'sterz/

usually dishonest or

adj

informal

secret

illegal: backstairs deals

and

among pol-

iticians

back-street 1 town or

backwater

87

pay noun

money that is owed to someone who works for a company but that has not been paid yet back-ped-al /baek'pedl; 'bask.pedl/ (present participle

'back

/'baek.strit/

noun

[c]

a small street in a

city

back-street 2

/'baek.strit/ adj [only before noun]

BrE

done secretly or

very

skillful

illegally

by people who

back-stroke /'baek.strook/ noun swimming on your back

[singular/u]

mainly are not

a style of

back-swing

/'baek.swirj/ noun [c] the first part of the movement you make when hitting a ball in golf, starting with the club on the ground and moving it into the air

above your head —picture -» ch 'back .talk noun [u] AmE a rude way of answering someone who is telling you what to do

back tax

noun [c/u] tax that you owed at an earlier time but did not pay back-to- back adj, adv happening one after the other: Bill won two golf tournaments back-to-back. back-to-back

games

back to front adv BrE with and the back part on back

the front part at the back, at the front: backward: Your skirt is

to front.

back-to- nature ad] (only before noun] involving a simpler, more relaxed life in which you leave the city, grow your own food, and use less modern technology back-track /biek, track/ verb [i] 1 to go back in the direction from which you have come 2 to change your intentions, so that you become less willing or less likely to do something that you said you would do: +on The government spending. before

backtracking on

is

3

its

commitment to increase you were discussing

to return to a subject

•

back-up

/'baek.Ap/ noun 1 C computing a copy of information on your computer that you make in case you lose the information: Remember to do regular backups. a backup copy 2 [C/U] people or equipment that can be used when extra help is needed: I've got my mother as a backup in case the babysitter cancels. They realized that Sykes was armed, and radioed for backup. a backup generator crew 3 [U] music that is played or sung to add to the main singer's voice: Her sister goes on tour with her and sings backup. a backup vocalist [

]

AmE a

backup

.light noun [C] car that lights when the car

back-ward 1

1

/'backward/

[only before noun]

is

adj

on the back of a

light

moving backward

•

moving or looking

in the direction

behind you: a backward glance 2 not developing quickly, normally, and successfully: remote and backward region 2a. old-fashioned an offena sive word for someone who is unable to make normal that

is

It is more polite to say that someone has learning disabilities. a backward step or a step backward an action that does not bring progress, but makes the situation as bad as it was in the past: By cutting expenditure on health care, I feel we are taking a backward step to the bad old back-ward-ness noun [u] days.

progress in learning.

—

back-ward 2

/'backward/ adv

••

1 in the direction that is behind you: He was thrown backward by the force of the explosion. / glanced backward over my shoulder to see if anyone was following me. a car rolling backward down a hill 2 in the opposite way or order from usual: Count backward from ten to one. Let's work backward through all the steps in the process so we can see where we went wrong. 2a. with the back part in front: Your shirt is on

backward.

3 toward a time in the past It that we can understand how

's only by looking backward these rivalries developed. 3a. not progressing but changing back to a former worse state: With these new, weaker pollution controls, the Administration seems to be moving backward. :

backward and forward or backwards and forwards moving first in one direction and then in the opposite and doing this again and again: Charles began pace backward and forward, up and down the room. sth backward and forward to know something very well -» BEND backward-compatible ad) computing computer software that is backward-compatible can operate with previous pieces of software of the same type direction, to

know

1

— backward compati bility noun [U]

backward- looking

adj not interested in or ways of doing things: reactionary back-wards /'bickwordz/ adv * backwakd

back-wash

/'ba-kwaJV noun

[u]

1

the

new

ideas

movement

of

waves as they leave the land 2 things that happen as a result of something that happened earlier: fallout: They were caught

in the political

backwash of the

incident.

backwater

f"bcek wntor/ noun [singular] 1 a place, situation, or organization in which nothing exciting or

important happens, and in which people still have oldfashioned ideas: The city was seen as a provincial back-

^

backwoods but

n

is

badge

2 an area

water.

of water that

not affected by

its

connected to a river

is

current

back-woods /'bickwodz/ noun

an area that is a place that has not

[plural]

away from any towns, usually become modern

far yet

back-yard /'baekjard/ or back 'yard noun [c] * 1 Am E an area behind a house, usually with grass and plants.

Br E back garden:

vegetables

grown

in

your own

backyard

2 Br E an area behind

a house covered with a hard

brick or stone surface in your (own) backyard informal in a place close to you or in a situation that you are directly involved in: It's not the kind of thing you expect to happen in your own backyard. not in my backyard mainly journalism used for describing people's reaction to an official plan, when they support the idea but do not want it to happen in the area where they live. People with this attitude are

sometimes called nimbys. /'beikan/ noun [U]

*

ba-con

meat from a pig that treated with smoke or salt, and is often cooked rashers (=thin pieces): bacon and eggs bring home the bacon informal to earn money support your family -» save

is

in

in a bad way informal unhappy, sick, or in a serious condition: She was in a bad way after the accident. With high inflation and rising levels of debt, the economy is in a bad way. not bad informal fairly good, or better than you expected: "How do you feel this morning?" "Not bad, thanks. " Those pictures aren't bad for a beginner. not too bad We thought it would be awful, but it wasn't too bad. too bad spoken 1 used for saying that you are sorry or sympathetic about something: That's too bad about your sister losing her job. 2 used for showing that you are not sympathetic at all or you do not really care what someone else thinks: If you don't like the truth, that's just too bad. If they like it, fine. If not, too bad!

Words you can use Bad

instead of

appropriate

in

particular situations.

meal/film/TV show/ weather/behavior/ book/ party

awful, terrible, appalling, lousy (informal)

person

nasty, unpleasant, horrible, wicked, mean

illness / inj ury / problem

serious, severe,

performance /piece of work/teacher/singer

incompetent, poor, secondrate, useless (informal),

something causing or bad effects

harmful, damaging, unhealthy, dangerous

to

1

bac-te-ri-a /baek'tiria/ (singular bac*te*ri*um /bask'tirism/) noun [plural] *• very small living things that are made of a single cell. Some types of bacteria cause diseases.

— bac-te-ri-al adj

not

bac-te-ri-ol-o-gy /baek,tiri'abd3i/ noun entific

[u]

1

/baed/ (comparative worse /w3rs/;

[c]

/baed/ noun take the bad with the good to accept bad things happen and not complain about them bad Am E spoken used mainly by young people, for admitting that you have done something wrong to the bad if you are a particular amount of money to the bad, you have lost that amount: It was a disastrous deal that left the French company over $300 million to the that

7 no longer fresh/good

8 good + PHRASES

bad.

bad 3 /baed/ adv spoken badly. Many people consider this

not pleasant or enjoyable The weather was really bad rained all week. She was feeling stressed after a bad I'm afraid I have some bad news for you. For people living alone, Christmas is often the worst time of the year. 2 likely to cause major problems: serious: a bad accident /mistake lease of the flu Police used tear gas, but that just made the situation worse. It was the worst scandal of the Clinton presidency. go from bad to worse In the second half of the game, things went from bad to worse. 2a. likely to harm your health or your body: a bad diet +for Too much salt can be bad for your heart. 2b. likely to damage your success or people's opinion of you: The show got a really bad review in the Sunday paper. Worried about bad publicity, the drug companies agreed to reduce their prices. +for They are trying to develop tourism, but high crime rates are bad for business. 3 of very low quality: one of this year's worst movies :

use incorrect:

it

sb's got

day at work. a bad dream

is

bad management / workmanship

The show was so bad off after two episodes. 3a. not at all skillful: incompetent: a bad driver /teacher bad at (doing) sth I'm really bad at remembering people's names. 4 not appropriate or convenient: a bad decision You've been given bad advice. / can come back later if this is a it

bad time for you. 4a. not fair, acceptable, or reasonable: It's bad that you have to treat your customers wait so long for an appointment. 5 used about a part of your body that is causing you pain or not working well: a bad back /leg /stomach You shouldn't try these exercises if you have a bad heart. 6 behaving in a cruel, evil, or criminal way: He wasn't really a bad man, just morally weak. 6a. used about children who do not behave well or obey adults: naughty 7 no longer fresh or good to eat or drink: This milk smells bad. go bad It will go bad if you don't put it in the a bad way to

refrigerator.

8

(comparative badder; superlative baddest)

good. This

word

is

AmE

spoken

used mainly by young people.

feel bad (about) to feel guilty or unhappy about something: Tim felt bad about leaving without even saying

goodbye.

(informal)

bad 2

6 evil/behaving badly

not pleasant or enjoyable

they took

much good

my

2 causing problems/harm 3 of low quality or skill 4 not appropriate/fair 5 painful/injured 1

harm

major

a camel

superlative worst

•••

/W3rst/) adj 1

sci-

study of bacteria

Bac-tri-an cam-el /.baektrian 'kaeml/ noun from Asia with two humps on its back

bad

the

bad

a very general word. Here are some words with specific meanings that sound more natural and

is

more

very

It

hurts real bad

bad humorous used

it

much

when

I run.

for saying that

someone

in love

bad 'apple

noun [C] informal someone who does bad things and influences other people so they that do bad things too

bad-ass

1

/'baed.aes/

noun

someone who can deal with

[c]

AmE

difficult

very informal or dangerous situ-

ations without being afraid

bad-ass 2 / 'baed ,aes / adj Am E very informal 1 very good, fashionable, interesting, etc. 2 ready to behave in an unpleasant way when necessary

bad 'blood

noun [u] angry feelings that people still have toward each other because of something that happened in the past bad 'breath noun [u] breath that smells unpleasant bad 'debt noun [C] money that someone owes but will never pay baddy or bad-die /'baedi/ noun [C] BrE informal a BAD GUY

bade the past tense of bid 3 bad 'faith noun [u] the condition of not being sincere or 1

in bad faith This agreement bad faith. noun [u] BrE old-fashioned behavior that people do not like because it breaks a social rule badge /baed3/ noun [C] * 1 a special piece of metal, cloth, or plastic, often with words or symbols on it, that you wear or carry with you to show your rank or official position: a police badge Employees should wear their badges at all times in the building. 1a. a similar object that shows that you have achieved something: a scout badge 2 BrE a button that shows that you support a particular group or idea

honest about your intentions:

was made

in

bad 'form

a badge of sth something that represents a particular quality or type of person: He saw his battle scar as a badge of honor.

badger badg-er

1

baggage /'baed33i7 verb

[T]

to try to

make someone do

something by asking them many times: pester: They me to take them to the show. badg-er 2 /'baed3or/ noun [c] a wild animal that lives in a hole in the ground and has short legs and thick dark fur with a white area on its head —picture -» cia 'bad ,guy noun [c] AmE someone who does cruel or illegal things, especially in a book or movie bad 'hair ,day noun [c usually singular] informal 1 a day when your hair looks messy and you do not feel attractive 2 a difficult day when nothing seems to go well for you bad-i-nage /,baedn'a3/ noun [u] literary conversation with a lot of jokes and clever comments in it bad-lands /'baed.laendz/ noun [plural] areas of land where nothing grows and there are only rocks, especially in North America bad 'language noun [u] rude words: swearing keep badgering

2

offensive

an insulting word

for a

woman,

especially

one who is old a bag of bones informal a person or animal that

is

much

too thin

bags of sth BrE spoken

a lot of something: a young athlete

with bags of potential

bags under your eyes loose dark areas of skin below your eyes that you get, for example, when you have not had enough sleep be in the bag informal used for saying that you are certain to get or achieve something: It was a good interview and I thought the job was in the bag. not sb's bag informal not something that you enjoy or are interested in: Hiking in the mountains really isn't my bag.

bad-ly

/ 'baedli/ (comparative worse /W3rs/; superlative worst /W3rst/| adv 1 in a way that is not skillful, effective, or successful: She spoke French so badly I couldn't understand her. a badly organized meeting do badly (in/on/at) Why do you think you did so badly on your test? go badly If the war goes badly, he is unlikely to remain in power. 2 in a serious or severe way: Her eye was cut quite badly. One of the prisoners had been badly beaten by guards. badly damaged/hurt/injured/wounded Fortunately, none of the drivers was badly hurt. badly hit/affected London

*••

is one of the worst-affected areas. in an unkind, unfair, or unreasonable that she has been badly treated.

3

4

way: She feels

you need or want something badly, you need or want it very much: How successful you are depends on how badly you want to succeed. Anne was missing him badly. The roof was badly in need of repair. badly paid if someone is badly paid, they do not earn much money, or they earn less money than is fair for the work they do: a badly paid cleaning job think badly of to have a bad opinion of someone or something: Nobody will think badly of you if you fail. if

badly

'off (comparative .worse 'off; superlative .worst 'off) BrE 1 bad off 2 [+for] without enough of something you need: The kids were quite badly off for school clothes. adj

mainly

bad-min-ton

/'bacdmintan/ noun [U] a game in which two or four players use rackets to hit a shuttlecock (=a small light object with feathers on it) to each other across a net

bad-mouth

or

bad-mouth

/'baed.maoG/ verb

[t]

informal to criticize someone or something

.bad

news

noun [u] informal someone or something that tends to cause trouble: Stay clear of his girlfriend bad news.

she's

.bad 'off (comparative .worse 'off; superlative .worst 'off) adj AmE someone who is bad off does not have much money: In the end, they were worse off than when they started.

/.baed 'tempsrd/ adj • someone who bad-tempered easily becomes annoyed or angry used about people's behavior: He gave her a badtempered scowl, b. used about situations or events where people behave in a bad-tempered way: a badtempered debate/game baf-fle/'baefl/verb [T] if a problem, someone's behavior, etc. baffles you, you cannot understand it or solve it: a rare skin condition that has baffled doctors for years baf "fling adj Detectives remain baffled by these murders. bag 1 /baeg/ noun [c] *** 1 a container made of paper, plastic, or cloth, used for carrying or storing things: Put your dirty clothes in the plastic bag. He was weighed down by shopping bags. a golf bag 1a. the things in a bag, or the amount that it contains: +of I've already used about half a bag of flour.

bad-tern -pe red is

a.

—

1b. [often plural] a suitcase or similar container in which you carry clothes and other things you need when you are traveling: The customs officials may want to search your bags. an overnight bag 1c. a container that someone, especially a woman, uses for carrying small personal things: purse: Can I borrow your black bag for the party?

—picture

-» container

bag

/baeg/ verb

1

[t]

to put things into bags: I spent the

morning sorting and bagging old clothes. 2 T informal to get something before other people take it: / managed to bag a table by the window for us. 3 [T] informal to catch and kill an animal that you are hunting 4 [i] if clothes bag, they become stretched and look wide bag-a-telle /.baega'tel/ noun 1 [C usually singular] something that is not very important: That kind of money is a mere bagatelle to her. 2 [U] a game for one person in which a small ball rolls around a board with holes in it. You score points depending on which hole the ball [

]

falls into.

ba-gel /'beigl/ noun [C] a type of bread and round with a hole in the middle

bag-gage

/'bicgid^/ noun [u]

that

is

small

*

1 the suitcases, bags, etc. in which you cany your possessions when you travel: luggage 2 informal problems that someone's past experiences

*

b

baggage car might cause in new baggage ,car noun [c] AmE a part of a train that carries passengers' baggage baggage .claim noun [c usually singular] Am E the place in an airport where people pick up their bags after a

or buy something: inducement: take the bait (^accept what is offered) Interest-free credit is being offered and customers are taking the bait. 2a. someone who is used for attracting and catching someone else, especially a criminal fish

flight

baggage .handler

noun [c] someone whose job is to deal with passengers' baggage at an airport bag-gage re-claim /,baegid3 'rikleim/ noun (U] BrE the baggage claim area of an airport baggage room noun [C] AmE a place in a train station where you can leave your suitcases, bags, etc. temporarily.

Br E

left

luggage

bag-ger / 'basgar/ noun

[C]

Am E someone who works at

a supermarket helping customers to put the things they have bought into bags

Bag-gie

/'baegi/ trademark a clear plastic keeping food in so that it stays fresh

bag used for

bag-ging /'baeginV noun [u] informal an act of placing a small mask over someone's face and squeezing it to help them to breathe

bag«gy / 'baegi/ adj baggy body

balance

90 situations: emotional baggage

— opposite tight

bag lady

clothes are very loose

on your

woman who

has no home and walks around the streets carrying everything that she owns in bags bag-pipes /'baeg.paips/ noun [plural] a Scottish musical instrument consisting of a bag with several pipes sticking out of it. You play it by blowing air through one of noun

[c] impolite

a

the pipes.

baguette

/bae'get/ noun [C] 1 a long thin loaf of bread made in the French style, soft inside and hard outside 2 a diamond or other stone cut in a long narrow shape bah /ba/ interjection used for telling someone that you do not approve of something or do not believe it 1 bail /bed/ noun [U] • money that is given to a court when someone is allowed to stay out of prison until their trial. If they do not return for the trial, the court keeps the money: She posted bail of $10,000 (=paid this

amount

as bail) against seven charges of tax evasion. set (=decide on the amount of bail) There is a hearing today to set bail. be released/freed on bail She was freed on bail pending an appeal, a. the chance to stay out of prison until your trial: grant sb bail (=allow them to have bail) He was granted bail by the court. (out) on bail offenders who commit crimes while out on bail refuse sb bail The judge is expected to refuse the suspect bail. b. jump/skip bail informal to fail to return to court for bail

your trial 2 bail /bed/ verb

1

[T usually passive] to

allow someone to

stay out of prison while they wait for their trial, after money has been paid as bail: Three of the youths were spoken to bailed and another was detained. 2 [l] bail out of a project, situation, or relationship

AmE

out phrasal vb 1 [T] to help a person or organization is having problems, especially financial problems: The government has already bailed this particular project

bail

that

2 [T] to give money to a court when someone is allowed to stay out of prison while they wait for their trial: My father got a lawyer and bailed me out. 3 [i] spoken to leave a project, situation, or relationship, especially when it becomes difficult: +of Investors bailed out of high-tech stocks as prices plunged. 4 [I] Am E informal to escape from an airplane by parachute 5 [I/T] to empty water from a boat using a small container bai-ley /'belli/ noun [C] an area of land between the outer and inner walls of a castle bail-iff / beilif / noun [C] 1 Am E someone whose job is to guard prisoners in a court 2 Br E an official whose job is to take away the possessions of someone who has not paid money they owe bail-out /'beil.aot/ noun [c] money that someone gives or lends to a person or organization with financial out once before.

AmE

problems

bairn /bern/ noun [C] Scottish a baby or child bait 1 /belt/ noun [C/U] 1 food used for attracting and catching fish, birds, or animals 2 something that is offered in order to persuade someone to do something

who

or cut bait Am E spoken used for telling someone is talking about doing something to stop talking

and do

it

rise to the bait Br E to become angry deliberately trying to annoy you

when someone

is

2

bait /beit/ verb [t] 1 to put food on a hook or in a trap to attract and catch fish, birds, or other animals 2 to deliberately try to make someone angry baize /beiz/ noun [u] thick green cloth used mainly for covering tables on which games such as pool are played

bake /beik/ verb • 1 [i/T] to make bread, Grandma always baked on

cakes, etc. using an oven: Saturday. I'm baking a cake for Tom's birthday. 1a. [T] to cook food in an oven: Bake the fish for about ten minutes. a baked apple 1b. [l] food that is baking is being cooked in an oven: We could smell the bread baking. 2 [T] to use heat to make something hard: The sun had baked the red earth. 2a. [i] to become hard after being

heated

3 [I] informal to be very hot: open a window?

baked beans

/,beikt

It's

baking in here! Can I

'binz/ noun

[plural]

beans in a

brown sauce, traditionally made by cooking them slowly with onions, molasses, and bacon baked po-ta-to /.beikt ps'teitou/ noun [c] a potato that is baked and served with its skin on Ba-ke-lite /'beik(3),lait/ trademark a type of hard plastic that was used especially in the 1930s and 1940s for making things such as radios and telephones bake- off noun [C] a cooking competition where people sweet, spicy

bake a recipe they have created themselves

bak-er /'beiksr/ noun [C] * someone whose job is to make bread, cakes, etc. .baker's 'dozen noun [singular] old-fashioned 13 of something

bak-er-y

/'beik(3)ri/ noun [C] a building

cakes, etc. are

made

where bread,

or sold

AmE

bake-shop

a store or the /'beik.Jap/ noun [c] part of a supermarket where bread, cakes, etc. are sold

baking powder powder

/'beikin .paodar/ noun [u] a white used in cooking for making cakes rise while

they are baking

bak-ing sheet / 'beikin

Jit/ noun [c] a flat square piece of metal used for baking things such as cookies on: cookie sheet

bak-ing so-da

/'beikin .souds/ noun [u] a white in cooking for making cakes rise while they are baking, and also as a medicine for an upset stomach: bicarbonate of soda Bak-ke decision, the /'baki di.srjn/ a U.S. Supreme Court decision that makes it illegal for a university to refuse to accept a good student simply because it would prefer to accept a student from a race with fewer students in the school

powder used

bak-sheesh

/.bask'fiJV noun [u] very informal a bribe to someone to persuade them to do some-

(=money given

thing dishonest)

bal-a-cla-va /.baeb'klava/ noun [C] a warm hat that covers your head, neck, and usually all of your face except your eyes bal-a-lai-ka /.baeta'laika/ noun [c] a Russian musical instrument with three strings and a body shaped like a TRLANGLE 1

bal-ance /'baebns/ noun 1 ability to

stay upright

2 correct relationship 3 mental/emotional calm 4 money in bank

••• 5 amount remaining

6

majority of information

7 for weighing things

+ PHRASES

1 [U] the ability to remain steady in an upright posiAn ear infection is affecting his balance. 1a. a position in which your body remains steady and upright: lose your balance He lost his balance and tipped backward

tion:

balance to

keep her balance. [C/U] a situation in which different aspects or features are treated equally or exist in the correct relationship to each other: + between It can be hard to find the right balance between advising your children and controlling them. + of A healthy diet is about getting the correct balance of a variety of foods. strike a balance (^achieve a good balance) We want the classes to be both enjoyable and useful - we're trying to strike the right upset/ alter the balance These creatures have balance. upset the delicate ecological balance in the lake. 2a. [sinforce, influence, or idea that is completely difgular] a ferent from another but combines well with it: +to His conservatism is the perfect balance to her outgoing

2

personality.

3

[U] mental or emotional calm: She quickly recovered her balance after the outburst. [C] the amount of money you have in your bank account: The current balance in your checking account is $1,182. 4a. [singular] the amount of money that you owe after paying part of the cost of something: You pay a deposit now and the balance in 12 months. 5 [singular] the amount of something that remains after part has been used: +of You can use the balance of the time to finish the assignment. 6 [singular] the majority of information, opinions, or facts: The balance of public opinion was against the protilt/shift the balance The balance has shifted in posal. favor of the president. -» tip2 7 [C] a piece of equipment used for weighing things, consisting of a bar with a small dish at each end

4

be/hang in the balance if something is in the balance, you do not know whether it will succeed or fail: Jack's career

is

hanging

in the balance while they consider

what

not steady or upright, for example because more weight is on one side: That wheel is off balance, throw/knock sb/sth off balance He kept pulling my arm, throwing me off balance. 2 surprised, upset, or confused by something: throw /knock /catch sb off balance / was thrown completely off balance by Anna's 1

reply.

on balance

after considering all the relevant facts: balance, I think we made the right decision.

On

a balanced package of

tax reforms a balanced person has a sensible and reasonable attitude toward life: stable 3 with all parts combining well together or existing in the correct amounts: ,4 balanced diet contains lots offruit and green vegetables.

2

balance of payments

noun [singular] the difference between the amount of money a country pays to foreign countries and the amount it receives from them balance of power noun [singular] a situation in which each country in a group has equal military and political power so that no one country can control another .balance of 'trade noun [singular] the difference between the value of all the goods a country sells to foreign countries and all the goods it buys from them balance .sheet noun [C] a written statement showing the value of a company at a particular time bal-anc-ing act /'baetansnj ,aekt/ noun [c] the process of trying to achieve something that different groups will all be satisfied with

bal-co-ny /'bslkani/ noun [C] • 1 a place where you can stand

just outside an upper sticks out from the wall of a building. floor in a theater that sticks out over the floor compare circle, stall 2

window.

It

2 an upper

—

main

bald /bold/ adj* 1

with

little

or no hair on your head: a bald spot on the go bald (=lose your hair) / started going

top of his head

bald in

my

twenties.

2 a bald tire is no longer safe to use because its surface is worn smooth 3 a bald statement, fact, truth, etc. is something you say in a direct way, without trying to be sensitive or bald«ness noun [U] polite bald 'eagle noun [c] a large bird with a white head

2

bal-ance 2 /'baebns/

keep your body steady without falling over 1a. [T] to put something carefully

so

steady and does all sat with on our [i] to be steady knees. 1b. in a position where it is possible to fall: Jean went out, the tray balancing precariously in one hand. balance 2 [T] to create or preserve a good or correct balance between different features or aspects: We have to balance balance sth the needs and tastes of all our customers. with/against sth There is a need to balance the demands Development of the workplace with those of family life. has to be balanced against environmental concerns. 3 balance or balance out [T] to reduce the effect, strength, or amount of something, and as a result make it better: offset: The dark colors are balanced by the brightness of the walls. that

it

not

fall:

plates

is

We

balanced

balance the budget/books 1 to spend no more money than you receive 2 to do calculations to check or show that you have not spent more money than you have received

the national

/'boldar.dsej/ noun [u] old-fashioned non-

sense

bald-faced

adj [only before noun]

used for emphasizing

that someone who does something bad is not ashamed or does not try to do it secretly: blatant: a bald-faced lie

it

/'boldin/ adj beginning to lose your hair

/'boldli/ adv if you say something baldly, you in a direct way, without trying to be sensitive or

bale 1 /bed/ noun

[C] a large quantity of something such as paper, cotton fibers, or hay tied into a large tight package for storing or sending somewhere

bale 2 /bed/

verb

[t]

to tightly tie a large quantity of

something such as paper, cotton fibers, or hay in order send it somewhere .bale out phrasal vb [i] BrE 1 to bail out of an airplane 2 to bail out of a difficult situation bale-f ul / 'beilfal / adj mainly literary showing evil, hate, to store or

or the intention to

harm someone

1

balk /bok/

verb [i] 1 to be unwilling to do something something happen, because you believe that it is wrong or that it will cause problems: Voters would balk + at They really if either candidate made such a proposal. wanted the apartment, but they balked at the price. 1a. to stop suddenly and refuse to go forward: +at The horse

or

let

AmE

in baseball, the balked at crossing the bridge. 2 pitcher balks if he breaks the rules by suddenly stopping in the process of throwing the ball

balk 2 /bok/ noun ment

in

[C] AmE in baseball, an illegal movewhich the pitcher suddenly stops in the process

of throwing the ball to the batter

Bahkans, the

/'bnlknz/ a group of countries in S.E. Europe, including Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Turkey, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia balk-y /boki/ adj difficult or not helpful: unco-

AmE

operative 2

.balance 'out phrasal vb [l/T] same as balance 3: The tangy Don't fruit balances out the creaminess of the sauce. worry; it'll all balance out in the end.

balanced

is

polite

verb

to

somewhere

balder-dash

say

•• [l]

North America and

in

bird of the U.S.

bald-ly

achieve, alter, find, keep, maintain, preserve, strike, upset

1

and neck that lives

bald'ing

frequently used with balance

verbs

1

and equally: balanced reporting

—

to do.

off balance

Words

ball

91

keep your balance She grabbed at him

in the chair.

/'baetanst/ adj

considering

all

•

arguments, opinions, or aspects fairly

ball

1

/bol/noun***

1 [C] a round object used in games and sports: Try to a tennis/ golf ball kick the ball into the back of the net. 1a. a round or nearly round object or shape: Shape the

mixture into

balls.

a melon ball

+of a ball of yarn

ball

P

ballroom dancing

92

the part of your foot, hand, or thumb that is slightly round and sticks out: He balanced on the balls of his feet. picture -» foot 2 [ul any game you play with a ball, especially baseball: We'll be outside playing ball until dinner. 2a. [C] an occasion when someone kicks, hits, or throws the ball in a game, or the way they kick, hit, or throw it: He kicked a long ball upfield. 2b. [C] in baseball, a pitch of the ball that the batter does not try to hit because it passes outside the normal area for hitting 3 [C] a formal social event at which there is dancing 4 [singular] Am E informal a lot of fun: The boat ride was a ball! Why don 't you come - we'll have a ball! 1 b.

—

balletic

/bo'letik/ ad] a balletic

movement

is

very

graceful and controlled

noun [c] 1 AmE a baseball game 2 any game played with a ball, such as soccer or football

.game

ball

game or a whole new ball game a situation that is completely different from what has happened before: I'm working in management now, which a different ball

is a whole new ball game. ball ,girl noun [c] 1 a girl whose job is to pick up tennis balls at a tennis match and throw them back to the players —picture - cm 2 a girl whose job is to take care of the balls that are not being used during a

is

baseball practice or game bal-lis-tic /ba'listik/ ad] go ballistic informal to become

enthusiasm carry the ball Am E informal to be responsible for getting something done: They all quit and left us to carry

extremely angry bal listic missile noun [c] a type of missile that travels long distances and cannot be controlled after it has been launched — compare guided missile

is in sb's court used for telling someone that it their responsibility to take action or make a decision a ball of fire informal someone with a lot of energy and

the ball

the ball.

drop the ball informal

to fail to

do something that you

are responsible for doing get/set/start the ball rolling to make something start happening: There are several things we should discuss.

Who'd like to start the ball rolling? have a lot on the ball Am E informal to be very intelligent or good at what you do have/keep several balls in the air informal to try to do several different things at the same time on the ball informal quick to understand what is happening and what must be done: alert pick up the ball and run with it to take responsibility for getting something done, especially after someone else has tried and failed play ball informal to work together with someone in an effective way: cooperate: When manufacturers refused to play ball, the company stopped buying. -» BALLS

bal-lis-tics /balistiks/ noun [u] the scientific study of the movement of objects or weapons that are fired into the air

/bs'lun/ noun [c] • a large strong bag filled with gas or hot air that can float in the air. Some balloons have a large basket hanging under them in which people can travel. 1a. a small colored bag of thin rubber that you fill with air, used as a child's toy or a decoration 1b. a small bag that a doctor puts into a part of your body and fills with air in order to force something out 2 a circle around the words spoken by characters in

balloon

1

1

cartoon drawings go over like a lead balloon informal if something such as a joke or suggestion goes over like a lead balloon, people do not like it at all

bal-loon 2 /ba'lun/

verb [I] 1 to become larger and rounder in shape: Her coat ballooned around her in the wind. 2 to increase very quickly in amount or degree: Our expenses had ballooned. Within weeks, the fighting had ballooned into full-scale war. bal-loon-ing /bs'lunin/ noun [u] the activity of flying bal-loon-ist noun [C] in a hot-air balloon balloon mortgage noun [c] AmE a mortgage that you pay back in regular small payments with one large final payment, which is called a balloon payment 1 bal-lot /'baetat/ noun * [c/u] the process of voting secretly to choose a candidate in an election or express an opinion about an issue: Party leaders are elected by

—

ball

of yarn

2 [i/t] 1 ball or ball up to become a small round shape, or make something into a small round

ball /bol/ verb

shape: She balled her fists have sex with someone /'bslsd/ noun [c]

baMad long

poem

angrily.

1

2

Am E offensive

a popular love song

2

to

bal-last /'baebst/ noun [u] a substance such as water, sand, or metal that is carried in ships or large balloons to help them remain steady ball .bearing noun [c] one of several small hard metal balls that are used between moving parts of a machine to help the parts move smoothly ball ,boy noun [c] 1 a boy whose job is to pick up tennis balls at a tennis match and throw them back to the players —picture -» cm 2 a boy whose job is to take care of the balls that are not being used during a

game

ball cock noun [C] a floating ball that opens and closes a valve, used for controlling a water supply, for example in a toilet bal-le-ri-na /.bseb'rins/ noun [C] a woman who performs in ballets, especially as her job ballet /'bae.lei; bae'lei/ noun * [u] a type of dancing used for telling a story, with complicated movements that need great skill and a lot of training: classical/ modern ballet His dream had been to study ballet. a ballet dancer/ school/ company a. [C] a performance of ballet b. [singular] a group of dancers who perform ballet: the Bolshoi Ballet

2

bal-lot /'btebt/ verb [T] to ask people to vote in order to decide an issue: The union will ballot members on the possibility of striking, a. to vote in order to decide an issue

a

that tells a story

baseball practice or

ballot. a strike ballot a. [singular] the total number of votes recorded in an election: She got just over 60% of the ballot, b. [C] a piece of paper that you write your vote on

ballot ,box noun 1 [C] a box in which you put your ballot after you have voted 2 [singular] the democratic system of voting: From now on, they would pursue their goals through the ballot box. stuff the ballot box Am E to cheat during an election by voting too many times ball-park or ball park /'br>l,park/ noun [c] a place where baseball games are played 1

in the ballpark informal 1 not calculated exactly but within the correct general range: Eighteen thousand? That could be in the ballpark. 2 good enough to compete with others: She's just not in the same ballpark as some

of the other athletes.

ball-park 2 /'bol.park/ talking about amounts

adj [only before noun] used for that have not been calculated exactly: approximate: This is just a ballpark figure, remember?

ball-point /'bol .point/ or .ball-point 'pen noun [c] a pen with a very small ball at the end from which ink picture -» pen flows as you write ball-room /'bolxum/ noun [C] a very large room used

—

for

dancing

.ballroom dancing noun by a

man and woman

[u] a type of dancing done together, using a fixed series of

balls

balls /bolz/ noun impolite 1 [u] confidence and the ability to deal with dangerous or difficult situations: nerve: It takes balls to quit your job like that. 2 [plural) testicles 3 [U] nonsense have sb by the balls to have complete control over someone, so that they have to do what you want balls-y /'bolzi/ adj impolite brave and confident bal-ly-hoo /bieli'hu/ noun [u] informal a lot of excitement or arguing about something, especially something that does not deserve the attention

bal-ly-hooed /baeli'hud/

it is

getting

much ballyhooed inforby many people in an

adj

mal talked about or praised

way

excited

balm /bam/

noun [C/U] 1 an oil with a nice smell that you rub on sore skin to make it feel better 2 mainly literary something that makes you feel calm and relaxed balmy /'bami/adj 1 warm and pleasant: a balmy night balmy weather 2 old-fashioned crazy

ba-lo-ney /ba'louni/ noun [u] lies 2 Am E informal bologna bal-sa

/ 'bolsa;

1

spoken nonsense or

'balsa/ noun [u] very soft light wood, used

especially for making model ships and airplanes a. [C] the tree that this wood comes from

bal-sam

/'bolsam; 'balsam/ noun [u] a substance like

comes from plants. It has a strong smell and is used in medicines and perfumes. balsamic vinegar /bol.saemik Vmigor/ noun [u] an expensive type of sweet dark vinegar oil that

Bal-tic

/

'boltik / adj relating to the Baltic Sea in northern to the countries in this region: the Baltic

Europe and states

This will give a boost

to the Baltic

economies.

bal-us-trade /'bteta.streid/ noun [c] a stone structure like a fence around the edge of a balcony or other area higher than the ground

bamboo

/biem'bu/ noun [C/U] a tall tropical plant with thick light-brown stems that are used for making things such as furniture and fences: a bamboo table bamboo canes

bam boo shoots

noun

of the stems of a young in Chinese cooking

[plural]

a vegetable consisting

bamboo

bam-boo-zle /biem'buzl/ verb someone or make them confused 1

ban /bxnf verb

[T often passive]

plant,

[t]

used especially

informal to trick

**

1 to say officially that people must not do, sell, or use something: The book was banned from school libraries. They signed agreements banning the use of chemical

weapons. to say officially that someone is not allowed to do something: ban sb from doing sth She was banned from athletics for two years after failing a drug test.

2

ban 2 /baen/

**

noun [C] an official statement ordering people not to do, sell, or use something: the beef export ban + on There will be a total ban on smoking. impose a ban (=start it) They agreed to impose an immediate ban on sales. lift a ban (=end it) The ban is unlikely to be lifted this year.

ba-nal /ba'nal/

adj something that is banal is boring because it contains nothing new, original, or unusual: his banal observations on the game another banal TV sitcom— ba-nal-i-ty/ba'mehti/noun [C/U] ba-nan-a /bs'nans/ noun [c/u] * a long curved fruit with a yellow skin: a bunch of bananas —picture -» cio banana re'public noun [c] an insulting word for a tropical country that is considered as having a weak economy, a dishonest or cruel government, and public services that do not work ba-nan-as /ba'nanaz/ adj informal silly or crazy

go bananas informal to become very angry or excited banana split noun [c] a sweet food that consists of a banana with ice cream, cream, sauce, and nuts band 1 /baend/ noun [c]

*••

1

bane

93

steps and movements. Ballroom dances include the waltz, the foxtrot, and the tango.

group of musicians

2 group 3 range

of

same type

of values/levels

4 narrow circular object 5 line of color/light/rain 6 ring you wear on finger

a small group of musicians who play popular music such as jazz or rock: a rock and roll band 1a. a large group of musicians who play instruments such pets and drums: a military band 2 a group of people who do something together or who share a particular feature or interest: +of a band of warriors a growing band of enthusiasts It's one of the dwindling band of independent av-makt 3 a range of values, prices, ages, etc. in a system used for measuring or grouping people or thinj The ruble was trading with a band of 4,000 to 4,500 to the 1

dollar.

4

a flat narrow piece of cloth with the ends joined together to form a circle: She wore a band around her hair. a hat band 4a. a narrow circular piece of rubber or metal, often placed around something to support it 5 a line of something such as color or light: The male bird has a brown band across its chest. 5a. a narrow area of rain that passes over a place: We can expect another band of showers in the afternoon. 6 literary a ring that you wear on your finger, especially a WEDDING RING

band 2

/baend/ verb

[t often passive]

1

to put a circular

band around something: The track their movements. different groups, for

birds are banded so we can to put people or things into example according to value or

2

income ,band to gether phrasal vb [l] to come together as a group in order to achieve something: The various opposition groups have banded together to form a single party. band-age /'baendid3/ noun [c/u] * a long thin piece 1

of cloth that

you wrap around an injured part of your

body

band-age 2 up

to

/'bamdid3/ verb [t] bandage or bandage wrap a bandage around an injured part of your

body

Band- Aid

trademark 1 a piece of tape with a cotton square in the middle, which you stick over a cut on your skin 2 informal a temporary way of dealing with a problem that will not really solve it ban-danna or ban-dan-a /.baen'daena/ noun [c] a piece of colored cloth worn around your head or neck ban-dit / 'baendit/ noun [c] a thief who attacks travelers, usually with other thieves -» one-armed bandit ban-do-lier /.baenda'lio/ noun [c] a type of belt worn over one shoulder and across the chest with pockets to hold bullets B and S /,bi an 'es/ or ,B and 'S .ball noun [c] Bachelor and Spinster Ball: a party held in the Australian outback (=areas a long way from towns) that normally lasts for a whole weekend bands-men /'baendzman/ (plural bands-man /'basndzman/) noun [C] someone who plays an instrument in a military or brass band band-stand / 'baend .staend/ noun [C] a building without walls in a park, used for musical performances band-wag-on /'baend.waegsn/ noun [c usually singular] an idea or activity, especially in politics or business, that suddenly becomes very popular or fashionable, so that a lot of people want to be involved in it: His recent poll victory could start an ultra-nationalist bandwagon jump on /climb on /join the bandwagon Every rolling. business was trying to jump on the "dot-com" bandwagon. band-width / band \\ idl)/ noun [c/u] 1 computing the amount of information that can be sent each second through an Internet connection. If a system has a high bandwidth, it is called a broadband connection. 2 informal the ability to deal with work, problems, etc. I'm our of bandwidth = can't deal with things anymore). (

bandy when

1

/

1

baendi/verb bandy words to argue, especially waste of time

this is a

or bandy about phrasal vb [T] to mention something a lot. usually without thinking much about what you are saying: / don't want people bandying my

bandy around

name about

in public.

ban-dy 2 /

baendi/adj bandy legs are curved, so that the knees do not touch: bowed

bane /ban/

noun [singular] something that annoys someone very much or causes them a lot of problems: and disobedient children are the bane of

the bane of Noisy

1

baneful

bang

/baen/verb • something hard, making a loud noise: / banged on the window to get her attention. We could hear them banging their drums in the next street. bang sth on/against sth She banged her fists on the back of his seat. la. [i/t] to close with a lot of force, or to close something with a lot of force, making a loud noise: Don't bang the door! / heard her car door bang shut. 1b. [i] to move, making loud noises: There was a shutter banging in the wind. + around /away /across Who's that banging around upstairs? 1c. [T] to put something somewhere with a lot of force, making a loud noise: bang sth on sth Sam banged his beer glass on the table. bang sth down Kathy yelled and then banged the phone down. 2 [I/T) to knock a part of your body against something when you are moving, especially because you are not looking where you are going: bang sth on sth Be careful + into She banged not to bang your head on that beam. 1

[I/T] to hit

1

and hurt her knee. have sex with someone

into the table

3

[T] offensive to

bang on phrasal vb [l] BrE informal to talk about something for a long time in a boring and annoying way .bang out phrasal vb [t] informal 1 to play a tune on the piano very loudly and not very well 2 to produce something of bad quality in large quantities

bang up phrasal vb [T usually passive] informal 1 AmE to damage something such as a vehicle: How did your truck get all banged up? 2 Br E to put someone in prison

bang 2 /baerj/

noun [c] * 1 a short loud noise, for example the sound of a door closing with a lot of force. If something goes bang, it makes a noise like this: There was a loud bang as the We could hear the bang of a door in shelf hit the floor. the basement.

2

[singular]

AmE

informal a feeling of excitement, or

something that gives you this feeling: thrill: The interview was a bang. get a bang out of sth I really get a bang out of watching the kids perform.

Am

get more bang for your buck E informal to get more of something without using any extra money or effort with a bang in a very exciting or successful way: He wanted to end his career with a bang. go off with a bang The whole plan went off with a bang. ->

BANGS

Words

frequently used with

adjectives

bang

almighty, enormous, huge, loud, terrific,

1

tremendous

/baen/ interjection 1 used especially by children for representing the sound made by a gun 2 used for showing that something happens very quickly or suddenly: One minute he was there and then, bang, I was alone.

bang 4

/baerj/ adv BrE informal used for emphasizing that something is exactly in a particular position or that it happens at exactly a particular time: a small town, bang in the middle of Australia a. bang on exactly right

/'baerpr/ noun [c] BrE 1 informal a sausage informal an old car in bad condition 3 a firework

bang-er

noun [c] a stiff circular bracelet (=jewelry worn around the wrist) bangs /'baenz/ noun [plural] AmE short hair that hangs picture -» hairstyle over your forehead. Br E fringe bang-up adj AmE informal very good or enjoyable: We had a bang-up time at the party. /'bcerjgl/

—

banish

acne and smooth away your wrinkles.

ban-ish-ment

noun [u] ban-is-ter /'baemstar/ noun

[c] a structure like a fence along the edge of stairs, designed to keep you from falling off the edge —picture -» ci ban-jo /'baend^oo/ noun [C] a musical instrument like a guitar but with a smaller round body bank 1 /baenk/ noun [c] 1 a financial institution that people or businesses can keep their money in or borrow money from: Marge works at Bank of America. a New York investment bank la. an office of a bank: / need to go to the bank this morning. 1b. [only before noun] belonging to or connected with a bank: a bank manager / loan/ robbery 2 a raised area of land along the side of a river: A man was fishing on the opposite bank. + of The fashion district lies on the east bank of the river. 2a. a long area of land with sloping sides: / climbed a steep bank that overlooked the field. 2b. a long pile of earth, snow, or sand: +of Great banks of snow and ice lined the roads. 2c. a large mass of cloud or fog 3 a large number of things in a row, especially pieces of equipment: +of a bank of TV monitors 3a. a large collection, especially of information or ideas: an impressive data bank + of The library has a valuable bank of old documents. 3b. a store of something that is available for use when it is needed: a blood /gene /sperm /organ

•••

bank

bank 2 /baenk/ verb • have a bank account with a particular with? We bank at their headquarters. 1a. [T] to pay money into a bank account lb. [T] mainly journalism to earn a particular amount of money: She has already banked $5,000 in prize money. 2 if an airplane banks, it turns quickly in the air, with one wing higher than the other bank on phrasal vb [T] [bank on sb/sth] to depend on something happening or on someone doing something: They're banking on him to find a solution to the problem. don't bank on it spoken used for telling someone that something will probably not happen: "He said he'd come. " "Well, don't bank on it - he's still in bed. bank-a-ble /'baenksbl/ adj a bankable actor or performer is very popular, and therefore likely to make a movie or show a financial success bank ac count noun [c] * an arrangement with a bank that allows you to keep your money there and to pay money in and take money out: We'll pay the money open a bank account directly into your bank account. (=start it) They're encouraging children to open bank 1

[

I

]

[+with/at] to

bank:

Who do you bank

[I ]

accounts.

bang 3

2 ban-gle

bankrupt

94

many mothers. the bane of sb's life /existence Paperwork is the bane of my life. bane-ful /'bemfal/ adj literary bad or evil

/'baeniJV verb

[T]

•

1 to officially order someone to leave a country or region as a punishment: + from /to a well-known opponent of Stalin who was banished to Siberia 1a. often humorous to make someone go somewhere else: + from /to Wine was poured and the children were banished to their rooms. Street vendors will be banished from the city sidewalks unless they are licensed. 2 to make someone stop thinking about something or having particular feelings: The news of her pregnancy had banished all other thoughts from her mind. 3 to get rid of something: Our new cream can help banish

bank card

noun

[c]

a small plastic card that you use

making payments or for getting money from the bank bank draft noun [c] an order to pay someone that is sent from one bank to another bank, usually in a diffor

ferent country

/'baenkar/ noun [c] • someone who has an important position in a bank or other financial organ-

bank-er ization

.bank 'holiday noun [c] BrE bank-ing /'baenkin/ noun [u] 1

the

a national holiday

•*

work done by banks and other

financial insti-

tutions: a career in banking commercial banking 2 the activity of paying money into or taking money out of a bank account: You can now do your banking online.

bank-note

/'baerjk,nout/ noun [c] formal a piece of paper money. The usual word is bill. bank .rate noun [c] the rate of interest that banks use to calculate how much interest to charge on money they lend to each other instead of to their customers 1 bank-roll / 'baerj k.rool/ noun [singular] a supply of

money for a particular purpose: We were given a of $10,000

bankroll

to start the project.

bank-roll 2

'baenk .rool/ verb [T] to provide the money for something: He helped to bankroll Yeltsin's successful 1996 reelection campaign.

bank-rupt 1

/

1

/'baenk rApt/ adj a person or business that

* is

bankrupt has

officially

bankrupt

left

bap-tize /ba'ptai// verb [t usually passive] 1 to welcome someone into the Christian religion by touching or covering them with water 2 to name a child when it is baptized: He was baptized Samuel Andrew.

*••

1

bar /bar/ noun

[c]

the region virtually bankrupt.

2 formal without any good bankrupt ideology.

bankrupt

2

bank-rupt

3

qualities at

his morally

bankrupt

all:

This

is

a

/'baenk.rApt/ noun [c] someone who has admitted that they have no money and cannot

officially

pay what they owe /'baenkrAptsi/ noun • which a person or business becomes bankrupt: The recession led to a flood of bankface bankruptcy Many small farmers are facing ruptcies. declare bankruptcy The company declared bankruptcy. bankruptcy in 1997. 2 [U] formal a complete lack of good qualities: moral bankruptcy

bank-rupt-cy

[C/U] a situation in

bank .statement

noun [c] a document that shows all money that went into or out of your bank account during a particular period of time ban-ner 1 /'bamar/ noun [c] 1 a wide piece of cloth with a message on it, often stretched between two poles: Thousands of people carried banners and flags. 2 computing an advertisement on a web site that goes across the width of your screen the

under the banner of sth 1 used when stating the principle or belief that makes someone do something: They operated under the banner "jobs for local people. " 2 used when naming the organization that controls or supports a particular activity: an agency operating under the banner of UNESCO

AmE

2

ban-ner

/'baenar/ adj extremely successful: 1997 was a banner year for our manufacturing division.

.banner 'headline noun

[c] a

very large headline on

the front page of a newspaper

ban-nis-ter

made

/'baenak/ noun from oats

banns /baenz/ noun

[C] Scottish

an

[plural]

official

a

flat

bread roll

announcement

in

church that two people intend to get married /'baerjkwit/ noun [c] a formal meal prepared number of people on an important occasion: a state banquet banquet rooms ban-shee /'baenji/ noun wail/howl/scream like a banshee to make a lot of unpleasant noise by shouting

ban-quet

for a large

or crying In old Irish stories, a banshee is a female spirit who cries loudly to warn that someone is going to die.

barvtam /'baentam/ noun [c] a type of small chicken ban -tarn-weight /'bantam weit/ noun [c] a boxer or who

wrestler

ban-ter

is fairly light

/'baentar/ noun [u] friendly conversation in

which people tell jokes and laugh at each other ban-ter-ing /'baentann/ adj if you talk in a bantering way, you are joking or laughing at someone: his humorous, bantering style of interviewing

Ban-tu /baentu/

adj

place serving alcohol

2 long narrow piece 3 block of soap etc. 4 profession of a lawyer

Bantu languages are a group of in Central and Southern

related languages spoken Africa

/'basnjan/ noun [c/u] a tropical tree that produces new roots from its branches

baptise /bsp'taiz/a BrE spelling of baptize bap-tism / 'baep.tizam/ noun [c/u] a ceremony

in

someone is touched or covered with water to them into the Christian religion a baptism of fire a very difficult first period

in

which welcome a new

a place where you go to buy and drink alcoholic drinks: We met at Ernie's Bar. a wine cocktail bar la. the counter where alcoholic drinks are served in a bar or restaurant: / think you have to order at the bar. lb. a small place that serves a particular type of food: a sushi bar a sandwich bar 2 a long narrow piece of metal: an old house with iron bars on the windows The car's safety features include side-impact bars. 2a. a long narrow shape along one of the sides of a window on a computer screen: Use the scroll bar to move up and down the page. There's a quickaccess menu bar below the top menu. 3 a solid block of a substance such as chocolate or soap: a candy bar + of a bar of soap 4 the bar the profession of being a lawyer. If someone is admitted to the bar, they become a lawyer. 4a. the BAR EXAM 5 something that prevents another thing from happening: + to We have to ensure that a person 's ethnic background is no bar to success in the workplace. 5a. an order stating that something is not allowed: ban: +on The ruling placed a bar on any mention of the facts in the media. 6 a measure of music 1

behind bars in prison: The five years behind bars.

bar2 /bar/

member

of a Protestant religious group that believes that only adults should be /'baeptist/

noun

[C]

a

baptized

Bap-tist 2 /'baptist/ minister

the Baptist

adj relating to Baptists:

Church

men

could spend up

to 12

BrE

used after words such as "all," "every," and "any" to mean "except": The preservation area is closed to all traffic bar buses. preposition

bar none.

bar3 /bar/

••

verb [t] 1 [often passive] to officially say that something must not happen, or that someone must not do something or go somewhere: a new rule that bars the export of live animals bar sb from (doing) sth It was an old-fashioned club from which women were barred. He has been barred from running a political office for five years. 2 to put something across a door or window so that no one can get through it: Bar the door and don't let anyone in. 2a. to prevent someone from going somewhere by standing in their way: Guards were everywhere, barring bar sb's way /path There were three viciousall exits. looking dogs barring our way. -» barring

barb /barb/ noun

[c] 1 a short curved point on something such as a fish hook that makes it difficult to remove 2 a remark or criticism that is unkind, although it may seem clever or funny -» barbed

bar-bar-i-an /bar'berian/ noun [c] 1 someone from outside one of the major ancient societies such as Greece or Rome, who was considered to be violent and not educated 2 someone who does not respect art or culture 2a. someone who is cruel or violent bar-bar-ic /bur'benk/ ad) extremely violent and cruel:

bar-ba-rism /'burba.nzam/ noun

a Baptist

[u]

extremely violent

and cruel behavior bar-bar-i-ty /bar'berati/ noun [C/u] extremely violent and cruel behavior bar-ba-rous /'burbaras/ adj 1 extremely violent and cruel 2 old-fashioned violent and not educated: unctvii.izkd: ancient Rome's barbarous neighbors barbecue /'burba kju/ noun [C] * a meal at which meat and other food is cooked and eaten outside, often a meal that you invite friends to a. a piece of equipment used for cooking food outside bar-be-cue 2 / 'burba, kjii/ verb [t] to cook food, especially meat, outside on a barbecue or over a fire 1

job, activity, or situation

Bap-tist

1

sth

a barbaric attack

ban-yan

1

5 sth that prevents 6 in music + PHRASES

bar none used for emphasizing that someone or something is the best: He's the best teacher we have ever had,

/'basnistar/ another spelling of banister

ban-nock

1

lifestyle

/'basnk.rApt/ verb [T] to make a person, business, or country bankrupt or very poor: Widespread corruption had bankrupted a country rich in oil.

1

barbecue

95

admitted that they have no money and cannot pay what they owe: bankrupt farmers go bankrupt Many of the companies that they had invested in went bankrupt. 1a. a country or state that is bankrupt owes more money than it can ever pay back: Years of mismanagement had

b

barbecue sauce sauce used for adding flavor to food, especially meat, before cooking it on a barbecue barbed /barbd/ ad) 1 barbed comments contain criticisms or insults 2 a barbed hook or arrow has a sharp curved point on one side .barbed Wire noun [u] * thick wire with a lot of sharp points sticking out of it, used for making fences barbell / bar.bel/ noun [c] a long metal bar with weights at each end that you lift in order to make your muscles bigger and stronger —picture -» cie barber /'barbar/ noun [c] [u] a special

someone whose job

is

to

cut men's hair.

barbershop Jap/ noun

1

/'barbar [C]

AmE

a

to get their hair cut. Br E barber's a type of singing in which four men sing together in harmony, usually without music

place

2

where men go

[u]

barbie / 'barbi/ noun

[C]

'Barbie doll noun [C] woman who you think

Australian informal a barbecue

used for describing a attractive but not very intel-

offensive is

ligent

From

the

name

of a type of doll that looks like

attractive adult

barhop

96

.barbecue sauce noun

an

woman.

bare-f oot

/

ber ,fot /

ad],

adv without any shoes or socks

on: dancing barefoot in the sand

bare-ly

/'berli/ adv

••

used for saying that something almost does not happen or exist, or is almost not possible: hardly, scarcely: The roads were barely wide enough for two cars to pass. There was barely a scratch on his car, but mine 1

was totaled. a barely audible whisper He was so dizzy he could barely stand. barely able to do sth He was barely able to see the road in the fog. 2 used for emphasizing that something happened only a very short time before something else: He barely paused before jumping straight into the water. The thought had barely come to me before it was gone again. 3 used for emphasizing how small an amount is: He's barely 12 years old. They had traveled barely a third of the way.

bar ex

am

noun

an examination that people must

[c]

pass in order to become lawyers barf /barf/ verb [l] very informal to vomit

barfly

AmE

noun [c] informal someone of time in bars drinking alcohol

/'bar.flai/

spends a

lot

who

/'bargan/ noun [c] •• something you buy that costs much less than normal: You should be able to pick up a few good bargains. 1a. a lower than usual price: Twenty dollars is a real bargain! 2 an agreement in which two people or groups each promise to do something: After hours of negotiating, a bargain was finally reached. keep your side/end/part of the bargain (=do w hat you agreed) How do we know you'll keep your part of the bargain? strike a bargain (=reach an agreement) It was impossible to strike a bargain that both sides would accept. 2a. drive a hard bargain to argue in a very determined way in order to reach an agreement that benefits you

bargain

1

1

r

bar

.billiards noun [u] a game like billiards in which long sticks are used for pushing balls into holes on a table

bar-bi-tu-rate /bar'bitfarat/ noun that doctors give to people to

them sleep 'bar .code noun

a strong drug or help

a set of printed lines on a product's computer information about it such as

[c]

label that tells a its

[c]

make them calm

price

bard /bard/ noun

-» COLLECTIVE bargaining, plea bargaining [C] literary

a poet

William Shakespeare is sometimes referred to as the Bard or the Bard of Avon.

bare 1

/ber/

adj

a part of your body that

is

the bare bones the most basic features or details: +of Anderson outlined the bare bones of his strategy. with your bare hands without using any equipment or weapons when doing something that needs a lot of strength

bare

2

bargain 2

/ber/ verb [T] 1 to remove something that hides or covers something such as a part of your body: He bare your teeth pulled the shirt up, baring his injuries. (=show your teeth in a threatening way) The dog growled and bared its teeth. 2 mainly literary if you bare yourself or bare your soul, you tell someone your most private thoughts bare-back /'ber.baek/ adj, adv riding a horse without a SADDLE bare-faced /ber'feist/ adj [only before noun] used for emphasizing that someone who does something bad is not ashamed or does not try to do it secretly: blatant: a barefaced lie

/'bargan/ verb

*

[i]

to

try to persuade

someone to give you a better price or make an agreement that suits you better: You can get even better deals if you 're

*•

bare is not covered by any clothes. When someone is not wearing any clothes at all, they are naked or nude: She wore a low-necked dress and her arms were bare. It's better to do yoga in bare feet. bare-chested/bare-legged a group of barechested youths 1a. bare walls, surfaces, etc. have no covering or decoration: a room with peeling wallpaper and bare floorboards a bare light bulb lb. bare trees or areas of land have nothing growing on them: bare rock the tree's bare branches 2 containing nothing: empty: The room was cold and + of bare. Panic buying has stripped the stores bare. The little house was almost completely bare offurniture. 3 basic, with nothing extra: bare facts/details Readers bare essentials/ want more than just the bare facts. necessities Some families don't even have enough money the bare for the bare essentials like food and clothing. minimum They only had the bare minimum of equipment. 4 used for emphasizing how small an amount is: Our profit margin is a bare 1%. 1

in/into the bargain in addition to the things already mentioned: With careful planning, you can avoid delays and save yourself a lot of money into the bargain.

prepared

to

bargain.

more than you bargained for/not what you bargained for something different from what you expected, especially something worse bargain on phrasal vb [T] [bargain on sth] to expect something to happen, often because something else depends on it: bargain on (sb) doing sth She's bargaining on me changing my mind. bargain basement noun [c] an area in a large store where you can buy things at low prices, often things of low quality a. [only before noun] informal used about things that are inexpensive or of low quality, or about the attitude of people who do not like to spend money: It's the kind of bargain-basement approach to healthcare that's typical of many insurance companies.

bargaining chip

/'barganirj

,tjrp/

noun

[C]

some-

thing that you can use to persuade someone to give you

what you want

bargaining counter / 'barganirj .kauntar/ noun [C] BrEa bargaining chip bargaining po-si-tion /'bargamn pa.zijn/ noun [c] someone's ability to get what they want when they are making a deal with someone else, based on the situation they are in 1

barge /bard3/

noun

and canals barge 2 /bard3/ verb

[c]

[i]

a long

flat

boat used on rivers

[+past/through/out

etc.] to

move

in a fast careless way, often hitting people or things: He barged past me without looking. barge in phrasal vb [I] to enter a room suddenly and noisily, usually interrupting someone in a rude way: + on He just The kids just barge in without knocking. barged in on us in the middle of a meeting. 'bar .graph noun [c] a graph that represents different amounts or values as thick lines of different lengths informal to go to bar-hop /bar.hap/ verb [i] several different bars one after the other, drinking at each one

AmE

barista make

[c]

a person whose job

is to

coffee in a cafe

baritone

,

/'ben,toon/ noun

a

man

with a singing voice that is fairly deep, in the range between and a bass a. a baritone singing voice bar-i-um /'beriom/ noun [u] a soft metal that is a silverwhite color barium 'meal noun [c] BrE a substance that you swallow before having an x-ray of your stomach [c]

bark /bark/ verb • 1

make

the short loud sound that a dog makes 2 [I/T] to say or shout something in a loud angry voice: started barking He orders at me. 3 [T] to accidentally knock a hard part of your body such as your shin or knuckles against something, and tear some skin off 1

[I]

to

barking up the wrong tree informal doing something that will not get the result you want: If you think he'll pay up, you're barking up the wrong tree. bark 2 /bark/ noun * 1 [u] the hard substance that covers a tree —picture -» TREE

2

[C]

barricade

97

ba-ris-ta /ba'nsto/ noun

baroness

beranas/ noun

woman who

is a member of the nobility. In the U.K., a baroness has lower status than most other members of the nobility. 2 the wife of a baron

baronet

/

(c)

/'beranai/ noun |c] a

of the British nohiuty.

A

a

1

man who

is

a

member

baronet has a lower status

than a baron.

bar-on-et-cy /

beranatsi / noun [c] the rank of a baronet

ba-ro-ni-al /ha'rooniol/

adj 1 a baronial building or room is large, impressive, and built or decorated in an old-fashioned style 2 relating to bari

ba-roque

/ba'rook; ba'ruk/

adj

baroque

or

Baroque

relating to the very detailed style of an. building, or music that was popular in Europe in the 17th and early 18th centuries a. very detailed or complicated

barque /bark/

noun

a sailing ship with three or

[cj

more masts a. literary any small sailing boat bar-rack /'berak/ verb 1 (i/t) mainly BrE to shout at someone who is speaking, playing, or performing in public because you do not like them 2 [\] Australian to shout in order to show that you support someone or something

the short loud sound that a dog

makes

bar-racks

/

beraks/

(plural bar-racks)

noun

[c]

a group of

bark is worse than their bite informal used for saying that someone is not as mean or rude as they seem to be when they talk to you bark 3 /bark /another spelling of barque

and work bar-ra-cu-da /bera'kuda/ noun [c] a large tropical ocean fish with sharp teeth and a lower jaw that sticks

barkeeper /'bur.kipar/ or bar-keep noun [C] Am E old-fashioned a bartender

bar-rage 1 /ba'ru3/ noun 1 [c] an attack during which an army continuously fires guns, drops bombs etc. for a long time 2 [singular] [+of] a lot of criticisms,

sb's

/'bar.kip/

barking mad / .barkirj fmed/ or barking /'barkin/ adj Br E informal completely crazy bar-ley /'barli/ noun [u] a plant that produces grain used for making food, beer, and whiskey

barmaid whose job might find

/'bar.meid/ noun [c] old-fashioned a woman is to serve drinks in a bar. Some people this

word

offensive.

bar-man /'barman/ (plural bar-men /'barman/) noun [c] old-fashioned a man whose job is to serve drinks in a bar

bar mitz-vah /bar

'mitsva/ noun [c] a Jewish religious ceremony held on a boy's thirteenth birthday, after which he is considered to be an adult in his religious life a. a Jewish boy who is taking part in a bar mitzvah

barm-y /'barmi/ adj BrE informal crazy or silly barn /barn/ noun [C] ** a large building on a farm where animals, crops, or machines are kept were you born /raised in a barn? spoken a humorous way of telling someone to shut the door after they come into a room or building -» door bar-na-cle / 'barnakl/ noun [c] a sea creature that sticks firmly to rocks and to the bottoms of ships 'barn dance noun [c] a social occasion at which people

do traditional dances in groups 'barn owl noun [c] a type of owl with white and brown feathers and a face shaped like a heart barn-storm /'burn, storm/ verb [i/T] to travel around a country, stopping in many places to speeches or give performances

barn-storm-ing

make

political

/'barn, storm in/ adj [only before noun]

done with impressive energy, skill, and enthusiasm: It was a barnstorming end to the season. barn-yard 1 /'barnjard/ noun [c] an area on a farm where animals are kept: barnyard animals barn-yard 2 /'barnjard/ adj AmE informal used for describing something such as humor that is unpleasant, often because it contains rude words or refers to sex: The article referred to "their objectionable behavior and barnyard morals.

ba-rom-e-ter/ba'ramatar/noun [c] 1 a piece of equipment that shows you what kind of weather to expect. It measures atmospheric pressure. 2 something that shows how a situation is changing or how people feel about something: + of Investment barometer of business confidence.

bar-on

levels

are seen as a good

/'beran/ noun [c] 1 a man who is a member of the nobility. In the U.K., a baron has lower status than most other members of the nobility. 2 a powerful person in a particular type of business: the steel barons

buildings where

members

of the military live

out

complaints, or questions directed at one person: a barrage of abuse 3 /'band3/ [C] a wall built across a river in order to control the level of the water

bar-rage 2

/ba'ra3/ verb

[t]

if

you are barraged by

criticisms, complaints, or questions, you have to deal with a large number of them at the same time

bar-rel /'beral/ noun [c] •• 1 a round wooden, metal, or plastic container with a flat top and bottom, used for storing liquids: empty beer barrels 1a. the amount of liquid contained in a barrel: Their customers drink a million barrels of beer a year. 1b. a unit for measuring crude oil: Prices could remain 1

as low as $20 per barrel. 2 the part of a gun that a bullet

is

fired

through

give sb both barrels informal to criticize or attack someone with great energy or emotion not a barrel of laughs informal a very unpleasant experience or situation over a barrel informal if someone has you over a barrel, they know that you are in a difficult situation and that you will have to do what they want 2 -» LOCK PORK BARREL .

bar-rel

2

/'beral/ verb

[I]

informal [+down/into/through

etc.] to move very quickly in a deliberate or determined way: David was barreling down the hall toward her.

tjestad/ adj a man who barrel-chested has a large chest that curves outward

bar-rel-chest-ed /beral

is

barrel organ noun [c] a large instrument that plays music when the handle is turned, used in the past to entertain people in the street

bar-ren /'beran/ adj 1 barren land is dry and plants cannot grow there 1a. a barren place is dry and empty, with few plants growing: desolate: a remote and barren island 1b. a barren tree or plant does not produce any 2 without any interesting or positive features: a culturally barren small town 2a. a barren period is one fruit

which you have no success: After 15 barren years, the had at last won a major trophy. 3 old-fashioned a is barren cannot have babies: infertile bar-rette /ba'ret/ noun [c] Am £a small plastic or metal object used for keeping a woman's hair in place 1 bar-ri-cade /.ben'keid/ noun [c) a temporary strucin

club

woman who

ture that is built across a road, gate, or door to prevent people from getting through: a barricade of burning tires the barricades used for talking about a situation in which people use determined methods to protesl about something or achieve something they believe In: Resi dents were ready to go to the barricades to fight the school closure.

1

m

barricade /.ben'keid/ verb [T) to build a barricade across a road, gate, or door a. to shut yourself inside a place and block all the entrances so that no one can get in

bar-ri-er /'beriar/ noun [c] •* 1 a bar or gate that stops people or vehicles from entering a place: Fans broke through the barriers and rushed onto the field. 1a. something that separates one thing from another: The river is the last barrier between the rebel army and the city. 2 anything that prevents progress or makes it difficult for someone to achieve something: obstacle: These regulations would place barriers in the way of genetic research.

+to Disability need not be a barrier to a successful career. High levels of debt are a major barrier to economic development. 2a. something that prevents people from communicating, working together, etc.: Language difcultural barriers ferences did not appear to be a barrier. break down barriers We're trying to break down barriers between young people from both communities. 2b. a number, limit, or level that is considered important because it is difficult to go past: go through /break a barrier the day the stock market broke the 10,000 barrier The figure for inflation could go through the 5 percent barrier.

barrier .method noun traception in which an

medical any form of conobject, rather than a drug, is used for preventing women from becoming pregnant. The use of condoms is a barrier method. [C]

barring

/'banrj/ preposition unless the thing mentioned happens or exists: Barring any further delays, we should be able to start tomorrow.

bar-ri-o / 'bari.oo/ noun [C] a poor district of a city in a Spanish-speaking country a. a part of a U.S. city where most people speak Spanish bar-ris-ter /'benstar/ noun [c] a lawyer in England or Wales who is allowed to speak in the higher law courts bar-row /'beroo/ noun [C] 1 a wheelbarrow 2 a large pile of earth over an ancient grave where one or more people are buried bar-tend-er /'bar.tendar/ noun [c] someone whose job is to serve drinks in a bar barter 1 /'bartar/ verb [i/T] to exchange goods or services for other goods or services instead of using money: They got what they needed by bartering their livestock. + with We used to barter with the guards to get cigarettes. barter2 /'bartar/ noun [u] 1 the system of paying for goods or services with other goods or services instead of using money: a barter economy 2 something used as payment in a barter system ba-salt /'bae.salt/ noun [u] a dark green or black rock formed when hot liquid rock from a volcano becomes solid

base 1

1

/beis/ noun [c]

••• 6 main food/substance

lowest part of sth

2 place where 3 ideas

sth

is

etc. to start

done

from

7 chemical

8 number

4 people/businesses 5 in baseball the bottom part, edge, or surface of something: a tall with a narrow footpath at its base +of The pituitary The manufacturer's is at the base of the brain. name is printed on the base of the vase. 1a. the bottom part or section of something, that supports the rest of + of The base it: The statue stands on a large round base. of the castle is solid rock. 2 a place from which an activity can be planned, started, or carried out: +for Terrorists had been using Hikers the warehouse as a base for their operations. find this a convenient base for their mountain expeditions. 2a. a place where members of the military live and work: a U.S. naval base 3 a set of ideas, facts, achievements, etc. from which something can develop: Income from magazine publishing provides the company with a strong financial base. +for The report will give us a base for building a better healthcare system. +of a broad base of experience/ 1

cliff,

gland

knowledge/ expertise a group of people who use a particular service or do a particular job: They have built a loyal customer base.

4

bash

98

barricade

4a. a group of people who support someone or something, for example with money or votes: He has a large base of support within the party. 4b. a group of businesses or industries that form an important part of an economy: Britain's manufacturing base was weak and deteriorating. 5 one of the four places on a baseball field that a player must touch in order to score points -> first base —picture

-C15

6 a food or substance that is the main food or substance to which other things are added: Use the stock as a base for your sauce. paint with a water base 7 science a chemical substance that reacts with an acid to form a salt 8 technical a number that is used to form a system of counting. The usual system of counting uses base 10, and the binary system used in computers uses base 2.

AmE informal not right or accurate: A Ford spokesman says that the company's critics are way off base. touch base to communicate with someone that you have not seen for some time in order to find out how they are, what is happening, etc. off base

-» COVER

1

base 2

•••

/beis/ verb [T often passive] to have somewhere as your main office or place of work, or the place where you live: Where are you based now? a Genevabased aid agency base sth in Our parent company is based in Osaka. We decided to base our training operations in the

New

York

office.

on

phrasal vb [T usually passive] [base sth on sth] 1 to use particular ideas or facts to make a decision, do a calculation, or develop a theory: The prosecution's case is based largely on evidence from ex-members of the gang. Prices are based on two people sharing a room. 2 to use something as a model for a movie, piece of writing, or work of art: He bases his designs on Roman mosaics. The movie is based on a true story.

'base

base 3

/beis/ adj literary without any moral principles:

WICKED

base-ball /'beis.bal/ noun ••* [u] a game played by two teams of nine players who get points by hitting a ball with a bat and then running around four bases a.

[C]

the small hard ball used in the

—picture

game

of baseball

-» cis

baseball cap noun

a hat that fits close to your curved part that sticks out over your [c]

head, with a flat eyes —picture -> hat

AmE

base-board

the narrow /'beis.bord/ noun [c] piece of wood that is attached to the bottom of a wall next to the floor

base 'camp

noun [c] a place used temporarily for storing supplies and starting an activity, especially

climbing a mountain

-based /beist/ suffix 1 used with some names of places to make adjectives meaning happening or working in a particular place: a Chicago-based company 2 used with some names to make adjectives describing the main substance in a product: pasta and other wheat-based products nitrogen-based fertilizer

base jum-ping or BASE

urn-pi ng / beis d3.\mpin j noun [u] the sport of jumping with a parachute from high places such as buildings or mountains base-less /'beislas/ adj formal not based on facts or evidence: baseless allegations

base-line

/'beis.lam/ noun [c usually singular] 1 a quanvalue, or fact used as a standard for measuring other quantities, values, or facts: The army's test is meant baseline values/ to set a baseline for physical fitness. rates /requirements 2 the line that marks the back of the playing area in games such as tennis —picture -> ci4 3 the area on a baseball diamond that a player has to stay inside while running from one base to the next tity,

noun [c] • the part of a buildpartly or completely below the level of the

base-ment /'beismant/ ing that

is

ground: a basement apartment —picture -» ci noun [c] a metal that is not worth a lot of compare precious metal money, for example iron

base metal

bases bash

1

—

/'bei.siz/ the plural of basis

/baeJV verb informal 1

[T]

to publicly criticize to bash the school it. 2 [i/T] to hit

someone: She used her weekly column system and everyone who worked in

bash

bassinet

someone or something very hard, often causing injury or serious damage: If you don't shut up I'm going to bash They had to bash the door down to get to your head in. the fire. -» bashing

bash out phrasal vb [T] mainly BrE informal to produce something very quickly and without working very hard bash 2 /baeJV noun [c] informal a party or celebration: a

New

Year's Eve bash

bash-f ul

/ 'baejfal/ adj easily embarrassed when you are with other people: shy: He gave her a bashful smile. Don 't be bashful about showing others what you can do. bash'ful'ly adv, bash-f ul-ness noun [u] bashing /'baejin/ noun [c/u] 1 a violent physical attack on someone, especially because of the group they belong to Police were investigating a series ofgay bashings (=attacks against gay people). 2 severe public criticism: They took a bashing from the press. another round of teacher- bashing ba-sic/'beisik/adj 1 forming the main or most important part of something, without which it cannot really exist: The basic ingredient of this meal is rice. We have the basic framework for an agreement. +to Honesty and trust are basic to a good relationship, la. basic ideas or skills are the ones you must know or learn in order to understand or do something: Once you've mastered the basic principles basic military of using a computer, you can move on. training 1b. used for emphasizing that you are talking about the most important part of a situation: The basic question is how long can this go on? There are two basic choices: make a fuss or do nothing. 2 basic products and services are ones that everyone needs such as food, medicine, and fuel: Basic foods such as soy beans and rice were being flown into the disaster zone. The state provides only basic health care. The money they earned did not even cover their most basic needs. 2a. basic feelings are the natural feelings that everyone has: the basic instinct for survival 2b. basic rights are rights that everyone should be allowed to have: Free speech is a basic human right. 3 simple and with no special features: basic cooking equipment The accommodations are rather basic. 3a. not very advanced, or not very complicated: My French is pretty basic, but I can get by. 4 with no extra amounts of money included or charged: Sales reps receive a basic salary plus commission. -» basics Ba-sic /'beisik/ noun [U] a type of language for writing

—

:

organizing something: on a. .basis workers who are employed on a seasonal or temporary basis Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first served basis. 1a. used tor giving the reason why something is done: on the basis of sth Don't make your decision on the basis of cost alone. He declined to say on what basis bail was refused on the basis that Most councilors supported the proposal on the basis that the City needed new jobs 1b. used for Baying how often something happens: on a daily /monthly/ annual etc. basis Safety equipment was checked on a daily basis. It's a violent city, with murders occurring on a .

regular basis. 2 the important ideas, facts, or actions from which something can develop: +of Bernard's work forms the basis of all modern physiology. +for The agreement between the parties will provide the basis for future negotiations.

Words

•**

computer programs

basically /'beisikli/ adv

••

1 used for saying that you are talking about the most important aspects of something and not mentioning the specific details: The book is basically a love story. Basically, their goal is to promote healthier eating habits. 2 mainly spoken used for emphasizing the most important point or idea in what you are saying: Basically, you should have asked me. ba-sics /'beisiks/ noun [plural] 1 the basics the most important aspects or principles of something that you should learn, think about, or deal with first: Let's start with the basics; you have a good job and a nice home. + of The basics of the game can be learned very quickly. 2 simple necessary things: Shopping for basics like bread and vegetables takes all their money.

go/get back to basics to start paying more attention to the most important aspects of something baS'il /'beizl; bsezl/ noun [u] a plant whose sweet leaves are used in salads and cooking, especially in dishes containing tomatoes. Basil is an herb. basil-i-ca /ba'zilika; ba'silika/ noun [c] 1 a large long ancient Roman building that has a round end 2 a large important Roman Catholic church basin /'beisn/ noun [c] ** 1 a large area of land whose surface water all flows into a particular river or lake: the Colorado River Basin 1a. an enclosed area of water where boats can be kept 1b. a large area of the Earth's surface that is lower than the surrounding area: the Caribbean Basin 2 a large round open container used for holding water or washing things in 2a. a sink in a bathroom

***

ba«sis/'beisis/ (plural bas«es/'bei,siz/) noun [C] 1 a particular method or system used for doing or

frequently used with basis

verbs

constitute, create, establish, form, lay,

provide, serve as

bask

/brcsk/ verb [i] 1 to relax and enjoy yourself by lying in the sun: A group of gray seals were basking on a rock. la. if a place is basking in sunshine or high temperatures, the weather is hot and sunny 2 [+in] to enjoy people's attention and approval, especially when you have achieved a great success: For now, she is content to bask in her new-found fame.

bas-ket/'bsskat/noun

[c]

••

a container for carrying or keeping things in, made from thin pieces of plastic, wire, or wood woven together: a picnic basket a laundry basket 1a. the things in a basket, or the amount that it contains: a basket offruit 2 the net that you throw the ball through in basketball 2a. a point scored in basketball: Miami went six minutes without a basket. make /shoot a basket She shot the 1

winning basket, —picture -> cis business a group of currencies (=different types of in different countries) used for comparing the value of another currency

3

money used -*

EGG

1

bas-ket-ball /'baeskat.bol/ noun •** played by two teams of five players who

[uj

a game

get points by-

through a net a. [C] the ball used in the game of basketball —picture -» cis basket case noun [c] informal 1 an insulting word for someone who is unable to do anything because they are too nervous or upset: nervous wreck 2 a country or organization that has serious financial problems bas-ket-ry /'bsskatri/ noun [u] 1 baskets and similar objects made by weaving together thin pieces of plastic, wire, or wood 2 the art of weaving baskets bas-re-lief /,ba ri'lif/ noun [u] a style of sculpture in which the artist forms shapes in stone, clay, metal, etc., so that they stick out slightly from their background

throwing a

a.

[C]

bass

ball

a piece of art in this style

*

1

/beis/ noun 1 [u] the lowest male singing voice: He sings bass in the church choir, la. [C] a man who has a very low singing voice 1b. [singular] the musical part for a bass voice or for an instrument that plays very low notes 2 [U] the lower half of the full range of musical notes compare treble 3 [C] a BASS GUITAR 4 [C] a DOUBLE BASS

—

1

bass 2

/beis/ adj 1 producing a very low sound: a bass 2 written for a bass voice or instrument: bassoon played the bass line.

voice/ drum

A bass 3 /bss/ rivers

(plural bass)

and the ocean

bass clef

a.

noun

[C]

a fish that lives in eaten as food

[u] this fish

kief/ noun [c] the symbol 9 used at the beginning of a line of music to show that the notes following it are to be played at the lower end of the /,beis

compare tkkhi.k cur instrument's range /'ba'sot/ or 'basset hound noun [c] a dog with long ears and short legs, used for hunting bass gui«tar / beis ui'tar/ noun [c] an electric guitar that produces very low notes

basset

bas-si-net / bxsi net / noun or woven like a basket

[C]

a bed for a baby, shaped

bassist /'beisist/

noun

[C)

someone who plays a bass

GUITAR Or a DOUBLE BASS

bassoon

/ba'sun/ noun [c] a musical instrument consisting of a long wooden tube that you hold upright and play by blowing into a thin metal pipe that holds a double reed. It can produce very low sounds. A bassoon is a woodwind instrument. Someone who plays the bassoon is called a bassoonist, —picture -» woodwind

ID

bas-tard /'baestsrd/ noun [C] 1 offensive an insulting word for an unpleasant or annoying man 2 impolite used after an adjective for talking to or about someone in a funny or sympathetic way: a lucky/poor bastard old-fashioned someone whose parents are not married word is now considered to be offenE impolite something that is very 4

3

to each other. This sive. mainly Br difficult

baste /beist/ verb [i/t] 1 to cover meat with hot fat its own juices while it cooks 2 to sew two pieces

or of

cloth together with long loose stitches that will hold them while you finish sewing it with permanent stitches

bas-tion

/'baestjan/ noun [c] 1 an organization, community, or system that supports and defends a particular way of life, tradition, or belief: Traditionally an all-male bastion, the yachting world has gradually opened to women competitors. + of one of the last bastions of

communism 2 a place where an army has

strong defenses

bat

/baet/ noun [c]

2 a small animal that flies mouse with large wings

at night

and looks

like a

Am

at bat E if a team or player is at bat, it is their turn to hit the ball in baseball like a bat out of hell informal extremely fast off your own bat Br E informal doing something because you have decided to do it, not because someone else has suggested it right off the bat E informal immediately or right from the start: I found what I wanted right off the bat.

Am

2

bat /baet/ game such

verb 1 [i/T] to hit the ball with a bat in a as baseball or cricket la. [I] in baseball or cricket, the team that is batting is trying to score points by hitting the ball 2 [t] to hit something small that is flying through the air in order to stop it landing on you: He was trying to bat the flies away with his newspaper.

bat your eyes/eyelashes to open and close your eyes very quickly several times, intending to be attractive

way

informal

a boy whose job is to look after the bats and other equipment that belong to a baseball team

batch

/'baet.boi/

noun

/baetJV noun [c]

[c]

*

an amount of a food that

is

prepared or baked at one time: He took the first batch of cookies out of the oven. a. a quantity of a substance needed or produced at one time: Mix up another batch of cement, b. a number of things or people that arrive or are dealt with at the same time: We'll send the work out in batches, c. computing a series of jobs that a computer does as a set

bat-ed

/'beitad/ adj with bated breath worried or excited and paying a lot of attention because you want to know what will happen: We waited with bated breath to find out who had won.

Bates Mo-tel, the

/'beits

moo.tel/ the motel in the

movie Psycho, where strange and frightening things happen. People sometimes say that a strange hotel is "like the Bates Motel."

BATF

/,bi ei

Firearms

see

AmE

wash themselves take a bath informal BABY

1

,

ti

'ef/

ATF

[i/t]

else in a bathtub. 1

[T]

to lose

money

in a business deal

TURKISH BATH

bath 2 /bae9/ verb

/bei6/ verb

Am E to

Br E

to

wash yourself or someone

Am E usually bathe •

wash someone in a bathtub I'll bathe the [i] to wash yourself, especially in a :

baby for you. 1a. bathtub

2 [I] to swim in a river or lake, or in the ocean 3 [T] to cover a part of your body with a liquid, usually to clean or treat a cut: Bathe the wound gently.

4

[T often passive] mainly literary to fill an area with The valley was bathed in warm light. bathed in sweat covered in sweat bath-ers /'beidsrz/ noun [plural] Australian a swimsuit

light:

/'bae0,haos/ noun [c] 1 a public building to wash or have a health treatment using hot water or steam 2 a building near a swimming pool or beach where swimmers can change their clothes

AmE

bath-ing

/'beidirj/ noun [u] the activity of in a river or lake, or in the ocean

'bathing cap noun

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and

[c]

a hat that

fits

tightly

swimming and keeps

your hair dry while you swim 'bathing suit noun [c] a piece of clothing worn for swimming: swimsuit picture -> C5 'bath mat noun [c] a piece of thick cloth that you stand on while you dry yourself after a bath or shower 'bath oil noun [C/u] a liquid containing oil with a

—

pleasant smell that you add to the water a bath

when you

take

ba-thos

/'bei,0as/ noun [u] linguistics a sudden change in speech or writing from a serious or important subject one that is silly or ordinary

to

bath-robe / 'baG.roob/ noun

[C]

a loose piece of clothing

like a soft coat that you wear before or after taking a picture -» C5 bath or shower

—

bath-room

someone

go to bat for sb informal to give someone your support and help not bat an eye informal to not be shocked, worried, or upset by something bat around phrasal vb [T] to discuss ideas or plans in an

bat-boy

minute. Mo. BrEa bathtub a bathroom. This meaning is only used in 2 advertisements for houses. 3 a large open container for liquid that has a particular use, or the liquid in the container: The objects are cleaned in a bath of acid. 4 baths [plural] a public building where people go to

where people go

in table tennis

,

/bacO/ noun [c] 1 the process of washing yourself or someone else in a bathtub: The children need a bath tonight. take a bath Do I have time to take a hath? la. the water in a bathtub: / relaxed in a nice deep bath. run a bath (=fill a bathtub with water) Can you run a bath for me - I'll be in in a

bath-house

••

1 a long wooden object used for hitting the ball in games such as baseball and cricket 1a. BrEa paddle

to

*••

1

bathe

a classic tragedy

Soviet-style

bath

-»

or annoying

bas-tard-ized /'baestar.daizd/ adj badly copied from an original and of bad quality: a bastardized version of

1

Batman

100

bass-ist

/'baeG.rum/ noun

[C]

•*

1 a room containing a toilet and usually a bathtub or shower and a sink 2 AmE any room in a house or public building con-

taining a toilet 2a. go to the

bathroom Am E to use the

toilet

Differences between English: bathroom

American and

British

In the U.S., if someone asks to go to the bathroom, they usually mean that they want to use the toilet. But in the U.K., a bathroom is a room with a bathtub in it, and it does not always contain a toilet. So you should ask to go the toilet.

'bath salts noun [plural] a substance with a pleasant smell that you add to the water when you take a bath

bath-tub / 'baeG.tAb/ noun [C] a long deep container that you fill with water and wash yourself in. Br E usually bath ba-tik /bs'tik; 'baetik/ noun [u] a way of creating designs on cloth using wax and dye a. [C/u] cloth that has a design created in this

Bat-man /

way

baet ,maen / good thinking,

Batman humorous

used for telling someone that their idea

is

good

a U.S. cartoon strip in which the characters fight against crime. Robin often says this when Batman suggests a good plan.

From Batman and Robin,

baton

batty

101

ba-ton

/bo'tan; 'bietn/ noun 1 [C] a stick that the conductor of an orchestra uses 1a. a stick that a runner in a relay race gives to the next runner 1b. a stick that someone who is marching with a band throws in the air and spins around in time with the music 1c. a stick that an important person carries during a ceremony as a sign of authority Id. a nightstick 2 [singular] responsibility for something. If you pass the baton to someone, you give them responsibility for it, and if someone takes the baton or picks up the baton, they take responsibility for it.

bats-man

/'bietsman/ (plural bats'men/'bajtsmon/) noun a player who tries to hit the ball in cricket [c] 1 a large group of soldiers that consists of three or more smaller groups called companies 2 a large group of people with the same aim or opinion: battalions of experts telling us what to do 1 bat-ten /'bsetn/ verb batten down the hatches 1 to prepare for a difficult or dangerous situation by taking action to protect yourself 2 to close the entrances to the lower part of a ship very tightly, especially in a [C]

bat-tal-ion /ba'taeljan/ noun

storm

bat-ten 2 /'bsetn/ noun [C] mainly BrE a long piece of wood that is attached to something in order to hold it in place or

make

it

stronger

1

bat-ter /'baetsr/ verb 1 [i/t] to hit something very hard several times: beat: The rain battered against the Huge waves battered the little ship. 1a. to windows. deliberately hit someone many times: beat: The court heard that he had battered his wife to death. 2 [T usually passive] to make someone or something suffer or seem weak: The team's confidence was battered by the 52-10

1 bat-tie /'haul/ noun •** 1 [C/u] a fight between two armies in a war: one of the bloodiest battles of World War // + of the Battle of Waterloo in battle soldiers wounded in battle 1a. [C] a fight between two groups of people: He was wounded in a gun

battle with the police.

2

[C] a situation in which different people or groups compete with each other in order to achieve something or get an advantage: The couple are locked in a bitter legal battle over custody of their children. a boardroom

+for the battle for the leadership of the DemocraticParty a battle to do sth Supermarkets are cutting prices in a desperate battle to win customers. 2a. a situation in which someone is trying very hard to deal with a difficult situation. + against She has lost her battle against breast cancer. a battle to do sth It was a daily battle to get my son to go to school. fight a losing battle (=try to do something that will probably fail) She tried to get him to go, but she knew she was fighting a losing battle. battle

the battle lines are drawn used for saying that two opposing groups each have a clear and definite idea about the things they disagree about and are ready to start competing with each other a battle of wills a situation in which two people disagree, and each refuses to change their ideas or what they want a battle of wits a situation in which two people or groups compete by trying to be more clever than the other do battle mainly journalism to argue with or fight against a difficult opponent, official system, etc. -» LOSE

bat-tie 1

'down

break a door or gate in order to get through it: break down 2 bat-ter /'baetar/ noun 1 [c/u] a liquid mixture of milk, flour, and eggs that is used in cooking: pancake batter 1a. AmE a thick mixture of flour, eggs, sugar, and shortening (=fat), used for making cakes 2 [C] a player

.batter

who

phrasal vb

[T]

to

tries to hit the ball in baseball

— picture -» cis

bat-tered /'bastard/ adj * 1 old and slightly damaged: She would

often be seen

driving around town in her battered old car. 2 old-fashioned used for describing someone who has been treated violently by a member of their family. The

usual word is now abused. 3 having experienced a lot of difficulty: an attempt to restore confidence in Russia 's battered economy 4 covered in a mixture of milk, flour, and egg and then cooked: battered fish

bat-ter-ing

/'baetarirj/ noun take a battering to suffer very badly, for example by being easily defeated: Government troops were taking a battering in the north of the

country.

ram noun [c] a large heavy wooden or metal post used for breaking through gates and doors

'battering

bat-ter-y /'baet(a)ri/ noun •• 1 [C] an object that fits into something such as a radio, clock, or car and supplies it with electricity: I need some new batteries for my Walkman. The battery is dead (=no 1

longer working).

charge /recharge a battery (^provide

it with power) Maybe it won 't start because the battery needs recharging. 2 [C] several large guns or other weapons, used together: a battery of marine artillery 3 [u] legal the crime of hitting someone -» assault and battery 4 [singular] a group of similar things: +of He put her through a battery of tests.

-» RECHARGE

bat-ter-y

2

BrE battery farming

involves keeping large numbers of chickens very close together in small boxes, in conditions that many people think are cruel: battery hens /eggs compare free-range /

'baet(a)ri/ adj

—

'battery

pack noun [c] a type of battery used to supply

electricity in electrical

equipment such as laptop com-

puters and video cameras

batting av-er-age

/'bstin aev(a)nd3/ noun [C] a that represents the average number of times that a baseball player gets a hit

number

[l/T]

2

•

/'bsetl/ verb to try very hard to deal

with a

difficult situation:

Many She

+ against species of birds are battling extinction. described how they had battled against huge waves to

save their friend. the

2

man 's

battle to do sth

Surgeons battled

to

save

life.

compete with someone or try to achieve the opposite of what they are trying to achieve: + with Hakkinen was battling with Schumacher for first place. [I]

to

+ against A small, ill-equipped police force is battling +for the three men against the powerful drug barons. battling for the world title 2a. battle it out if two people or groups battle it out, they compete with each other until there is a definite winner: Twelve teams will battle it out to see who is the champion of Europe.

bat-tle-ax /'baetl.aeks/ noun [c] 1 an insulting word for an unpleasant woman who tells people what to do in a very determined and slightly frightening way 2 a large ax (=a tool with a thick metal blade) used in the past as a

weapon

'battle cruiser noun [c] a large fast warship 'battle ,cry noun [C] 1 a phrase or idea that a person or organization uses to encourage people to think or behave in a particular way, especially in politics 2 a loud shout given by soldiers to frighten the enemy or to encourage their own side: war cry bat-tle-dress /'baetl.dres/ noun [u] the ordinary uniform of a soldier that is different from the uniform that is worn for special ceremonies 'battle f a tigue noun [u] old-fashioned combat fatigue bat-tie-field / banlfild/ or bat-tie-ground /'bsetl ,graund/ noun [c] 1 a place where a battle takes place or where one took place in the past 1a. a place where groups of people violently oppose each other: Racial tension has turned parts of the city into a battleground. 2 a situation in which people disagree and cause problems for each other: Life at home was something of a battlefield. [plural] a wall around the top of a castle, with spaces through which weapons could be fired

bat-tle-ments/ 'bstlmsnts/ noun

.Battle of Britain, the an important World

War

II

which the British air force finally defeated the German air force, making it less likely that the U.K. would be invaded bat-tie-ship /'baetljip/ noun [c] the largest type of air battle in 1940 in

WARSHIP

bat-ty /'baMi/

adj

informal slightly crazy

^

bauble bau-ble

B

computer

baulk

bawd-y / 'bodi/ adj

[u]

a soft substance from

referring to sex in a

bawdy songs

humorous way:

— bawd-i-ly adv, bawd*i*ness noun

bawdy house noun [c] an old word meaning "brothel" bawl

/bol/ verb 1 [i] to cry loudly, especially in a way annoys other people: / wish that child would stop bawling! 2 [i/t] to shout in a loud angry way: He said that Mr. Green bawled at him during meetings. bawl out phrasal vb [T] informal to speak angrily to someone because of something they have done wrong that

1

/bei/ noun [c]

••

an area of the coast where the land curves inward: The harbor lights were visible across the bay. 1

2 a partly enclosed area that is used for a particular purpose, for example parking a car 2a. an area in an airplane or a ship that is used for carrying goods or equipment: the cargo bay 2b. an area of a room that sticks out from the main walls of a house and usually contains a window 3 a horse that is a red-brown color 4 a BAY TREE keep/hold sth at bay

prevent something serious, dangerous, or unpleasant from affecting you: Doctors recommend Vitamin Cfor keeping colds at bay. bay2 /bei/ verb [i] 1 if a dog bays, it makes a long loud sound, especially when it is hunting 2 to shout or ask for something in an angry threatening way, especially when you want someone to be punished: a baying crowd +for An angry mob was surging of tabloid reporters around the palace, baying for blood. bay 3 /bei/ adj a bay horse is red-brown in color bay ,leaf noun [c] a leaf from a bay tree that is often used in cooking to add flavor ,Bay of Pigs, the an event in 1961 in which a small group of Cubans supported by the U.S. tried to defeat to

the government of Fidel Castro. The attack failed and made the relationship between the U.S. and Cuba much worse.

bayo-net is

/'bi bi

1

/'beianit/ noun [c] a long sharp blade that attached onto the end of a rifle (=a long gun)

bay-o-net

2

/'beianit/ verb

[t]

to stick a

bayonet into

someone

bay*ou /'bai.u/ noun

[c]

very slowly and has a living in

a large area of water that flows water plants and animals

lot of

it

bay tree

noun [c] a tree with leaves that are used as cooking Bay-watch / 'beiwatJV a U.S. television program about life on a beach. The characters are mostly young attract-

an herb

in

ive lifeguards (=people whose job is to protect swimmers from danger), and people sometimes mention Baywatch when describing someone very attractive. ,bay 'window noun [c] a large window that sticks out from the main wall of a house —picture -» ci bazaar /bs'zar/ noun [c] 1 a market, especially in the Middle East and South Asia 2 a sale, especially of used goods, to raise money for a particular project or

organization

bazoo-ka /ba'zuka/ noun

,gAn/ noun

small round bullets called

[c]

AmE a

BBs

gun

that shoots

using air pressure

BBQ abbrev barbecue B.C. abbrev that

it

1 before Christ: used after a date to show refers to a time before the birth of Jesus Christ

the Common Era: used especially by non-Christians after a date to show that it refers to a time before the birth of Jesus Christ

be/bi/verb*** Be can be used

[U]

bay

BB gun

2 British Columbia B.C.E. abbrev before

/br>k/ another spelling of balk

baux-ite /'bok.sait/ noun which aluminum is taken coarse:

be

102

noun [c] 1 an inexpensive decoration or piece of jewelry 2BrEa shiny colored ball used as a decoration on a Christmas tree baud /bod/ noun [C] computing a unit for measuring the speed at which information is sent to or from a / b.-)bl/

a long gun that is carried on the shoulder and used to fire small bombs [C]

BBC, the

/,bi bi 'si/ the British Broadcasting Corporation: an organization that broadcasts television and radio programs and is owned by the British government

BBC English

/,bi bi si 'irjglij/ noun [u] BrE the standard pronunciation of British English: received pro-

nunciation

At one time, almost everyone in BBC television and radio programs used this form of pronunciation, but this is not true any more.

in the following ways:

as an auxiliary verb in progressive verb tenses or in passive forms (followed by a present participle or a past participle): The train is leaving. A window was broken.

as a verb (followed by an infinitive with "to"): All books are to be returned by Friday. The party was to be a surprise. as a linking verb (followed by an adjective or noun complement): Dad was sick. His wife is a doctor. (followed by an adverb or preposition): The children are in bed.

Questions and negatives are formed without "do": Are The book was not expensive.

you busy?

Be

is

often used in tag questions: You weren t listening, It's cold, isn t it?

were you?

Be can have many different forms depending on and on its tense:

subject present tense

I

its

am

he /she /it is we/you/they are

past tense

I/he/she/itwas we/you/they were

past

been

participle

being

present participle

1 used in progressive verb tenses [auxiliary verb] used forming the progressive tenses of verbs that are used for showing actions that are in progress at a

for

particular point in time: Is everyone listening?* I'm studying English Literature. We were having breakfast when Terry phoned. 2 used in passive verb forms [auxiliary verb] used for forming the passive form of verbs: Her husband was killed in the war. The orchestra will be conducted by David Norton. 3 used in descriptions [linking verb] used for giving information about someone or something, by giving their name, job, position, etc., describing them, or saying where they are: Calvin Schultz is our Marketing Director. He wants to be an actor when he leaves school. Baltimore is not far from It was a cold frosty morning. Washington. Tom 'sfrom a small town in Canada. Who 's in charge of the Finance Department? Nancy is tall and very thin. 4 used for talking about behavior [linking verb] used for saying how someone behaves, or for telling them how to behave: I'm afraid your daughter's been behaving badly again. Why are you being so mean to me? Be quiet! Don t be silly. 5 existence [i] formal to exist: a way of life that has long since ceased to be

The most famous speech in Shakespeare's Hamlet begins with the words "To be or not to be...," in which the main character Hamlet considers the possibility of killing himself.

been there, done that spoken used to say that you have done something and are no longer interested in it being as mainly Br E informal a way of saying "because"

many people do not consider to be correct be that as it may mainly spoken used for saying that even if something is true, it does not affect your opinion: Be that as it may, I still think Mr. Livingston is the best that

man for

the job.

be to do sth formal

1

used for telling someone what

to

beach 2 used

for to take

saying what has been arranged: The ceremony is 3 used for saying or asking what should be done: What are we to do?* You are to be congratulated on your wise decision. 4 used in an "if' clause for suggesting a possible goal when you are saying what must happen in order to achieve it: If we are to compete successfully in world markets, we must invest more money in education and training. 5 used about someone or something in the past to say what would happen at a later time: the person who was to become President 6 used in the past forms in an "if' clause for describing a situation that does not exist and is not likely to exist: were is considered more correct than was with all subjects in this type of "if' clause: // your son were to die before you, the property would be divided among your grandchildren. used for giving an explanation of something: being. Being younger than the others, I always had to wear their place on the U.S.S. Missouri.

.

beam

103

do: You are to stay here until I send for you.

.

castoffs.

the fact/point/thing/trouble etc. is (that) spoken used before a clause that explains a particular situation or problem: I'm sorry, I can pay you right now, the thing is I've had a lot of bad luck lately. * The trouble with Lisa is she doesn't listen to what you tell her. have been to. used for saying that someone has gone to a place and returned: Have you ever been to Venice?* Where have you been?* I've been to London several times. there is/there are 1 used for saying that someone or something is in a particular place: There's a woman in the other room who wants to talk to you. * How many people were there at the concert? 2 used for saying that someone or something exists or that something happens: There is a small problem that we need to discuss. * There have already been four serious accidents on this stretch of road. to be honest/frank/serious used for emphasizing that what you are saying is the truth and not a joke: To be 't

.

/ bitj.hed/ noun [C] an area on a beach or beside a river that an army takes control of in order to attack farther into the land

beach-wear /bitj

wer/ noun [u) light summer clothes you wear on the beach /'bikon/ noun [c] 1 a bright light or fire that shines in the dark and is used as a signal to warn people against danger or to show them the way somewhere 1a. a tower or floating object with a bright light on it that warns boats that they are near the land 1b. a radio or raoak signal that helps ships or aircraft to that

beacon

find their position 2 [+of] mainly literary someone or something that encourages people and gives them a good example to follow: He called the country "a beacon

of democracy

and freedom.

bead /bid/ noun [C usually plural]

1 a small usually round piece of plastic, glass, metal, etc. with a hole through it, that you put on a string or chain with other beads and wear as jewelry: a string of beads 2 a small drop of a liquid such as blood or sweat: Beads of sweat ran down his forehead.

bead-ed 2 covered

/'bidsd/ with adj 1 decorated beads in small drops of a liquid: beaded with sweat/ perspiration/moisture etc. Her forehead was beaded with

perspiration.

.

honest, I'm not really interested in politics.

were sb/sth

beach-head

/ bidirj/ noun [u] 1 a decoration of beads on clothes, shoes, bags, etc. 2 long thin pieces of wood or stone that are fixed to the edges of walls or furniture

as a decoration

bea-dle

/'bidl/ noun [c] an official of a institution, especially in the past

bead-y

in schools.

church or other

beady eyes are small, round, and

/'bidi/ adj

bright

bea-gle

/'bigl/ noun [c] a dog with short hair is kept as a pet or for hunting

and long

ears that

beak

/bik/ noun

[c]

•

the hard curved or pointed part of a bird's

1

do sth formal used

in a conditional clause for describing a situation that is not real or that is very unlikely to happen: Were Shakespeare to return today, he would be amazed to find his plays being studied

to

beading

mouth

2 very informal a long pointed nose beak-er /'bikar/ noun [c] 1 a plastic cup with straight sides used for drinking 2 a glass or plastic container with straight sides that LABORATORY

is

used in a laboratory —picture

-»

In conversation or informal writing am can be shortened to 'm, is can be shortened to 's, and are can be shortened to 're: I'm so glad you came. * Kay's still at the office. * We're leaving tomorrow.

These short forms can be followed by not

to

make

negative sentences: I'm not surprised. * She's not very

Negative forms can also be shortened: am not can be shortened to aren't (but only in questions), is not can be shortened to isn't, are not can be shortened to aren't, was not can be shortened to wasn't, and were not can be shortened to weren't: I'm next, aren't I? * Tom isn't coming. * They weren't very nice.

•••

1

beam

/bitj/ noun [C] an area of sand or small stones beside the ocean or a lake: a sandy beach * I like the kind of vacation where I can sit on the beach for a week.

beam up

a vehicle with big wheels that

you can drive on sand

sit

phrasal vb [T] in science fiction stories, to bring to their spacecraft using special elec-

someone back

This verb was most famously used in the phrase

"Beam me

up, Scottie," from the television science which one of the main characters was called Mr. Scott. People sometimes use this humorously for saying that they want to get away from an embarrassing or difficult situation. fiction series Star Trek, in

beam 2 /bim/ noun

informal someone who spends a lot of time enjoying themselves on the beach

you

phrasal vb [T] in science fiction stories, to

tronic equipment

.ball noun [C] a large light plastic ball filled with air that you play with on the beach —picture -» ball

'beach .chair noun

[C]

1

long piece of line of light

[c]

2 3

AmEa folding plastic chair that

on outside: deck chair

beach-comb-er/'bitj.koomar/ noun

•

send someone down onto a planet from a spacecraft using special electronic equipment

'beach

'beach .bum noun

/bim/verb

to smile widely because

perfect blue sky.

/bitj/ verb [T] 1 to pull or make a boat go out of the water and onto dry land 2 [usually passive] if a whale (=large ocean animal) is beached, it lands on the beach and cannot get back into the water

[C]

[I]

beam down

beach 2

'beach .buggy noun

1

you are very happy: He beamed with satisfaction. [T] to send radio signals or television pictures through the air using electronic equipment: + to/across/ over etc. Pictures of the famine were beamed to television audiences all over the world. 2a. [i/T] to send out light, heat, or energy: The sun beamed down brightly from a 1

2

strong. * You're not helping.

beach

be-all noun the be-all and end-all the most important thing to someone: often used in negative sentences: Tennis never seemed to be the be-all and end-all to Becker.

[C]

someone who

•• 4 exercise equipment 5 part of ship

big smile

a long thick piece of wood, metal, or concrete that supports a roof: a barn with low oak beams 2 a line of light or energy: the beam of the car headlights * a laser beam 3 a wide happy smile: A beam of happiness spread over her face. 4 a wooden bar used for physical exercise in a gym 1

searches a beach looking for shells and valuable or interesting things beach-front / 'bitj.fr Ant/ ad] [only before noun] a beachfront building faces a beach or is very close to a beach: a large beachfront hotel

[c]

wood

°\

ID

bean 5

bean

1

/bin/ noun

|C]

**

1 a seed of various plants that is cooked and eaten. There are many different types of beans, for example kidney beans, soybeans, and green beans. 1a. a dried bean that you grind (=make into a powder) and use to make drinks such as coffee and cocoa: coffee beans 1b. a plant that produces beans 2 Am E informal your head: This puzzle isn't hard - use your bean! not know beans about sth Am E informal to know nothing about a subject

-» FULL, HILL, SPILL

1

bean 2

/bin/ verb [T] head with something

AmE

informal to hit someone's

bean-bag

/'bin.baeg/ noun [C] a large cloth bag that with small soft plastic balls a. a small cloth bag filled with small soft plastic balls, used for

you

sit on, filled

throwing and catching

'bean .counter noun [c] informal a business manager or accountant who cares only about financial numbers and

profits

bean curd

noun

[u]

a soft white food

made from

soybeans: tofu

bean-ie

/'bini/ noun [c] a small tightly to your head

round hat that

fits

bean-pole /'binpoul/ noun [C] humorous informal a person who is very tall and thin 'bean sprouts noun [plural] the young stems growing from the seeds of a bean plant that are eaten as food [C] the stem of a bean plant Bean-town /'bin.taon/ an informal name for the city

bean-stalk / 'bin.stok/ noun of Boston, Massachusetts

From the fact that Boston is famous for baked beans (=beans cooked in a sweet sauce).

bear 1

/ber/

/born/) verb 1

bearable

104

the widest part of a ship from one side to the other

(past tense bore /bor/; past participle borne [T]

*••

accept bad situation

2 have quality/mark etc. 3 support or carry weight

4 give birth to/produce 5 have feeling toward sb + PHRASES

carry or hold something, for example a weapon: a missile-bearing warship bear arms (=carry weapons) Do you support the citizen 's right to bear arms? 4 formal to give birth to a child: The ewes usually bear twin lambs. bear sb sth She bore him three sons. 4a. if a plant bears flowers or fruit, it produces them: The new stems bear the flowers. 5 to have a particular feeling toward someone: bear sb sth He had caused untold suffering, but they bore him no bitterness. bear a grudge (=to continue to dislike someone because of a past event) / hope you don't still bear a grudge against me.

bear the cost /expense etc. to pay for something: companies with enough money to bear the enormous expense of testing a new drug bear fruit if plans or efforts bear fruit, they are successful, especially after a long period of time:

of its employees.

bear witness formal 1 to speak or write about what you have seen, especially as evidence that something is true 2 to show signs that prove that something happened or was true: This landscape bears silent witness to one of the greatest tragedies in history. bear y our self formal to behave or walk or stand in a particular way: She always bore herself well. bring sth to bear 1 formal to try to persuade someone to do something by using your influence or power: + on The company directors brought pressure to bear on him to resign. 2 formal to use something to deal with a problem or difficult situation: It was in the area of marketing that Alan's business experience was brought to bear. not bear thinking about Br E to be too shocking or unpleasant to think about: "What will happen if they pull out now?" "It really doesn 't bear thinking about. ,bear

1

[usually

in

negatives or questions] if you

cannot bear some-

you cannot accept or do it because it makes you very unhappy: can't bear doing sth/to do sth Sue can't bear to be separated from her baby daughter. / can bear thing,

't

seeing food thrown away. can hardly bear to do sth I could hardly bear to watch. can't bear the thought/ idea of She more than sb couldn't bear the thought of moving again. can bear Being made a fool of in front of a roomful ofpeople was more than he could bear. 1a. [usually in negatives or

cannot bear someone or something, you dislike them very much: Most of her friends can't bear her husband. 1b. to accept a difficult or unpleasant situation, especially without complaining: She bore all her suffering with incredible patience. The pain was more than I could bear. 1c. bear the strain /pressure to be able to continue in a very difficult situation: / don't think our relationship could bear the strain of her mother visiting for a month. 2 formal to seem to be a particular kind of thing or to have particular qualities: bear the hallmarks /signs/ stamp of sth The incident bore all the hallmarks of a racist attack. 2a. to seem to be similar to something or related to it in some way. bear a resemblance/relation/similarity to His description bore no relation to reality. 2b. to have features or qualities that show that something happened in the past: bear the scars/marks of sth Many buildings in the town still bear the scars of the bombing. 2c. if something bears writing or a design, that writing or a blue design is on it: Every new coin bears a date. banner bearing the words "Civil Rights March"* bear sb's signature The letter bore the signature of her grandfather. 2d. formal to have a particular name or title: The city still bears the French name of Aix-la-Chapelle. 3 to support the weight of something: The old floorboards could not bear the weight of the grand piano. 3a. literary to carry or take someone or something somewhere: a coffin bearing the remains of an old man 3b. [usually passive] literary if something is borne along by wind, air, or water, it is moved along by it 3c. to questions] if you

Our policies

must be given time to bear fruit. bear sth in mind to remember to consider something when you are thinking about or doing something else: + (that) When you speak to Lee, bear in mind he's still pretty upset about what happened. Bearing in mind that it's Christmas, how much do you think the flight will cost? bear left/right to take the road or path on the left/ right as you are walking or driving bear the responsibility to be responsible for something: + for The company bears the responsibility for the actions

'down

phrasal vb

bear down

[l]

1

AmE to try very hard: We need make

this work. 2 [+on] to in a determined and threatening way: / could see a police car bearing down on us. 3 to push or press downward: It's a natural instinct for a woman giving birth to bear down. + on The structure is positioned to bear down on its supports. bear on or 'bear upon phrasal vb [T] [bear on sth] to be to

if

we want

to

move quickly towards someone

connected with something or to influence it: Do you have any information bearing on his disappearance? ,bear out phrasal vb [T] to show that something is true or that someone is telling the truth: Scientific evidence bears out the claim that stress and disease are linked. / always said - and Rick will bear me out - that this wouldn't work. ,bear up phrasal vb [I] to behave in a brave way in a very sad or difficult situation: + under Let's see how he bears

up under the pressure. 'bear upon phrasal vb [T] 'bear ,with phrasal vb [T]

same as bear on

bear with me/us spoken used as a polite way of asking someone to be patient while you do or finish something, especially something that is unpleasant for them: If you just bear with me for a few more minutes, we'll have all the paperwork finished. bear 2 /ber/ noun [c] •• 1 a large wild animal with thick fur. There are several different types of bears, for example the polar bear and the grizzly bear. A young bear is called a bear cub. 1a. a children's soft toy that looks like a friendly bear: teddy bear 1b. used in the name of some animals that are similar to bears: koala bear 2 business someone who expects the prices of stocks to compare bull 3 fall, so they sell them a bear spoken something that is very difficult: That bear! a bear of a (=a difficult or exam was a algebra unpleasant) problem/dilemma/winter etc. We had a bear

—

1

of an argument last night. adj something that is bearable is or unpleasant, but you are able to accept or

bear-a-ble /'berabl/ difficult

beard it:

beard-ed /'bnxbd/

adj

[usually before noun]

a bearded

man has a beard bearer /'berar/

noun [c] 1 someone whose job is to carry something such as a flag, especially in a ceremony 2 someone who brings you a particular type of news or information: +of / hate to be the bearer of bad news. 3 formal the bearer of a title or official document is the person who it belongs to or who has the right to have it: The note promises to pay the bearer $20.

'bear ,hug noun [c] an act of putting your arms around someone and holding them tightly, because you are happy to see them or you want to show that you like them a lot

bearing

/'benn/ noun

•

a part of a machine that holds a moving part -» BALL BEARING 2 [singular] the particular way in which someone stands, moves, or behaves: her proud bearing 3 [C] an exact position, usually measured from north 3a. take a bearing to find out where you are or what direction you are going in, using a special instrument such as a compass 1

[C] technical

get/find your bearings to find out where you are and where other things are: It took her a moment to get her bearings in the dark. have some/no bearing on sth to be relevant/not relevant to something or to have an influence/no influence on it: His private life has no bearing on his competence as a manager. lose your bearings to become confused about where you are and where other things are: / lost my bearings and ended up at the entrance again.

bearish / 'benJV adj

business 1 a bearish market is one in which the prices of stocks are falling 2 expecting the prices of stocks to fall: The market rose today, despite the fears of bearish investors. 2a. expecting the level of economic activity in general to fall: a bearish outlook on the U.S. economy opposite bullish

—

'bear market noun [c] business a situation in the stock market in which the prices of stocks are falling bear-skin /'ber.skin/ noun [C] 1 the skin and fur of a bear: a bearskin coat a bearskin rug 2 a tall black fur hat that some British soldiers wear as part of their uniform for special ceremonies

beast

/bist/ noun [C]

**

1 mainly literary an animal, especially a dangerous or strange one: a wild beast 2 a cruel or immoral person, especially one who behaves in a violent or sexual way 2a. informal oldfashioned used for speaking to someone who is behaving

badly: You

little beast! for describing something with a particular quality: The music business is an unpredictable beast. The U.S. movie audience is a very different beast.

3 humorous used

beast of 'burden noun is

[C] old-fashioned an animal that used for carrying heavy things, for example a donkey

or a CAMEL

beat 1

1

/bit/ (pasttense beat; past

hit

sb several times

2 arrive before sb 3 be better than sb/sth 4 be better/very good

someone

participle beaten)

verb

***

5 hit sth several times 6 heart moving regularly 7 mix foods well + PHRASES

violently several times: They were arrested for beating their children. beat sb to death The two men had been beaten to death. 2 [T] to arrive before someone else: beat sb to /back etc. See if you can beat me back to the house! 2a. to do something before a planned time or before something happens: beat the deadline/clock He was always trying to beat the clock and finish early. 3 [T] to defeat someone in a game, competition, election, or battle Hingis needed to beat Davenport to get to the In 2000, George W. Bush narrowly beat Al Gore in final. the election. 3a. to do something faster, for longer, more times, etc. than has been done before: She beat the world 1

[T]

beat

105

Only love could have made such poverty bearable, —opposite unbearable beard /bird/ noun [c] * hair that grows on a man's chin and cheeks: his thick white beard a. hair that grows on the face of an animal such as a goat deal with

to hit

:

be happy if I beat my previous best score. 3b. to succeed despite a difficult situation: // is one of the few businesses that has beaten the recession. women who have beaten breast cancer 4 [j] informal to be better than something else For me, surfing the Net beats watching TV any time. 4a. be hard to beat to be very good, or better than other things of its kind: It's an expensive hotel, but that kind oj hard to beat. 4b. you can't beat sth sth can't be beat used for saying that something is very good: You can 't beat a good book. 5 [T] to hit something several times making a regular pattern of sounds, or to make this pattern of sounds: Someone was beating a drum in the distance 5a. to hit an object or part of the body with your hands / beat my hands on the wall with rage. He suddenly heal the table with his fist. 5b. [l/T] if a bird or insect beats its wings, or if its wings beat, it hits them together several times 5c. [i/t] [-t-against/on/at] to hit something many times or for a long period of time: The rain was beating against the windows with renewed force. waves beating on the shore 5d. [T] to hit a piece of metal with a special record by 0.3 of a second.

/ 11

[

'

]

hammer in order to make it thinner 6 [I] if someone's heart beats, it makes

the same sound and movements again and again as it pumps blood around their body: The shock had made my heart beat faster.

7

[T] to mix foods such as eggs, cream, or butter well using a fork or a special tool or machine. This tool or machine can be called a beater.

beat a path to sb's door to go to someone's home or place of work in large numbers: It's no fun having the world's press constantly beating a path to your door. beat around the bush to spend a long time getting to the main point of what you are saying, especially because it is embarrassing: Stop beating around the bush and tell

me

the truth.

beat your brains out Am E informal to think very seriously about something for a long time beat it spoken used for telling someone to go away, especially when you are angry with them beat sb to it to do something before someone else: When I went to take the keys I found that someone had beaten me to

it.

beat the rap

Am E informal

to

escape being punished

for a crime you have been accused of: So far all the suspects have beaten the rap.

main

beat the system to achieve what you want by breaking rules or by finding clever ways of working within them beat time to make regular movements or sounds to show how fast a piece of music should be sung or played beat your breast to make it obvious by your actions that you are very upset or sorry about something can you beat that /it? used for showing that you are surprised about something: There was a cat with ten kittens - can you beat that? if you can't beat 'em join 'em used for saying that you are going to start doing the same as other people because you have tried to do something different and it has failed beats me used for saying that you do not know or understand something: "Why did he do such a stupid thing?" "Beats me.

Words adverbs

frequently used with beat comfortably, comprehensively, convincingly, easily, narrowly,

3

soundly

beat down phrasal vb 1 [T] to persuade someone to sell you something at a lower price than their first offer: beat sb down to sth The original price was $236,000. but we beat them down to $210,000. 2 [l] if the rain beats down, it rains very hard 3 [i] if the sun beats down, it shines very brightly making the weather very hot: + on I could feel the sun beating down on my head. beat off phrasal vb 1 [T] to succeed in winning or gaining something from an opponent: Virgin Airlines must beat efforts to beat off off stiff competition to win the contract. their rivals 2 [T] to prevent someone from physically attacking you by hitting them with your hands or with an object: He had to beat the dogs off with a stick. 3 |i] Am Every informal to MASTURBATE beat out phrasal vb [T] 1 Am E informal to succeed in

b

beat else wants: Atlanta beat out Athens for the privilege of hosting the 1996 Olympics. 2 [beat sth out of sb] to make someone tell you something by hitting them: He claims that the confession was beaten out of him. 3 to make a pattern of sounds by hitting an instrument or other object: drummers beating out a rhythm 4 to stop a fire from burning by hitting it

with something: She beat out the flames with a branch. beat up phrasal vb [T] informal 1 to hurt someone by hitting or kicking them many times: They threatened to beat me up if I didn't give them my wallet. 2 [beat sb up] to blame or criticize yourself or someone else: It's time you stopped beating yourself up over this. 1 [beat up on sb] same as beat up on phrasal vb [T] beat up v. He and his brother are always beating up on each other. 2 [beat up on sb/yourself] to blame or criticize yourself or someone else: I'm not here to beat up on single

AmE

parents. 1

beat- up up old

heart: a heart rate of 65 beats a minute skip/miss a beat Her heart seemed to miss a beat. 1a. the series of regular sounds or movements as your heart pumps blood around your body: I could feel the beat of his heart. 2 [usually singular] the main pattern of sounds in a piece of music, or the strongest sounds in this pattern: I'd like you to tap out the beat on the table. music with a slow pulsating beat 2a. a single regular sound or a series of regular sounds, especially of two things hitting together: the sound of a single drum beat + of the beat of horses' hooves 2b. a unit of measurement for a piece of music. Each measure has a particular number of beats: A waltz has three beats in each measure. 3 [usually singular] an area that a police officer has responsibility for and must walk around regularly: walk/pound/patrol the beat The two officers used to walk the beat together. on the beat (^walking around an area) We intend to increase the number of police on the beat. beat 3 /bit/ adj spoken very tired: I'm going to bed now -

bicycle

beau /boo/ (plural beaux /booz/ or beaus/booz/) man Beaufort scale, the

think

is

beautif ul

—

beat-ing

*

/'bitip/ noun [c] 1 the act of hitting someone hard a number of times in a fight or as a punishment: The man had been given a severe beating. 2 a bad defeat in a game, competition, or election: It looked like Penn State was going to get a beating.

take a beating to be damaged because of performing badly or being criticized: Real estate firms have taken a beating on the stock market. beat-nik /'bitnik/ noun [c] a young person in the late 1950s and early 1960s who did not accept the usual ideas and rules of society and who dressed and behaved in a different way from other people in order to emphasize

/'bjutifl/ adj

**•

a beautiful person is extremely attractive: Their mother was a very beautiful woman. my five beautiful kids You don't have to be young to be beautiful. 1a. something that is beautiful is very pleasant to look at: That dress is really beautiful, —opposite ugly 2 very pleasant: The weather has been beautiful this week. It was a beautiful dream. 3 done or made very well or with a lot of skill: The second goal was beautiful. She made a beautiful pot roast. beau'ti-fuhly adv: They were all beautifully dressed. 1

Other ways of saying beautiful attractive used for describing men and women whose looks make other people sexually interested in them

good-looking used children

who

for describing adults and older are nice to look at. In spoken English, is more usual than handsome for

good-looking

men handsome used

describing

for describing

men who

pretty used for describing young

are nice to

women and

girls

nice faces

gorgeous used

for emphasizing that someone looks very beautiful, especially when their clothes and hair are also very special: You look absolutely gorgeous in

that dress.

striking used for describing someone who looks interesting or unusual in an attractive way: a tall striking

woman

cute used for describing children who are nice to look at and behave in a way that makes people like them. It is also used for describing a man or woman that you find sexually attractive: Johnny was the cutest There's this really cute guy in my toddler I ever saw.

Beat Generation, the 1950s who did not accept

—

literary beautiful

/bja'tijn/ noun [c]

women's hair

hits

be-a-tif-ic /.bia'tifik/ adj literary a beatific expression be«aon your face is extremely happy and peaceful tif-i-cally /.bia'tifikli/ adv be-at-i-fi-ca-tion /bi.aetifi'keifn/ noun [u] in the Roman Catholic Church, an official statement that someone who has died was an especially good or holy person be*at*i*fy /bi'aeti.fai/ verb [T]

Am E informal something that you

someone whose job is give people beauty treatments or cut and style

to

another person, usually a smaller or weaker person: wife- /woman- /child-beater Phillips was exposed as a wife-beater. 2 a piece of equipment used for mixing food such as eggs or sauces 3 someone whose job is to make birds or wild animals come out of bushes or grass so that people who are hunting can shoot them 1 those young people in the the usual ideas and rules of Western society, living together in groups and sometimes taking illegal drugs 2 a group of writers who represent the ideas of the Beat Generation. They include Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg.

/,boo 'mand/ noun the rich and

beauteous /'bjutias/ adj

informal beat-up

someone who regularly

[C]

very good: That shot was a real beaut!

who have

[C] 1

a series of

fashionable people in society

beaut /bjut/ noun

[only before noun]

beat-er / 'bitar/ noun

,skeil/

from southern France

beau monde, the

off the beaten path/track far away from the places that people usually visit and hard to get to: The museum is a little off the beaten path, but is worth the effort. adj

/'boofort

numbers from to 12 that are used to show how strongly the wind is blowing. means that there is no wind and 12 means that there is a hurricane (=a violent storm) Beau«jo«lais /,boo33'lei/ noun [c/u] a type of red wine

look at

beaten- up

[C]

well-

dressed fashionable

beaten gold, silver, or other metal has been shaped with a hammer /bitn/ adj

noun

woman's boyfriend or lover 2 a

old-fashioned 1 a

I'm beat.

beat-en

this.

informal old and in bad condition: a beat-

adj

beau-ti-cian

2

/bit/ noun [C] •• one of the regular sounds or movements of your

beat

beauty

106

winning or gaining something that someone

office.

/'bjuti.fai/ verb [T] to make something look beautiful: She likes to spend time beautifying her

beau'ti-fy

more home.

beau-ty

1

/'bjuti/

noun

•••

U the quality of being beautiful or very good to look I admired at: He was impressed by her beauty and charm. the beauty of the landscape. 1a. the beauties of sth the features of something that are beautiful to look at: the beauties of nature 2 [C] mainly journalism a beautiful woman: She was a great beauty in her time. 3 [U] a quality that something has that gives you pleasure: the beauty of her poetry 4 [C] informal something that you think is very good or a good example of its type: / love old cars, and that 1

[

]

one's a beauty. is in the eye of the beholder used for saying that different people have different opinions about what is beautiful the beauty of sth the advantage or good quality that something has: The beauty of working at home is that you don't have to travel. you beauty Australian spoken used for expressing your

beauty

pleasure at something

beauty /'bjuti/ adj [only before nounj used to describe products, jobs, or activities that are related to making

people look more beautiful: beauty products/treatments Someone told me that she made her fortune selling beauty products.

beauty contest

noun [C] 1 beauty contest or beauty pageant a competition for women in which judges decide who are the most beautiful 2 mainly journalism a type of primary election in which people's votes have no real effect, but instead show the political parties which candidates are most popular 'beauty mark noun [c] a small dark spot on the skin. Br E beauty spot 'beauty pa rade noun [c] business a situation in which someone chooses to use the services of a particular company without basing their decision on important

AmE

AmE

facts

beauty parlor

noun [c] a store where you can get beauty treatments for your skin or hair beauty queen noun [c] a woman who wins a beauty contest 'beauty salon noun [c] a beauty parlor 'beauty sleep noun [u] humorous sleep that you need to have at night so that you can stay healthy and look good beauty ,spot noun [c] BrE 1 a beautiful place in the countryside that attracts tourists 2 a beauty mark bea-ver 1 /'bivar/ noun 1 [c] a small North American animal that has a wide flat tail and thick fur. Beavers cut down trees with their teeth and build dams (=walls) across streams. 2 [u] the fur of a beaver, used for making clothes such as hats and coats 3 [C] offensive an offensive word for the area around a woman's sex organs bea«ver 2 /'bivar/ verb beaver a way phrasal vb [i] informal if you beaver away at something, you work very hard at it: +at He was beavering away at his homework until after midnight.

be-bop

/'bi.bap/ noun [U] a type of jazz music that developed in the U.S. during the 1940s among musicians who emphasized the complicated structure of the music, instead of the tune

be-calmed /bi'kamd/ adj

if

a sailing boat

cannot move because there

it

is

the past tense of

be-cause

/bi'koz; biksz/ function

Because can be used

is

becalmed,

become word

***

in the following ways:

as a conjunction (connecting two clauses): by bus because it was cheaper.

We went

because of (followed by a game of the season was canceled

in the preposition phrase

noun): The first because of the snow.

used for showing the reason something happens or why it is described in a particular way: / It's couldn't call you because I didn't have your number. a really useful book because it explains everything very clearly. The hotel's difficult to find because the road isn't signposted. "Why all this fuss about security?" "Because it's important." He's always criticizing me - maybe it's because I'm a woman. + of Stacey retired in 1987, partly because of ill health. Because of the Asian crisis, the company's profits fell by 15% during 1997. 2 mainly spoken used for introducing facts that explain why you believe that something is true: George was obviously in a bad mood, because he didn even say good 1

the reason

't

morning. 1

beck /bek/

noun [C] BrE a small stream beck and call available to do things for another person whenever they want: Your mother can't be at your beck and call all the time. at sb's

beck-on

/'beksn/ verb

[i/T]

to signal to someone to to the waiter to ask beckon (to) sb to do sth She 1

come toward you: +to He beckoned for another bottle of wine. beckoned me to join her. 2 it is

if something beckons to you, very attractive and you feel you have to do some-

thing to get

it:

A

become /bik\m/ (past tense became /hi ticiple

become) verb *

Become

keim/; past

par-

••

can be used

in the following

ways:

as a linking verb (followed by an adjective or noun complement): The problem became worse. He became president in 2001. as an ordinary transitive verb: Blue becomes you.

is

a color that

to change and start to be something 1 different, or to start to have a different quality: The sky became dark. People were becoming increasingly angry Was it boredom that made Branwell about the delay. become an alcoholic? Sao Paulo has become the largest city in South America. 1a. to begin to have a particular job or position of authority, or begin to be a member of [linking verb]

a group: In 1603 James became King of England. It was Mr. Berry who encouraged Christine to become a writer. The following year Easton became an American citizen. 1b. to begin to be used for a different purpose: What sort of building was it before it became a museum? 2 [T] formal if something becomes you, it is suitable for you or it makes you more attractive: That red dress really becomes her - it goes with her hair. become of phrasal vb [T] what has/will become of used for asking what has happened to someone or something, because you have not seen them for a long time, or what will happen to them, because you are worried about them: If she is sent Whatever to prison, what will become of her children? became of the painting that used to be in the library?

be-com-ing you look

/bi'kAmirj/ adj old-fashioned

1

making

Her new hairstyle was very becoming. or correct for you or the situation that

attractive:

2 appropriate

you are in 1 /bed/ noun

bed

••*

1 [C/U] a piece of furniture that you sleep on, consisting of a soft comfortable part called a mattress and a base: double/twin/single bed The room had two single beds in it. out of/ in bed It's midnight - why aren't you in bed? get out of bed (=get up) / never get out of bed before 10 a.m. go to bed I'll get home at 11 p.m. and go straight to bed. put sb to bed Sam was upstairs putting the children

make the/my/your

etc. bed (=make its covers slept in it) Why can 't you kids beds? —picture -» next page la. anything that is used by a person or animal for sleeping on: The dog's bed is in the kitchen. He made himself a bed of straw. 2 [C] an area of ground that has been dug for growing plants and flowers: a circular bed in the middle of the lawn -» flowerbed 2a. [C usually singular] the ground at the bottom of an ocean or river: a dried-up river bed 2b. [C] an area in a river, lake, or ocean where there are a lot of plants or animals of a particular kind: reed beds oyster beds 3 [C] a layer of rock that is inside a larger area of rock 3a. [singular] a layer of food on which you put other food: + of shrimp served on a bed of lettuce to bed.

straight after

you have

make your own

no wind

be-came

-» JUST

B.Ed.

107

beau*ty 2

bright future beckoned to him.

get out of bed on the wrong side/get up on the wrong side of the bed spoken to be in a bad mood from the time you get up in the morning for no obvious reason go to bed with sb informal to have sex with someone good/bad in bed informal good /bad as a sexual partner sb has made their bed, and they must lie /sleep in it used for saying someone must accept an unpleasant situation they are in because they caused it jump/get into bed with sb 1 informal to have sex with someone you have just met 2 to start a close business relationship with someone who people do not trust sth/life is not a bed of roses [usually in negatives] used for saying that something is not always good or easy: The life of a debt collector is no bed of roses. put sth to bed to finish dealing with something bed 2 /bed/ verb [t] 1 to put something firmly into a base or into the ground: embed 2 literary to have sex with someone

bed down

phrasal vb [l/T] to lie down or put someone else into a bed or another place to sleep: John and Steve can bed down in the family living room. It was time to bed down for the night.

B.Ed.

/,bi 'ed/ noun [c] Bachelor of Education: a first college degree for people who want to become teachers

bed and breakfast

beef

108

bed-lam

/'bedlam/ noun

a noisy and confusing place or situation: chaos: There was complete bedlam as everyone rushed for the stores.

double bed

From

the

name

[u]

of an old psychiatric hospital in the

U.K.

bed-lin-en /'bed.lmin/ noun

[u]

sheets and pillowcases

(=covers for pillows)

bed-lin-er /'bed.lamor/ noun [c] AmE a cover that protects the open back of a pickup truck from damage bed-pan /'bed.paen/ noun [c] a wide flat container that is used as a toilet by people who are too sick to get out of bed

bed-post /'bed.poost/ noun

[c] one of the four upright pieces of wood at each corner of a bed, especially an old-fashioned bed

be-drag-gled /bi'dnegld/

ad] wet, dirty,

and messy

bed-ridden

/'bed.ndn/ adj unable to get out of bed because you are too weak or sick bed-rock /'bed.rak/ noun [singular] 1 the ideas and principles on which a belief or system is based: cornerstone:* of These are the principles that form the bedrock of American society. 2 the solid rock under the ground that supports the soil above it

bed-roll /'bedxoul/ noun [C] a rolled piece of material that you carry with you and use as a bed when you are sleeping outside

***

bed-room

/'bed.rum/ noun [c] a room that you mom in the spare bedroom. a two-bedroom apartment the master bedroom (=the main bedroom in a house) a. relating to this room: the bedroom door bedroom furniture sleep in: III put your

in the

bedroom used

for referring to sex

when you do

not want to do this directly

bedroom community noun to a

[C]

AmE a

town

to

or

place from

bedroom suburb

where many people

travel

work

'bedroom eyes

informal a way of looking at someone that shows you are sexually attracted to

noun

[plural]

them

bed-side

/'bed.said/ noun bed: a bedside lamp

,bed and 'breakfast noun [u] the service of providing a room for the night and a meal the next morning: The price is $75 for bed and breakfast, a. [C] a small hotel or private house that provides this service

be-daz-zled /bi'dxzld/ adj

literary very impressed and by something bed-bug /'bed.bAg/ noun [c] an insect with a round body and no wings that sucks people's blood, especially when they are in bed bed-cham-ber /'bed.tjeimbar/ noun [c] an old word

slightly confused

meaning "bedroom"

bed-clothes

/'bed.klooS-z; 'bed.klooz/ noun [plural] sheets and covers, especially when used on a bed

bedding

/'bedirj/ noun [u] 1 the sheets and covers that are used on a bed: They were supplied with food, clothes, and bedding. 2 things that an animal uses to make its bed, for example grass and leaves

'bedding plant noun that

is

[c] a plant, usually with flowers, put in the garden at the beginning of a season

and thrown away at the end be-decked/bi'dekt/adj literary [+in/with] covered with lots of

decorations such as flags or flowers

be-dev-il /bi'devl/

(pasttense and past participle be-deviled present participle be-devil-ing or be-dev-il-lingl verb [T] formal to cause a lot of problems for someone or something: The team has been bedeviled by injury. or be-dev-illed;

bed-f el-low /'bed.feloo/ noun

[C] someone or someconnected with another person or thing in some way, often unexpectedly: Politics can create some

thing that

is

strange bedfellows.

/'bed.hed/ noun [c] BrE informal messy hair that looks as just gotten out of bed

bed-head 2

[u]

"\

if

[singular]

the area near your

be at sb's bedside to sit near someone who is sick in bed: His family was at his bedside all day long. bedside 'manner noun [singular] the way in which a doctor behaves toward a person in their care bed-sit /'bed.sit/ or bed-sit-ter /'bed.sitsr/ noun [c] BrE a room that you rent that is used for both living

and sleeping

in

bed-sore /'bed ,sor/ noun

[c] a red painful area on your skin that you get from lying in one position in bed for a long time

bed-spread /'bed.spred/ noun

[c] a top cover for a bed, used mainly for decoration bed-stead /'bed.sted/ noun [c] the wooden or metal frame of a bed bed-time /'bed.taim/ noun [u] the time you usually go to bed: Come on, kids - it's bedtime! / stayed up long past my bedtime last night. He was telling his son a bedtime

story.

bed-wet-ting

/'bed,wetin/ noun [u] the problem of urinating during sleep

**

bee

a flying insect that has black and /bi/ noun [c] yellow bands and can sting you. Bees make honey, and bees that are not wild live in hives. The sound a bee makes is written as buzz. picture -» ci3

—

have a bee in your bonnet (about sth) informal to be very involved in something you think is important, in a way that other people may find annoying -» bird, busy BEE

beech

/bitJV noun beech or beech tree [C] a large tree with smooth gray bark and small nuts a. [u] the wood picture -* C9 of a beech tree beef 1 /bif/ noun •• 1 [U] the meat from a cow: a slice of roast beef* ground beef beef 1a. relating to this meat: the beef industry

—

& headboard

cattle

someone has

2

beef stew

[C usually singular] informal a complaint: gripe: What's his beef?

beef

beg

109

3 [Uj informal strength or power beef 2 /bif/ verb [i] [+about] informal

be-fall

to complain up phrasal vb [T] informal to increase or improve something or make it more interesting: The hotel plans to beef up its marketing effort. beef-burg-er /'bif.bsrgar/ noun [C] 1 AmE a sandwich made of loose hamburger 2BrEa hamburger beef-cake /'bif.keik/ noun [u] informal attractive men with large muscles, or pictures of men like this beef-eat-er /'bif.itar/ noun [C] a guard at the Tower of London in the U.K. who wears a traditional red uniform and black hat beef 'Steak /'bif.steik/ noun [c/u] a large thick piece

,beef

/bl'fol/ (past tense be»fell /bilel/; past participle be-fall-en /bi'lblon/) verb [i/T] literary if something unpleasant befalls you, it happens to you

be-fit

a type of large firm

a beefy person has a large

/'bifi/ adj informal

heavy body and strong muscles

bee-hive

/'bi,haiv/ noun [c] 1 a structure in which you keep bees, and from which you collect their honey 2 a hairstyle for women in which the hair is held upright in a tall round shape, popular especially in the

1960s

bee-keep-ing

/'bi.kipnj/ noun [u] the activity of bee-keep-er raising bees and collecting their honey [C]

/'bi.lain/ noun make a beeline for informal to go toward someone or something in the quickest and

bee-line

most direct way Be-el-ze-bub /bi'elza.bAb/

a

name

for the devil

Beenver /'bimsr/ noun [c] informal a bmw car been the past participle of be beep /bip/ verb 1 if a piece of electronic equipment 1

[i]

makes a short high sound: When the cake is 2 [i/T] if a car horn beeps, or if you beep your horn, it makes a short loud noise

beeps,

it

done, the timer will beep.

beep 2

/bip/ noun [c] 1 a short high sound made by a piece of electronic equipment: Please leave your message and phone number after the beep. 2 the short loud noise that a car horn makes

beep-er

/'bipar/ noun [C] informal a small piece of electronic equipment that makes short high sounds as a signal for you to telephone someone: pager

/bir/ noun *** [u] a yellow or brown alcoholic drink made from malt (=grain that has been left in water and then dried) and hops (=a type of plant). You make or

beer

brew a.

[C]

beer: I don't drink beer, only wine. a barrel of beer a glass or bottle of this drink: Let's go for a beer.

'beer belly noun [c] informal a fat stomach that a man gets from drinking too much beer over a long period of time: beer gut

beer garden noun

[c] mainly BrE an area outside a bar where people can sit at tables and drink 'beer ,gut noun [c] informal a beer belly

beer mat noun

[c]

BrE a

coaster

bees-wax

/'biz,waeks/ noun [u] a substance produced by bees that is used especially for making furniture polish (=a substance you put on furniture to make it shine)

none of your beeswax Am E informal used for telling someone rudely that something does not affect or involve them beet/bit/noun [C/u] 1 Am E the round dark purple root of a vegetable that is cooked and eaten. Br E beetroot —picture -> cu 2 a sugar beet red as a beet Am E informal very red in your face, especially because you are embarrassed: He got as red

be-fore

1

bee-tie /'bid/ noun

[c]

an

insect with a

smooth hard

Before can be used

— be-fit-ting adj *••

befitted

word

in the following ways:

as a conjunction (connecting two clauses): Think carefully before you choose. as a preposition (followed by a noun): We'll finish the project before Christmas. as

an adverb (without a following noun):

I'd

met him

/'bit.rut/

1 earlier than a particular time la. earlier than a particular time, event, or action: She regularly goes for a run before breakfast. The others had gotten there before us. Won 't you have another drink before you go? I joined the police in 1999. Before that I was in the army. Two weeks before the election the first reports of the scandal began to appear. before doing sth You should seek legal advice before signing anything, lb. at a time in the past: Haven 't we met somewhere before? Never before in modern history has one nation dominated the world so completely. 1c. the day/week/weekend etc. before the previous day/week/weekend etc.: She mentioned a TV show she'd watched the night before. 1d. the day before yesterday/ the week before last etc. two days/weeks etc. ago: Curry quit playing football the season before last. 1e. used for saying how much time passes until something happens: Several years went by before I realized that David

had

noun [c/u]

BrE a

lied to me.

2 when

sth is prevented used for saying that something happens that prevents someone from doing what they intended: Before I could think of a reply she walked away. 3 used in warnings or threats spoken used for warning someone that something bad may happen unless they do something: Clean up that mess before your father sees it. You'd better go away before I lose my temper. 4 for sb to consider or watch 4a. formal used for saying that something or someone is judged or considered by a group of people: The case went before a grand jury on December 17th. The question before us is whether we should allow a foreign government to control our commerce. 4b. formal used for saying that something is happening where people can watch it: The team scored an impressive victory before 76,000 fans at Arrowhead Stadium. 5 in front of or earlier than sb/sth 5a. if one place is before another place on your trip, you come to it first: Our house is just before you get to the end of the road. *Afew miles before the border we were stopped at an army checkpoint. 5b. formal in front of someone or something: Lawrence knelt before the king. Before the temple gate stood a bronze statue of Buddha. 5c. used for saying that something is placed earlier than something else in a list or series: The names are in alphabetical order, so "Barnes" should come before "Brown. 6 in the future mainly Br E formal used when saying what will happen in someone's future: A promising You 're still young - you career stretched out before him. have your whole life before you. -» AGO

/bi'for.hamd/ adv * before a particular event: used especially for talking about something done in preparation for the event: If you do most of the cooking beforehand, you'll enjoy the evening more.

be-fore-hand

be-friend /bi'frend/ verb [t usually passive] to become the friend of someone and treat them in a kind way be-fud-dled /bi'lAdld/ adj very confused, and unable to

think clearly: bewildered

ask for help, an opportunity, etc. in a way it very much: "Don't go!" he begged. beg sb (not) to do sth She had written a letter begging him to come back. * We begged her for another chance. beg to do sth / begged to be allowed to join them. beg (sb) for sth The boy was screaming and begging for mercy. 1a. [i] to ask for something in a way that shows you are not proud: Yes, I do want him to give me the job. but 1

[i/T] to

that

-» ci3

bee-tie 2 /'bitl/ verb .beetle off or .beetle away phrasal vb [I] Br E informal to go somewhere quickly, especially when you do not wish to be seen Bee-tie /'bitl/ trademark a type of small car with a round shape made by Volkswagen

beet-root

/bi'for/ function

beg /beg/ verb •*

as a beet when he realized his mistake.

back —picture

very formal to be suitable for

once before. [c]

tomato

noun

[T]

the daughter of a millionaire.

of good-quality beef

.beefsteak to'mato noun beef-y

/bi'fit/ verb

someone or something, become: She dressed as

beet

shows you want

I refuse to beg!

1

P

began

no

ask people for money or food, usually because you are very poor: homeless people begging on the streets +for The boys went from door to door begging for money. beg sth from sb He would beg food from other children at

2

[I/T] to

school.

3

if

[I]

as a

a dog begs,

way

it

sits

and holds up

its

two front

feet

of asking for food

be going begging Br E spoken if something is going begging, anyone can have it because no one else wants it

beg or borrow sth or beg, borrow, or steal sth to manage to find something you need by whatever method you can: scrounge: See if you can beg, borrow, or steal a bicycle for the day.

beg the question 1 to make you want to know the answer to a particular question: If she got caught stealing money and she's still here, it begs the question: What would she have to do to get fired? 2 formal to discuss a problem, issue, or fact as if it definitely exists, even though it may not exist: The whole idea of a Patients' Bill of Rights begs the question that the government should be involved in the first place.

beg to differ spoken formal used for saying that you disagree with what someone has just said 1 beg your pardon 1 spoken formal used for asking someone to repeat something because you did not hear them. "Pardon me?" or "Excuse me?" are less formal ways of saying this: "Are you ready to leave?" "I beg your pardon?" "I was just asking if you're ready to leave." 2 spoken formal used for saying you are sorry because you have made a slight mistake, for example because you have stood on someone's foot. "Sorry" is a less formal way of saying this: Oh, I beg your pardon, I didn't realize this was your chair. 3 spoken used for showing that you disagree very strongly with what someone has just said: "Jenny doesn't concentrate when she's driving." "I beg your pardon! She's a very good driver!" I

beg off

phrasal vb [i] informal to say that you are not going to do something that you had previously agreed to do: CRY OFF

began

the past tense of begin

be«get/bi'get/ (past tense be»got/bi'gat/ or be«gat/bi'gaet/; past participle be«got/bi'gat/orbe»got»ten/bi'gatn/) verb [T] 1

formal to cause something to happen or be created

2 an

old

word meaning

"to

become the father of a

child" 1

/'begar/ noun [c] someone who is very poor by asking people for money or food beggars can't be choosers informal used for saying that you have to accept anything that is offered to you, usually because you have no money or power lucky/lazy /cheeky etc. beggar BrE spoken used for describing or talking to someone you think is lucky, lazy, etc. in a friendly way: It's late - get up, you lazy

beg-gar and

little

lives

beggar!

beg-gar 2

/'begar/ verb [T] formal to country, or organization very poor

beggar belief/ description used at something that is extremely

make a

person,

for expressing

shock

difficult to believe

or

begrudge discussion about the budget, —opposite end, finish 1c. [I] to start speaking: "At last, " he began "I thought you were never coming." opposite conclude Id. [T] to give your attention to something for the first time: / began the book with high hopes, -opposite finish 2 [i] to start happening or existing: My troubles began the night I met Roger. The ceremony is due to begin at noon. She felt her life was just beginning. + as It began as a practical joke. 2a. [+with] if a sentence, book, etc. begins with a particular letter, word, etc., that is the first one in it We usually use "an" before a word beginning with a vowel. 2b. if a place begins somewhere, that is the first point where you consider it to be 2c. [-t-withj if an activity or process begins with something, that is the first thing that happens in it: All meals begin with a short prayer. The competition began with one of the teams being disqualified. 2d. to start speaking: "It isn't like that, " he began, but Ben interrupted him.

—

:

can't begin to imagine/understand/explain etc. spoken used for emphasizing that something is very difficult to imagine, understand, etc.: / can't even begin to imagine what it's like for him, bringing up three kids on his own. it all began used for introducing a long story or account of something: It all began on one stormy night in May 1998.

to begin with 1 spoken used for introducing the first thing in a list of things you are going to say: "Why were you annoyed?" "Well, to begin with, I hadn't even invited her. " 2 before or during the first part of an activity or process: How did you get involved to begin with?

be«gin«ner/bi'gin3r/ noun [c] * someone who has just started to learn or do something: novice: That wasn't bad, for a beginner! computers. helpful

/ bought a beginner's guide to for the complete beginner

tips

— opposite expert, veteran be ginner's luck

noun [u] unusual success that you doing something new be-gin-ning /bi'gmin/ noun 1 [C usually singular] the first part of something: start: / loved the beginning of the book but hated the rest. + of There is no need to start at the beginning of each section. 1a. the start of a period of time: + of I'll be away for two weeks at the beginning of April. 1b. the start of an event or process: +of It was the beginning of a friendship that would last his whole life. from the very beginning /right from the beginning (=from the exact point when some-

have when you

start

*••

1

thing starts) He knew they'd be friends right from the beginning. from beginning to end If it's anything like last year's party, it'll be dull from beginning to end. mark the beginning of sth This success marked the beginning of a new beginning To me, this new phase in his career. moment was both an ending and a new beginning. in the beginning In the beginning I found it hard to concentrate, but now it's much easier, —opposite end

2 beginnings [plural] someone's background, for example the social class that they originally came from, or their first job: The company has come a long way since its humble beginnings 70 years ago. 2a. the background or origin of something, for example where it started, how it started, etc. It was a decade that saw the beginnings of the space program. 2b. the first signs that something is starting to happen or exist: the beginnings of sth We may now have the beginnings of an agreement. the beginning of the end the time when something starts to end, or starts to get worse: The argument was the beginning of the end as far as their relationship was :

describe: His attitude simply beggars belief!

beggar-thy- neighbor noun

[u]

AmEa card game in

which one player tries to win all the cards of the other Br E beggar-my-neighbour beg-ging bowl /'begin ,boul/ noun [c] a bowl carried by someone who is asking for food or money a. a request for money made by a country or an organization player.

be-gin

/bi'gin/ (past tense be«gan /bi'gsn/; past participle be«gun/bi'gAn/; present participle be*gin*ning) verb 1 [T] to start doing something: begin doing sth He began shouting at them. begin to do sth Suddenly the rain began to fall. be just beginning to do sth (=to be at the earliest stage of doing something) The buds were just beginning to open, —opposite stop 1a. [T] to start feeling or thinking something: begin to do sth Now we were beginning to feel excited. / was beginning to wonder if I'd ever find you! 1b. [I/T] to make an activity or process start or exist: The Their truck began the steep descent to the village. begin (sth) police have already begun their investigation. as sth He began his working life as a waiter. begin (sth) by doing sth I'd like to begin by thanking you all for coming. begin (sth) with sth We began the meeting with a

***

concerned.

be-gin-ning 2 /bi'gmin/

adj [only before noun] just starting to learn a particular activity, skill, etc.: a beginning teacher

be-gone

/bi'gon/ interjection used in the past to

someone to go away be-go-nia /bi'goonja/ noun

tell

a plant grown for its bright red, pink, yellow, or white flowers and colored leaves be-got the past tense and past participle of beget

be-got-ten

be-grudge

[C]

the past participle of beget

/bi'grAd3/ verb

[T]

1

to

feel

annoyed

because someone has something that you want, and you think they do not deserve it: not begrudge sb sth No one could begrudge him the money - he's such a nice guy. 2 to

beguile do something: resent: begrudge doing sth / begrudge paying so much just to park be-grudg-ing adj, be*grudg*ing*ly adv the car. be*guile /bi'gail/ verb [J] formal to persuade or trick someone into doing something, especially by saying nice things to them: She was beguiled by his charm. be-guil-ing /bi'gailip/ adj a beguiling person or thing seems attractive and interesting, but may be dangerous: be*guil«ing«ly adv alluring be»gun the past participle of begin be-half /bi'haef/ noun -k-k on sb's behalf/on behalf of sb or in sb's behalf/in behalf of sb 1 instead of someone, or as a representative of someone: A lawyer issued a statement on behalf of the victim's family. 2 in order to help someone: She intervened with the immigration service on his behalf. to

—

—

be-have

/bi'heiv/ verb

**

1 [I] to do things in a particular way: The children behaved very badly. + like You behaved like a complete idiot! + toward This is not how you behave toward a child. +as if /though He behaved as though he hadn't seen Ellie. behave in a sensible /alarming etc. way She was embarrassed at having behaved in such a childish way. [l/T] to be polite and not be rude or cause trouble: 2 Mom's always telling me to behave when we go out. behave yourself / hope the children behave themselves. 3 [\\science if a chemical substance, metal, etc. behaves in a particular way, it always reacts in that way because of the laws of science

••*

be-hav-ior

/bi'heivjar/ noun [u] 1 the way that someone behaves: Anna was sick of her brother's annoying behavior. 2 science the way that a substance, metal, etc. usually behaves: Scientists are studying the behavior of certain elements in a humid environment.

be on your best behavior to behave very well, usually because you want to please someone be«hav*ior*al /bi'heivjsrsl/ adj * relating to the way someone behaves: behavioral problems be*havior-

—

al-ly

adv

be-hav-ior-ism /bi'heivjsxizam/ noun [u] the belief that the scientific study of people's minds should be based only on their behavior, not their thoughts and —be«havior«ist noun [C] be-hav-iour /bi'heivjar/the Br E spelling of behavior be'hav'iounal/brheivjaral/the Br E spelling of behavfeelings

behaviour-ism

/bi'heivjanzam/the

BrE

spelling of

/bi'hed/ verb

especially as a

[t]

to cut off

someone's head,

punishment

be-hest

/bi'hest/ noun at the behest of sb very formal because someone has asked for something or said it

must happen be-hind /bi'hamd/ 1

Behind can be used

function

word

***

in the following ways:

as a preposition (followed by a noun): The car behind us was flashing its lights.

an adverb (without a following noun): I stayed to

take care of the children.

back or opposite side 1a. at the back of someone or something: The teacher was standing behind me, looking over my shoulder. Some papers had slipped down behind the bookcase. Harry went out and shut the door behind him (=after he had gone through it). from behind He grabbed me from behind and pulled me to the ground. 1b. following someone or something: You walk ahead and we'll follow along behind. The other runners were a long way behind Benson. 1c. on the other side of something from where you are: The personnel director We could hide was sitting behind an enormous desk. at sb/sth's

behind those bushes. for stating what causes sth used for saying what causes something or who is responsible for making it happen, especially when this is not obvious: Police believe that a racist group is behind the attacks. What's behind this sudden change of policy? 3 late in doing sth late or too slow in doing things that you have to do: The project is already a month behind

2 used

leader.

7 used for stating hidden facts 7a. used for saying that someone's appearance or behavior hides their real character or feelings: Behind her quiet shy manner there It was an evil business conducted is a passionate spirit. behind a show of respectability. 7b. used for talking about the real facts of a situation that people do not know: Parents are demanding to know the truth behind the terrible story behind the fur these disturbing rumors. trade 8 happening in the past 8a. if a bad experience or unpleasant situation is behind you, it no longer affects you or makes you unhappy: With the trauma of the divorce behind her, Sandra could look forward to a better put sth behind you Sure, I made some bad mistakes, life. but I want to put all that behind me now and think about the future. 8b. if you have useful experience behind you, it gives you an advantage because you have gained skills and knowledge from it: Robinson entered politics with 20 years' business experience behind him.

be-hind 2 /bi'hamd/ noun sit

[c]

informal the part of your

on: bottom

be-hind-hand /bi'hamd hand/

adv late with some-

1

be-head

1

The Americans were falling behind in the comthe West. world of automobile design. 5b. used for saying that one person or team has a lower score or is less likely to win than their opponent: Davis is still behind in recent opinion polls. +by At half time, our team was behind by 12 points. 5c. behind the times if a person or organization is behind the times, they are not modern because they have not changed as much or made as much progress as others: ,4 business without its own Web site is definitely way behind the times. 6 giving support used for saying that someone supports a person, action, or idea: You're doing a great job, and I want you to know we're behind you all the way. Not everyone in Congress was behind Roosevelt 's policies. When it came to a crisis, they all rallied behind their

petitive

thing

behaviorism

behind

I'm sorry your suit isn t ready yet. We've gotten a little behind with things. be/get/fail behind Within a few months she had fallen behind in her rent. 4 remaining after people leave remaining in a place after people have left: After the party Jack and Laurie stayed behind to clean up. * They left two of us behind to guard the baggage. Some of the equipment got left behind. 5 achieving less progress or success 5a. used for saying that someone or something is less successful or has made less progress than others: I've been sick that's why I'm behind everyone else in math and French. Technology in Eastern Europe was at least 20 years behind schedule.

body that you

ioral

as

belabor

in

annoyed that you have

feel

be-hold /bi'hould/

(past tense and past participle be*held /bi'held/) verb [T] literary to see something

a joy/marvel/ wonder etc. to behold something that is enjoyable /marvelous /wonderful etc. to watch behold-er noun[C] 2 be-hold /bi'hoold/ interjection literary used for telling someone to look at something behold-en /bi'hooldn/adj/orma/[+to] feeling an obligation to do something for someone who has helped you in the past be-hoove /bi'huv/ verb [t] it behooves you to do sth formal used for saying that someone should do something because it is the right thing to do be-hove /bi'hoov/the Br E spelling of behoove beige /bei3/ adj very pale brown in color: a beige jacket — beige noun [u] being /'biirj/ noun •• 1 [C] a person: human being: We are social beings as well as individuals. 1a. a living creature: a being from outer

—

space 1b. a spirit or god: their belief in the supernatural beings that surrounded them 2 [U] mainly literary the deepest and most essential part of someone's individual character: an idea that shook her to the very core of her being

come

into being to start to exist: at the came into being

moment when

the Earth

be-jew-eled

/bi'd^uold/ adj literary decorated with jewels, or wearing jewels

be-labor

/bileibor/ verb

[T]

AmE old-fashioned

someone or something hard many times

to hit

^

P

belated

late:

to

a belated apology

a.

arriving

late:

a belated birthday

card

be-lat-ed-ly

/bi'leitadli/ adv

what

belatedly, she realized

belch

1

/beltjV verb 1

[I]

late

or too

late:

Then,

I meant.

to let air from your stomach mouth in a noisy way: burp

come out through your 2 [T] mainly literary to produce

a lot of smoke, steam, The truck was belching black smoke. 2a. [i] [+out/into etc.] if smoke, steam, etc. belches out somewhere, it comes out of something and into that place in

fire,

large quantities /beltjV noun [c] the action or

sound of someone

belching

beleaguered

[only before noun] /bi'ligard/ adj 1 having a lot of problems or criticism to deal with: a beleaguered football coach The beleaguered actor refused

to talk to reporters today. 2 mainly literary surrounded by an army and not able to escape bel'fry /'belfri/ noun [C] the part of a tower that has a

bell in

it 1

Bel-gian /'beld33n/ noun

Belgian 2

[C]

someone from Belgium

/'beld33n/ adj 1 someone

from Belgium 2 relating

to

who

is

Belgium or

Belgian

its

is

culture:

Belgian chocolates

belie

formal to make someone or be different from how they really

/bi'lai/ verb [T] very

something appear

to

are: Mr. Kim's black hair belied his age. a. to

seem

to

that a promise, hope, statement, etc. is not true: belie claims that progress is being

The recent bombings

made

in the

peace

talks.

*••

be-lief /bi'lif/ noun [c/u] a strong feeling that something is true or real: conviction: This theory goes against the beliefs of most current political thinkers. + in a belief in the existence of UFOs + that the mistaken belief popular/widely that cocaine is not an addictive drug held/widespread belief There is widespread belief that an contrary to popular belief agreement has been made. (=although most people think that something is true) Contrary to popular belief, nighttime is actually safer than the day. firm/strong belief It is my firm belief that the growing belief There is a government should act now. growing belief that she will resign, a. [C/U] a strong feeling that something is right or good: +in a belief in social justice + that the belief that women should be treated equally b. [C usually plural] an idea that you are certain is true, especially involving religion or politics: Christian/ + about/ concerning our traditional Buddhist beliefs beliefs about the origins of life express belief Everyone is entitled to express their own personal beliefs. 1 used for emphasizing how bad someThe conditions they are living in are beyond belief.

beyond belief thing

he

not telling the truth. honestly /truly believe / honestly believe he really loved her. believe sb (to be) sth / would never have believed him capable of walking out on his kids. lead sb to believe sth (=make someone think something) We were led to believe we could make a large profit. 2a. sb/sth is believed to be used for saying that it is the general opinion of most people that something is true although it has not been proved: A third man is missing and is believed to have been taken into police is

custody. 3 [I] to

have a religious

belief:

Do you

still

believe?

etc.:

belch 2

show

bell

112

emphasize an idea or suggestion too much in a way that becomes boring or annoying be-lat-ed /bi'leitod/ adj [usually before noun] happening belabor the point

is:

2 extremely

surprising or unreasonable, so that you cannot believe it: His greediness is beyond belief. in the belief that because you think that something is true: She wrote to him in the belief that he would help her. believ-a-ble /bi'livabl/ adj 1 seeming possible or plausible: Their story is hardly believable. described in a way that makes you think something or someone could really exist: convincing: The leading character in the film wasn't very believable.

true:

2

believe

/bi'liv/ verb

***

1 [T] to think that a fact is true .Astronomers knew the +(that) I Earth was round, but few people believed it. don 't believe that she's ever been to Hong Kong. be widely/ generally believed (=be believed by a lot of people) It is

widely

believed

that

the

virus

originally

came from

hard /difficult to believe She found it would hard to believe that he was a real businessman. never have believed / would never have believed such a place existed if I hadn't seen it for myself la. to think that what someone has said is true: He told me his version "I did pay the of events, but I didn't believe a word of it. money back!""OK, OK - I believe you!" The police didn 't believe her story. 2 [T] to have an opinion about what is true or what might happen, although there is no proof: think: + (that) Scientists believe a cure for the disease will be discovered soon. reason to believe There is no reason to believe that

monkeys.

find

it

I

believe it or not spoken used for emphasizing that something is very surprising but true: Jason and Mel are finally getting married, believe it or not! believe (you) me spoken used for emphasizing that what you are saying is true, especially when you are warning someone about something: All this is going to cause a lot of trouble, believe you me. can't believe your eyes/ears informal used for emphasizing that you are extremely surprised or angry about something you have seen or heard: What was he saying? I could hardly believe my ears! can't believe your luck spoken to be extremely surprised and pleased because something good has happened to you by chance: She couldn't believe her luck when she saw the place was empty. can't/don't believe it spoken 1 used for emphasizing that you are extremely surprised or shocked: "He's got into

Harvard University."

when something annoys my keys in the car again. don't you believe

"I don't believe it!"

2 used

you: I just don't believe

it!

I

left

spoken used to emphasize to someone that something is not true 1 do believe Br E spoken used for saying that you suddenly realize something, and that you are surprised by it: / do believe you're in love with her yourself! if you believe that, you'll believe anything spoken used for telling someone that they are stupid to believe it

something

would you believe

it? spoken used for showing that you is surprising or funny: And they want me to sing would you believe it? you'd better believe it spoken used for telling someone that something is definitely true and that they should take it seriously you would not believe spoken used when you are going to tell someone about something unusual or surprising: You would not believe who I met this afternoon!

think something

[believe in sb/sth] to think that don 't believe in miracles. I'm beginning to think you actually believe in ghosts! 2 [believe in sth] to think that an idea or a way of doing something is good or right: She used to say she didn't believe in marriage. 3 [believe in sb] to feel confident that a person or organization is good or reliable: Some of his previous supporters have stopped believing in him.

believe

in phrasal

vb

[T] 1

someone or something

exists: /

be-liev-er /bi'livar/ noun [C] someone who believes in God, a religion, or a set of beliefs or principles: a true believer

be a great /firm believer in sth to believe that a particular idea or activity is good or right: I'm a great believer in healthy eating

and

exercise.

be-lit-tle /bi'litl/ verb [T] to say or think that someone or something is unimportant or not very good: disparage: You shouldn't belittle her achievements. 1 bell /bel/ noun [C] ** a metal object shaped like an upside down cup that makes a noise when its sides are hit by a metal piece inside it: The school bell clanged noisily. The little silver bells on its harness tinkled merrily. ring a bell Villagers rang the church bells as the The wedding bells rang out. victorious soldiers returned. a. a piece of equipment that makes a ringing sound, used for getting someone's attention: The referee did not hear the final bell. There was no one at the counter, so I rang the bell. b. the sound that a bell makes when it rings: The bell indicates the exam is over.

bells

and whistles informal the additional

make something fast

modem, video

features that attractive to use or look at: It's got a

card.

.

.all the bells

and

whistles.

give sb a bell Br E informal to phone someone with bells on Am E spoken 1 used for emphasizing that something is definitely true: "She was annoyed, then?"

bell

below

113

2

excited about what you are going to do and ready to get started: I'll be waiting in the lobby at 7:00 with bells on. -» pull 1 ring "Yup, with bells on!"

1

,

an animal's body: the duck's white throat and belly 2 a round part of an object: the belly of a violin fire in sb's belly informal a lot of energy or enthusiasm for something 2

bel-ly /'beli/ verb belly out phrasal vb [l/T] to fill with air and become large and round bel-ly-ache 1 /'beli.eik/ noun [c/ul informal a pain in your stomach

bel-ly-ache 2 lot in

a

way

/ bcli.eik/ verb [i] informal to complain a that annoys other people

belly button noun belly .dance noun

[c]

informal a person's navel

[c] a dance from the Middle East performed by a woman using controlled movements of the hips and stomach —belly dancer noun [C|, belly dancing noun [u] belly .flop noun [c] a way of jumping into water in which the front of the body hits the water, usually in a

painful

way

bel-ly-f ul / beli.fol/ noun have had a bellyful Br Every informal to be tired and annoyed because you have done too much of something, spent too much time with

someone,

etc.

belly .laugh noun

belly-up

adj

loses all of its

[c]

informal

2

to

be brave and do something

bel-la-don-na /.bela'dana/ noun

[u] a poisonous plant: deadly nightshade a. a substance produced by this plant that is used as a drug

bell- bottoms noun [plural] old-fashioned pants that are very wide at the bottom of the leg

bell-boy / 'bel.boi/ noun [C] a man whose job is to carry people's bags to their room in a hotel belle /bel/ noun [C] old-fashioned a very beautiful girl or

woman

the belle of the ball the most beautiful dance or other event

woman

at a

AmE

bell-hop

/'bel, hap/ noun [C] a person whose job carry people's bags to their room in a hotel bellicose /'belikoos/ adj formal someone who is bellicose enjoys fighting or arguing: aggressive bel*liis to

—

cos-i-ty /.beh'kasati/ noun [u]

belligerent

1

very unfriendly and angry: belligerent behavior 2 formal at war with someone bel-lig-er-ence noun [U], bel-lig-er-ent-ly adv 2 bel-lig-er-ent /ba'hd^rant/ noun [C] formal one of the countries involved in a war bel-low 1 /'beloo/ verb 1 [i/T] to shout very loudly: "I can't hear you!" he bellowed. 2 [l] to make the deep sound that a bull and some other large animals make /b3'lid3(o)r3nt/ adj 1

—

bel-low 2 /'beloo/ noun

[C] 1 a loud deep sound made by a person: a bellow of laughter 2 the deep sound that a bull and some other large animals make bel-lows /'belooz/ noun [plural] a tool used for blowing air into a fire. It consists of a leather bag between two wooden boards that you pull apart and push together. a. a part of a musical instrument that blows air into the instrument to produce sound 'bell pepper noun [c] AmE a hollow green, red, or yellow vegetable with small white seeds inside. It can be eaten raw or cooked, —picture -» en 'bell pull noun [c] a rope that you pull to make a bell

noun [u] the activity of making a set of bells ring to produce a pleasant musical sound, especially church bells bell-ring-er noun [C] 'bell tower noun [C] a tower of a church or other building in which there is a bell —picture -» bell /'bel

.rirjirj/

—

/'beli/noun [C] * informal a stomach. This word is often used to talk about whether people have enough to eat or not: Outfirst priority is putting food in empty bellies. 1a. informal the front part of your body between your chest and your legs: lying on his belly 1b. the soft lower part of

belly 1

1

a

company goes

belly-up,

it

/bi'brj/ verb [i] 1 to be in the right place: When you've finished, put the cassettes back where they belong. + in/on etc. That lamp belongs on the desk. These workers belong in a different category. 2 to feel happy and comfortable in a particular place or with a particular group of people: I just don't feel that I belong here. sense /feeling of belonging After three years here, I feel a strong sense of belonging.

belong to

phrasal vb [T] 1 [belong to sb] to be owned by to the woman next door. Who does this coat belong to? 2 [belong to sth] to be a member of an organization or club: She belongs to the school computer club. 3 [belong to sth] to come from or

someone: The Porsche belongs

be part of a group of similar things or people: This belongs to the same family of drugs as Prozac. They belong to a different generation. 3a. to come from or be related to a particular time or place: This painting clearly belongs to a later period. 4 [belong to sb] if a particular time, aspect of life, way of thinking, etc. belongs to a particular group, they are the people who control it or who are the most suitable for it: The future belongs to you.

belongings /bi'bninz/ noun

[plural] • the things you Adam packed his few belongings and moved out. personal belongings Remember to take all your personal belongings from the overhead locker when you leave the

own:

airplane.

be-lov-ed

1

adj /b\'\\\ id /mainly literary a

beloved friend,

one that you love very much. This word is sometimes used humorously to say that someone likes something too much. a. /bi'lAvd/ [+of / by formal very much liked by someone: Internet newsgroups, beloved of computer nerds around the world be-lov-ed 2 /bi'lwid/ noun [C] old-fashioned someone who is loved very much by someone else be-low /bi'loo/ function word ••• object, etc. is

]

Below can be used

in the following

ways:

as a preposition (followed by a noun): The lake almost 900 feet below sea level. as an adverb (without a following noun): someone calling from the street below.

/

is

heard

lower place or position: Someone was having a apartment below. a gunshot wound below shoulder 1a. in a later part of a piece of writing: This suggestion is discussed in more detail below. For further information, see below. 1b. in or into the lower part of a ship: He went below to speak to the engineer. 2 less than a certain number, amount, or level: During The college the night, temperatures dropped below zero. will not accept candidates with test scores below 60. House below 2000 levels. 2a. not as good as a prices are still 2 particular standard: Students were sent home if their behavior fell below an acceptable standard. The team's performance has been well below average. 1

ring

bell-ring-ing

if

•••

be-long bell /bel/ verb bell the cat dangerous

a loud deep laugh

money

in a

party the

in the

left

1

P

belt for saying that someone's rank is lower or their job is less important than someone else's: Officers below the rank of captain receive no special privileges. -> belt'

belt 1 /belt/ noun [c] •• 1 a narrow piece of leather, cloth, etc. that you wear around your waist, for example to keep your clothes in place or for decoration: a leather /plastic belt put on/ fasten a belt 1a. in some types of martial art such as judo and karate, a narrow piece of a material worn around the waist to show that you have achieved a particular standard: He has a brown belt in karate. -> BLACK BELT 2 an area of land where there is a particular industry, activity, etc.: the corn belt 2a. an area where a particular type of person lives: the city's commuter belt 2b. a long thin area that contains a lot of a particular thing: a belt of trees 2c. an area containing a lot of a particular thing that surrounds something else: an asteroid belt 3 a circular band that helps to turn or move something in a machine 4 E informal a drink of strong alcohol

Am

below the belt a comment that is below the belt is cruel and unfair get/have sth under your belt informal to achieve something that is important and useful: You need to get a few more qualifications under your belt. give sb/sth a belt very informal to hit someone or something hard take a belt to sb informal to hit someone with a belt as a punishment, usually on their back or bottom ->

bend

114

3 used

TIGHTEN

2 belt /belt/ verb

informal to hit someone or something very hard: Jeter belted a home run. 2 [T] to fasten a piece of clothing with a belt 3 [I] [+along/down etc.] BrE informal to move somewhere very quickly: They went belting along the road. 1

[T]

down phrasal vb [T] Am E informal to drink alcoholic drinks quickly, one after another: belting down shots of whiskey ,belt out phrasal vb [t] informal to shout or sing something loudly or play something loudly on a musical instrument: Mahalia Jackson belting out a gospel tune belt-way /'belt.wei/ noun [c] a road that goes around the edge of a city to keep traffic away from the center. BrE ring road: the Baltimore beltway belt

AmE

AmE

inside /outside the Beltway mainly journalism used for talking about politics, ideas, and behavior in Washington, D.C./in the rest of the U.S.

bend

1

/bend/ (past tense and

past participle bent/bent/) verb

••• 1 [i/T] to lean forward and downward or move the top part of your body forward and downward: He bent and kissed her quickly. + forward She bent forward and whispered in my ear. +over Bend over and touch your toes. + down Helen bent down to pick up her pen. 1a. [i/T] if you bend your head or if it bends, you move it forward

and downward without moving your body downward: The three of them sat there with their heads bent over their books. [i] to become curved or folded and not straight: tools that will not bend or break under stress + under sth The slim branches were bending under the weight of their fruit 2a. [I] to move with a curving or folding movement + in/out/forward etc. The corners of the card bend inward to form tabs. 2b. [I] if a road, river, etc. bends, it changes direction in the shape of a curve: The path bends sharply just before you enter the wood. 2c. [i] if light bends, it changes direction 2d. [T] if you bend an object, you

2

it so that it becomes curved or folded and not straight: This type of pipe can be easily bent by hand. bend sth over/ around sth etc. Bend the wires around the battery. bend sth into sth We bent the strips of clay into strange shapes. 2e. [i/T] if you bend your arm, leg, etc., or if it bends, you move it into a position that is not straight: His arm was so stiff he couldn't bend it at all.

change

bend

sb's ear informal to talk to someone for a long time, especially in order to complain about something or to discuss a problem bend your mind/thoughts to sth to start to concentrate

on something bend over backward (to do sth) informal to do everything you can to help: / bent over backward to make it easier for her and she didn't even notice. bend the rules (for sb) to do something or allow someone to do something that is not usually allowed, especially in order to make things easier on one occasion: They shouldn't bend the rules for him just because he's the director's son.

to your will formal to use your power or influence to make someone do what you want them to

bend sb do

bend the truth to say something that is not completely true in order to achieve a goal: He doesn't lie exactly he just bends the truth. on bended knee(s) formal if you ask for something on bended knee, you ask for it very seriously because you want

it

very

much bend down

be-moan

/bi'moon/ verb [J] formal to complain or say you are disappointed about something: teachers bemoaning the lack of good textbooks

that

be-mused

/bi'mjuzd/ adj confused: bewildered: My They exchanged bemused father looked slightly bemused. be-mus-ed-ly /bi'mjuzadli/ adv glances.

—

bench

1

••

/bentJV noun

1

long seat

2

job of being judge

3 table

for

4 5

in

sports

in

parliament

working on

1 C ] a hard seat for two or more people, usually outside picture -» chair in a public place: a park bench the position of being a judge in a court of law: She has recently been appointed to the bench (=work as a judge). 2a. the place where the judge sits in a court of law: The judge told the defense lawyer to approach the bench. 3 [C] a long table used by someone working with tools 4 the bench a place where people in a sports team sit

—

[

2 the bench

when they are not playing 5 benches [plural] the seats in the British parliament, and in some other parliaments, where the members sit: shouts from the Opposition benches

bench 2

/bentJV verb

stop playing a

bench-mark

game

1

/

AmE

[t] to make a sports player for a short time

'bentj.mark/ noun

[c]

an amount,

level,

standard, etc. that you can use for judging how good or bad other things are: +for plans to set a new benchmark for salaries bench-mark 2 / 'bentj.mark/ verb [J] formal to provide a standard that something can be judged by

bend 2

/bend/ noun

[c]

**

a curve in a road, river, etc.: As she approached the + in We came to a bend bend, a dog sprang into the road. around a bend He sped around the bend, in the road. sounding his horn furiously. a sharp/tight bend a series of sharp bends in the river 2 a movement in which you bend your body, especially as an exercise: Let's warm up with a few bends and 1

stretches.

bender

BENDS

->

bend-er /'bendar/ noun

[C] go on a bender informal to drink a very large amount of alcohol in a short time bends, the /bendz/ noun [plural] severe pain that divers get if they come up from under the water too quickly

bend'y / 'bendi/ adj

beneath

informal easy to bend: a bendy straw

/bi'niO/ function

Beneath can be used

word

•••

in the following ways:

under something or at a lower level: We took shelter beneath a huge oak tree. They slept outside beneath the stars. His face was hidden beneath a large brimmed hat. la. under the surface of the ground or water: These pieces of pottery had been buried beneath the earth for thousands of years. the waters of the Timor Sea and the coral reefs that lie beneath 1b. covered by literary directly

something: His frail body lay beneath the blankets. from beneath She pulled a dagger from beneath her cloak. 2 formal used for saying that someone's appearance and behavior do not show their real character or feelings: Beneath his quiet unassuming manner there lies considerable strength. She seemed quite calm on the surface, but a great deal of anger lay beneath.

The form neath

is

sometimes used

such people.

—

money

/'bena.faektar/ noun [c] someone who helps a person or organization by giving them money

ben-e-fac-tor

ben-efac-tress /'bens.faektras/ noun [c] old-fashioned a woman who helps a person or organization by giving them money

benefice / 'benafis/ noun Church of a

and property

is

[c] the position in the Chrispriest of a parish to which payment

intended

to

help

people

— be-neH-cence

/ba'nefisnt/ noun [u], be'nef«i«cent'ly adv

beneficial / .bens'fiTl / adj •* something that is benehas a good effect or influence on someone or something: One or two glasses of wine a day can be beneficial. * The relationship was mutually beneficial (^helped both sides). +to a discovery that should prove

ficial

beneficial to

many AIDS patients

harmful — ben«e*fi*cial*ly adv

ben-e-fi-ci-ar-y

— opposite detrimental,

/.bens'fiji.eri; .bens'fijari/

noun

[C]

*

someone who gets money or other things from someone who has died 2 formal someone who gets an advantage from a situation: He was the main beneficiary of the deal. 1

benefit

1

/'benafit/ noun

••*

money

or other advantages that you get in addition to your salary from your employer as part of your job: The benefits include medical insurance and a company car. 1a. money or help that an insurance company gives to you 2 [C/U] an advantage you get from a situation: The new sports facility will bring lasting benefit to the community. +for Consider the potential benefits of the deal for the company. get/gain/receive a benefit The costs involved would outweigh any benefits gained. derive a benefit from reap sth Even Liza derived little benefit from the changes. a benefit The town was still reaping the benefits years after the movie's release. be of benefit to sb/sth Not all competition is of benefit to the consumer. for sb's benefit 1

[C usually plural] extra

2

/'benafit/ (present participle benefiting

past tense and past participle benefited

or

bene-

benefitted

*•*

[i] to get help or an advantage from something Thousands of households could benefit under the plan. + from Patients have benefited greatly from this treatment. stand to benefit (=be likely to benefit) Unemployed people stand to benefit most from these policies, a. [T] to help someone or give them an advantage: The system mainly benefited people in the south of the country.

Be-ne-lux

/'bens.lAks/ Belgium, the Netherlands, and

Luxembourg, considered as a group be-nev-O'lent /bo'nevabnt/ adj formal willing to help and be generous towards people a. used about people's behavior and actions: a benevolent smile o'lence noun [u], be«nevo*lent«ly adv

— be-nev-

be-night-ed

/bi'naitsd/ adj old-fashioned lacking knowledge or advantages that other people or places have adj 1 a benign lump in your body or a benign disease is not cancer and will not kill you. a benign tumor opposite malignant 2 formal kind and be-nigrvly nice: a benign smile a benign old gentleman

—

—

adv 1

/bent/ adj 1 a bent object has a curved or twisted shape: bent railings 2 mainly Br E informal dishonest: a bent cop 3 mainly BrE an offensive word used to describe a gay person

bent on (doing) sth very determined to achieve something: She seemed bent on destroying their relationship. bent out of shape Am E informal upset about something: He got all bent out of shape because I wouldn't let him use

my

car.

Am E offensive used for telling someone in a rude and angry way to go away or stop talking bent 2 /bent/ noun [singular] a natural ability for something: aptitude: suggestions for those ofyou with an artistic get bent

bent

bent 3 the

past tense

and past participle of bend

ben«zene/'benzin; ben'zin/ noun

connected

be«nef *i*cent / ba'nefissnt/ ad\ formal doing things that are

fitting;

bent

Ben'e'diC'tine/.bena'dik.tin/noun [c] a monk or a nun who is a member of a Christian religious group started by St. Benedict. Ben»e*dic*tine adj ben-e-diotion /.bens'dikjan/ noun [c/u] a Christian prayer that asks God to bless someone ben-efac'tion /.bens'faekjan/ noun [c] formal a

tian

get/ receive (a) benefit families receiving benefit

be-nign /ba'nain/

in poetry.

beneath sb if a particular action or activity is beneath you, you think that you are better than people who do this: Burke regarded it as beneath him to do business with

present of

:

ben«e«fit

an adverb (without a following noun): People waved from the bridge as the boat passed beneath. as

mainly

Molly explained what was happening for my benefit have the benefit of sth He has had the benefit of the best education money can buy. 3 [C] an event organized in order to make money for a person or a charity a benefit concert /performance 4 [C/U] BrE payment for people who are sick or unemployed: housing/ sickness /disability benefit on benefit She's been on unemployment benefit for six years. give sb the benefit of the doubt to treat someone as if their behavior is honest or correct, even though you are not certain that it is

as a preposition (followed by a noun): the ground beneath your feet

1

bereft

115

drive sb around the bend informal to annoy someone very much

[u] a liquid

1

obtained

from petroleum (=a type of oil), used for making plastics and liquids for cleaning bequeath /bi'kwid; bi'kwiG/ verb [T] formal to give someone money or property after you die by making a legal document called a will: leave: bequeath sth to sb She bequeathed her jewelry to her His uncle bequeathed him $5,000.

be-quest /bi'kwest/ noun

niece.

[C]/orma/

bequeath sb sth

money

or property

you give to someone after you die by making a legal document called a will: make sb/sth a bequest He

that

made the library a bequest of $50,000. be-rate /bi'reit/ verb [J] formal to

talk to someone in an angry way because they have done something wrong:

berate sb for (doing) sth Their teacher berated them for being late.

be-reaved whose

/bi'rivd/ adj a bereaved person is someone close friend or family member has recently died

be-reaved, the someone whose

/bi'rivd/ (plural the be*reaved) noun close friend or family member has

recently died

be-reave-ment

/bi'rivmsnt/ noun 1 [u] the situation you are in when a close friend or family member has just died: She runs a group that helps people deal with bereavement. 2 [C] an instance of a close friend or a member of your family dying: the sad news of his bereave-

ment be-reft /bi'reft/ and lonely

ad)

mainly literary extremely unhappy

bereft of sth lacking something that you need

m

beret be-ret

noun

[C]

fits

beriberi

/.beri'beri/ noun [u] an illness in some hot countries that affects the nerves, caused by lack of vitamins (=chemicals needed for health) in food

Berkeley, Bus-by

/'b3rkli, 'bAzbi/ a U.S. movie director of the 1930s and 1940s. His movies are remembered for their impressive dances performed by large numbers of dancers.

Berlin Wall, the /'b3rlm ,wol/ the the German city of Berlin from 1961

wall that divided until 1989. It was

from escaping from Communist East Berlin and became a symbol of the cold war between Communist countries and the West. It is often simply called the Wall. Bermu-da Tri-an-gle, the /bsr.mjuda 'trai.sngl/an area of the Atlantic Ocean between Bermuda and Florida where ships and aircraft have disappeared and not been seen again benry /'beri/ noun [c] * a small fruit that does not have a pit inside it berserk /ba'z3rk/adj go berserk 1 to become violent and uncontrolled because you are very angry: One man went berserk when approached and stabbed two police officers. 2 informal to become very excited: The home crowd went berserk when their team scored again. berth 1 /b3r6/ noun [C] 1 a place at a port where a ship stays for a period of time 2 a bed on a train or ship: built to stop people

the upper/ lower berth

give sb/sth a wide berth informal to avoid someone or

something berth 2 /b3r0/ verb

[l/T] if a ship berths, or you berth it, it arrives at a place in a port and stays there for a period of time

beryl

/'beral/ noun [C/U] a valuable stone that has a transparent green, blue, or yellow color

be-seech

/bi'sitJV (past tense and past participle be*sought /bi'sot/or be*seeched) verb [T] literary to ask someone for something in an urgent and sincere way

be-set

/bi'set/ (past tense and past participle be»set) verb [T

often passive] formal to cause someone difficulty or danger over a period of time: The family was beset by money troubles. the economic realities besetting the inner city

***

beside

/bi'said/ preposition someone or something and close to them Who 's that standing beside Jeff?* I knelt down beside the bed. We found a picnic area down beside the river. 2 used for comparing two people or things: Their efforts were puny beside Frederick's. 1

at the side of :

beside the point not relevant or important to the subject

you are discussing: Stephen had that was beside the point.

certainly lied to her, but

beside yourself unable to think clearly because you are very angry or excited: -i-with I felt sick, disgusted, and beside myself with rage.

besides

/bi'saidz/ function word

**

Besides can be used in the following ways: as a preposition (followed by a noun): Did you talk to anyone else besides Joan? as an adverb (without a following noun): I've read all the books on the list and a few others besides.

as a way of starting a new statement and connecting it to the previous statement: I don't want to go shopping. Besides, I haven't got any money. 1

in addition to

someone or something

else that is

being mentioned: A lot of them are studying other things There are cakes and sandwiches, and lots besides Italian. more besides. besides being /doing sth Besides being a Besides making money, the teammate, he's my friend. company aims to set high standards of quality and design. 2 used when you are adding another stronger reason to support what you are saying: It's too late to invite any more people. Besides, you know how Tim hates parties.

be-siege /bi'sid3/ verb [T] 1 [usually passive] to make more requests, offers, comments, or complaints than someone can deal with: besiege sb/sth with sth The department has been besieged with enquiries from students all over the country. 2 to surround a place with an

from

best

116

a round flat soft hat that tightly around the top of the head —picture -» hat /'be.rei/

army and prevent

the people there from getting food and supplies, as a way of getting control of it 2a. to gather around a person or place in a way that threatens or annoys them: The company's offices were besieged by hundreds of people who had vacations planned.

besmirch /bi'srmrtJV verb [i]formal to harm the good reputation of someone or something

be-sot-ted

/bi'satod/ adj so attracted by someone or something that you are always thinking about them: The band is used to receiving hundreds of letters daily from besotted fans. + with He was obviously besotted with her. be-sought a past tense and past participle of beseech

be-speak

/bi'spik/ (past tense be*spoke /bi'spook/; past

participle be*spo«ken /bi'spookan/) verb evidence of something

be-speota-cled

/bi'spektakld/

adj

[T] literary

to

be

formal wearing

glasses

best

1

/best/ function word

***

Best is the superlative form of good and well, and can be used in the following ways: as

an adjective: Which apples are best for cooking? His performance was the best. It was

(after "the"):

the best party I've ever been

to.

as an adverb: We'll choose the system that works Which color do you like best? as a singular noun: Only the best Ruth. I'll do my best.

is

best.

good enough for

1 used for referring to the person or thing that is the most satisfactory, appropriate, pleasant, effective, of the highest quality, etc.: the best hotel in town Negotiation is always the best way of settling a dispute. +for What kind of soil is best for growing roses?* I want to do what's best for the family, the best of everything (=all the most expensive things) Her husband's a lawyer, so they can afford the best of everything, la. in the way that is most satisfactory, appropriate, pleasant, effective, successful, etc.: The play can be best described as "a serious comedy. You need to find out which program works best on your computer. He is the kind of musician who always performs best in front of a live audience. do sth as best you can (=do something as well as you are able) I'll try to deal with all these problems as best I can. make the best use of sth (=use something in the most effective way) I want suit sb to make the best use of my time while I'm here. best (=be most suitable for someone) Which color do you think suits me best? 1b. used for referring to the person who is the most skillful at doing something: the best player in the team simply /absolutely the best In the world of ballet she was quite simply the best. 2 used for saying that someone or something is liked or known more than any other: like sb/sth best What kind of music do you like best?* best known /loved The Mona Lisa is probably the world's best known painting. one of Gershwin's best loved melodies 2a. used for saying that someone or something is famous especially in one particular way or for one particular reason: best known/ remembered for sth James Dean is best remembered for The his star performance in Rebel without a Cause. best Bordeaux region is best known for its fine wines. known as Conan Doyle is probably best known as the creator of Sherlock Holmes. 3 used for referring to your nicest or most expensive clothes that you wear on special occasions: At the sb's Sunday best wedding he'll be wearing his best suit. (^someone's best clothes) Eileen and her family were all

dressed up in their Sunday

best.

all the best spoken used when saying goodbye, in order to wish someone success, good health, and happiness for the future at best used for showing that something is not very

good by emphasizing that your description of it is the you can say about it: His chances of victory The government's response seems

best thing

are, at best, uncertain.

to have been at best confused and at worst dishonest. at sb's/sth's best when someone is feeling most intelligent or effective, or when something is showing its most impressive or attractive qualities: I'd only just To see New gotten out of bed, so I wasn't at my best. England at its best, you should come in September when

the leaves start to change color.

at the best of times used for saying that something

is

best

betrothal

117

dangerous, etc. even in normal circumstances, but it is usually worse than this: Persuading the bank to lend you money is a difficult task at fairly bad, difficult,

the best of times. (all) for the best used for saying that something bad that has happened is not really as bad as it seems because it will make the situation better in the end: He failed the college exams, but perhaps it's for the best because he's not really the academic type. sb's best friend the friend that you like best: Of course I told Martha - she's my best friend.

be

best of all used for introducing a fact that pleases you more than all the others you have mentioned: Their new drug was effective and safe, and, best of all, it was very cheap to manufacture. the best of both worlds a situation where you have the benefit of two very different types of advantage at the same time: Enjoying the combination of five star luxury with our friendly personal service, you'll have the best of both worlds. the best of friends very close friends: In spite of all our disagreements, we remained the best offriends. (the) best of luck mainly spoken used for wishing someone good luck in something they are trying to do: / think you 're taking a big risk, but anyway, best of luck! best wishes used for wishing someone success, good health, and happiness for the future when you are writing to them do/try your best to try as hard as you can in order to achieve something: I don't know if I can finish the whole job in one day, but I'll do my best. get the best of sb to defeat someone or gain an advantage over them: Jack got the best of me in the last match. get/have the best of it to gain an advantage in a fight,

argument, game, etc. had best do sth used for saying that someone should do something: You'd best come with me if you don't know the way. We'd best not disturb him when he's working. make the best of it to accept a bad or difficult situation without complaining and try to deal with it as well as you can: / was in a mess and there was no one to help me, so I just had to make the best of it. to the best of sb's ability used for saying that someone does something as well as they can: I promise to carry out my duties to the best of my ability. knowledge/belief used for saying to the best of that you think your statement is true, because it is

my

$20 that I couldn 't keep quiet for ten minutes, a. be betting on sth to have a very strong hope that something will happen, so that this influences what you do: House buyers were betting on interest rates continuing to fall.

don't bet on it/I wouldn't bet on it spoken used for expressing a doubt about something: "He said he'd meet us there. " - "I wouldn't bet on it!" (do you) wanna/want to bet? spoken used for telling someone that you are certain what they are saying is wrong: "He must have been joking. " "You wanna bet?" I bet/I'll bet spoken used for saying that you understand or agree with what someone has just said: "/ couldn't say no to an offer like that. " "I'll bet!" I bet/I'll bet (that) spoken used for saying that you are / bet sure about something: / bet Charles has taken it. you the train will be late. you bet spoken used for saying "yes" in an enthusiastic way: "Are you coming too?" - "You bet!" you can bet your life/your bottom dollar spoken used for saying that you are sure something will happen or is true: You can bet your life she'll insist on coming too.

bet 2 /bet/ noun money on what that red,

driving

test,

1

1

1

,

,

3-1.

bes-tial /'bistjl; 'bestjl/ ad] 1 bestial behavior is extremely cruel: barbaric: bestial acts committed in the detention camps 2 used to describe sexual activity between a person and an animal besti-al-i-ty /.bistji'aebti; .bestji'sbti/ noun [u] 1 sexual activity between a person and an animal 2 formal extremely cruel behavior ,best 'man noun [singular] the friend who helps a bride-

groom

at his

wedding

erty or an important right or honor to someone: bestow sth on sb The king had friends on whom he bestowed land

and privileges.

bestride /bi'straid/ (pasttense bestrode /bi'strood/; past participle

be»strid«den/bi'stndn/) verb

[T] literary

to stand

with one leg on each side best-sell-er /.best'sebr/ noun [c] • a book that many people buy: Margaret Mitchell's perennial bestseller. Gone With the Wind over something or

bet

1

sit

on

it,

/bet/ (pasttense and past

participle bet)

verb

[l/T]

••

an amount of money by saying what you think will happen, especially in a race or game. You lose the money if you are wrong and win more if you are right: bet sth + on / wanted to bet on the result of the election. +{that) He bet me on sth / bet $10 on each of the horses. to risk

money

so I

won my

bet.

+ (that) It's a safe bet that the others won 1 make the same mistake. -> hedge 2 betting be-ta-block-er /'beita blolor; bits blaksr/ noun [c] a drug that makes your heart work more slowly, used year.

,

for treating high blood pressure

be-ta test /'bita ,test/ noun [C] business a test in which a new computer product is given free to customers to

—

be«ta test verb [T] use in order to find mistakes / bits V3r3n/ noun [c] a form of a newproduct or new software that is given to people to test

be-ta version it is

sold to the public

'betja/ you betcha spoken a way of writing "you bet you" that shows how it sounds in informal conversation, used for saying "yes" in an enthusiastic way: "Are you going to the party?" - "You betcha!" /

/'bitl/ noun [u] a plant of Southeast Asia with leaves that people chew

be-tel

be-to-ken /bitookan/ something exists or

is

betray /bi'trei/verb

verb true

[t]

[t] literary

to

be a sign that

••

you betray your country, or you betray someone who needs your support, you deliberately do something that harms them or helps their opponents: In wartime 1

if

many cuted.

people accused of betraying their country were exeShe realized that one of her friends must have if you betray someone's trust, you do them when they have trusted you: They felt

betrayed her. 1a.

harm

to

had betrayed their trust in publishing his you betray a secret, you tell it to people who do not have the right to know it 2 to show something or be a sign of something: reveal: their assistant

diaries, lb.

bestow /bi'stoo/ verb [T] formal to give valuable prop-

of

take the train.

before

,

which you bet

in

amount

a good/safe bet something that is likely to happen, or someone or something that is likely to be successful: + for Florida is a good bet for hot weather at this time of

bet«cha

/best/ verb [T]/orma/ to gain an advantage over or defeat an opponent: The Chinese pair bested the Swedes

an agreement

the/sb's best bet the thing or action that gives the best chance of a successful result: Our best bet would be to

based on what you know/believe, but you are not com-

—

*

will happen, or the

take a on his home team, even though they always lose. bet (on sb/sth) Eddie's bookie was happy to take a bet on win/lose a bet He passed his tonight's football game.

pletely sure: To the best of my knowledge, no similar book has been published. with the best of them used for saying that someone is as skillful as the most successful players, performers, etc.: Carolyn can play guitar with the best of them. 2 Opposite WORST -» BET2 FOOT LOOK 3b, PART WILL

best 2

[c]

you bet: place/put/lay a bet on / placed my bet on and won. have a bet on sb/sth He likes to have a bet

if

Rabbits betray their presence with fresh soil outside their burrow. 2a. if you betray a feeling or quality that you want to hide, your words or face make it clear to people: Hits comments betray a lack of understanding. The woman's face betrayed no emotion. 3 if you betray your beliefs or principles, you do something that does not agree with them: She had betrayed be«trayer noun [C] all her beliefs and told a lie. be-tray-al /hi'trenl/ noun [C/ul 1 an act of betraying someone or something: +of a betrayal of long-held principles 2 the fact of being betrayed: It was hard to avoid a sense of betrayal.

be'troth'al/bi'troiuM/noun [C/u] an old word meaning "engagement" to get married

m

betrothed be-trothed

between

118

1

/bi'trooftd/ adj be betrothed to sb an old phrase meaning "to be engaged to be married to

higher social status than someone: The poor did not envy

someone"

for the better if something changes for the better, it improves: Since she moved to the new school, her behavior has certainly changed for the better. opposite for the

be-trothed

2

/bi'troodd/ noun

an old word

(singular]

meaning a woman's "fiance" or a man's "fiancee" bet'ter 1 /'betar/ function word •**

as an adjective: a better method of teaching languages

The weather

is

better today.

Our opponents played

better

than we

did.

as a noun: There has been a change for the better.

They should show more respect for their

betters.

more

satisfactory, appropriate, pleasant, effective, or of higher quality, etc. He went to Los Angeles hoping to better than The results were better than find a better job. we had expected. get better (= improve) The situation is much /far/ unlikely to get better in the foreseeable future. a lot better J can think of far better ways of spending a little /no better There was a growing million dollars. economic crisis in Asia, and things were no better in Europe. deserve /expect better (=deserve or expect something better) She was a good worker, and she deserved better than the treatment she got from her employers. 1a. more skillful: Maggie's a better cook than I'll ever be. + at Alec is a lot better at sports than I am. 1b. in a way that is more satisfactory, appropriate, pleasant, effective, successful, etc.: The machine works better if you change the oil regularly. do better Why was it that everyone else did better than me on the test? 1c. better for sb if something is better for you, it is more likely to make you healthy: Fresh vegetables taste nicer and they're better for you. 2 used for saying that someone has become completely healthy again after an illness: You shouldn't go back to school until you're completely better. / had a really bad get better (=become healthy cold, but I'm better now. again) If you want to get better, you have to take your medicine. 2a. used for saying that someone is not as sick as they were before, or that something is not as painful as it was before: Is your headache any better? She's You'll feel better when you've had something to eat. a little better today, but I think she should stay in bed. 3 used for saying that one person or thing is liked or known more than another: like sb/sth better I've always better known Rachliked Susan better than her sister. maninov's second piano concerto is better known than his like nothing better than (to do) sth (=like something first. 1

:

more than anything

else)

She

likes

—

WORSE for better or (for) worse used for showing that you do not know whether an action, situation, or change will have good or bad results: He's the partner I chose, for better or for worse. For better or worse, Mexico's destiny

Better is the comparative form of good and well, and can be used in the following ways:

as an adverb:

their betters.

nothing better than a

walk in the park with her dog. 3a. famous in one way or for one reason rather than another: Blake is better better known remembered as a poet than as a painter. for/ as a city that is better known for its crime record than heritage better known as used when its cultural 3b. for someone has two names and you are introducing the more familiar one: Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, better known as Lenin the better mainly spoken used for saying that if is true or possible, it will be even nicer: It'll be so nice to see Ruth again, and if she can bring the

all

is closely linked to that of the United States. get the better of sb 1 if an emotion or feeling gets the better of you, it is too strong for you to control and it makes you do something that you did not intend to do Smith's anger got the better of him once again, and he started to attack the referee. 2 to defeat someone in a game, argument, etc.: Sampras finally got the better of Agassi in a hard-fought match. (had) better do sth mainly spoken used for saying that someone should do something: You'd better take an umbrella - it's going to rain. I'd better not waste any more of your time. so much the better mainly spoken used for saying that if something is true or possible, it will be even nicer: Al seems to be the most qualified, and if he's a friend of yours, well, so much the better. the sooner/bigger/quicker etc. the better used for saying that you want something to be as soon/big/ quick etc. as possible: I want you to get rid of those people, and the sooner the better. Opposite WORSE -* BETTER HALF, DEVIL, GO LUCK SEE

—

1

1

,

1

,

bet«ter2 /'betar/ verb (T] 1 to achieve a better result than someone or something: Bradman's average score of 96 has never been bettered. 2 to improve something: an important step towards bettering relations between the two countries

better yourself to improve your social status by educating yourself

Better Business Bureau, the a U.S. organization that tries to make people confident about the businesses they use by keeping records about how businesses treat their customers .better half (plural .better halves) noun sb's better half humorous someone's husband, wife, or partner: I'll have to ask my better half. Better Homes and Gardens a U.S. magazine that tells you how to make your home and yard more attract-

ive

bet'ter-ment /'betarmant/ noun ment

(u]

formal improve-

/'betin/ noun [u] the activity of trying to win by placing a bet (^guessing the result of a race,

bet'ting

money game,

etc.)

Bet'ty Crock-er

woman who

/.beti 'krakar/

used for describing a

cooks very well

From the name of the imaginary woman whose picture appears on food products and books about cooking in the U.S., created by the food company to represent the perfect cook and housewife.

something

children along, all the better. be (all) the better for sth to

improve as a result of

something: Their performance will be little

all the better for

a

extra practice.

be better than nothing spoken used for saying that something is not exactly what you wanted or needed but is more useful than having nothing at all be no better than to be as bad or as unimportant as a particular type of person or thing: People treated me as though I was no better than an animal. better luck next time spoken used for encouraging someone who has not been successful at something 1 in a better situation: You'd be better off on your own than quarreling all the time with your dad. 2 having more money: As a result of the tax cuts the average family will be $300 a year better off. better yet /still used when you are adding a new idea that you think is better than a good one already mentioned: Come visit us for a weekend or, better yet, why don't you come for a whole week? sb's betters people who have more important jobs or

better off

Bet-ty Ford Clirvic, the/, beti

'ford ,klmik/ a special hospital in California for people who want to get treatment for their problems with drugs or alcohol. It is used by many rich and famous people.

From

the

name of Betty Ford, the wife of U.S. who started the clinic.

President

Gerald Ford,

be-tween

/bi'twin/ function word

Between can be used

***

in the following ways:

as a preposition (followed by a noun): the distance between two places

adverb (without a following noun): two classes with a short break between

as an

living

1 with people or things on each side or end la. if someone or something is between two other people or two people or things are on each side of them: Hold the needle between your finger and thumb. New York City is about halfway between Boston and Charlotte sat between her two sons at Washington, D.C Put the two smaller vases on the ends and the reception.

things, the

betwixt two places: Trains

running between Boston and New York were delayed. 2 with times or events before and after 2a. in the period after one time or event and before the next: The office will be closed between Christmas and New Year. The show opens next Monday. Between now and then we'll be rehearsing every day. She does two performances a night, with only a very short break between. in between Try to avoid snacks in between meals. within a range within 3 a range of numbers, amounts, ages, etc.: Choose a number between 1 and 10. children between the ages of 4 and 13 in between Fifteen is too few, but 30 is probably too many - somewhere in between would be about right.

4

involving two or more people or things 4a. used showing which people or groups are involved in an agreement, discussion, competition, fight, etc.: a telephone conversation between the Prime Minister and the The winner of tonight's game U.S. Secretary of State between Dallas and San Francisco will go to the Super bowl. 4b. used for showing that two things, people, organizations, or ideas are related or connected: There has been a steady improvement in relations between China and Scientists believe there is a link the rest of the world.

for

!

between diet and certain types of cancer. -* among 5 used for showing a difference or making a comparison used for stating which two people or things are similar or different: Does a five-year-old know the There are obvious difference between right and wrong? parallels between computer systems and the workings of the gap between rich and poor the human brain. 6 used for showing how a total is divided 6a. used for showing how something is shared or divided: We agreed to split the profits between us on a fifty-fifty basis. The public-school teacher generally has to divide her time between record keeping and classroom teaching. between doing sth Between cooking, cleaning, and looking after three kids, I don't have much time for myself. 6b. used for showing that the total amount of something is owned, given, or produced by two or more people: Between us, we managed to collect over $4,000. 7 used for stating what may be chosen used for showing that you can choose one out of two or more things: They're both beautiful designs - it's hard to choose Third year students have a choice between between them.

and economics. between you and me used when you are telling someone something that you do not want anyone else to know about: Between you and me, I think she has a

philosophy, sociology,

problem with her boyfriend. -»

ROCK

1

Words

frequently used with

nouns

between

contrast, difference, distinction, gap, parallels, similarity

betwixt

5

/bi'twikst/ preposition literary between

betwixt and between informal not definitely belonging to any bev-el

of several possibilities

/'bevl/ noun [C] technical a sloping surface along the edge of a piece of wood, glass, etc.

bev-eled

/'bevld/ a beveled edge

adj

with a sloping edge: beveled glass

bev-er-age /'bev(3)nd3/ noun

[c] formal a drink Hills /.bevarli 'hilz/ an area of Los Angeles as a place where many famous Hollywood actors

Bev-eMy known

biannual

119

the big one in between. 1b. connecting

live

/'bevi/ noun [C] 1 often humorous a group of people or things of the same kind: + of a bevy of young women 2 a group of some types of bird: a bevy of quail/

beV'y

frightened.

be«wil«der-ing/bi'wildDnn/adj 1 a bewildering situation is confusing and difficult to understand: Her first day at work was extremely bewildering. 2 a bewildering range or set of things is very large and offers too many choices: a bewildering array of vegetables ing-ly adv

be-wil-der-ment /bi'wildormont/ noun

/bi'weil/ verb [T] literary to complain strongly about something that makes you sad, disappointed, or

be-wail upset

/bi'wer/ verb [l/T usually in imperative] • used to warn someone of danger or difficulty: Beware, buying a +of +of Beware of the dog! house is full of problems. doing sth You should beware of using too many colors

be-ware

together.

[u] a feeling

He stared

be-witch

/bi'witj/ verb [Tj to control someone's behavior with magic: The old man was convinced that she had bewitched him. a. to make someone strongly attracted to you by your behavior: an athlete who bewitches the crowd with his speed and skill - be-witch- ing adj: a bewitching performance

be-yond

1

/bi'jand/ function word

Beyond can

•••

be used in the following ways:

as a preposition (followed by a noun): the world beyond the prison wall as an adverb (without a following noun): The empire extended to the Danube River and beyond. 1 past a place or outside an area 1a. mainly literary farther away than something else: He could see a line of cypress trees and, beyond it, a landscape of red hills. Traders looked eastward to India and beyond. 1b. outside a particular area: By now Dr. Barnard's fame had spread

far beyond South Africa. 2 not within the limits of sth outside the range or limits of a subject, quality, or activity: Our knowledge Scott pushed does not extend much beyond these few facts. The fans' his men beyond the limits of human endurance. behavior on Sunday went beyond what is acceptable. 3 except used in negative sentences to mean "except": / know nothing about him beyond the fact that he used to work for the government. She had no income beyond what she could earn as a waitress. 4 not able to be done 4a. used for saying that something cannot be done: The situation is already beyond our Martin was living in Brazil, beyond the reach of control. I'm afraid the watch is damaged beyond repair the FBI. (=so badly that it cannot be repaired). 4b. beyond belief/recognition used for saying that you cannot believe or recognize something: The center of the city has changed beyond all recognition. 4c. beyond doubt/ dispute used for saying that something is so certain that it cannot be doubted or argued about: Brady's guilt had been proved beyond doubt. 5 after a time or age, or above an amount 5a. continuing after a particular time or date: Some people We aren't will prefer to continue working beyond 65. attempting to plan ahead beyond the next two years. 5b. more than a particular amount or higher than a particular level: Inflation had risen beyond ten percent. She never went beyond tenth grade in school. to be too difficult for someone to understand or deal with: The system was unusually complicated it's beyond me and completely beyond the new trainees. why /how /what It's beyond me why anyone would want

be beyond sb

to

marry him.

be«yond 2

/bi'jand/ noun the back of beyond a place

that is far

away from any towns or

some

town

little

in the

cities:

He comes from

back of beyond.

the (great) beyond often humorous where some people believe people's spirits go after they die

be-zique

/bi'/.ik/

noun

[u] a

card game

type of dance music that combines traditional music from the Punjab region of India and Pakistan with Western styles such as rsggae and jungle bi /bai/ ad| informal someone who is bi is HSEXUAL (=sexually attracted to both men and women) bi- /bai/ prefix two or twice: used with many nouns, adjectives, and adverbs: bilingual ( speaking two bimonthly happening every two months) languages) bi-an-nu-al /bai'aenjual/ ad| happening twice every compare biennial year

/'bAngra/ noun

(

feel

— be-wil-der-

of being extremely confused: in bewilderment at us in complete bewilderment.

bhang-ra

larks

be-wil-der /bi'wildar/ verb [T] to make someone confused: Too much choice just bewilders you.

be-wil-dered /bi'wildord/adj confused and not certain what to do: Many of the refugees looked bewildered and

[u] a

1

m

bias 1

[

were accused of bias against people over 50. 1a. a special interest, ability, or tendency in a particular thing: + toward a French course with a bias toward the spoken language 2 [singular] the edge of a piece of cloth cut at a slight angle to the fibers

bi-as

bifurcate

120

bi-as /'baias/ noun *• 1 singular/ Ul an attitude that you have that makes you treat someone in a way that is unfair or different from the way you treat other people: Ideally we'd choose judges + against /toward They who are without political bias.

2

/'baias/ (past tense and past participle bi-ased or bi*assed; present participle bi»as*ing or bi*as*sing) verb [T

usually passive] to influence someone's opinions, decisions, etc. so that they behave in an unfair way: Witbe biased nesses may forget details or may be biased. against/toward/in favor of sb/sth The salary structure

was biased against women returning to work later in life. a. to make something have a special interest or tendency, often in an unfair way bi-ased or biassed /'baiast/ adj preferring one person, thing, or idea to another in a a biased report

way

that

is

unfair:

bias 'tape noun [U] AmE a narrow band of cloth, used for making neat edges when sewing bib /bib/ noun [C] 1 a piece of cloth that is tied round a baby's neck and hangs down to protect its clothes while eating or drinking 2 a square part above the waist of some types of skirt or pants that covers your chest sb's best bib clothes

and tucker humorous someone's

best

bi-ble /'baibl/ noun •* 1 the Bible the book that is considered holy by Christians, and consists of two parts called the Old Testament and the New Testament 1a. the Bible the book that is considered holy by Jews, that is also the Old Testament of the Christian Bible 1b. [C] a copy of the Bible 2 [C] a book that is considered the most important one for a particular subject: Our coach told us that the playbook should be our bible. Bible Belt, the an area in the Southern and Midwestern U.S. known for being a place where many people have strong and strict Christian beliefs Bi-blethump-er baibl .GAmpar/noun [C]AmEimpolite an insulting word for a Christian who has strong beliefs in what the Bible says and who teaches or talks Bi-ble thump-ing noun [U] about it in a strict way

bib-li-cal

/

'biblikl/ adj relating to or

based on the Bible

sb in the biblical way /sense humorous to have had sex with someone of biblical proportions very big or important, especially in a bad or unpleasant way: an epidemic of biblical

know

proportions

bibliog-ra-phy

noun [C] a list of the books, articles, etc. that someone has used for finding information for a piece of work they have written a. a list of books, articles, etc. that have been published on /.bibli'agrsfi/

a particular subject

bibliophile /'biblia.fail/ noun [c] formal someone who likes books and enjoys reading or collecting them

bibulous

/'bibjsbs/ adj humorous a bibulous person enjoys drinking a lot of alcohol

bi-cam-er-al /,bai'kaem(3)r3l/ adj technical a bicameral legislature consists of two separate groups of people involved in making laws bi-carb /'bai.karb/ noun [u] mainly Br E informal bicarbonate OF SODA

bi-car-bon-ate of so-da /bai.karbsnat av 'souds/ noun [u] mainly Br E baking soda bi-cen-ten-a-ry /.baisen'tenari/ noun [C] BrE a bicentennial

bi-cen-ten-ni-al / .baisen'tenial/ noun [c] Am E the day or year exactly 200 years after an important event, or a celebration of this

bi-ceps

/'bai.seps/ (plural bi*ceps) noun [C] the muscle between your shoulder and elbow on the front of your arm that you use when you pull things toward you bick-er /'bikar/ verb [I] to argue about things that are

not important: bicker (with sb) over/ about sth children

bickering with each other over whose turn is next bick-er-ing /'bikorin/ noun [u]: tired of the constant bickering

—

bi-coastal

/bai'koostl/ adj

east

and west coasts of the

new

bicoastal lifestyle

AmE

relating to both the commuters a

U.S.: bicoastal

/'baisikl/ noun [C] •* a vehicle with two wheels that you ride by pushing pedals with your feet.

bicycle

A

bicycle is often called a bike. bicycle is a biker, —picture -» C7

Someone riding

a

bicycle clips noun [plural] a pair of circular pieces of metal or cloth worn around your lower legs while riding a bicycle to prevent your pants from getting caught in the chain

bid 1 /bid/

(past tense and past participle bid; present participle

**

bidding) verb 1

[I/T]

offer

to

a particular

amount

of

money

for

something, for example at an auction (=an event where things are sold to the person who offers the most money): + for Two people were bidding against each other for the mirror. bid sth for sth They bid $300 for the painting. 1a. [I] to offer to do work or provide a service for a particular for the job.

amount of money:

+for Several contractors bid

2 [i/T] to say that you think you will win a particular number of points in a card game 3 (pasttense bid or bade/beid/; past participle bid«den/'bidn/ [T] literary to order someone to do something 3a. bid )

sb goodbye/good evening etc. formal to say goodbye/ bid'der noun [C]: The good evening etc. to someone

—

clock will be sold to the highest bidder. 2

bid /bid/ noun 1

an

[c]

**

offer to give a particular

amount

of

money

for

something, for example at an auction (=an event where things are sold to the person who offers the most money): We received a bid of $12,000 for the table, la. an offer to do work or provide a service for a particular amount +for money: The lowest bid we received was $9,000. The bids for this contract were all disappointingly high. 1b. an offer to buy the shares in a company and take

of

control of it: a takeover bid 2 a statement of how many points you think you will win in a card game 3 an attempt to do something: +for Do you think he'd be a bid to willing to mount another bid for the presidency? do sth The company cut prices just before the holiday in a bid to support sales.

bid-da-ble /'bidabl/ adj someone who is biddable does what people tell them without arguing or complaining

bid-den the past participle of bid 3 bid-ding /'bidin/ noun [u] the process 1

of making bids for things, for example at an auction (=an event where things are sold to the person who offers the most money) at sb's bidding if you do something at someone's bidding, you do it because they ask or tell you to do sb's bidding to do what someone asks or tells you to

do

bid-dy

/'bidi/ noun [C] offensive

an older

an insulting word

for

woman

bide /baid/

verb

[I]

an old word meaning "to stay

in a

place"

bide your time to wait in a patient way for an opportunity to do something bidet /bi'dei/ noun [C] a large bowl in a bathroom that

you sit on to wash your bottom price noun [C] business the price at which stock is bought on a stock exchange —compare offer price bi-en-ni-al /bai'enisl/ adj 1 a biennial event happens once every two years 2 a biennial plant lives for only compare biannual two years bier /bir/ noun [C] a wooden structure for putting a coffin (=a container for a dead body) on biff /bif/ verb [t] Br E informal to hit someone in a rough way with your fist (=closed hand) biff noun [C] bi-fo-cals /bai'fouklz/ noun [plural] a pair of glasses with special lenses that let you see things that are near if you look through the bottom part, and see things that are far away if you look through the top part bi-fur-cate /'baifar keit/ verb [i] formal to divide into two separate parts, especially parts that go in different

'bid

—

—

directions: fork

big

*••

large in size: a beautiful woman with big eyes He kept papers in a big box. great big (=very big)

1

all his secret

At the end of the lane was a great big house. 1a. a big person is tall and heavy, and often fat: A big man stood in the doorway. 1b. if you call a child a big boy or a big girl, you mean they are getting older and will soon be an adult: Come on, you're a big girl now (=old enough to behave like an adult). 1c. your big sister or big brother is older than you are: This is my big brother, Jake. SPENDER 2 large in degree or having a strong effect: The company The concerts have been a big success. faces big problems. 2a. very enthusiastic or serious about something: They were big fans of the Beatles. 2b. [not usually before noun] informal popular with many people: a type of music that is big in America 2c. a big smile /kiss /hug etc. a big smile or kiss is done with enthusiasm and has a strong -»

effect

3 important or major: We have another big game next week. / had never been involved in making the big decisions before. Big changes are likely to be made. 3a. powerful or successful in a particular area of activity: The place was full of big businessmen. + in Her mother is big in daytime television. the big two /three /four etc. (=the two /three /four etc. most important people or organizations) Other stores struggle to compete with the big four retailers. 3b. big or Big mainly journalism used for referring to large and powerful industries that are considered to have a lot of political influence: Big Tobacco (=the major cigarette companies) an important victory for Big Oil

be big of sb (to do sth) spoken used for saying that someone has been kind or generous, especially when you do not really think that they have: It was big of him to

help out like that.

be big on sth spoken to be very interested in something, or enjoy something a lot: I'm not very big on musicals. have big ideas/plans to intend to do very exciting or things in the future a big thing (out) of sth informal to treat something as if it is more important than it really is: Don't make such a big thing out of it. It's only a few days late. make it big to become successful: It was her dream to make it big as a singer. too big for your britches Am E informal with too high an opinion of yourself what's the big idea? spoken used for asking someone why they have done something that you think is wrong or annoying: What's the big idea, telling her about the difficult

make

Words you can use is

more

a very general specific

appropriate

in

major, serious, important, considerable

effects

major, profound, farreaching, serious, significant

events

major, main, important

big-a-my /'biyomi/noun to

more than one person

[u] the at the

crime of being married

same time

Big Apple, the an informal name

for

New York

City

From "apple," the name used by jazz musicians in the 1930s to mean a job, because New York was the place where they could find the best jobs.

Big Bang, the an explosion that some scientists believe was the origin of the universe. This belief is called the Big Bang theory. big beast noun [C] mainly journalism 1 someone who is well known because they are very successful or powerful 2 a powerful machine or piece of equipment that uses very modern technology Big Ben a large bell in the tower next to the Houses of Parliament in London, England, on which there is a clock. This name is often used for referring to the tower or

its

clock.

Big Board, the an informal name

for the

New York

Stock Exchange

big-

box

AmE

.store noun

[c] a very large store, usually outside a town in a special shopping area, where large companies can sell their products direct to customers: Manufacturers have been lured away from department stores and into big-box stores. 'big boys, the noun [plural] informal powerful or important people Big Brother noun [singular] a person or organization that watches people all the time and tries to control everything they say or do

From "Big

Brother," the

name

of the political leader

in Nineteen Eighty-Four, a novel by the British writer George Orwell. The leader's picture and the message "Big Brother is watching you" are to be found everywhere.

big 'bucks noun [u] Am E informal big money big business noun [u] important business activity that makes a lot of money: Organized science had allied Herbal remedies itself with big business and government. are becoming big business. [c]

a large wild cat such as a lion or a

TIGER

instead of big

big 'cheese noun

word. Here are some words with

meanings

that

sound more

natural

and

particular situations.

people

tall,

animals /plants

large, great big, huge,

large, hefty

giant, gigantic, massive,

enormous objects

good-sized, fair-sized, large, sizeable, huge, massive, bulky, hefty, enormous, gigantic, colossal,

buildings

immense

large, huge, tall, high,

rambling places / areas /cities

large, huge, vast, massive,

extensive

rooms

spacious, airy

groups / organizations / systems

huge, large, vast, massive,

numbers, amounts

huge, massive, high, considerable, substantial,

enormous

sizeable, tremendous, significant, sizeable, colossal, hefty, immense

changes

gun

problems

big 'cat noun

accident?

Big

big

121

big/big/adj

significant, far-reaching,

sweeping, extensive

[c]

informal an important or powerful

person big 'dipar/noun [C]BrEa large structure like a small railroad with many sharp turns and steep hills that you ride on for fun and excitement at a

big dip-per/

CARNIVAL

Big Dip-per, the /,biy 'dipsr/ AmE a constellation (=group of stars) made up of seven stars that can be seen in the northern half of the world. Br E Plough Big Easy, the an informal name for the U.S. city of

New

Orleans

From The Big

Easy, a novel by

James Conaway.

Big-foot

/'biy.fot/ a large creature with hair all over its body and a shape like a human that some people believe lives in the mountains of North America

big 'game noun

[u] large wild animals such as lions that people hunt as a sport

/'biyi/ noun [C] informal something that is very large or successful: The fish I caught was quite a biggie. Julia Roberts stars in this week's biggie, a. be no biggie to not be important or not matter: / was going to use the car but it's no biggie if you want to.

big-gie

government noun [u] government that seems to have too much control over people's lives big gun noun [C] informal a powerful or important person or group of people: They're hired a big gun to big

represent them in the lawsuit.

1

big-headed behaving in a way that shows that you think you are very important or inteladj

ligent

big-heart-ed

/ ,big

'hartad/ adj kind and generous

toward other people

big 'hitter noun

[C] mainly journalism a company or very successful big-horn sheep /.bighorn 'Jip/ noun [C] a sheep with large curly horns that lives in the mountains of western North America and northeastern Asia bight /bait/ noun [c] a long curved part of the coast or a large river big 'money noun (u) informal a lot of money: You'll never make big money unless you 're prepared to take risks. big-mouth /'big,mau0/ noun [C] someone who talks a lot and is unable to keep anything secret big 'name noun [C] informal a famous person in a particular activity: A lot of big names showed up at the gallery opening. + in a big name in local politics big 'noise noun [C] informal a person or organization that has a lot of power and influence big-ot /'bigat/ noun [C] someone who is bigoted

product that

billiards

122

big-head-ed /big hedid/

is

bi-lat-eral /,bai'l£et{o)rol/ adj a bilateral agreement or activity is one that involves two groups or countries: bilateral negotiations/ talks bMat*er*aMy adv bil-ber-ry /'bil.beri/ noun [C] a small fruit with a dark blue skin that grows in northern Europe bile /bail/ noun [u] • 1 a green-brown liquid that is made in the liver and helps you to digest fats 2 mainly literary angry words or feelings bilge /bild3/ noun 1 [c] the bottom part of a boat 1a. [U] dirty water that collects in this part of a boat 2 (u] informal nonsense

—

bilingual

bilingual 2

people's opinions

big 'science noun

[u] scientific research that is expensive because it needs a lot of equipment and workers and so is usually supported by large companies or by the government

big 'screen, the noun the movies,

especially

when

considered in relation to television [C]

informal an important person in an

includes people who have a wide range of beliefs or opinions and come from many different backgrounds: Johnson's aim was to bring both business and union leaders into his big tent. big- tent adj: A recent study shows Republicans are not the big-tent party.

—

informal expensive: the big-ticket items right now. adj

We just

can't afford

'big time adv spoken used for emphasizing how extreme or severe something is: "Did you have problems with it?" "Yeah, big time.

'big time, the noun the highest and most successful level in a profession, especially entertainment or politics: She had finally made it to the big time. big toe noun [C] the largest of the toes on your foot picture -» foot

—

big 'top noun

[C]

a large tent in which a circus

is

performed

big wheel noun

[C]

1

informal a big cheese

2 BrE

a

FERRIS WHEEL /'big.wig/ noun [C] informal an important and powerful person in an organization bike 1 /baik/ noun [C] informal ** a bicycle or a motor-

big*wig

cycle

bike 2 /baik/

someone who

[C]

feeling as though

is

you are going

to vomit food from your stomach: nauseous easily annoyed: bad-tempered bil*ious*ness

—

bill

1

/bil/noun

[c]

2

literary

noun

[u]

**•

1 amount you owe 2 paper money 3 proposal for law

4 5

beak

bird's list

of

concert events

+ PHRASES

a written statement showing how much money you for goods or services you have received: a telephone bill +for / hate to think what the bill for the repairs will be. pay/settle a bill I always pay my bills on time. la. the amount of money you have to pay for something: Their grocery bill is around $75 per week. 1b. mainly BrEa piece of paper that shows how much money you owe after eating in a restaurant: check 2 E a piece of paper money. Br E note: a $100 bill 3 a written document containing a proposal for a new law: pass a bill A bill was passed lowering the legal age of

owe someone invoice:

Am

consent. a bird's

4

beak

5 a

big 'smoke, the noun informal a large town or city big 'tent noun [c] AmE a group or political party that

big-ticket

/'bilias/ adj 1

1

big>ot*ry /'bigatri/ noun [u] the practice of having very strong and unreasonable opinions, especially about politics, race or religion, and refusing to consider other

'big shot noun organization

/bai'lingwal/ noun

bilingual

bil-ious

big»ot*ed /'bigatad/ adj someone who is bigoted has opinions that most people think are unreasonable, especially about race, politics, or religion, and is not willing to consider other people's opinions

1

/bai'lingwal/ adj 1 someone who is bilingual is able to speak two languages extremely well 2 involving or written in two languages: bilingual education a bilingual dictionary bi-lin-gual-ism noun [Uj

verb

[I]

informal to ride

somewhere on a

bicycle

bik-er /'baikar/ noun [C] a motorcyclist, especially one who belongs to a group bik-ie /'baiki/ noun [C] Australian informal a biker biki-ni /bi'kini/ noun [C] a swimming suit for women, with separate parts to cover the breasts and the lower part of the body —picture -» cs bi'kini line noun [c] the area of a woman's skin near the edge of the lower part of a bikini, where there is hair that some women remove bila-bi-al /.bai'leibial/ adj linguistics a bilabial sound is one that you produce using both lips, for example bi«la«bi»al noun [C] the sound of "m" or "p"

—

list of events and performers at a concert, show, top the bill (=be the most important performer) He '11 topping be the bill at the show next month. etc.:

the bill to be appropriate for something: Ifyou're looking for an outdoor vacation, Colorado could fit the bill. get a clean bill of health to be told that you are healthy after being examined by a doctor give sth a clean bill of health to examine something and say it is satisfactory or in good condition: Analysts have given the restructured company a clean bill of health. the (old) bill Br E informal the police fill/fit

2

-» FOOT

Words

frequently used with bill

amend, approve, debate,

verbs

draft,

introduce, oppose, pass, propose

bill

2

/bil/ verb

[T]

statement of the three nights

to

send or give someone a written

money they owe: +for We

when we were only therefor

were billed for

two.

be billed to sing /play etc. if a performer is billed to sing, play, etc. somewhere, they are listed in a program or advertisement bill and coo humorous if two people bill and coo, they kiss each other and talk together in a romantic way bill sb/sth as sth to advertise or describe someone or something in a particular way, especially in order to make them sound interesting or important: Electric cars are being billed as the automobiles of the future. /'bil.bard/ noun [c] a large board for advertisements in an outside public place

bill-board 1

/'bilit/ noun [C] a place, usually someone's house, that soldiers live in temporarily, especially during a war 2 bil-let /'bilit/ verb [T] to put soldiers in a billet

billet

bil-let-doux noun

[C]

/.bilei

literary

'du/

(plural

biMets-doux/.bilei'duz/)

a letter expressing your love for

someone

Am

E a wallet a game played on a special table in which two people use cues (=long sticks) to hit balls into pockets (=holes) at the edge of the table compare pool a, snooker

bill«fold/'bil,foold/ noun

[C]

biMiards / 'biljardz/ noun

[u]

—

1

billing

bilMng

biochemistry

123 / 'bilirj /

noun [u] 1 the way in which a performer or an event is advertised, especially the importance that is given to them: a game that lived up to its

2

billing as the game of the season top/star/second /equal billing / got top billing. 2 the process of sending bills

closer together.

payment

for

••

bil-lion /'biljan/ number 1 the number 1,000,000,000 2 billions or a billion a very large number or amount of people or things: +of We've told them billions of times. old-fashioned a trillion

3BrE

biMionth

/'biljanG/

number

in the place or position

1

counted as number one billion 2 one of a billion equal parts of something

of ex change (plural .bills of ex'change) noun [C] a written order saying that someone must pay a particular person an amount of money on a fixed date

.bill

of fare

.bill

menu

(plural

bills of fare)

noun

a

in a restaurant

(plural .bills of lading) noun [c a list of the goods that are being sent somewhere on a ship .bill of 'rights noun [singular] an official statement of the most important rights that the citizens of a country J

have

of 'Rights, the the part of the U.S. constitution that describes the rights of citizens

.Bill

of 'sale (plural .bills of 'sale) noun [C] a written statement describing the sale of something to someone bil-low /'bilou/ verb [i] 1 to be filled with air and

.bill

1

swell out like a sail: The sheets billowed on the clothes + out His cloak billowed out behind him. 2 if smoke line. or steam billows, it rises or moves in clouds: Smoke was billowing from the campfire. bil-low 2 /'biloo/ noun [C] 1 a moving cloud of something such as smoke or steam: + of billows of gray smoke from the exhaust pipe 2 literary a large wave in the

ocean bill-post-er / 'bil.poostar/ noun [c] someone who sticks advertisements on walls bill-post-ing noun [u] bil-ly /'bili/ or bil-ly-can /'bili.kaen/ noun [c] a container used for cooking food over a fire 'billy .club noun [C] AmE a short stick carried by a

—

weapon

police officer as a

'billy goat noun [C] informal a is called a nanny goat.

binrvbo /'bimboo/ noun

[C]

goat.

A female goat

word young woman happening or produced

informal an insulting

an attractive but not very

for

male

intelligent

bi-month-ly /.bai'mAnGli/ adj twice a month or every two months: bimonthly

— bi-month-ly adv 1

bin /bin/ noun 1

[c]

reports

•

a container for storing something, especially a large

amount: a compost bin

2BrEa container for putting garbage in bin 2 /bin/ verb

[T] Br E informal to get rid of something by putting it in a garbage container bi-na-ry / 'bamsri/ adj 1 computing based on the binary system: binary numbers 2 technical consisting of two

parts

'binary .system noun [C] a system in which information is represented using combinations of the numbers and 1, used especially in computers 1

bind /baind/ verb

(past tense and past participle

bound /baond/)

**•

1 tie sth

2 unite people 3 force sb to obey

rule

4 fasten book together 5 when substances mix 6 decorate edges

someone's hands or feet together so they cannot move: bind sb/sth with sth They bound his hands with a rope. be bound and gagged (=to be tied up and have a cloth tied around your mouth) He was found bound and gagged in the trunk of a car. la. bind or bind up to wind a length of cloth, ribbon, etc. around something several times: Bind the wound up and leave it. bind sth with sth His bare feet were bound with strips 1

[T] to tie

of rag. 1b. to tie a number of things together: bind sth together The papers were loosely bound together with string.

3 (T often passive] to limit what someone is allowed to do by making them obey a rule or agreement bind sb to do sth The treaty binds each country to reduce pollution levels.

4

[t]

to fasten the pages of a book together it: a beautifully bound journal

and put a

cover on

5 [l/T] if two substances bind, or if you bind two substances, they stick or mix together and become one substance: Add in a little milk to bind the mixture. 6 [T] to decorate something or make it stronger by fastening a long piece of cloth along or around the edges: a black vest bound with gold cord

bind 2 /baind/ noun informalbea bind Br £ to

be annoyconvenient: It's a real bind having go all that way by train. in a bind in a difficult situation: get in a bind If you ever get in a bind you can always call us. bind-er /'bamdar/ noun [C] 1 a hard cover that holds loose papers together 2 a substance used when making other substances that helps them stick together 3 Am E legal a written statement or a payment of money that proves that an agreement has been made between two people or groups 4 a person or machine that puts the parts of a book together bind-ing /'bamdin/adj •• if an agreement, contract, decision, etc. is binding, you must do what it says: legally binding Remember that this is a legally binding document. + on /upon These are guidelines only, and are not binding on any party. binding 2 /'baindin/ noun 1 [c] the cover of a book that holds the pages together and protects them 1a. [u] cloth or ribbon that is attached to the edge of soft material to decorate it or to keep the edges from coming apart 2 [C] the part of a ski that holds the boot in place bind-weed / 'baind ,wid/ noun [u] a wild plant that grows among other plants and winds itself around them binge 1 /bmd3/ noun [C] an occasion when someone does too much of something they enjoy, such as drinking: He went on a drinking binge over the weekend. the largest ever public spending binge binge eating binge 2 /bmd3/ verb [i] to do too much of something you enjoy, especially eating: + on He would binge on chocolate until he was sick. ing, difficult, or not

[C] old-fashioned

of lading

.bill

make two

people or groups feel as if they arcconnected to each other in a very close way bind sb together The troubles they had shared bound them much [T] to

to

1

binge and purge

much and then force yourself because you are suffering from

to eat too

to vomit, especially

BULIMIA 1

bin-go /'bingoo/noun [u] a game in which players try to match numbers on their cards with numbers that are called out

bin-go 2 /'bingoo/ interjection a cry someone makes when they have won a game of bingo a. used for telling someone that they have guessed something correctly

bin-man /'bin.maen/ (plural Br E a garbage collector

bin«men/'bin,men/) noun [C]

bin-oc-u-lars /bi'nakjabrz/ noun [plural] • a piece of equipment with two parts that you hold against your eyes and look through to see distant objects more clearly bin-oc-u-lar vi-sion /bi.nukjobr "vija/ noun [u] the use of both eyes to see things in relation to each other, as humans and some animals do bi-no-mi-al /bai'noombl/ noun [c] technical 1 in mathematics, an expression that has two parts connected by the sign + or the sign -. for example 2x + 3y or x - 12 2 linguistics a phrase containing two nouns that are joined together by a conjunction and always appear in the same order, for example "cup and saucer"

— bi-no-mi-al adj

prefix relating to living things or someone's used with some nouns and adjectives: biology biography bi-o-chem-i-cal /.baioo'kemikl/ adj relating to the chemical substances and processes in living things bi*o-chem-i-caMy adv bi-o-chem-is-try /baioo'kenustri/noun [u] the study of chemical processes that occur in living things bi-o-chem-ist noun (C]

bio- /baioo/ life:

— —

biodegradable

Birdsville Track

124

bi-o-de-grad-a-ble

/.baioodi'greidabl/

bio-

adj

degradable substances can be broken into very small parts by bacteria so that they are not harmful to the

environment bi-o-di-ver-si-ty

/.baioodai'vsrsati/ noun [u] the variety of different types of plant and animal life in a particular region

bi-par-tite /.bai'par.tait/

formal consisting of or involving two people, things, or groups a. technical made up of two parts bi-ped /'bai.ped/ noun [C] science an animal with two adj

legs

bi-plane /'bai.plem/ noun

bi-o-graph-er /bai'agrafar/ noun [c] someone who writes a book describing someone else's life

[c] an old-fashioned type of airplane with two sets of wings bi-po-lar /.bai'poobr/ adj [usually before noun] 1 formal involving two completely opposing parts or groups

bi-o-graph-i-cal / .babgnefikl/ adj relating to the facts of someone's life bi-o-graph-i-cal-ly /.babgraefikli/

2 medical manic depressive birch /b3rtJ7 noun 1 [C] a tall

—

bi-og-ra-phy /bai'agrsfi/ noun • [C] a book that someone writes about someone else's life. A book that someone writes about their own life is called an autobiography,

a.

[u]

biographies considered as a type of

literature

*•

bi-o-log-i-cal /.bablax^ikl/

adj relating to living things: biological science /engineering a. sb's biological father /mother /parent someone's natural father or mother, rather than the man or woman who has adopted them (=taken charge of them legally) bi-o-log-i-cal-ly /,bai3'lad3ikli/adv

—

.biological clock noun

a system in the body that controls when certain regular activities happen, for example sleeping: body clock 2 informal a woman's need to have children before she reaches a certain age and can no longer physically do so: She felt her biological clock ticking away. [c]

1

.biological control noun [u] a method of reducing the number of harmful insects by using other insects or small animals that feed on them .biological 'warfare noun [u] the use of harmful bacteria as a

weapon

biologist

in a

war

/bai'abd3ist/ noun

[C]

•

who

a scientist

studies living things

biology

/bai'abd3i/ noun [u] * the scientific study of living things a. the natural processes that control how a living thing lives: human biology b. the animals and plants found in a particular area

bi-o-mass

/'baioo.maes/ noun [u] technical 1 plant and animal life found in a particular area

the plant

all

2

and animal substances used for fuel bi-o-med-i-cine/'baioo.medssn/noun [u] 1 the principles of biology and biochemistry applied to the practice of medicine 2 the study of the effect of the environment on the body under extreme conditions, especially in

—

space travel bi-o-med-i-cal /.baioo 'medikl/ bi-on-ic/bai'anik/adj 1 bionic body parts are

adj artificial

bi-o-phys-ics /.baiou'fiziks/ noun

[u] the scientific study of biological processes using the laws of physics

bi-o-pic /'baiou.pik/ noun on the events of someone's

biopiracy

[C]

informal a movie based

life

/

bi-op-sy

/'bai.apsi/ noun [C] a medical test in which are taken from your body and examined to find they are healthy

if

bi-o-rhythm /'baioo.ndam/ noun

[c]

the pattern of

physical processes that happen in someone's body over a period of time

BIOS

/'baias/ noun [C usually singular] computing basic input/output system: the software that controls the way many basic parts of the computer work, for example the keyboard, screen, and disk drtves bi-o-sphere, the /'baiou.sfir/ noun science the parts of the Earth's surface

animal

life

and atmosphere where plant and

can exist

bi-o-tech-nol-o-gy

/,baiootek'nabd3i/ noun and animal

science the use of bacteria and plant for industrial or scientific purposes

bipartisan

stick

bird /b3rd/ noun [c] •*• 1 an animal covered in feathers, with two wings for flying and a hard pointed mouth called a beak or a bill. Birds build nests, in which female birds lay eggs. 2 old-fashioned a particular type of person She 's a tough :

old bird.

3

mainly

BrE informal a young woman

be

(strictly) for the birds informal to have no use, purpose, or importance the bird has flown spoken used for saying that someone you are trying to find is already gone or has escaped a bird in the hand (is worth two in the bush) used for saying that it is better to have something that you can be certain of than to want something that might be better but you are not certain to get the birds and the bees humorous the facts about sex, when they are explained to children for the first time birds of a feather (flock together) used for saying that people of a similar type tend to support and agree with each other flip/give sb the bird informal to hold up your middle finger as a very rude sign 2 -» EARLY BIRD, KILL LITTLE 1

,

bird bath noun [c] a bowl in a yard, for birds to wash themselves in

filled

with water

bird-brained /'b3rd,bremd/

adj informal stupid in an annoying way: a bird-brained idea —bird-brain noun [C] /'b3rd,keid3/ noun [c] a cage in which you keep a bird in a house bird ,dog noun [c] AmE a dog trained to bring back

bird-cage

birds after

bird-ie

someone shoots them

1

/'b3rdi/ noun [c] 1 spoken a little bird. This used mainly by children or when speaking to children. 2 in golf, a score that is one stroke (=a hit of the ball) less than par (=the expected number of strokes needed for a hole) compare bogey i, eagle 3 AmE a light object that players hit over the net with a racket in the game of badminton 2 bird-ie /'b3rdi/ verb [T] to score a birdie at a hole in is

—

1

golf

bird-like /'b3rd,laik/

adj

similar to a bird in appear-

movement, or sound: a small birdlike woman .bird of 'paradise (plural .birds of 'paradise) noun [C] ance,

'baioo, pairasi/ noun [u] the practice of using plant or animal genes for scientific research without having the legal right to do this cells

paper —picture -» C9 1a. [u] the wood from this tree 2 the birch BrE an old-fashioned form of corporal punishment in which someone is hit hard with a thin

word

electronic parts that replace body parts that have been removed or do not work correctly 2 humorous able to do things that other people cannot do

out

tree with thin branches off in thin strips like

and an outer layer that comes

adv

[u]

cells

/bai'partizan/ adj involving two political parties with different ideas or policies: bipartisan support for the Transportation Bill

1 a plant with brightly colored flowers that look similar to birds flying 2 a brightly colored bird that lives mainly in New Guinea

.bird of 'passage (plural .birds of 'passage) noun [c] 1 oldfashioned a bird that flies from one part of the world to another when the season changes 2 literary someone who keeps moving from one place to another .bird of 'prey (plural .birds of 'prey) noun [c] a bird that hunts and eats other animals /'b3rd,sid/ noun [u] seeds that you give to birds as food

bird-seed

.bird's-eye 'view noun [singular] a good view of something from a high position: We had a bird's-eye view of the action from the roof. bird-song /'b3rd,son/ noun [u] the musical sounds that birds

make / 'b3rdzvil .traek/ a way across Austhrough some of the driest and most

Birdsville Track tralia that passes

dangerous parts of the country, often referred to as a symbol of the dangers of traveling in the Australian outback (=areas that are far from towns or cities)

bird

watching

watjirj/ noun [u] the activity of watching wild birds, especially in order to find

unusual or rare types —bird watch-er noun [C] bi-ret-ta /ba'reta/ noun [c] a stiff square hat worn by a

Roman

Catholic priest

for being very comfortable. Birkenstocks have the reputation of being worn mostly by people who care for the environment and try to live a healthy life. Bi-ro /'bairoo/ BrE trademark a ballpoint birth /b3r9/ noun *•* 1 [C/U] the occasion of a baby being born: We are happy to announce the birth of our son Andrew. John wanted from/since birth James has to be present at the birth. been blind from birth. at birth (=at the time when you are born) children who have medical complications at place of birth Place of birth: Reno 1a. [C/U] the birth process of being born or of giving birth to a baby: It was a very difficult birth. 1b. give birth (to sb) if a woman gives birth to a baby, she produces it from inside her body: She gave birth to a baby boy. -» date of birth

2

[U] your status or position in society according to your family or the place you were born: Why should an

accident of birth (=being born rich, poor, etc.) determine what opportunities you have? a woman of noble birth by birth She's a French national by birth. 3 [singular] the beginning of something such as an idea, institution, or nation: +of the birth of a new era in Latin American politics 3a. give birth to sth to make something important start to exist: It was this event that gave birth to the peace movement.

'birth certificate noun

document that of when and where you were

[c]

an

official

shows your name, details born, and who your parents are

'birth control noun [u] the practice of avoiding becoming pregnant or the methods used for this: contraception the day each year birth-day /'b3r9,dei/ noun [C] that has the same date as the one on which you were born: It's her seventeenth birthday tomorrow. Her birthday is on June 7th. a. [only before noun] intended to celebrate someone's birthday: a birthday party /card /present

•*

happy birthday a greeting you use when it is someone's birthday: Happy birthday, Jimmy! wish sb a happy birthday I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday.

birthday suit noun not wearing clothes birth-ing /'b3r6in/

in your birthday suit humorous

adj [only before noun] relating to

or

used in the process of giving birth: a birthing pool/ chair/ room

birth-mark / 'b3r8,mark/ noun

[c]

a red or brown

mark

on the skin that some people are born with birth mother noun [c] the woman who gave birth to someone, rather than the woman who has adopted them 'birth parent noun [c] one of the parents someone had when they were born, rather than one of the parents who adopted them birth-place /'b3r0,pleis/ noun [c usually singular] 1 the place where someone was born: Kennedy's birthplace was in Brookline, near Boston. 2 the place where something first started to exist: + of Wayne County, the birthplace of the American railroad 'birth ,rate noun [c] the officially recorded number of births in a particular year or place: a steep decline in the birth rate

/'b3r0,rait/ noun [c usually singular] a basic right, or a right to have something because you fair trial is the are a citizen of a particular country:

birth-right

human

A

birthright of every American citizen, a. old-fashioned a right to own something as a member of a family

bis-cuit /'biskit/ noun 1 [C]AmE a small round soft bread roll: Bake the biscuits in a hot oven for 20 minutes

2

1

bi-sex-u-al /bai'sekjual/ adj sexually attracted to both men and women —compare heteroskxi ai.. homom-.xi ai. bi-sex-u-al-i-ty/ baisekju'slati/ noun (ll] 2 bi-sex-u-al /bai'sekfuol/ noun [c] someone who is bisexual

Birk-en-stock / b3rlon ,stak / trademark a shoe known

until golden brown.

bit

125

bird watch-ing /'b3rd

[u] a light

brown

color

3 [C]BrE

••

bish-op

/'bijap/ noun [c] 1 a Christian priest with a senior position who is responsible for all the churches in a particular area: the Bishop of New York 2 a piece in the game of chess, shaped like a bishop's hat

bish-op-ric /'bijapnk/ noun [c] all the churches in an area for which a bishop is responsible: diocese a. the job of a bishop

bison / 'baisn/ (plural bi»son)

bisect

a large wild animal

/bisk/ noun [C/u] 1 a thick soup made from shellfish lobster bisque 2 objects made of baked clay that have not been covered with a glaze (=a liquid that produces a shiny surface) :

bis-tro /'bistrou/ noun 1 bit function word *••

A

bit

[C]

a small restaurant or bar

can be used in the following ways:

as an adverb: We waited a bit, and then decided to go. (before an adjective or adverb): It's a bit cold in here, isn't it?

as a pronoun: She'd only eaten a bit before she started choking, (followed by "of): / could use a bit of help.

many

Bit can also be used in

expressions referring to

amounts or degrees, especially small ones. a bit mainly BrE informal 1 slightly or a little: I'm That was a bit stupid. a bit more/ feeling a bit tired. less The second interview was a bit less formal than the

2 a

short time: You'll have to wait a bit. for a bit come and stay with us for a bit?* in a bit I'll do it in a bit. I'm busy right now. 3 a small amount +of / of something: I'd like some sauce, but just a bit. know a bit of German. With a bit of luck we should be able to get there in time. 4 to a limited degree: / used to fish a bit when I was younger. a bit at a time Br E in several small stages over a period

first.

Why

don't you

of time a bit of a sth mainly Br E informal used for saying that someone or something has a particular character, effect,

or quality: It appears that my letter has caused a bit of a problem. She's always been a bit of a mystery to me. a bit of all right Br E very informal used for saying that you think someone is sexually attractive a bit on the side Br E informal someone you have a sexual relationship with, even though you are married or in a serious relationship with someone else every bit as just as: The newly developed medication is every bit as effective as the old one. a good/fair bit mainly BrE a fairly large amount of something: We've still got a fair bit to do. + of He's lost a good bit of weight, hasn he? it's/that's a bit much mainly BrE informal used for saying that you think something is unfair: Pay our own travel costs? That's a bit much, don't you think? just a bit mainly Br E spoken used for emphasizing that something is definitely true: "She's taking it all very seriously. " "Just a bit!" not a bit Br E informal not at all: It 's not a bit like any of the other paintings he's done. not one (little) bit not at all: / don't like what you're doing one little bit. quite a bit informal a lot: +of Your car needs quite a bit of work done on it before you can drive it. take a bit of doing mainly Br E informal to need a lot of effort, skill, or determination to do 't

2 bit the past tense of bite 3 bit /bit/ noun •

1

piece/part

1 small

silly,

2 3 4

/'bai.sekt; bai'sekt/ verb [T] technical to divide

something into two equal halves, especially in mathematics

[C]

bisque

a COOKIE

take the biscuit BrE informal to be the most stupid, or annoying thing in a series of things

noun

like a cow with long hair and a big head. One type lives in North America and the other in Europe.

1

unit in

computing

for cutting/making holes for controlling a

[C]

mainly

BrE

5 coin/money 6 sex organs + PHRASES

horse

a small piece of something: + of There

1

bit

bit part

126

bits and were bits of broken glass all over the place. pieces The wreckage was spread over a wide area in tiny bits and pieces. 1a. mainly Br E a particular aspect of something: In general, I like my job, but I don't enjoy the management bit. 1b. Br E informal a part of something: The best bit in the film is the scene in the restaurant. + of Some bits of the jigsaw puzzle are missing. 2 [C] computing the most basic unit of information that can be stored in a computer compare byte 3 [C] a tool or part of a tool used for cutting or making holes in things 4 [C] a piece of metal put in a horse's mouth so that a rider can control it —picture -» horse

—

5 [C usually plural] Am E old-fashioned an amount of money worth 12j cents: two bits 5a. a sixpenny/threepenny etc. bit Br E informal old-fashioned a coin of a particular value 6 bits [plural] Br E humorous a man's sex organs

me Am E

bite

very informal used for rudely telling

someone

that you are upset or annoyed with something they have just said or done: "You're not smart enough to get a job like that. " "Bite me!" bite your tongue/lip to stop yourself from saying something that might upset or annoy someone it/that bites (the big one) Am E spoken used for saying that you are disappointed or unhappy with something that has happened: I just found out I owe $500 in taxes. That really bites! once bitten twice shy used for saying that someone will be careful about doing something again or unwilling to do it again because they failed or were hurt the first time they did it sb won't bite spoken used for telling someone not to be afraid of a particular person: Just ask her. She won't bite, you know.

back phrasal vb 1 [T] [bite back sth] to stop yourself from saying what you think: Paul bit back an angry reply. 2 [i] to react angrily to someone who has done or said something unpleasant to you: It was his instinct to

.bite

by bit gradually or in small stages: /'// move my things into the apartment bit by bit. bits and pieces informal 1 someone's possessions or furniture: We have a few bits and pieces offurniture, but that's all. 2 small individual things: Then there are all the other bits and pieces involved in a wedding: invitations, photos, and car rental. do your bit Br E informal to do what you can to help, or to do your part of what has to be done to bits mainly Br E informal 1 into small pieces: The vase hit the floor and was smashed to bits. 2 very much: He's thrilled to bits. / love you to bits. -> BIT PART, BLOW bit

bite back. bite ,into phrasal vb [T] [bite into sth] to press hard into a surface: The metal collar bit into his neck. 'bite ,off phrasal vb [T] to separate something from the main part by biting: / bit off a chunk of chocolate.

bite off

more than you can chew

or something that 2

bite /bait/ noun

is

too hard for

/bitJV noun 1 [C] offensive an insulting word for a woman 1a. offensive an insulting word for someone, especially a woman, who is rude or cruel 2 [singular] very informal something difficult or unpleasant: These milk cartons are a real bitch to open. 3 [singular] very

bitch

informal a complaint about someone or something: son of a What's his latest bitch? 4 [C] a female dog

-

bitch

bitch 2 /bitJV verb [I] informal to complain or say unkind things about someone or something, especially about someone who is not present: + about Who are you two bitching about now? +at If you keep bitching at me I'm going home.

Am

E informal to criticize or shout bitch out phrasal vb [T] at someone angrily because they have done something wrong: Our teacher bitched us out for not doing our homework again.

bitch-ing / 'bit Jin / adj Am E very informal excellent bitch-y /'bitji/ ad) informal rude or cruel about or toward someone else: Why is he being so bitchy? bitchy remarks /comments

— bitch'My

adv, bitch*i*ness

noun

[U] 1

bite /bait/ verb

(past tense bit /bit/; past participle biWen/'bitn/)

**

use your teeth to cut or break something, usually in order to eat it: / wish you wouldn't bite your nails. + into Tom had just bitten into a chicken sandwich. 2 [l/T] if a snake or insect bites you, it makes a small hole in your skin: / was bitten by mosquitoes in the night. Does your dog bite? 3 [I] if a fish bites, it eats the food that you have put on the hook in order to catch it: The fish don't seem to 1

1

[I/T] to

2 small meal/piece of food 3 when animal uses teeth 4 when fish pulls hook [C]

bites

3 [C] an instance of an animal biting someone: The dog gave him a nasty bite on the leg. 3a. a mark or injury where an animal or insect has bitten you: / woke up covered with mosquito bites. 4 [C] a pull at the hook when you are fishing, made by a fish trying to take the bait on the hook 5 [singular] a very cold feeling: the bitter bite of the wind 6 [u] a pleasant bitter or strong taste: a soup with plenty of bite a crisp green salad with the added bite of radish 7 [u] a powerful, effective, or exciting quality: His novel The fuel-injection system gives extra lacks any real bite. bite to the 24-valve engine.

take a bite out of sth to reduce something by a large amount: Getting a new car has taken a big bite out of our savings.

bite-sized / 'bait.saizd/ or bite-size /'bait.saiz/ ad] [usually before noun] 1

into

chicken into bite-sized pieces.

2 small enough

to be read or dealt with easily: The guides are produced in bite-

as a five-year-old. bite the bullet informal to force yourself to do something difficult or unpleasant that you have been avoiding doing: We'll just have to bite the bullet and get on with it. bite the dust informal to fail, die, or stop existing: All hope of them winning the championship eventually bit the

sized sections.

biting

someone who has been good

to

do something bad

head

adj

biting remark, criticism, is cruel and unkind

etc.

— bit-ing-ly adv

to

you and whose help you

need off informal to react angrily or rudely to someone when you have no reason for doing this: There's no need to bite my head off. I was just asking a simple question.

bite sb's

/'baitin/

wind or cold is so it makes you feel very uncomfortable 2 a biting cold that 1

dust.

to

small

to be put whole your mouth: Cut the

enough

.

hand that feeds you

+ PHRASES

an

hungry. -» bark 2 2 bite or bite to eat [singular] a small meal, especially one that you eat in a hurry: snack: Will we have time to grab a bite before the show? 2a. a small piece of food prepared so that you can eat it in one bite: mozzarella

to

bite the

7 exciting quality

act of cutting or breaking something using your teeth in order to eat it: Anthony devoured half his burger in one bite. Donna paused in mid bite, and looked at him in surprise. 1a. an amount of food that you bite with your teeth: Here, have a bite of my sandwich ifyou're 1

have an unpleasant effect: The figures show that the economic slowdown is beginning to bite. be bitten by the. .bug informal to become very enthusiastic about something: Joe was bitten by the acting bug [I]

much

5 very cold feeling 6 pleasant strong taste

act of biting food

be biting today.

4

do too

•

1

1

to try to

you

bit»map /'bit.maep/ noun [c] computing a computer image made up of many small points on the screen: bitmap files/graphics/ images part noun [C] a job as a minor actor in a play or

'bit

movie

bitten bitten

blackball

127

the past participle of bite

1

bit-terVbitar/adj •• 1 feeling angry or upset because of a bad experience, especially when you think that you have been treated

blab'ber-mouth someone who tells kept secret 1

black /bhek/adj

unfairly: + about I'm still bitter about the whole affair. 1a. involving very angry feelings: a bitter dispute/ divorce case 1b. used about a determined and angry enemy or opponent: one of the President's most bitter

They had always been

critics

1

[usually before noun] making you feel very unhappy or disappointed: a bitter blow/disappointment It was a bitter blow when they decided not to offer him the contract. 3 something that is bitter has a strong sharp taste that is not sweet 4 extremely cold in a way that makes you very uncomfortable: A bitter wind was blowing from the north.

bitter experience if you know something from experience, you know about its unpleasant aspects because you have experienced it before: She knew from bitter experience it wasn 't worth complaining. -» pill bit-ter-ness noun [U]

from

bitter

— 2

bit'ter /'bitsr/ noun [c/u] mainly BrE a type of dark beer that tastes bitter, or a glass of this beer .bitter end, the noun to /until /till the bitter end continuing until the end of a particular situation or period of time, even though it is difficult or unpleasant:

Some of the army had supported Milosevic

bitterly /'bitarli/ adv • 1 in a way that shows that you

to the bitter end.

1

parts that do not bitty.

fit

together well: I found the novel too

-» LITTLE-BITTY

bi*tu*men /bi'tumin; bai'tumm/ noun [u] a black sticky substance made from petroleum, used for making roads and covering roofs bi*valve /'bai.vaelv/ noun [c] science an ocean creature with a shell made of two parts joined together biv-ou-ac 1 / 'bivu.sk/ noun [c] a simple temporary camp made by soldiers, people climbing mountains, etc.

biv-ou-ac 2

/ 'bivu.sk/ (past tense and past participle bivouacked; present participle bivou«ack«ing) verb [I] to spend the night in a bivouac bi«week-ly 1 /bai'wikli/adj, adv happening or published every two weeks: a biweekly journal

bi'week-ly

2

/bai'wikli/ noun [C] a magazine that

is

published twice a month or twice a week biz, the /biz/ noun informal a particular type of business, especially in the television or entertainment industry: How long have you been in the biz? the film/ music /computer biz bi-zarre /bi'zar/ adj * strange and difficult to explain: bizarre behavior a really bizarre character bi-zarre-ly /bi'zarli/ adv in a strange way that is difficult to explain: bizarrely dressed / costumed a. used for emphasizing that you think something is strange: Bizarrely, the survey reveals that six in ten adults believe

/blaeb/ verb [I/T] informal to tell people about something that should be kept secret I didn 't think you 'd go blabbing the story all over town. :

/'blsebar/ verb [i] informal to talk too much, especially about things that should be kept secret, in a way that annoys other people

blab*ber

when Black

clouds of thick

or Black belonging or relating to a race of people with dark skin, especially people whose families were originally from Africa: She was the first black woman to become a judge. Dr. King was a leader in the Black community. a famous black actor 3 coffee or tea that is black has no milk in it: Do you take your coffee black or white? 4 making people feel unhappy or lose hope: one of the blackest moments in British history It's a black day for the automobile industry. 5 showing angry or unhappy feelings: a black look a black mood 6 relating to sad or unpleasant things such as death or illness: black humor 7 literary evil or cruel: a black deed

Words

that avoid giving offense:

black

Use the adjective black (sometimes spelled Black) to refer to people with dark skin whose families originally came from Africa. Avoid using black as a noun because this is sometimes considered offensive. Black Americans usually prefer to be called African American. Black people in the U.K. whose families originally came from the Caribbean often prefer to be called African-Caribbean. In Australian English, use black to refer to the people whose families were living in Australia before Europeans arrived and settled.

black 2

••

/blaek/ noun darkest color, like the color of the sky at there is no light 1a. black clothes: All the night mourners were wearing black. in black (^wearing black clothes) Do you think I look good in black? 2 black or Black [C] a black person. This word is sometimes considered offensive, so you should be very careful about using it. 1

[u] the

when

money in your bank account, or with more money than you owe: We've managed to stay in the in the black with

black for over a year now. —opposite

in

the red

black 3

/blaek/ verb [T] to make something black by covering it with a black substance

black out phrasal vb scious: faint:

2

1

[i]

to

suddenly become uncon-

He had blacked

out after his car hit the

prevent someone from reading or seeing something by covering it with something dark: Half the pages in the report had been blacked out for security reasons. 3 [T] to make a place dark by turning off all the lights, for example so that the enemy cannot see a place tree.

[T] to

at night.

black and blue

adj covered in bruises (=dark marks on your skin where you have been injured but not cut): He'd been beaten black and blue by a street gang. .black-and-white adj 1 a black-and-white photograph, movie, or television shows pictures in black, white, and gray but not in color —opposite qoum 2 involving one idea that is clearly right and another that is clearly wrong, so that it is not difficult for you to make a moral decision: It's not a simple black-and-

white issue. in black and white in a written or printed form, and therefore more likely to be true or definite: We've got her confession right here in black and white.

black

in aliens.

blab

at night shorts.

black smoke

this issue.

flavor

having the darkest color, like the sky is no light: He was wearing black

2 black

bitterly cold extremely cold

bit-ter-sweet /'bitsr.swit/ adj 1 involving feelings of happiness and sadness at the same time: a bittersweet love story 2 tasting sweet and bitter at the same time bit-ty /'biti/ adj BrE informal made up of many small

7 evil/cruel

there

are extremely angry,

bit-tern /'bitarn/ noun [c] a bird that lives near water and makes a loud deep sound .bitter 'pill noun [singular] an unpleasant fact or situation that is difficult to accept: a bitter pill to swallow The truth about her husband had been a bitter pill to swallow. bit-ters /'bitarz/ noun [u] a bitter liquid made from plants or roots that is added to alcoholic drinks to give

5 showing anger/sadness 6 about unpleasant things

cats are sometimes thought to be unlucky.

upset, or disappointed about something: He complained bitterly that no one had bothered to ask his opinion. 2 in a determined and angry way: Many people are bitterly opposed to the idea. Congress is bitterly divided

on

••*

having darkest color

2 of a race with dark skin 3 with no milk in it 4 involving sth bad/sad

bitter rivals.

2

bkcbor maoO/ noun [c] informal people about things that should be

/

'arts,

the noun

[plural] 1

old-fashioned the prac-

magic 2 the black arts or the black art humorous a skill or method for achieving things in a clever but dishonest way: a master of the black art of tice of

BLAd

political spirt

black-ball / "blak.bol/ verb

[t] to

prevent someone from

joining a group by voting against

them

black bear a large black or dark that lives in North America or Asia [c]

brown bear

black

,belt noun [c] the highest level of skill in some types of martial art such as judo or karate, represented by the right to wear a black belt a. someone who has achieved this level of skill

black-ber-ry

/'blask.beri/ noun [C] a small soft dark grows on a bush called a blackberry bush or bramble: blackberry jam

fruit that

black-bird / 'blaek,b3rd/ noun [C] a type of bird common in Europe and North America. The male is black with an orange beak.

black-board

/'blaek.bord/ noun [c] a large black or green surface fixed to a classroom wall for writing on with chalk —picture -» board .black 'box noun [c] 1 a piece of equipment in an airplane used for recording details about a flight, especially to try to find out the cause of a problem or crash: flight recorder 2 informal a computer or similar piece of equipment that performs a complicated job, although the person using it does not understand how it works .black 'cab noun [c] a type of taxi in the U.K. whose drivers are officially tested and organized so that they all provide the same quality of service

.black

'comedy

noun [c/u] a play, movie, or story that deals in a humorous way with unpleasant aspects of life such as illness and death 'black .currant noun [C/U] a small soft dark fruit that

grows especially currant bush

in

Europe on a bush called a black

Black 'Death, the noun

a disease that killed millions of people in Europe and Asia in the 14th century. Its

medical

name

bubonic plague.

is

.black e'conomy, the noun

illegal

business activities

that allow people to avoid paying taxes, for example selling goods or providing services without keeping any

records

black-en /'blaeksn/ verb [i/t] to become to make something become black: A mass blackened the sky. of soot.

black, or of seagulls

The walls were blackened by decades

blacken sb's reputation/name/character to do or say something that you know will harm someone's republack-ened adj tation 'Black .English noun [u] a type of English spoken by

some black people, especially in the U.S. .black 'eye noun [c] 1 a dark mark that forms on the skin around your eye as a result of being hit 2 Am E mainly journalism something that affects the reputation of a person or organization in a negative way black-eyed pea / ,blaek aid 'pi/ noun [c] Am E a small bean with a black spot eaten as food black-eyed Susan /.blaek aid 'suzn/ noun [c] an orange-yellow flower with a dark center that grows

mainly in North America .black 'gold noun [u] informal

.black 'ice noun [u) a dangerous layer of difficult to see on a road or path

ice that is

black-ing that

is

/'bkekirj/ noun [u] a thick dark substance put on objects to make them black, used espe-

cially in the past

black-jack / 'bltek^cek/ noun

[u] a card game in which players try to collect cards that add up to no more than 21. Blackjack is usually played for money in casinos.

black-list

1

/'blaek.hst/ verb [T often passive] to

keep a

record of someone you do not approve of and prevent them from making progress in some way: Many actors were blacklisted for having left-wing sympathies, a. to say that particular products should not be bought, especially as part of a political protest

black-list that

2 /

blaek .list/ noun [c] a list of people or things

some people do not approve

of,

people to avoid or stop supporting: Any pay on time goes on our blacklist.

and want other who doesn't

client

.black lung noun

[u] old-fashioned a serious disease affecting the lungs, caused by breathing in small pieces of coal over a long period of time. Black lung especially affects people who work in coal mines.

.black 'magic noun [u] a type of magic communicate with evil spirits and use

in

which people powers

evil

black-mail 1 /'blaek.meil/ noun [u] 1 the crime of making someone give you money or do what you want by threatening

to tell people embarrassing information about them: Barrett was in court, facing a charge of blackmail. 2 the use of threats to persuade a person or government to do what you want: the risk of nuclear

blackmail by terrorist organizations -» emotional blackblack-mail-er noun [C] mail

—

black-mail 2 /'blaek.meil/ verb [t] • 1 to make someone give you money or do what you want by threatening to tell people embarrassing information about them: Someone was trying to blackmail him with pictures of him and his mistress. blackmail sb into doing sth Channing claims she was blackmailed into helping the men with the robbery. 2 to use threats to persuade a person or government do what you want: The Prime Minister has said his government will not be blackmailed by the rebels. to

.black 'mark noun

[c] something you have done that your reputation in a bad way .black 'market noun [singular] the illegal buying and

affects

selling of goods, especially when it is difficult or expensive to obtain them legally: There's a thriving black on the black market market in vodka and cigarettes. Rhino horns can fetch up to $5,000 on the black market. .black marketeer noun [C]

—

mass noun [c] a ceremony in which people worship the Devil .Black 'Muslim noun [C] a member of a religious group of black people called the Nation of Islam, whose goal .black

is to

create a separate society for black people

blackness oil

found underground,

considered as a valuable product that will

make you

/'blaeknss/ noun [u] the quality of being completely black or completely dark: She disappeared into the blackness of the night.

/'blaek.aot/ noun [c] 1 a short period when the electricity supply to a building or district is stopped, especially at night 2 a period during a war when the lights are turned off so that an enemy cannot see them at night 3 a period when you suddenly become unconscious, usually for a few minutes 4 a situation in which reporters are officially prevented from reporting news about something: a news/media blackout

black-out

rich

black-guard

noun [C] old-fashioned an immoral man who treats other people very badly black-head /'blaek.hed/ noun [c] a small black spot on your skin, caused by dirt or oil blocking a pore (=one of the small holes in your skin) .black 'hole noun [C] 1 science an area in outer space /'blaegard/

where the force of gravity is so strong that light and everything else around it is pulled into it 2 informal a situation in which large amounts of money are spent without bringing any benefits: The business was little more than a financial black hole. 3 informal a situation in which there is a lot of sadness and very little hope: unemployment hool sv very crowded and uncom-

the psychological black hole of long-term

Black Hole of Cal-cut-ta, the kael'kAts/ a place that is fortable

From

blacksmith

128

.black 'bear noun

the

name

India, that

died there.

of

/.bkek

an 18th-century prison in Calcutta,

was so hot and small

that

many

prisoners

.black 'pepper noun

[u] pepper produced from dried crushed pepper seeds and their hard black cover .Black 'Power noun [u] a political movement of black

people, especially in the 1960s in the U.S., who wanted to achieve greater political and social power for black

people

.black 'pudding noun [c/u] a type of thick sausage made from the meat and blood of a pig .black 'sheep noun [c] someone who is not approved of by the other members of their family or the group they belong to because they are thought to behave badly

black-smith /'blaek.smiG/ noun is to make things out of metal

[C]

someone whose job

black stump

blackthorn

/'blaek,0orn/ noun [C] a European bush with white flowers and a dark fruit called a sloe [u] very formal men's clothes worn for a social event, usually including a black bow tie a. an event to which formal clothes are worn black-tie adj a black-tie occasion black-top /'blaek.tap/ noun [u] a thick black substance used for covering road surfaces a. [C] an area or road that is covered with blacktop black widow noun [c] a very poisonous spider that lives in parts of North America and Asia blad-der /'blaedar/ noun [c] 1 a part inside your body that is like a bag where urine collects before being passed from the body la. empty your bladder formal to urinate 2 a soft bag that holds air or water, for example inside a football -» gall bladder blade /bleid/ noun [c] 1 the thin sharp part of a knife, tool, or weapon that cuts things 1a. the metal bar on the bottom of an ice skate that allows you to move on ice 2 a long thin leaf of grass, wheat, etc.: a blade of grass 3 one of the flat parts of a propeller that spins around and pushes a boat or airplane forward 3a. one of the thin flat parts that spin around and keep a helicopter in the air 3b. the flat part at the end of an oar 4 old-fashioned a fashionable or attractive young man -» shoulder blade blad-ing /'bleidin/ noun [u] in-line skating

black tie noun

—

:

AmE

*•

/blaeg/ verb [l/T] BrE very informal to persuade to give you something you want by talking in a clever way blah 1 /bla/ noun [u] informal used instead of a word or thing on a list when it is not important to say exactly what that word or thing will be

blag

someone

blah, blah, blah spoken used for completing a sentence when you do not have to be definite or when the subject is boring: They say they want to cut taxes, improve education, blah, blah, blah.

blah 2 /bla/

adj

spoken 1 not very interesting or excit-

ing: I found her gray outfit rather blah. tired or sick

blame

2

feeling slightly

•••

1

to say or think that /bleim/ verb [T] is responsible for an accident, problem, or bad situation If it all goes wrong, don 't blame me. Crime is a complex issue - we can't simply blame poverty and unemployment. blame sth on You can blame blame sb/sth for sth all your problems on your family. Organizers blame the weather for the low turnout. be to blame (for) The hospital has launched an investigation to find out who was to blame for the mistake.

someone or something

:

't

don't blame you/him/her/them spoken used for saying you understand why someone did something or a particular way: "Then I told him to leave. " "I don't blame you!" you have only (got) yourself to blame to say or think that someone or something is responsible for an accident, problem, or bad situation: He's only got himself to blame if no one will talk to him. blame 2 /bleim/ noun [u] * responsibility for an accident, problem, or bad situation: +for The police don't deserve the blame for what happened to these children. get the blame Why do I always get the blame for everything? take the blame (=accept that you are responsible) The management has to take part of the blame for recent failures. put/ lay the blame on sb Citizens are laying the blame on the government for acting too late. a culture of blame (=a tendency to blame people instead of trying to solve problems) We're trying to get rid of the company's I

feels

culture of blame.

bla me- less / 'bleimbs/ adj not responsible for anything bad: I feel sorry for him, but he's not exactly blameless. a. never causing any trouble or doing anything bad: He emigrated to Brazil, where he led a blameless life. blame-less-ly adv

—

blame- wor-thy / 'bleim W3r5i/ adj formal deserving to be blamed for something bad that has happened /blaentJV verb 1 [I] mainly literary to be so shocked or frightened that your face becomes pale 2 [T]

blanch

blankly

129

black stump noun Australian beyond the black stump a long way from towns, stores, etc.

to put fruit, nuts, or vegetables into boiling water for a short time, often in order to make it easier to remove

the skin

bland /bkcnd/

ad]

1

not interesting, exciting, or ori-

and therefore boring: She had pleasant but somewhat bland features. 2 not having a strong taste and therefore not very interesting to eat 3 bland comments or remarks are pleasant and intended not to make anyone upset or angry, but they may not be sincere: He gave the usual bland assurances about their commitment to peace. — bland-ly adv, bland-ness noun [u] blan-dish-ments /'bkendijin^nts/ noun plural formal pleasant things you do or say about someone in order to persuade or influence them blank 1 /blank/ adj •• 1 showing no emotion or no sign of understanding something or recognizing someone: His eyes were blank and he barely responded to us. a blank look /expression/ ginal,

[

\

face

2 blank paper

is

empty and contains

no writing or other marks: a blank

sheet of paper* Write

your name

or a blank space

blank space at the top of the page. The last three boxes should be left blank. 2a. not containing any sound, pictures, or information: a blank tape/disk/ video 2b. a blank surface has nothing on it: He was tired of staring at the four blank walls. 2c. a blank screen, for example on a computer, has no writing or images on it: Suddenly my computer screen went blank. in the

if your mind goes blank, you are unable to remember something, especially when someone has asked you a question: When he asked me what her name blank-ness noun [u] was my mind just went blank,

go blank

blank 2

/blaerjk/ noun [c] 1 an empty space on a piece of paper, for example, on an official form, where you in the write something: Please put either a check or an blanks. 2 a gun cartridge that explodes when the gun is fired, but contains no bullet

X

be firing/shooting blanks 1 to be unsuccessful in what you are trying to achieve 2 humorous used for saying that a man is unable to make a woman pregnant blank 3 /blaenk/ verb 1 [T] AmE informal to prevent your opponent from scoring in a game or sport: Our team blanked its first two regular season foes. 2 blank or blank out [I] informal to unexpectedly be unable to remember something: J totally blanked when it came to the written part of the

test.

3

[T]

BrE spoken

to deliberately

you have not seen or heard them blank out phrasal vb 1 [T] if you blank out a feeling, memory, warning, etc., you deliberately try not to think about it or try to forget it: The experience was so terrible he just blanked it out. 2 [T] to hide or cover something so that you cannot see it: Some of the words had been 3 blanked out. 3 [I] same as blank 2: / don't know what ignore someone, as

if

happened - I just blanked

out.

a blank for a gun [c] 1 a check that has been signed but has not had the amount of money it is worth written on it 2 mainly journalism complete freedom and authority to do what is necessary, or spend what is necessary, in order to deal with a problem: The contract amounts to a blank check for the team's new boss. blan-ket /'blaerjkit/ noun •• 1 [C] a thick cover made of wool or another material that you use to keep warm in bed 2 [singular] a thick layer of something, for example snow or cloud, that completely covers an area: +of a blanket offog

.blank 'cartridge noun

[c]

blank 'check noun

1

3

[singular]

something that makes

it

difficult for

you

to

make

progress: + of The department's activities are wrapped in a blanket of secrecy. 2 blan-ket /'blaerjkit/ ad] [only before noun] affecting or aimed at everyone or everything equally, even when this is not sensible or fair: a blanket ban on all tobacco advertising There was outrage at the blanket bombing of get information or

the region.

blan-ket 3

/'blaerjkit/ verb [t usually passive]

to

cover

something with a layer of something, for example snow: be blanketed with/ in sth The room was entirely blanketed in dust.

/'blaenkli/ adv without showing any emotion, reaction, or understanding: She gazed at him blankly.

blank-ly

*i

blank verse a type of poetry that has a regular pattern of sounds but does not have lines that RHYME blare 1 /bier/ verb [i/t] to make a loud and unpleasant noise: Huge trucks roared past with their horns blaring. + out Their radio has been blaring out that awful music [u]

all day.

blare 2 /bier/ noun

[singular] [+of] the loud and unpleasant noise of something such as a car horn, a radio, or music

/'blarni/ noun [u] mainly BrEa friendly way of talking to people and saying nice things about them that makes it easy to persuade people to do what you

blarney want

From the "Blarney Stone," a large stone in Blarney Castle in Ireland. Some people believe that if you "kiss the Blarney Stone" you will be given the ability to persuade people. bla-se /bla'zei/ adj not excited, worried, or enthusiastic about something that most people think is exciting, worrying, or impressive, because you have done it many times before: + about By this time, I was getting quite blase about being on TV.

blas-pheme

/blaes'fim/ verb [i] to say offensive things about God or someone's religious beliefs a. to swear using God's name in a way that offends people blas-phenver noun [C]

—

blas-phe-mous

/'blaesfbmas/ adj offensive to someone's religious beliefs

God

or

blasphemy

/'blaesfami/ noun [c/u] something that is considered offensive to God or someone's religious

beliefs

blast 1

/blaest/ noun

bleach

130

blank verse noun

•

5

to

[T]

criticize

someone very

Times, the proposal equate.

is

"

strongly: In today's blasted as "pathetic and inad-

blast a way phrasal vb [i] 1 to shoot at someone or something a lot of times: Machine guns were blasting away in the distance. 2 if music is blasting away, it is playing very loudly blast off phrasal vb [i] if a spaceship blasts off, it leaves the ground

blast-ed

/'blaestad/ adj [only before noun] 1 spoken used emphasizing that you are annoyed with someone or something: Stop fiddling with that blasted lighter! 2 literary damaged by storms, heat, or lightning for

blast .furnace noun [c] a large industrial container in which rock containing metal is heated to a very high temperature so that the liquid metal flows out of the rock blast-off noun [u] informal the moment when a spacecraft leaves the ground: lift-off blatant /'bleitnt/ adj done in an obvious way that shows you are not embarrassed or ashamed to be doing something bad or illegal: It was a blatant attempt to influence the judges. blatant disregard for the feelings of the bereaved family —bla-tan fly adv

blath-er

/'blaedar/ verb

[I]

time about something that

— blatlver noun [U] blaze

1

/bleiz/ verb

informal to talk for a long is boring or not important

*

[i]

burn strongly and brightly: A huge log fire blazed in the grate. The following morning the building was still blazing. 1a. if the sun blazes, it is very bright and hot: +down The afternoon sun blazed down on us as we 1

to

walked. 1

explosion

2 current

of air/wind/heat

3 sudden short loud sound

4

5 enjoyable experience 6 strong criticism

2

+ PHRASES

She smiled, but her cheeks blazed red.

a throw/hit in sports

1 [C] mainly journalism an explosion, especially one caused by a bomb: Ten people were injured in the blast. The force of the blast threw bodies into the air. 2 [C] a strong current of air, wind, heat, etc.: +of A blast of cold air hit them as they opened the door. 3 [C] a sudden short loud sound, especially on a musical instrument, a car horn, or a whistle: The ship's siren let out several short blasts. + of There was a sudden blast of music as the car sped by. 4 [C] a powerful throw or hit in a game played with a ball: Johnson 's blast deep into left field drove in the winning

run.

5

spoken a very* enjoyable experience: It was a had a real blast! a piece of strong criticism: The press responded to his remarks with a blast of criticism. [singular]

great trip - we

6

[C usually singular]

a blast from the past informal someone you knew or something that existed in the past, that suddenly appears again or that you are reminded of again (at) full blast as loudly or with as much power as possible: They had their music going full blast. 2 blast /blast/ verb •

its

to shine very brightly: A car roared toward them with headlights blazing. 2a. to show a very bright color:

+ with The rainbow blazed with color. 3 if someone's eyes blaze, they show a sudden strong emotion, especially anger: +with Her eyes blazed with fury.

4

blaze or blaze away if guns blaze or blaze away, they continue firing for a long time: The artillery blazed without a pause throughout the battle. blaze a trail to be the first to do something new and important: a great pioneer who blazed a trail for others to follow

blaze a'way phrasal vb

blaze 2

/bleiz/ noun

[l]

same as blaze

1

4

•

a strong bright light or area of color: +of a blaze of color/ light /sunshine 2 [C usually singular] a small fire that burns strongly and brightly: He put on more firewood to get a good blaze going. 2a. mainly journalism a large fire that causes a lot of damage, especially when a building is burning: Firefighters were called to a blaze at a warehouse yesterday. 1

[singular]

lot of attention and excitement from the public and from newspapers, television, etc.: Naturally, their divorce took place amid a blaze of

a blaze of publicity/glory a

publicity. 1 damage with gun/bomb 2 hit sth with force 3 make a loud sound

4 kick/hit ball hard 5 criticize sb + PHRASES

[t] to damage or destroy something with a bomb or massive car bomb blasted the police headquarters. blast a hole in sth An enemy submarine blasted a huge hole in the side of the ship. blast sth off It took two shots to blast the lock off the door. 1a. [T] to shoot a person or animal: He blasted them with his shotgun. 1b. [l/T] to destroy or move earth, rock, or metal using a series of explosions: They had to blast their way through the mountainside to build the tunnel. + through They blasted through several yards of solid steel. 2 [l/t] to hit something with a lot of energy or force: Rain blasted through the window. blast sb/sth with sth To clean the driveway they blasted it with steam. 3 [l/T] if music blasts, or it is blasted, it plays very loudly: + out Music was blasting out from the open window. 3a. to make a loud sound with a car horn blasted the 4 [T] to kick or hit a ball very hard: ball into the back of the goal.

1

gun:

A

Hamm

what/why /how/who the

blazes spoken old-fashioned

used for emphasizing a question you are asking, especially when you are annoyed about something: How the blazes did you know where I was? blaz*er /'bleizar/ noun [c] a type of light jacket for a

man

that is a different color from his pants, and is sometimes part of a uniform blaz-ing/'bleizin/ adj [only before noun] 1 burning very

strongly: Firefighters surrounded the blazing building. 2 very hot because the sun is shining strongly: a blazing hot day in July 3 very bright: a blazing sunset 4 showing a lot of anger or emotion: the blazing fury in his eyes 4a. a blazing row mainly Br E a very angry

argument

bla-zon

/'bleizn/

verb

[T

usually

passive]

to

write,

announce, or show something in a very obvious way so that a lot of people notice it: + across They woke to find the company's name blazoned across the newspapers. bleach 1 /blitjV noun [u] a strong chemical used to kill harmful bacteria or to make colored things white

bleach bleach

1

[T]

to

remove the color from

something with a chemical or through the action of sunlight: The sun had bleached her hair. Raw cloth is bleached and then dyed. 2 [l] to gradually lose color, for example because of being in the sun: The skeletons of

dead

blessing

131 /blitjV verb

cattle

bleached

were bleaching in the sun.

wood

nwu or a var2

a mistake or dishonest action that spoils someone's reputation or career: +on This is a serious blemish on the senator's record.

blenvish 2

/'blemiJV verb [T] 1 to spoil the appearance of something 2 to spoil someone's reputation or career

made very

pale by chemicals or strong sunlight: bleached blond hair bleached denim/ /blitjt/ adj

someone's skin, such as a

blenvished

blench

adj

/blentJV verb

[i]

mainly literary to quickly

make

movement away from something or turn pale because you are very frightened blend 1 /blend/ verb 1 [T] to mix different foods or other substances together: Blend the butter and the sugar a

bleachers

noun

/'blitjarz/

[plural]

AmE

a structure

with several rows of seats in a gym or a park where people can watch sports games

bleak

•

look very bleak for the team. Textile workers face a bleak paint a bleak picture (=say that the situation future.

blend sth with sth bio-fuel blended with standard blend sth into sth Blend three drops of rosemary oil into the mixture. 1a. [I] to join with another substance to form a mixture: The ingredients had blended into a

is not hopeful) The survey paints a bleak picture of an unhealthy and aging population. 1a. used about someone's expression: a bleak look 2 a bleak place seems cold and unfriendly and has no pleasant features: a bleak landscape 2a. bleak weather is very cold and gray bleak-ness noun [u]

sticky mess. 2 [T] to combine different tastes, styles, qualities, etc. in a way that is attractive or effective: Their music blends jazz and pop in a stylish contemporary sound. 2a. [i] to be combined with other things in an attractive or effective way: +with The sweetness of the yogurt blends nicely with the sharpness of the lemons.

adv in a way that shows no hope or confidence: "I doubt it, " she said bleakly.

.blend in phrasal vb [l] if someone or something blends in, they are similar to the other people, objects, buildings, etc. around them, and so they seem appropriate or you do not notice them: +with The new library blends in perfectly with the surrounding buildings. Security men were trying to blend in with the crowd. blend into phrasal vb [T] [blend into sth] to seem to grad ually change into something else: Her dreams had a way of blending into her waking thoughts.

1

/blik/ adj

together.

without any reasons

to feel

happy or hopeful: Things

—

bleak-ly

bleary

/'blikli/

/'bliri/ adj

not able to see clearly, for example

because you are tired or have drunk too much alcohol: bleary-eyed / woke up bleary-eyed with a headache. blear-My adv

—

bleat 1

/blit/ verb 1 [I] to make the sound that a sheep or goat makes 2 [I] to complain about something in a weak voice or in an annoying way 2a. [I/T] to say something in a high weak voice 2

bleat makes

/blit/

noun

[c]

the sound that a sheep or goat

bleed /blid/(pasttense and past participle bled/bled/) verb * 1 when blood flows out 2 when color spreads 3 make sb pay money

4 take liquid/gas from 5 take blood from sb

sth

1 [i] to have blood flowing from your body, for example from a cut: / scraped my knee and it's bleeding. +from He was bleeding from a wound in his shoulder. bleed heavily/profusely The victim was dumped by a roadside, bleeding profusely. bleed to death (=die from losing blood) She would have bled to death if we hadn found 't

her.

2

the color in clothing, paper, etc. bleeds, it accidentally spreads 3 [T] to make someone pay a lot of money, especially regularly over a long period of time: He'll try to bleed them for every penny he can get. bleed sb dry (=take all of someone's money) They were being bled dry by legal [I]

if

fees.

4

to

[T]

remove

liquid,

gas,

machine's system: He bled

chemicals,

all the oil

etc.

from

from a

the engine

before starting work. 5 [T] to take blood

from someone's body as part of a medical treatment, especially in the past -» HEART bleed-ing 1 /'blidin/ adj BrE impolite used for emphasizing what you are saying when you are angry or

annoyed

bleed-ing 2 / 'blidin / noun

[u]

the process of losing blood

from your body, for example from a

cut:

He

tried to stop

a cloth against the wound. bleeding 'heart noun [c] someone who shows too much sympathy for people with social or financial problems, in a way that you think is annoying and not the bleeding by pressing

practical

bleep

1

/blip/ noun [C] a short high sound piece of electronic equipment

bleep 2 bleeps,

it

made by a

a piece of electronic equipment III makes a short high sound or several short

/blip/ verb

if

high sounds .bleep out phrasal vb [t] to replace a swear word in a television or radio broadcast with a short high sound, so that people are not offended bleep-er /'blipsr/ noun [C] BrE a beeper blenvish 1 /'blemiJV noun [C] 1 a mark or spot that spoils the appearance of something 1a. a mark on

diesel

blend 2 /blend/ noun

[c]

1

a combination of different

tastes, styles, qualities, etc. that

produces an attractive

or effective result: a delicious blend of sweet and sour spices 2 a mixture of different types of tea, coffee, alcoholic drinks, or tobacco 3 linguistics a word formed by combining parts of two other words, for example "brunch" is a mixture of "breakfast" and "lunch"

blend«er /'blendar/ noun [c] a piece of electrical ment that mixes foods or turns soft food into a —picture

bless

equipliquid

-» C2

/bles/ (past tense and past

/blest/) verb [T]

participle

blessed

or blest

•

say a prayer asking God to help and protect someone or something: a ceremony to bless the harvest 1a. if God blesses someone or something, he helps and protects them: May God bless you and bring you safely home. 2 to make something holy, so that it can be used in a religious ceremony: consecrate 1

to

be blessed with sth to have something very good or special: They were blessed with three lovely children. Woods is blessed with great natural ability as a player. bless him/her/them or bless his heart/her heart/ their hearts spoken used for talking about someone in a loving or sympathetic way: She's just learned to say her name, bless her! bless my soul/bless me/well I'm blessed old-fashioned used for showing surprise bless you spoken 1 used when you want to thank someone: Oh bless you, I'd love a glass of water. 2 used when someone has sneezed bless«ed/'bles3d/adj 1 [only before noun] mainly literary used for emphasizing that something makes you feel happy or grateful because it is just what you need 2 [only before noun] spoken used for emphasizing that you are annoyed about something: She calls me every day to ask me the same blessed thing! 3 blessed or Blessed [only before noun] holy: the Blessed Virgin Mary 4 used in the Bible about people who are loved by God: Blessed bless«ed«ly adv, bless-ed-ness noun are the merciful. [U]

/'blesin/ noun * something good that you feel very grateful or lucky to have: Having someone you can confide in is a real blessing. +for The fine weather has been a blessing for it's a blessing (that) It's a blessing that your farmers.

blessing 1

[C]

-

mixed bussing permission or support for something: give sb/sth your blessing The management has given its blesswith sb's blessing ( = with someing to the new project. one's support and approval) Mike finally gave up this

children live so near.

2

[singular]

stressful job with his wife's blessing.

blether [Ul protection and help offered by for the Lord's blessing. 3a. [C] a prayer

God: Let us pray asking for God's

help and protection

1

blether

/'bledar/ verb [I] BrE informal to talk continuously about things that are not important bleth-er noun [singular/U]

—

blew the

past tense of

blow

1

1

blight /blait/ noun [singular/ u] 1 something that damages or spoils something else: economic / moral urban blight +on The threat of war cast a blight on their happiness. 2 a serious disease affecting plants and crops

blight 2 /blait/ verb [T often passive] to cause serious damage or harm to something: His career was seriously blighted by misjudgments such as

this.

/'blaitar/ noun [C] BrE informal old-fashioned for someone you feel sorry for or do not approve

blighter a word of

bli-mey / 'blaimi/

interjection

Br Every informal used for

expressing surprise

blimp /blimp/

noun

blind 1 /blamd /adj

[c]

a type of airship

**

unable to see. Some people prefer to use the expression visually impaired to talk about blind people: Her father is completely blind. Blind and sighted children should attend the same school. go blind The disease made her go blind in one eye. 1a. the blind people who cannot 1

see

2

— opposite sighted

a blind emotion or belief is so strong you do not question it in any way, even if it is unreasonable: unthinking: Their opposition to the plan seemed to be driven by blind prejudice. blind faith/ obedience/ loyalty etc. blind loyalty to the leadership blind panic/rage/terror In a blind panic, I dropped the [only before noun]

that

bag and

2

a narrow path between or behind buildings, that closed at one end

is

date noun [c] an arrangement in which two people who have never met before spend some time

.blind

a blessing in disguise something that seems to cause problems, but that you later realize is a good thing -» COUNT

blink

132

3

ran.

3 [not usually before noun] unable to realize or admit the truth about something: How can you be so blind, he's obviously lying? + to The company is willfully blind to the problems caused by the new regulations. 4 a blind corner is one where you cannot see what is coming toward you: She passed another car on a blind curve and crashed. the blind leading the blind a situation in which the people who are giving advice or instructions do not know more than the people they are trying to help turn a blind eye (to sth) to pretend you do not notice something, because you should do something about it but you do not want to: We're not supposed to park here, but the police usually turn a blind eye. blind-ness noun

—

[u]

blind 2 /blamd/ verb [T] • 1 to damage someone's eyes

so that they are unable to see again: She was blinded in a car crash at the age of 21. 1a. to make someone unable to see for a short time: The low sun blinded her as she drove up the hill. For a moment he was blinded by tears. 2 to prevent someone from realizing or admitting the truth about something: The crowd was blinded by his rhetoric. blind sb to sth Her hatred blinded her to the fact that Joe could have helped her.

together, in order to find out whether they like each other enough to start a relationship blind-er /'blamdar/ noun [singular] Br E informal a very impressive performance

blinders /'blamdarz/ noun

[plural]

partly cover a horse's eyes so that straight forward. BrE blinkers

blind-fold

AmE

things that

can only look

it

1

/ 'blamd ,foold/ noun [C] something that is someone's eyes so that they cannot see 2 blind-fold /'blamd,foold/ verb [T] to put a blindfolc over someone's eyes blind-fold-ed /'blamd.fooldad/ adv wearing a blind-

tied over

fold: Prisoners

were led blindfolded

to their cells.

sb can do sth blindfolded informal used for saying that someone can do something very easily blind-fold-ed

—

adj

blind-ing /'blamdin/ adj 1 extremely bright, and making it difficult for you to see: a blinding light 1a. very thick, and making it difficult for you to see: blinding clouds of smoke blinding rain/ snow 2 [only before noun] used for emphasizing how strongly something affects you: a blinding headache /rage Ipain 3 [only before noun] Br E informal very impressive

a blinding revelation/realization/vision a situation in which you suddenly realize something very clearly blind-ing-ly /'blaindinli/advblindingly obvious completely obvious blind-ly /'blamdli/ adv 1 if you obey or support someone blindly, you do it without thinking for yourself whether what you are doing is right: They just blindly followed the instructions they were given. 2 without noticing what is around you, for example because you are excited or upset: He ran blindly upstairs. 2a. without being able to see: They were stumbling blindly through the fog. 3 without having the information you need: We went into it blindly, unaware of the other company's poor record.

blind man's buff or blind man's bluff noun [u] a children's game in which one player has their eyes covered with a blindfold and tries to catch the others blind-side / 'blam.said/ verb [T] Am E informal 1 to hit the side of a traveling vehicle in an accident 2 [usually passive] to give someone an unpleasant surprise by doing something that they were not expecting: Investors claimed they had been blindsided by recent changes in the tax laws.

blind .spot noun

[C] 1 an area that you cannot see, especially in your mirror when you are driving 2 a subject that you do not understand well, often because you do not want to know or admit the truth about it: She's always had a blind spot where her brother is concerned. 3 the part of your eye that is not sensitive to

light [C] legal an arrangement in which a legal representative controls the money of someone such as a government official, who is not given specific information about how their money is being managed

.blind 'trust noun

/ 'blmi/ noun [C] a Russian food that is like a thin bread made from buckwheat and is often eaten with caviar and sour cream

bli-ni flat

blind sb with science/technology to explain something to someone in a very complicated way, in order to impress them rather than to help them understand blind 3 /blamd/ adv without being able to see what is happening or where you are going: The pilot had to fly blind.

blind drunk informal extremely drunk rob/cheat sb blind informal to succeed completely in cheating someone and taking their money blind 4 /blamd/ noun [C] 1 [often plural] a window cover that you pull down from the top to the bottom: You can adjust the blinds to keep out the glare. 2 Am E a small shelter where you can watch birds or animals without being seen by them blind 'alley noun [c] 1 a process that was expected to bring useful results but in fact achieves nothing: Unfortunately the research turned out to be a blind alley.

1

blink /blink/verb* close your eyes for a very short time and quickly open them again: The dazzling spotlights made me blink. Maya looked down, trying to blink away the tears, blink your eyes Max was biting his lip and blinking wink picture his eyes. 2 [I] if a light blinks, it goes on and off continuously: Neon signs were blinking outside bars and casinos. 1

[i/T] to

—

-

before you can blink spoken very quickly: Your money will be gone before you can blink. without blinking an eye/eyelid/eyelash not showing any reaction to something, especially to something strange or shocking: Ed listened to their strange tale without blinking an

blink 2 /blink/ noun

eye.

[C usually singular]

and opening your eyes quickly

the act of closing

blinkered

block

133

on the blink informal

a piece of electrical equipment is on the blink, it is not working very well in the blink of an eye within a very short period of

blink-ered

something that must be dealt with: +of a blizzard of phone calls bloat-ed /'blootod/ ad] 1 swollen because of containing a large amount of liquid or gas: Her face looked pale and bloated. 2 having an uncomfortable feeling in your stomach after eating or drinking too much 3 a bloated organization or system is not effective because it is too large or has too many workers bloat-er /'blootar/ noun [c] an ocean fish that is eaten

blip /blip/ noun

blob /blab/ noun

if

time /'blirjksrd/ adj blinkered opinions or attitudes are very limited, conservative, and often oldfashioned: NARROW-MINDED blink-ers / blinksrz/ noun [plural] Am E the small lights on a vehicle that flash to show that it is turning. BrE indicators [C] 1 a small flashing light on a computer screen or similar piece of equipment 2 [usually singular] informal a minor problem or delay that does not last very long: Analysts described the drop in stock prices as a temporary blip.

bliss /blis/ noun

Two weeks just bliss-ful

[u]

complete happiness: marital bliss*

lying on a hot beach.

/'blisfal/ adj giving

What

bliss!

you great pleasure: a deep

as food a small

[C] 1

amount of a

thick liquid:

She applied the paint blob by blob. +of Nick squirted a blob of ketchup on his hamburger. 2 something that seems to have no definite shape: The airplane looked like a tiny white blob

bloc /blak/ noun the

same

in the sky. [c]

a group of countries or people with

political aims: the former Soviet bloc nations

1

block /blak/

noun

[c]

*••

blissful sleep 1

ignorance a state in which you do not know about something unpleasant or worrying, so it does not make you unhappy: Joe's parents remained in blissful blissful

2 distance along street 3 amount/quantity of sth 4 period of time 5 (large) building

—

ignorance of his plans to leave home. bliss-ful-ly adv B-list /'bi .list/ adj [only before noun] mainly journalism referring to people who are fairly well known but not

very famous— compare a-list 1 blis-ter /'blistar/ noun [c] 1 a swollen area on your skin that is full of a clear liquid and is caused by being burned or rubbed 2 a small raised area on a surface that is filled with air 2 blis-ter /'blistar/ verb [i/t] if your skin or a surface blisters, or if something blisters it, a blister forms on it

— blis'tered adj

blis-ter-ing /'blistann/ adj 1 blistering heat or temperatures are extremely hot 2 blistering criticism is very severe: Critics have launched a blistering attack on O'Halloran's latest play. 3 used for emphasizing the force or speed with which something is done: Petty drove at a blistering pace (=very fast). 'blister pack noun [C] a container in which something small is sold, consisting of a flat layer and a raised cover of plastic that protects the product: bubble pack blithe /blaid/ adj 1 literary happy and not worried about anything 2 ignoring or not realizing the real disadvantages of a situation or the possible bad results of something you do blithe-ly /'blaidli/ adv 1 in a way that does not consider the real problems or possible disadvantages of something: He blithely ignores everyone's complaints about the software. 2 happily, especially because you do not realize that something is wrong blith-er-ing /'blidann/ adj a blithering idiot informal old-fashioned someone who has done something very

stupid 1

/blits/ noun 1 [C usually singular] a situation in football when a lot of players attack the quarterback who tries to throw the ball 2 [singular] a special effort to finish a job or to deal with a problem quickly and thoroughly: + on It's time we had a blitz on the paperwork.

blitz

an advertising/marketing/promotional etc. blitz We had a leafleting blitz the day before the election. 3 [C usually singular] a sudden military attack 2 blitz /blits/ verb [T] 1 to attack the quarterback in a game of football 2 to attack a place using airplanes that drop bombs 3 informal to defeat someone easily in a sports game or competition 4 informal to make a special effort to finish a job or deal with a problem quickly and thoroughly Blitz, the /blits/ the period during World War II when the Germans dropped bombs on London and other British cities. British people remember this period as a time when everyone joined together to help each other.

blitzed /blitst/ adj informal drunk blitzkrieg /'bhts.krig/ noun [singular] a sudden military attack, especially from the air, that is intended to achieve a quick victory: blitz bliz-zard /'blizard/ noun [c] 1 a storm with a lot of snow and strong winds: Roads were closed due to a severe blizzard. 2 Am E informal a sudden large amount of

piece of wood/stone etc.

6

at start of race

7 sth that stops movement

8 sth that stops action 9 when you cannot think + PHRASES

a solid piece of wood, stone, ice, etc. with straight sides: The baby was playing with wooden blocks. * + oi It's amazing to think that this huge statue was carved from a single block of marble. 2 Am E the distance along a city street from where one road crosses it to the next road: The school was only a few blocks from where she lived. 2a. an area of buildings in a town or city with streets on all four sides: / was early for the meeting, so I walked around the block a couple of times. 3 an amount of something, or a number of individual things that are considered together as a single object: + of The company buys blocks of seats from airlines, then sells them to the public. You can move blocks of text onscreen using the mouse. 3a. computing an amount of information considered as one unit: +of The hard disk contains a block of data known as the "boot. " 3b. Australian an area of land, especially for building on 4 a continuous period of time: We need to find a twohour block when we are all free for this seminar. 5 a building that is part of a larger building or group of buildings: The prison's administration block overlooks the exercise yard. 5a. a large building with a lot of different levels: There's a unit available in the apartment block where I live. 6 the blocks [plural] two pieces of metal or wood that runners use at the start of a race to push their feet against: starting blocks 7 something that stops movement through a place or along something: blockage: There must be a block in the pipeline. 7a. a movement that stops someone from hitting you or from going forward 8 [usually singular] something that stops you from doing something or being successful: The issue of vacation pay was the major block in reaching an agreement. 9 [usually singular] a short time when you are unable to think clearly or remember something that you usually know: mental block / had a sudden mental block and couldn't remember his name. -» writer's block 1

have been around the block (a couple of/ a fewtimes) informal to have a lot of experience of something, especially when this or surprise you

means

that

it

is difficult to

trick

I'll knock your/his etc. block off spoken used for threatening to hit someone who has annoyed you on the block for sale at an auction (=a public sale where people offer money to buy things) put your head/neck on the block take a risk by doing or saying something that might damage your repu-

tation, -* CHIP

make 1 .

KID

1 .

people criticize you. etc. STUMBLING BLOCK

block 2 /blak/ verb

[t]

*•

block or block up to stop something from moving through or along something else: An old car was blocking Something is blocking theflow of water through the road. the pipe. 1a. to stop someone from going past you by standing in front of them: block sb's way/exit/path etc. 1

fc]

blockade A

to the gate.

He

stood

by the door, deliberately blocking her exit. 1b. to use your to stop someone from hitting something, or to stop a ball from going somewhere: In blocking the linebacker, Mario sprained his shoulder. She expertly blocked all her opponent's punches. 2 to use your power to stop something from being done or from succeeding: She accused him of blocking her promotion. The plan to build a new nursery school was blocked by local residents. 2a. to stop a natural process from happening: The drug acts by blocking the release of

body

testosterone.

3

to be in front of someone so that they cannot see something or so that light cannot reach them: Her hat was blocking his view of the screen. Don't stand in the doorway, you 're blocking the light. 4 to mark a piece of writing or other information on a computer screen so you can do something with it: You block a passage of text and hit Control+C to center it on

the page.

.block in phrasal vb [T] 1 to stop someone from moving their car out of a place: When I came back to the parking lot my car was blocked in. 2 to completely cover a large area of something such as a painting with one color: Broad flat brushes are useful when you are blocking in color. 3 block in or block out to plan something large or complicated by organizing your general ideas for it: Just block in the main points for now and we'll sort the details out later. block off phrasal vb [T] 1 to cover or close something completely so that nothing can move through it: Snow had blocked off several streets. 2 to completely stop something from happening or progressing .block out phrasal vb [T] 1 to stop light or sound from reaching something: That tree in the neighbor's yard blocks out a lot of our light. 2 to stop yourself from thinking about or remembering something: He had always managed to block out the incident. 3 same as block

in 3 block up phrasal vb [T] same as block 2 i: We had continual problems with leaves blocking up the gutters. block-ade 1 /bla'keid/ noun [c] an official action that is intended to prevent people or goods from moving from one place to another: lift a blockade (=end a blockade) The blockade of the harbor will be lifted at midnight. impose a blockade (=start a blockade) An economic blockade was imposed on the country six months

blog /bbg/ noun

computing a biographical web log: a type of diary (=record of what someone does each day) on a web site that is changed regularly, to give the latest news. The page usually contains someone's personal opinions, comments, and experiences, and provides links to other places on the Internet. bloke /blook/ noun [C] BrE informal a man blond 1 or blonde /bland/ adj • blond hair is pale yellow in color a. with pale yellow hair blond 2 or blonde /bland/ noun [c] a person with pale yellow hair: a tall attractive blond blood /bUd/ noun [u] ••* 1 the red liquid that flows around inside your body: Oxygen and other vital substances are all carried in the blood. His face was covered in blood. give/donate blood (=allow doctors to take blood from your body so that it can be given to someone who needs it) Have you ever [C]

given blood? 2 the family, nation, or group that you belong to through your parents and grandparents: They never fail to remind people that they have royal blood in their veins. Like many Canadians, she had some Scottish blood. 3 used as a way of referring to violence and death: Peace finally came, but a great deal of blood was lost in the process. spill blood (=cause many deaths) The conflict continued for years, with a lot of blood spilled on both sides. have blood on your hands (=be responsible for someone's death or for many deaths) a ruthless general with blood on his hands

bad blood

if there is bad blood between people, they dislike each other because of something that happened in the past be after sb's blood or be out for blood to be very angry with someone and be trying to find them so that you

can punish them blood and guts exciting action, including violence: It's the kind of movie I like - you know, plenty of blood and guts.

blood is thicker than water used for saying that family relationships are usually stronger than other types of relationships blood, sweat, and tears a lot of effort and hard work in cold blood in a cruel calm way, without showing any emotion: Unarmed civilians were shot in cold blood. sth is in your blood it is natural for you to do something because your family has done it in the past: Farming is in

my

blood.

from a stone used for saying that very difficult to persuade someone to give you something or tell you something: Getting money out of him is like getting blood from a stone. make your blood boil to make you feel very angry: Her patronizing sarcasm made my blood boil. make your blood run/turn/go cold to make you feel suddenly very frightened or worried: Just hearing his name made her blood run cold. new/fresh blood someone who joins an organization with new exciting ideas or new ways of doing things: We need to bring in some new blood to brighten up our like getting blood

ago.

blockade

2

/bla'keid/ verb [T] to prevent people or goods from moving from one place to another [C] something that blocks a He tube or pipe: There was a blockage in the drain.

block-age /'blakid3/ noun

suffered a blockage in a main artery. .block and tackle noun [c usually singular] a piece of equipment that consists of wheels and ropes, used for lifting

blood cells

134

crowd of people blocked his way

heavy objects

block-bust-er

/'blak.DAStar/ noun [C] mainly journalism something that is very successful, especially a movie, show, or novel: the latest Hollywood blockbuster The company has clinched a blockbuster deal. blockbusting /'blak.bAStin/ noun [u] the action of selling one house in an area to someone who is considered to be of a lower class than the people who already live there, in order to reduce the prices of the other houses .block 'capitals noun [plural] block letters .block 'grant noun [c] money that a national gov-

AmE

ernment gives to local governments such as education and health

block-head

/'blak.hed/ noun

[c]

to

pay for services

informal a stupid

person

block-house

/'blak.haas/ noun [C] a small building used in the past as a shelter during a battle

.block letters noun

[plural] letters of the alphabet written in their large form, for example, "A" rather than "a." Block letters are often called capitals.

block party outside for

all

noun

[C]

AmE

the people

who

a party that takes place live in a particular area

a vote by someone who representing a group of people in an organization

.block vote noun

[c]

is

it

is

image.

the blood drains from sb's face used for saying that someone immediately becomes pale because they are shocked or frightened: Hearing his voice, Claudia felt the blood drain from her face. the blood rushes to your face/cheeks used for saying that someone's face becomes red, especially because they are embarrassed 2 -» DRAW FLESH AND BLOOD, SWEAT blood .bank noun [C] a place where blood is stored so that it can be given to people during medical operations blood-bath /'blAd.baeG/ noun [singular] 1 a period of fighting in which a lot of people are killed or injured: The threat of a further bloodbath hangs over the people of the region. 2 a situation in which a lot of businesses close or a lot of people lose their jobs because there is so much competition: There has been a bloodbath in the 1

,

retail section.

noun [C] a man who has made a very serious promise to be loyal to another man

blood .brother

.cells noun [plural] the cells that move around in your blood. The two main groups of blood cells are called red blood cells and white blood cells.

blood

blood count [c]

the

number

of red or white cells this, for example in

in your blood, or a test to measure order to find out the state of your immune system

blood-curdling

making you

/'blAd,k3rdlin/ adj

very frightened: a bloodcurdling scream

feel

a bloodcurdling

tale

'blood donor noun

[c] someone who allows some of their blood to be taken from them so that it can be used in the medical treatment of someone else

'blood group noun [c] BrE blood type blood-hound /'bUd.haond/ noun [c] a large dog that can smell very well and has long hanging ears, often used for finding out where someone is or has been blood-less /'bUdtas/ adj 1 lacking emotion, energy, or effectiveness: cold bloodless logic 2 [usually before noun] not involving violence or killing, in a situation where there often is violences bloodless revolution 3 a bloodless face or skin is very pale 4 without giving someone blood during a medical operation: bloodless surgery

blood-let-ting /'blAd.letin/ noun 1 [u] a situation in which many people are killed and injured in fighting 2 [singular/ u] a situation in which someone in an organization or company is criticized or forced to leave their job in an unpleasant way: Hartley claimed he was the victim of political bloodletting. 3 [u] a medical treatment used in the past in which blood was taken from people who were sick

blood-lust /'bUd.lAst/ noun wanting

[u]

a strong feeling of

to use violence against other people

'blood money noun [u] 1 money paid for someone to be murdered 2 money paid to the family of someone who has been murdered 3 money paid to someone to allow a person close to them to be used or harmed in some way 'blood orange noun [Cl a type of orange with red flesh ,

and juice

'blood poisoning noun an infection

in

[u]

a serious illness caused by

your blood

'blood pressure noun

[u] the pressure at which blood flows from your heart around your body. Blood pressure that is either very high or very low can be dangerous to your health.

'blood products noun

[plural] substances that can be taken from the blood of one person and used in the medical treatment of someone else 'blood re lation noun [c] someone that you are related to by birth, rather than marriage blood-shed /'bL\d,|ed/ noun [u] a situation in which people are killed or injured, especially during fighting:

A

ceasefire

was

called in

an attempt

to

prevent further

/'blAd.Jat/ adj bloodshot eyes are red in

the part where they should be white 'blood .sports noun [plural] activities such

one of the groups that human blood can be divided into. The four main groups are A, B, AB, and O blood vessel noun [c] a tube that carries blood around your body, such as a vein or artery: He had broken blood vessels on his nose and cheeks. blood-y 1 /'bUdi/ adj 1 covered in blood: His nose was bloody and swollen. 2 a bloody fight or war is one in which a lot of people are killed or injured 3 Br E impolite used for emphasizing that you are angry or annoyed about something: She can be a bloody nuisance at times. bloody hell used for showing that you are extremely annoyed: What the bloody hell did you do that for? scream/yell bloody murder Am E informal to shout or protest in a loud and angry way blood-y 2 / 'bUdi/ verb [T] mainly literary to injure a part of someone's body so that it bleeds blood-y 3 /'bUdi/ adv Br E impolite 1 used for emphasizing that you are angry or annoyed about something 2 used for emphasizing something: It was a bloody good game! Blood-y Mar-y / bhdi men/ noun [c] an alcoholic drink made by mixing vodka and tomato juice

/'blAd.strim/ noun [singular] the blood that moves around your body: Traces of illegal drugs were found in his bloodstream.

noun

adj

BrE

informal deliberately refus-

ing to accept that you are not completely right about something, in a way that is not helpful to other people bloody- mindedness noun [U] and annoys them

—

bloom

1

/blum/ verb

[i] 1 if a tree or plant blooms, it produces flowers that have opened: Magnificent lilac bushes bloomed in the forest. 2 to develop successfully, or to become more healthy and attractive: Some women seem to bloom during pregnancy. bloom 2 /blum/ noun 1 [C] mainly literary a flower: It produces white, pink, or red blooms, with dark green

1a. [u] a lot of flowers or plants together: the bright bloom of the wild flowers in spring 2 [singular/ u] the time or the condition of being young, healthy, and attractive: She had lost a good deal of her bloom and the bloom of youth /health a young man still in bounce. the bloom of youth 3 [singular/u] the healthy look of someone's skin: She had a healthy bloom in her cheeks. 4 [singular/u] a very thin white layer that forms on the surface of some fruits and plants

foliage.

in (full)

bloom

if

a tree or plant

is

in bloom,

it

is

covered with flowers

bloom-ers/'blumarz/ noun [plural] 1 an old-fashioned piece of women's underwear that is loose and covers the area from the waist to the knees 2 wide loose pants that end just below the knee, worn by women in the past 1

emphasizing

/'blumin/ adj, adv BrE spoken used for something, especially when you are

annoyed

bloom-ing 2

/'blumin/ adj looking healthy and attractThis is often used about pregnant women, sometimes in a slightly humorous way. Blooms-bur-y Group, the / blumzb(3)ri grup/ a group of writers and artists, including Virginia Woolf,

who

bloodstained clothing

blood-stream

/'bUd.SAkar/

[c]

ive.

blood-stain /'blAd.stem/ noun [C] a mark on the surface of something, made by blood blood-stained /'blAd.stemd/ adj marked with blood:

blood-sucker

noun

.bloody-minded

slightly

as hunting

that involve killing animals or birds

[C]

1

informal

someone who expects other people to provide them with money, food, etc. and does not make any effort to provide it for themselves 2 an insect that feeds on the blood of animals or people

blood sugar

noun [u] sugars such as glucose that are present in healthy blood 'blood .test noun [c] a medical test in which a small amount of blood is taken from someone and tested to see if it shows any disease, drugs, etc. in the body blood-thirst-y/'blAd,03rsti/adj someone who is bloodthirsty enjoys taking part in or watching violence a. involving violence and killing 'blood trans fusion noun [c] a medical treatment in which blood from another person is put into someone's body, for example if they have lost a lot of blood from

an injury

blood type

blooming

bloodshed.

blood-shot

blot

135

'blood count noun

lived

and worked

in the early part of the 20th

century

From "Bloomsbury," an area

of central

London where

the group regularly met.

/'blupor/ noun [C] AmE informal a silly or embarrassing mistake blos-som 1 /'blasam/ noun [C/u] a flower on a tree, or in blossom all the flowers on a tree: apple blossom (^covered with flowers) By March, the cherry trees are in blossom, —picture -» tree blos-som 2 /'blasam/ verb [i] 1 if a tree blossoms, it produces flowers 2 to develop and become more successful: Their romance blossomed on a trip to Key West. + into The town has blossomed into the country's most

bloop-er

popular beach

resort.

blot 1 /blat/ verb

[T] to remove liquid from the surface of something using a piece of paper or cloth: Blot off any

excess lipstick with a paper tissue.

blot out phrasal vb [T] 1 to cover something so that you can no longer see it; Dark clouds overhead had blotted

blot something unpleasant, or to

to forget

forget an unpleasant memory or feeling: hard to blot out the bitter memories of the divorce. blot /blat/ noun [Cl a drop of liquid, especially ink, on the surface of something: The table was covered in blots

She

tried

2

of ink.

a blot on sth something that spoils someone's reputation, or spoils the appearance of something: This is a serious blot on your career. a blot on the landscape something that makes a place look less attractive, for example an ugly building blotch /blatjV noun [C] a colored mark on something, especially a red mark on your skin blotch-y /'blatji/ adj covered with blotches: Her face was blotchy and her eyes swollen. blotch-i-ness noun [U]

blot-ter /'blatar/ noun [c] 1 a piece of special thick paper that you use for drying the ink when you have just finished writing with a fountain pen 1a. a large piece of this type of paper that is kept flat on a desk,

sometimes within a frame: desk blotter 2 Am E a book in which an official record of events is kept: a police blotter

paper /'blatin .peipar/ noun [u] special thick paper that you use for drying the ink when you have just finished writing with a fountain pen

blot-ting

blot *to /'blatou/ drunk

adj

blouse /blaus/ noun 1

very

[never before noun] spoken

[c]

*

women: a

a shirt for

sleeveless blouse

2

cotton / silk / nylon blouse

— picture -> C5

a

Am E a short loose jacket that fits tightly around the

waist,

blow

1

worn by /bloo/

/bloon/) verb 1

when

2 3 4 5

when when

push

air air

soldiers as part of their uniform (past tense

blew /blu/; past

participle

**•

moves

from mouth

play musical instrument sth electric stops

blown

[I]

+ PHRASES

a tire bursts

make a sound by pushing

air through some-

thing such as a whistle or a musical instrument: The conductor blew his whistle and the train started. As he entered the room, trumpets blew. 4 [l/T] if something electrical blows, it stops working, usually because too much electricity has passed through it: The light bulb in the projector had blown. A power surge blew all the fuses, and the house was plunged into darkness. A sudden change in power can blow your TV. 5 blow or blow out [l/T] if a tire blows or you blow it, it bursts: Kathy was turning the corner when one of the front tires blew. 6 [T] informal to destroy your own chance of succeeding, or waste a good opportunity: I've completely blown my diet with that piece of chocolate cake. blow it We had a good chance to get the contract but you 've really

blown

7

it

now!

informal to spend a lot of money quickly on things that you do not need: He inherited a fortune but blew it on bad investments and a luxurious lifestyle. 8 [T] very informal to leave a place quickly: Let's [t]

AmE

blow

blow

blow

sb's head off to kill the head: The note passed

blow his head

this joint.

sb's brains out informal to kill

to suddenly become very he's likely to blow a fuse

is

someone by shooting them in to the bank clerk threatened to

off.

blow a hole in sth 1 to destroy part of something in an explosion: The bomb exploded, blowing a hole in the side of the airplane. 2 to damage a plan or idea so that it cannot succeed, or so that people no longer believe it: The new research blows a hole in theories about the evolution of birds.

blow hot and cold

to have positive and then negative opinions or feelings about something or someone again and again: The president has blown hot and cold on this bill, and we just don't know where he stands now. blow (sb) a kiss to kiss your hand and pretend to blow or throw the kiss to someone blow the lid off sth informal to let people know something that has been kept a secret: Her testimony may blow the lid off the CIA's activities in Latin America. blow me 1 Am E offensive used as an offensive way of emphasizing that you are annoyed or angry at someone. You may hear this expression but should not use it:

Blow me you moron! 2 blow me or blow me down Br E spoken used when you are surprised about something blow sb's mind informal to impress someone very much or make them feel very excited: To see him perform on

through

my

mind. to clean your nose by forcing air

it

blow

off steam informal to express anger as a way of feeling better, although it will not help to improve the situation that made you angry: He knows that there's nothing anyone can do. He's just blowing off steam.

someone by

shoot-

1

to

show

that something is completely false or wrong: We found evidence that blew his case out of the water. 2 to defeat someone easily: They think they can blow their rivals out of the water with this product. blow smoke E informal to speak in a way that is

Am

intended to

make someone confused

from getting an accurate idea of a

or prevent them

situation: Instead of

really negotiating, they were just blowing smoke. blow sth to bits/pieces/smithereens to completely

destroy something in an explosion, so that it breaks into many small pieces: The entire car was blown to bits when the device went off. blow your top/stack informal to suddenly become very angry: The boss will blow his top when he hears about this.

blow sth (up) out of

workshop. to

angry: The trouble with Roy and hit someone.

blow sb/sth out of the water informal

if

[i/T]

investigation.

blow a fuse/gasket informal

blow your nose

the open window. 1a. [i/t] if something blows or is blown somewhere, the wind moves it there: The wind was blowing snow along the street. Newspapers and plastic bags were blowing around in the wind. A strong gust of wind blew his hat off his head. 2 [I] to push out air from your mouth: He bent toward the candle and blew gently. If your soup's too hot, blow on it. 2a. [T] to move something by pushing out air from your mouth: blow sth off/ away She picked up a book and blew the dust off it. 2b. [T] to form something by pushing out air from your mouth: blow bubbles Two little boys were sitting on the steps, blowing bubbles. blow glass Visitors can watch the men blowing glass in the

3

ing them in the head when very close to them: He threatened to blow my brains out if I didn't hand over the money. blow sb's cover to tell people who someone really is or what they are really doing, especially when doing this puts that person in danger or spoils a plan: One mistake could blow our agent's cover and ruin years of careful

stage just blew

6 waste an opportunity 7 waste money 8 leave a place quickly

wind or air blows, the air moves: The wind was blowing from the sea. *A draft of cold air blew in through 1

blow

136

2 make someone out the sun.

something

is

(all)

much worse

proportion to claim that more dangerous than it

or

really is: We admit we were late with the payment, but let's not blow this out of all proportion. blow the whistle to tell the public or someone in authority about something wrong that you know someone is doing, especially at the place where you work. A person who does this is called a whistle-blower: +on People should be able to blow the whistle on corruption and incompetence without losing their jobs. -» COBWEB, SKY-HIGH a part phrasal vb [T] 1 to destroy something with an explosion: The aircraft was blown apart by a terrorist bomb. 2 to show that an idea is completely false or wrong: The book blew apart the myth of their perfect marriage. blow a way phrasal vb 1 [l/T] if something blows away or is blown away, the wind moves it away from you until you cannot see or touch it: His hat blew away on the roller coaster. She switched on the fan to blow away the smoke. 2 [J] informal to kill someone by shooting them 3 [T] informal to impress someone very much or make them very excited: When I heard that song for the first E informal to defeat time it just blew me away. 4 [T] someone completely and easily: In the second half we completely blew them away.

blow

Am

blow

bludgeon

137

down

something blows down, or is blown down, the wind makes it fall: A big tree had blown down in the storm. A sudden gust of wind blew

.blow

phrasal vb [l/T)

if

down

the fence. .blow in phrasal vb 1 cool breeze blew in

[i] to come toward you in the air: A from the coast. 2 [l/T] if a window blows in, or if something blows it in, it breaks into pieces that fall inside the building: The hurricane blew in every window in the house. 3 [l] informal to arrive unexpectedly: Charlie and May just blew in for a visit. .blow off phrasal vb 1 [l/T] if something blows off or is blown off, the wind makes it come off: The roof blew off in the storm. A gust of wind blew her hat off. 2 [T] to remove and destroy something by shooting it or making it explode: The soldier blew the sniper's arm off. An

explosion blew one of the wings off the plane.

3

[T]

3 an act of blowing air from your mouth or nose come to blows if two people come to blows, they

soften the blow.

strike a blow for sth to do something to support something you believe is right: This election gives you the chance to strike a blow for freedom.

blow-by-blow

informal to

.

[

l

blow itself out if a storm blows itself out, it ends .blow over phrasal vb 1 [l/T] if something blows over or is blown over, the wind makes it fall: The garbage cans have blown over and there's trash everywhere. Several trees had been blown over in the storm. 2 [I] if a storm blows over, it ends 3 [i] if a dangerous or embarrassing situation blows over, people stop worrying about it and soon forget about it: It was a major scandal, and we all hoped it would soon blow over. .blow up phrasal vb 1 [l/T] if something blows up, or someone blows something up, it explodes and is destroyed: Terrorists had threatened to blow up the embassy. The boiler blew up, wrecking the entire building. 2 [T] to fill something with air or gas: We blew up lots of balloons and hung them around the room. 3 [T] to make a photograph bigger: They had blown up the picture to make a huge poster of his face. 4 [I] to suddenly become angry and shout at someone: +at She just blew up at me. 5 [I] if a storm or strong wind blows up, it suddenly starts: The race had to be canceled when the storm blew up.

blow up in your

face,

cause a

sb's face informal if your plans blow up in they do not happen as you expected and

lot of

problems

[only

by-blow account of her entire trip.

blow-dry

verb

[t]

to

dry

your hair with a blow dryer blow- dried adj blow dryer noun [c] a small machine that pro-

]

1

adj

before noun] a blow-by-blow account or description is extremely detailed: She insisted on giving us a blow-

Am E

not do something you had agreed or arranged to do: I can't believe you blew off the exam today. 4 [T] Am E informal to behave as if you think someone or something is unimportant: / invited her to join us but Br E impolite to fart she just blew me off 5 .blow out phrasal vb 1 [l/T] if you blow out a flame or if it blows out, it stops burning because you blow on it or because of the wind: He blew out all 60 candles on his birthday cake. 2 [l/T] if a window blows out, or if something blows it out, it breaks into pieces that fall outside the building: The bomb blew out all the windows on the bus. 3 [l/T] same as blow 5 4 [T] informal to defeat someone easily: They've blown out every team they've played this season.

start

hitting each other: It sounded as if they were about to come to blows. soften/cushion the blow to make something unpleasant easier to deal with or accept: There will be no raises this year but employees will get one extra vacation day to

duces a strong current of

blowout

warm

blower

/'blooar/ noun strong current of air

blow-fly

[C]

and that you a particular shape

air

hold to dry your hair, often to give

it

a machine that produces a

/'bloo.flai/ noun [C] a fly that lays

its

eggs on

meat or dead animals

blow-hard /'bloo.hard/ noun [c] AmE informal someone who talks too much about themselves or the things they have achieved

blow-hole

/'bloo.hool/ noun [c] 1 a hole in the top of the head of an ocean animal such as a whale or dolphin, through which it breathes 2 a hole in the surface of ice that ocean animals such as whales and seals use to breathe through 3 a hole in a tunnel through which gases can escape

blow job

noun [C] very informal the practice of sucking a man's sex organ to give him sexual pleasure

blow-lamp

blown

/'blou.laemp/ noun

the past participle of

[c]

blow

BrE a

blowtorch

1

blow-out

/'blou.aot/ noun [C] 1 an occasion when a on a moving vehicle suddenly bursts: We had a blowout on the highway. 2 informal an easy victory in a game or competition: When the Yankees scored ten runs in the first inning, we knew the game would be a blowout. 3 [usually singular] informal a celebration during which people eat and drink a lot: Jim's having a birthday blowout at the Hacienda. 4 an occasion when oil or gas suddenly escapes from a well (=a deep hole in the ground) blow-pipe /'bloo.paip/ noun [c] a weapon consisting of a small narrow tube through which someone can blow small arrows or stones tire

AmE

blow-sy / 'blauzi / another spelling of blowzy blow-torch /'bloo.tortjV noun [c] a tool with at

one end that

is

a flame used for joining pieces of metal

together or removing paint

blow-up

noun [C] 1 a photograph or part of a photograph' that has been made bigger 2 informal a sudden angry argument blow-zy /'blauzi/ ad) a blowzy person looks messy and is

blow up

blow2

/blou/ noun [c] ** 1 a hard hit from someone's hand or an object: They knocked him down and pummeled him with blows. The victim was apparently killed by a blow to the head with a heavy object. a glancing blow (=something that hits at an angle) The falling roof tile struck him a glancing blow. 2 an event that spoils your chances of success: Losing a second match would be a major blow to his world title hopes. deal a blow to sth The closing of the factory dealt a devastating blow to the local economy. 2a. an event that causes you to feel very sad, disappointed, or shocked: a real blow Her mother's death was a real blow to her. come as a blow It came as a terrible blow when he found out she was married.

often slightly fat

BLT

/,bi el

lettuce,

'ti/

noun

[c]

a sandwich filled with bacon,

and tomato 1

blub-ber /'bUbsr/ verb

informal

1

[i]

to cry in a noisy

and uncontrolled way: The woman was blubbering like a child. 2 [T] to try to say something while you are crying: "I didn't mean to do it!" he blubbered. blub-ber2 /'bl\bor/ noun [u] a layer of fat around the body of an ocean animal such as a whale or seal

bludge

/bl\d3/ verb [l/T] Australian informal to get things from other people without paying for them

bludg-ernoun [C] verb [T] 1 to hit someone hard with a heavy object: bludgeon sb to death Atkinson had been bludgeoned to death in his apartment. 2 to force someone to do something by repeated arguments or

bludgeon fbbid&n/

1

blue

1

blue /blu/adj

We were bludgeoned

is

blue

mother when she's feeling

3

the

is

same

way

that

moon informal very rarely: They come to once in a blue moon. scream blue murder Br E informal to shout or protest very loudly because you are very angry or feeling a lot of pain talk a blue streak E informal to talk a lot without once in a blue visit

Am

pausing until/till you are blue in the face informal used for saying that there is no use in trying to persuade someone to do something because you will not succeed: You can tell your kids not to do something until you 're blue in the face, but if they want to do it, they will. blue-ness

—

[u]

blue 2 /blu/ noun

*•

the color of the sky on a clear sunny day: The boy was dressed all in blue. The room had been painted in bright blues and yellows. [c/u]

the boys in blue informal the police out of the blue happening in a way that is sudden and unexpected, and does not seem connected with anything that happened before: Out of the blue she said, "Your name's John, isn't it?"-* bolt blue baby noun [C] a baby whose skin looks blue when it is born because of a heart problem blue-bell /'blu.bel/ noun [c] a plant that grows in the countryside or in gardens, with small blue flowers shaped like bells blue-ber-ry /'blu.beri/ noun [C/U] a small dark blue fruit that grows on a bush and is very common in North America: blueberry pie picture -» cio blue-bird /'blu,b3rd/ noun [C] a small blue bird found in North America 1

—

blue-blood-ed /.blubUdsd/ adj someone who

is

blue-

blooded comes from a royal family, or a family of a very high social class blue blood noun [C/U] 'blue book noun [C] 1 sheets of paper folded in half and fastened together to form a book that students use for writing in when taking examinations. It often has a blue cover. 2 Am E a book with a list of the prices that you should expect to pay for used cars or other used products 3 AmE a list or book containing the names of socially important people 4 Br E an official document containing information on a particular subject that is published by the British government blue-bot-tle /'blu.batl/ noun [C] a large fly with a shiny blue body blue 'cheese noun [c/u] a strong-tasting cheese that is white or pale yellow and has blue lines in it 'blue chip noun [c] a company or investment that makes blue- .chip adj: a lot of money and is safe to invest in

—

AmE

—

blue-chip

company

stocks

adj [only before noun] blue-collar workers do work that involves using physical strength or skill with their hands instead of working in an office compare WHITE-COLLAR 1

.blue- 'collar

—

blue-eyed boy /.blu aid 'boi/ noun [C usually singular] Br E informal a fair-haired boy blue-grass /'blu.graes/ noun [u] 1 a type of music from the southern U.S. that is played on musical instruments such as violins and banjos 2 a type of grass found in parts of North America, especially in the state of

Kentucky blue-jay /'blu.d^ei/ noun [C] a common blue North American bird with feathers that come to a point at the top of its head 'blue jeans noun [plural] pants that are made of blue denim (=a thick cotton cloth): jeans

movie noun people having sex

.blue

[C] old-fashioned

pages

noun

the pages of a telephone book that contain the telephone numbers of government departments compare yellow pages [plural]

blue-print /'blu.prmt/ noun [c] 1 a drawing that shows how to build something such as a building or a machine, often printed with white lines on blue paper 2 a detailed plan for doing something new, or something that is a model for how something should be done: + for The document was seen as a public relations exercise rather than a blueprint for change.

blue.

informal old-fashioned dealing with sex in a find offensive -» blue movie

some people

noun

.blue

—

•**

something that

color as the sky on a clear sunny day. If something is similar to this color, you can say that it is a bluish color: He looked at her with his pale blue eyes. The sky was gloriously blue. blue with cold My fingers were turning blue with cold. 2 informal feeling slightly sad: She usually calls her 1

blunt

138

threats: bludgeon sb into doing sth into accepting their offer.

a movie that shows

.blue ribbon noun [c] Am E a small piece of blue material that you give to the winner of a competition

'blue-ribbon group

adj [only before noun]

of the highest quality

is

Am E and

is

a blue-ribbon considered the

1

A

blue-ribbon panel of experts was called in to weigh best: the evidence. 2 a blue-ribbon winner is someone who

wins

first

prize in a competition

blues /bluz/ noun • 1 [u] a type of slow and sad music that developed from the songs of black slaves in the southern U.S.: Bessie Smith is one of the most famous blues singers. 2 the blues [plural] informal a feeling of sadness and

loss

blue-sky

adj [only before noun]

ideas and not practical or

bluestocking

informal testing out

new

making money

/'blu.stakin/

noun

[C]

BrE

old-

fashioned an educated woman who is interested in serious subjects. This word usually shows that you dislike

women

like this.

Blue-tooth

/'blu.tuG/ trademark a type of radio technology that makes it possible for electronic communication to exist between cellphones, the Internet,

and computers bluff 1 /bUf/ verb [i/t] to deliberately give a false idea to someone about what you intend to do or about the facts of a situation, especially in order to gain an advantage: They said they'd had another offer, but we knew they were just bluffing.

your

bluff

way

past/into/out of etc She

managed to bluff her way past the guards, by saying she was a reporter. bluff 2 /bUf/ noun 1 [C/U] an attempt to give a false idea to someone about what you intend to do, or about the facts of a situation, especially in order to gain an advantage: She said she would leave her job, but it was jusi a bluff. The offer was pure bluff. 2 [C] a steep cliff by the ocean or by a river. This word is often used in the names of places. call sb's bluff to ask someone to do what they are threatening to do because you believe they do not intend to do it, but want to trick you in order to gain an advantage over you bluff 3 /bUf/ adj BrE someone who is bluff has a very direct manner that might offend some people, but is friendly and happy and does not intend to upset anyone a.

used about the behavior of such a person: His bluff

manner of speaking put off some people. blu-ish /'bluiJVsee blue blun-der /'bUndar/ noun [c] a careless or embarrassing mistake: Officials were accused of making a huge 1

i

1

administrative blunder.

blun-der2 /'bUndsr/

verb [I] 1 to make a careless or embarrassing mistake: Government agents had blundered again and arrested the wrong man. 2 to move or progress in a careless way, making mistakes or creating problems as you go: + a bout /a round /into The book tells the story of how Europe blundered into World War I. blunderbuss /'bUndar.bAs/ noun [c] an oldfashioned gun with a long barrel that is very wide at

the end

blunt 1 /blAnt/

adj 1 not pointed or sharp: a blunt pencil/ razor —picture -» sharp 2 saying what is true or what you think, even if this offends or upsets people: It was a frank answer to a blunt question. let's be blunt (=used before saying that something is true but unpleasant) Let's be blunt - younger people will not buy

this car.

— blunt-ness noun [u]

blunt 2 /bUnt/

verb [t] 1 to make something less strong, less effective, or less important: The years had not blunted his keen intelligence. 2 'to make something less pointed or sharp: If you walk on concrete with your ice skates, you'll blunt the blades.

blunt instrument any heavy object with a flat or round end, used as a weapon 2 a method that uses too much force, so that, in achieving your aim, it also causes some harm or trouble blunt*ly /'bUntli/ adv speaking in a direct and honest [C] 1

way, even if this offends or upsets people: "They just don t like you, " he told me bluntly. to put it bluntly (=used when saying something honest that may offend people) To put it bluntly, your friend isn't welcome here. 1 blur /bter/ verb [l/T] 1 if a thing blurs, or something it, it becomes difficult to see it clearly, often its edges are not clear: With eyesight as poor as mine, faces blur into featureless ovals. The paper had gotten wet and blurred the ink. 2 if something such as a memory or an idea has blurred, or something has blurred it, it is no longer clear in your mind: Childhood recollections had blurred into a mix of reality and fantasy. 3 if the difference between two things blurs, or something blurs it, they become more similar, so that you are no longer sure that they are clearly different: blur the line/difference/distinction between a new commercial that blurs the line between art and advertising

blurs

because

blur2 /bbr/ noun

1 a shape that is example because it is moving The racing cars moved past us in a blur. + of a blur of activity /movement 2 something such as a thought or memory that is not very clear in your mind: / remember there was a big house, but the rest of it was just a blur. blurb /bbrb/ noun [singular] information printed on the outside of something, especially something for sale such [C usually singular]

difficult to see clearly, for

very

fast: in a blur

as a book, to describe it or make it attractive blurred /btard/ or blurry / 'bbri/ adj •

to

buy

or causing difficulty in seeing something clearly: blurred photographs blurry vision a blurred shape /outline 2 difficult to understand or remember clearly: blurred memories blurred distinctions 1

difficult to see clearly,

blurt /bbrt/ or blurt out verb [T] to say something suddenly and without thinking about the effect it will have, usually because you are nervous or excited: She blurted out his name, then gasped as she realized what she'd done. 1

verb [i] • 1 if you blush, your cheeks become red because you feel embarrassed or ashamed: "A few of the girls were after me, " he recalled, blushing slightly. 2 formal to feel embarrassed or ashamed: blush to do sth / blush to admit it, but it's true.

blush /WaJ/

blush 2

/blAJV noun that appears when

1 [C] a red color in your cheeks you are embarrassed or ashamed or cream that women put on

2 [u]AmE a red powder their cheeks

— picture -» makeup

when you blush-er /'bUJar/ noun

first think about something [u] BrE blush for your cheeks makeup blus-ter /'bUstar/ noun [u] angry or threatening talk or behavior from someone who wants to hide their fear

at first blush

—picture

-»

or nervousness— blus«ter verb /T] blus*ter*y /'blASt(9)ri/ adj with strong winds: blustery conditions a. blowing strongly: blustery winds Blvd. abbrev Boulevard BMI /,bi em 'ai/ noun [U] body mass index: a measurement of the amount of fat in someone's body, calculated by dividing their weight in kilograms by their [l

height in meters 'B

movie

noun

[C]

a movie that

is

inexpensive to

make

and not very good

BMX /,bi

BMX

em

bicycle that

'bike noun [C] a type of 'eks/ or built to be strong enough to ride on

is

rough ground

B.O.

/ ,bi 'oo/ noun [U] body odor: an unpleasant smell that comes from sweat (=a natural liquid from the skin), especially when someone has not washed recently or has been exercising a lot

bo«a /'boos/ noun

[C] 1

board certified

139

blunt instrument noun

a boa constrictor

2

a feather

boa

'boa constrictor noun [C] a South American snake with a very long thick body that kills animals by wrapping itself around them and squeezing them

boar /bor/ (plural boars or boar)

noun

(C] 1

a

male pig 2 a

wild boar

board

1

1 flat

2

for

/bnrd/ noun piece of

•••

wood

4 meals

showing information

3 group that manages 1

[C]

a long thin

making

floors There's a loose

flat

sth

5 examinations + PHRASES

piece of wood, used especially for

and other parts of buildings: plank: board in the bedroom. Boards had been

nailed up to cover the broken window, -picture -» next page 1a. [u] a thin flat sheet of wood or other hard material: We use only recycled paper and board in our packaging. The walls were lined with insulating board. 1b. [C] a thin flat piece of wood or other material that is used for something, for example for making a firm surface or for playing a game: He put the bread on the board and began to slice it. We wanted to play chess but 1 couldn't find the board. a group of surfers waxing their

boards [C] a flat wide surface such as a bulletin board or blackboard placed upright and used for showing information: The board said "Danger - Keep Out. " The final grades were posted on the board. The train station has an electronic board showing all departure times. picture -» next page 3 [C] a group of people who have the responsibility of managing important business or government activities: an advisory / editorial board She was appointed to the board investigating lapses in airport security. school board The local school board is trying to raise teachers' salaries. board of trustees The hospital's board of trustees voted for the merger. 3a. the most important people in a company, who make decisions about the way that the company is managed: He sits on the boards of several companies. board of directors She has recently been appointed to the board of directors. chairman of the board Fred's father is chairman of the board. 4 [u] meals provided for you when you stay at a hotel, live at another person's house, etc.: room and board She gets $100 a week plus room and board (=a place to stay full board, room and board and meals).

2

—

-

5 the boards

[plural]

go by the board Br E

Am E board exams

a plan, idea, or activity goes by the board, it is stopped or forgotten: Our plans to expand went by the board for lack offunding. on board 1 on a ship or an airplane: The airplane had 125 passengers and crew on board. A customs officer came on board the ship. 2 involved in a project or organization, or working for a company: Welcome to the team. It's great to have you on board. take sth on board to consider an idea, problem, or situation and try to deal with it: The committee will take your opinions on board before making a decision. -» across-the-board board 2 /bord/ verb * 1 [l/T] to get onto a ship, aircraft, train, or bus: She boarded the wrong train. We're boarding through gate 16. 1a. [i] if a plane or ship is boarding, passengers are being allowed to get on it: When I got to the airport, my flight was already boarding. 2 [I] to live at another person's house in a room that if

for: +with She had three students who boarded with her. 2a. to live with other students at school or college during the part of the year that you go to classes: From the age of eight, George boarded at a private school in Maine.

you pay

phrasal vb [T] to hide something by putting it: Part of the garage had been boarded off during building works. board out phrasal vb [T] BrE to arrange for a person or animal to stay with someone who is paid to look after them for a period of time board over phrasal vb [T] to cover something with wooden boards: They boarded over all the old fireplaces. board up phrasal vb [T] to cover a window or door with wooden boards: All the windows were either broken or

board off

wooden boards over or around

boarded up.

board certified fessional person

area

AmE

ad|

who

examination in order

is

to

a doctor or other proboard certified has passed an be allowed to work in a specific

boarder

bob

140

boardwalk

/'bord.vok/ noun [c] a path made of narrow boards, usually at the edge of the ocean and

often raised above the level of the ground

boast /boost/ verb • 1

proudly tell other people about what you or someone connected with you has done or can do, or about something you own, especially in order to make them admire you: brag: +of He's always boasting of his 1

[I/T] to

athletic prowess.

+ about Cheating on somebody

is

hardly

to boast about. +that The senator boasted that his bill had cut federal spending by $2 billion. 2 [T never progressive] to have something good, often an attractive feature that other people admire: The island boasts the highest number of tourists in the area.

something

boast 2 /boost/

noun [c] a statement in which you proudly tell other people what you or someone connected with you has done or can do, or about something you own, especially in order to make them admire you: For years, their boast was that they were the best team in our league. boast-ful /'boostfal/ adj too eager to tell other people what you have done or could do, or about something you own, especially in order to make them admire you: / don't want to sound boastful but I always finish everything on time. boast-ful-ly adv, boast-ful-ness noun [U] boat /boot/ noun [C] 1 a small vehicle that people use for traveling on water. Boats are usually smaller than ships, and are moved by means of sails, oars, or motors: by boat The only way

—

**•

was by boat. -> powerboat, rowboat, sailboat a ship, especially one that carries passengers: a pleasure boat a boat trip on the river

to get there

2

same boat in the same difficult or unpleasant situation: We're all in the same boat, so let's not criticize each other. 2 -» BURN gravy boat, rock in the

1

,

boat-er /'bootar/ noun

[c] 1 a circular hat with a low top and a wide brim, usually made of straw (=dried stems of wheat) for wearing in sunny weather 2 someone who uses a small boat for pleasure

flat

boat-house / 'boot.haos/ noun

[C] a building or shelter for keeping small boats in when they are not being used, often at the edge of a river or lake

boat'ing /'bootin/ noun

[u] the activity of traveling in a small boat on a lake or river for enjoyment: He in a boating accident. go boating We're going boating on the lake today. boat-load /'boot.lood/ noun [C] the number of people or amount of something that can fill a boat: +of a boatload offish boat-man / 'bootmsn/ (plural boaMnen/ 'bootmsn/) noun [C] a man who takes people or goods somewhere in a small boat, or who has small boats that you can rent for a period of time boat people noun [plural] people who arrive by boat in a country where they hope they will be allowed to live after escaping from their own country

drowned

board

board-er live in a

/'bordsr/ noun [c] 1 someone who pays house as a guest of the family who owns

2 mainly Br E a boy or

girl

who

to it

lives at a boarding

school

board exams

AmE

or

board examinations

noun

1 a set of tests you take to be allowed to in a particular area as a doctor, nurse, etc.: medical /nursing /dental board exams 2 a set of tests you take in order to go to some colleges or universities in the U.S. [plural]

work

board game

noun [c] an indoor game played on a board, often with pieces that are moved around it

boarding /'bordin/ noun

[u]

mainly Br E boards joined

make something such as a floor or a fence boarding card noun [C] a card that each passenger together to

has to show before they are allowed to get on an airplane or a ship

'boarding house noun which people pay owns it

a house in with the family who

[c] old-fashioned

to live as guests

'boarding pass noun [c] a boarding card boarding school noun [c] a school in which most all

or of the students live during the part of the year that

they have courses /'bord.rum/ noun [C] a large room where the directors of a company or other organization hold formal meetings, usually with one large table around which everyone sits a. [singular] the directors of a company or other organization: a message from the boardroom a bitter boardroom battle

board-room

boat-swain /'boosn/ another spelling of bosun 'boat .train noun [C] a train that takes passengers to a port where they can continue their journey by ship, or a train that takes them from a port to a town or city boat-yard /'bootjard/ noun

[C]

a place for making,

repairing, or keeping small boats

bob

1

/bob/ verb [I] 1 to move up and down with short regular movements, especially on water that is rising and falling: bob up and down The little boat bobbed up and down on the waves. 2 Br E to curtsy bob your head to move your head down and then back up again in a short quick movement as a way of greeting someone or showing agreement or respect ,bob up phrasal vb [i] to move up and come into view with a short quick movement: A head bobbed up from behind the fence.

bob 2

/bob/ noun [C] 1 a woman's hairstyle in which the hair is cut short to an even length at the level of picture -» hairstyle 2 a short quick the chin or neck movement up and down 2a. a short quick movement of the head down and then back up again as a way of greeting someone or showing agreement or respect 2b. BrE a curtsy

—

Bob Bob

for to do:

saying that something will be very easy or quick You just click on the icon a couple of times, and Bob 's your uncle - you 're connected to the Internet!

bobbed /babd/ adj

bobbed hair

is

cut short to an even

length at the level of the chin or neck

bob-bin /'babm/ noun which thread (=thin

[C] a small round object around string used for sewing) is wound

Am

1

'babl/ noun [C] 1 E a mistake, especially a failure to catch or handle a ball well in a sport 2 BrE a short round tassel, for example on a winter hat

bob-ble

/

bob-ble 2

/'babl/ verb badly in a sport bob-by /'babi/ noun

male police

[T]

[c]

Am E to drop or handle a ball BrE

[c]

AmE a small piece of wire folded

over tightly in the middle that hair in place

women

use to hold their

'bobby socks or 'bobby sox noun

[plural]

AmE

informal old-fashioned short thick white socks for girls. girls, who often wore them in the U.S. in the

teenage

were sometimes called bobbysoxers.

bob-cat in

/'bab.kaet/ noun [c] a large wild cat that lives

North America

bob-sled

/'bab.sled/ noun [c] a small vehicle for two

more people designed for sliding over snow and ice and used in races down a track called a bobsled run bob-sleigh /'bab.slei/ noun [C] BrE a bobsled or

bob-white

/'bab.wait; 'bab,hwait/ noun [c] a small white North American bird that people hunt for food. It is a kind of quail.

bod

/bad/ noun

[C]

informal

a person's body

1

2 BrE

informal excel-

lent or impressive: bodacious babes

bode /bood/

verb bode well/ill formal to be a sign that something good/bad will happen: The fact that we haven't heard from him in all this time does not bode well.

bod-ice / 'badis/ noun

[C]

the part of a dress that covers

woman's body from the waist up bod-ice-rip-per /'badis.npsr/ noun [c] mainly journalism a book or movie about romantic relationships a

in the 18th or 19th centuries, containing a scenes 1

affecting

bod-i-ly

2

lot of

sex

/'badili/ adj [only before noun] relating to or

your body: bodily injury bodily fluids / 'badili/ adv 1 if you are bodily present, you

are physically in a place 2 in a way that affects the whole of someone's body: They pushed him bodily out of the room.

bod-y 1 of

4

[singular] the main or central part of a building, not including areas at the side or parts that have been added later: +of The body of the church dates from the 15th century. 4a. the main part of a book or document, not including the introduction, notes, or appendh es (=parts added at the end): +of He is not mentioned in the main body of the text. 4b. the main outer part of a car, not including the engine or wheels, or the main outer part of a plane, not including the engine, wheels, or wings: The body of the aircraft remained intact after the

5 [u] a thick healthy appearance of your hair: products designed to give body to your hair 6 [U] the strong flavor of wine or another alcoholic drink

7 [C] BrE a body suit body and soul in every way: They were totally committed to each other, body and soul. body of water a large area of water in a body close together in a single group: The soldiers moved swiftly in a body toward the building. keep body and soul together BrE to have just enough money to buy food and other necessary things -» foreign body,

heavenly body

'body armor noun and police

bullets in extremely

'body bag noun

[u]

special clothes that soldiers

wear

officers

[c]

to protect themselves against dangerous situations a large bag used for carrying away

the dead body of a soldier or of someone killed in a crime or accident

'body .blow noun

a person

bo-da-cious /boo'deijas/ adj Am E very

bod-i-ly

such as knowledge, information, or work: There is a growing body of evidence to support this theory. These films represent a major body of work.

crash.

informal old-fashioned a

officer

'bobby pin noun

past,

body stocking

141

/bab/ Bob's your uncle Br E informal used

/'badi/ noun

••*

human/animal

2 group of people 3 collection of work, 4 main part of sth

etc.

industry

'body .board noun

5 6 7 +

appearance

of hair

strong flavor of drink

piece of clothing PHRASES

[c]

a type of small surfboard, used

waves that are close to the land bod-y-build-ing /'badi.bildin/ noun for

[u] a program of regular physical exercises designed to make your muscles bigger and stronger, especially exercises involving lifting, pulling, and pushing weights

— bod-ybuild-er noun [C]

'body .clock noun [C usually singular] biological clock body .count noun [C] the number of people killed in

a

them someone whose body is used in a movie instead of the body of the real actor, especially battle or accident, or the process of counting

'body .double noun

[c]

in a sex scene

bod-y -guard / 'badi.gard/ noun of people

1 [C] the whole physical structure of a person or animal, including the head, arms, and legs: His whole body ached. We do not really understand how mind and body interact. exercises to tone and shape the body the human body picture -» next page body fat A trained athlete has very little body fat. body weight Ants can carry many times their own body weight, la. the main part of a person's or animal's body, not including the head, arms, or legs: His head looks too big for his body. lb. the body of a dead person: corpse: Police found a body buried in the woods. 2 [C] a group of people who are connected in some way, often because they are involved in the same activity: + of There is a large body of people who would use public transportation if fares were cut. 2a. a group of people who work together for an organization or the government and have important responsibilities: The state government has set up a new body to inspect nursing homes. ruling body the national governing body for wrestling in the U.S., USAW official body The Senate is the official body that deals with these issues. professional body The American Bar Association is a recognized professional body. -» governing body 3 [C] [+of] a large amount or collection of something

—

[C] a serious problem or a great disappointment, especially one that is sudden and unexpected: + to /for another massive body blow to the farming

whose job

is to

•

a person or group [c] protect an important person

from being physically attacked

'body image noun [C/u] the opinion you have about how attractive your body is 'body .language noun [u] the movements or positions of your body that show other people what you are thinking or feeling: Their body language betrayed the tension between them.

'body .odor noun [u] B.O. .body 'politic, the noun formal

all the people of a nation considered as a single group because of their

combined

political

power

bod-y pop-ping

/'badi ,papin/ noun [u] a type of dancing to modern popular music in which people move with very stiff movements, as if they are robots. This style of dancing was popular in the 1980s. 'body .search noun [C] a search of someone's body and clothing for weapons or drugs, made by a police officer

or other official

body .shop

noun [C] a place especially after an accident

where cars are repaired,

bod-y snatch-er / 'budi .smetjar/ noun [c] someone in the past who dug up dead bodies after they were buried to sell to doctors for dissection (=the process of cutting into them to examine the organs inside)

'body .stocking noun [c] a piece of tight fitting cloth ing, worn especially by dancers, that covers your body including your arms and legs

body

suit

142

boil

body

suit noun [C] AmE a piece of women's clothing that fits tightly on the main part of the body and fastens between the legs 'body .temperature noun [u] the normal temperature of your body, measured with a thermometer bodywork /'badi,w3rk/ noun [u] the painted metal

body

outer part of a car or other vehicle that gives

it

its

shape

Boer /bar; bour/

noun [c] someone whose family went from the Netherlands to live in South Africa a long time ago— Boer adj ,Boer War, the a war fought in South Africa at the beginning of the 20th century in which the British

bof'fin /'bafin/ noun [C] BrE informal someone who is very intelligent and knows a lot about a particular subject 1

/bog/ noun 1 [c/u] an area of ground that always very wet and soft 2 [C] BrE informal a toilet

is

bog 2

/bag/ verb ,bog down phrasal vb [T usually passive] 1 to be or become stuck in soft wet ground 2 to be or become so involved with one particular thing that you cannot make any progress: -fin /with The meeting got bogged down with disputes about who was going to do what.

bo-gey

1

/'bougi/ noun

a golf score of one shot of shots needed to that causes problems or something that people worry about: the bogey of sth Every government wants to rid itself of the bogey of inflation. 3 a bogeyman in children's stories bo-gey 2 /'bougi/ verb [t] to get a score in golf of one shot more than par (=the expected number of shots needed to get the ball into a hole) /'boogi.maen; 'bogi.maen/ (plural bog*ey•men/'bougi,men; 'bogi,men/) noun [C] 1 an imaginary evil creature used in stories to frighten children: The bogeyman 's going to get you. 2 someone or something that people believe is bad and causes problems: The

more than par

bogeyman

[c]

1

(=the expected

get the ball into a hole)

/'bagl/ verb 1

[i/t]

if

the

mind

boggles, or

something boggles the mind, you cannot imagine it because it is too strange, unpleasant, or confusing: To think that now the company is worth more than $1.3 billion utterly boggles the mind. -» mind-boggling 2 [i] [+at] to be so surprised or shocked that you are unable to believe something: I boggle at how much some of these lawyers

earn.

bog«gy / 'bogi/ adj boggy ground

is

always very wet and

soft

bo-gie /'bougi/ another

spelling of

bogey

1

i

bo-gus

defeated the Boers

bog

newspapers had portrayed him as the new economic bogey-

man.

bog«gle

number

2 something

/'bougas/ adj not real, although pretending to be real: Customers who make bogus insurance claims will be dealt with severely. a bogus offer /excuse bo*he*mi*an 1 /boo'himisn/ adj living or behaving in an informal way that is considered typical of artists and writers: a bohemian lifestyle Temple Bar is Dublin's lively bohemian quarter. bo-he-mi-an 2 /boo'himian/ noun [C] someone who is

bohemian 1

boil /boil/ verb* a liquid boils, or if you boil it, it becomes so hot that there are bubbles in it and it starts to become a gas: When the water boils, add the rice. Boil some milk in a pan. put sth on to boil (=put liquid in a container and heat it until it boils) She put two pans of soup on to boil. 1a. if a container boils, or if you boil it, the liquid in it boils: He stood in the kitchen waiting for the pan to boil. boil dry (=boil until there is no liquid left) The saucepan had boiled dry and the carrots were burned. 2 [T] to cook food in water that is boiling: How long does it take to boil an egg? 2a. [i] to be cooked in water that is boiling: The pasta needs to boil for 10 minutes. put sth on to boil (=start to cook something in hot water) Can you put the vegetables on to boil, please? 2b. [T] to 1

[l/T] if

wash

3

clothes in water that

is

boiling

to feel something such as anger very strongly: boil with rage/ James felt the fury boiling within him. [I]

boil

bolt

143

anger Boiling with rage, Kate slammed the car door and

boil down phrasal vb 1 [l/T] to become smaller in quantity after cooking because some of the liquid has turned to gas, or to make something do this: Boil the meat juices down to make a thick sauce. 2 [T] to make something

be so bold as to do sth spoken formal to do something that is rude or shows too much confidence: He was even so bold as to give me advice about how to play. if I might be so bold spoken formal used when you are going to say or ask something that someone might think is rude: I'd like, if I might be so bold, to make a suggestion. bold'ly adv: boldly-colored clothes bold-ness noun

such as a piece of writing shorter by giving only the most important facts: boil sth down to sth Whole pages of information get boiled down to one paragraph in

bold 2 /boold/ or bold-face /'booldfeis/ noun [u) a way of printing letters that makes them thicker and

drove off. -» BLOOD

basic,

the paper. boil 'down to phrasal vb [T never progressive] [boil down to sth] to be the main reason for something or the most

basic part of something: It's difficult to choose which appliance to buy, but in the end it usually boils down to cost.

over phrasal vb [i] 1 if a liquid boils over, it rises so it boils that it flows over the top of the container that it is in: There was a hissing sound as the soup boiled over. 2 if a situation or feeling boils over, people cannot control their anger and start to fight or argue: Racial tensions in the area were boiling over. + into The dispute finally boiled over into a series of violent

boil

much when

protests.

boil 'up phrasal vb 1 [i] if a situation or feeling boils up, people start to feel angry: Anger was boiling up inside me. 2 [T] to heat liquid, or to heat something in a liquid, until it boils: Will you boil up some water? Keep the chicken bones and boil them up to make a stock. 2

boil /boil/ noun [C] a painful lump on your skin that has become infected and is filled with pus (=an unpleasant yellow liquid)

come

a situation or feeling comes to a more serious or dangerous: again coming to a boil. 2 if a liquid comes to a boil, it starts to boil: She waited for the water to come to a boil. on the boil Br E if a situation or feeling is on the boil, it is very strong or a lot of people are talking about it: The press is trying to keep the issue on the boil. take sth off the boil BrE to remove something from heat so that it stops boiling boiled sweet /'boild ,swit/noun [c] Br E a hard piece of candy, especially one that tastes of fruit boildn/ verb • 1 [T] to make something include more things or people: The scope of the book has been broadened to include the history of Eastern Europe. 1a. [i] to start including more things or people: The protest has broadened to encompass other demands. 1b. broaden your horizons to make you see a wider range of opportunities and choices: College will broaden your horizons.

1c.

NUHMB

AmE

bus.

broad-side 2

wider: a project to broaden the road 3 1] if your smile broadens, you start to smile in a more obvious way 3a. if your accent broadens, you start to speak with a more noticeable accent: As he grew angrier, his accent broadened. broaden out phrasal vb [l/T] same as broaden v. The stream broadens out into a pool. old-fashioned the long broad jump, the noun 1

AmE

JUMP

••

/'brodli/ adv 1 something that is broadly accepted is accepted by most people in a general way, even if they do not agree

Their proposals are broadly in line with true in practice. The two wars followed broadly the government's ideas. used the same pattern. 1b. broadly/broadly speaking important for saying that something is true in the most ways: Broadly speaking, we agree about most things.

people or in a way that includes a large number of compete things: Only large, broadly focused companies can in this market. obvious very a in smile you 3 if you smile broadly,

2

.

way

many

different

/

brod maindad/ ad) willing to accept of behavior and not easily

types

with the side facing

broad- spectrum

adj able to be used against a wide range of different illnesses or insects: broad-spectrum

antibiotics /pesticides

Broad- way / brrxiwei/ a street in New York City with many theaters where you can see popular plays and

— compare of? -Broadway

musicals

brocade / bra'keid/ noun [u] expensive thick cloth with a pattern

woven

into

it

broc-co-li /'brukali/ noun [u] a vegetable consisting of green stems with many small green or purple buds on the ends, eaten cooked or raw —picture -» en bro-chure /broo'Jur/ noun [C] * a small magazine containing details and pictures of goods or services that you can buy: / picked up a copy of their summer travel brochure.

brogue /broog/

noun [singular] a strong local accent (=way of speaking), especially an Irish or Scottish accent: The nurse spoke with a pleasant Scottish brogue. brogues /broogz/ noun [plural] strong leather shoes with a pattern of holes and stitches broil / broil / verb [i/t] Am E to cook something by putting it close to strong heat above or below it, for example in a part of the oven called the broiler or on a barbecue (=fire for cooking outside): broiled chicken Sprinkle with sugar and broil until golden. broil-er/'broilar/noun [C] 1 Am £a piece of equipment that cooks food by sending strong heat onto it from above. BrE usually grill 2 a broiler chicken broiler chicken or broiler noun [c] a young chicken that is suitable for broiling

AmE

broil-ing /'brDilin/ ad] broiling weather or a broiling sun is very hot: We walked for hours in the broiling sun. broiling today.

It's

broke

1

/ brook / adj be broke informal to have no money: Can you lend me $5? I'm completely broke. go broke informal to no longer have any money and be unable to pay what you owe. Go bankrupt is a less informal expression: The company went broke earlier this

year.

go for broke informal

to try as hard as you can to get or achieve something, even if this involves taking risks or doing dangerous things: Jacob decided to go for broke and gave up his job to become a writer. if it ain't broke, don't fix it informal used for saying that you think that something is already good or effective and should not be changed

broke 2

the past tense of

break

1

bro-ken /'brooksn/adj 1

about all the details: The proposal was broadly welcomed by teachers. 1a. something that is broadly true, accurmost ate, or similar is true, accurate, or similar in the important ways: This theory has turned out to be broadly

broad-minded

/'br.xlsaid/ adv

toward something: His van hit the car broadside. broad-side 3 / bnxl said/ noun [c] a strong written or spoken attack: The paper launched an angry broadside

broaden your

mind to help you understand the world and make you more able to accept other people's ideas and beliefs 2 broaden or broaden out [i] to become wider: The street broadened into a square. 2a. [T] to make something

broad-ly

shocked: My dad's pretty broad-minded so he won t mind —opposite if you have a few beers, broad-mind-ed-ly adv. broad-mind-ed-ness noun [u] broad-sheet / br.-xi.Jit/ noun [c] BrE a newspaper printed on large sheets of paper. Broadsheets are generally believed to contain more serious news than tabloid newspapers, which are smaller. to crash into broad-side 1 / bnxi said/ verb [t] the side of another vehicle: Their truck broadsided the

against the administration's proposals.

details: a broad-brush

broad-cast

job

broken

167

easily be seen: They'd robbed the

damaged

physically

2 not working 3 extremely sad 4 not as promised/hoped

•• 5 not continuous 6 without hope PHRASES

a broken object has been damaged and is in two or pieces: Be careful not to step on the broken glass. Nearly all the houses had broken windows. a broken fingernail Fill the bottom of the dish with broken crackers. broken bone has a crack in it: He had several 1a. broken ribs and a suspected broken leg. 2 if a machine is broken, it is not working correctly: You can I watch the television it 's broken. He s repaired that broken clock. 3 literary if your heart is broken, you feel extremely sad because a relationship with someone you love has ended or because someone has died: Her husband died. 1

more

broken

his country as the land of broken dreams.

a string of broken promises 4a. a broken relationship has failed: broken marriages I'd had two broken marriages by the time I was 30. a broken engagement 4b. a broken home a family where the parents are divorced or do not live together, and the children suffer as a result: She works with children who come from broken homes. 5 a broken pattern or sound has spaces in it: a broken line 5a. if you have broken sleep or a broken night,

you sleep badly, waking up often

6

very badly damaged physically 6a. having hope and enthusiasm, because of bad experi-

literary

lost all

ences

broken English / French / German

etc.

if

someone

speaks in broken English, etc., they speak slowly and a lot of mistakes because they do not know the language very well

make

Words you can use Broken is more

with

brother

168

and she died soon afterward of a broken heart. 4 used for describing a situation in which you do not do what you promised, agreed, or hoped: He referred to

instead of

a very general

specific

and appropriate

in

broken

some words sound more natural

word. Here are

meanings

that

particular situations.

cars /machines/ equipment

not working, faulty, has broken down, bust (informal)

houses / buildings

dilapidated, ramshackle, falling down, in disrepair

made by blowing hard with your tongue between your lips. Br E raspberry

something, 1

bronze /bronz/

noun

••

1 [u] a hard brown metal used for making statues objects for decoration. It is made by mixing copper

and and

TIN.

2 3

red-brown color a statuk of a person or animal,

[u] a [C]

made

of bronze

4 [C] a BRONZE MEDAL bronze 2 /branz/ adj • 1 made of bronze: a bronze statue of George Washington 2 with an attractive brown color the period of ancient history when people made tools and weapons from bronze, from around 3500 to 1500 b.c., after the Stone Age and before the Iron Age bronzed /bronzd/ adj someone who is bronzed has attractive brown skin because they have spent a lot of

Bronze Age, the

time in the sun

bronze medal

noun [c] a piece of bronze like a coin, given as a prize to someone who comes third in a sports competition: The team from Ireland won the bronze medal. .bronze medalist noun [C] brooch /brootjV noun [C] a piece of jewelry with a pin on the back that you fasten to your clothes —picture -* JEWELRY

—

brood

1

deals for

/brud/ verb [I] 1 to think and worry about something a lot: + about/ over Don't sit and brood over it for weeks. 2 if a bird broods, it sits on its eggs until the young birds are born brood 2 /brud/ noun [c] a group of young birds who all have the same mother and were born at the same time a. humorous a group of young children who all have the same mother brood-er /'brudar/ noun [c] 1 someone who thinks and worries a lot: She can be a real brooder. 2 a small building made of wood where farmers keep young birds brooding /'brudin/ adj 1 literary making you feel as if something bad or dangerous is about to happen 2 looking as if you are thinking and worrying about something: the brooding expression in his dark eyes brood-y /'brudi/ adj 1 thinking and worrying about something a lot: Tim plays the role of a broody teenager. 2 wanting to lay eggs or sit on them: a broody hen brook 1 /bruk/ noun [C] a small river brook 2 /bruk/ verb [t] not brook sth or brook no sth

other people, especially a stockbroker or an insurance BROKER 2 someone who arranges an agreement

to definitely not allow or accept something: He made it clear that he would brook no dissent. She would not brook any criticism of her uncle.

systems / computers

down, not working, has up

failed, acting

(informal)

objects

cracked, dented, smashed,

containers

burst, split, leaky torn, ripped, split, frayed torn, ripped, in shreds

chipped fabric

paper

bro-ken 2

break no longer working or 1

the past participle of

broken-down

ad)

in

good con-

dition: broken-down machinery

bro-ken-hearted /,brookan

'hartad/ adj extremely

sad: He was broken-hearted when his dog died. bro-ker /'broukar/ noun [C] * 1 someone whose job is to organize business 1

bro-ker2 /'broukar/

[T] to arrange the details of a everyone can agree to it: The new

verb

deal, plan, etc. so that

Brooklyn Bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge

deal has been brokered by the U.N.

bro'kenage

/'broklm ,bnd3/

to cheat

someone

sell

sb the

in a business deal

the name of a bridge in New York City. The idea that no ordinary person would be allowed to sell the bridge, so if they tried to sell it to you they would

From

noun 1 brokerage or broking [u] the activities of organizing business deals for other people 2 [C] a company that organizes business deals for other people broker- dealer noun [c] a person or company that buys and sells stocks, shares, or goods for other people broking /'broukirj/ noun [u] brokerage brol-ly /'brali/ noun [c] BrE informal an umbrella bromide / 'broo.maid/ noun 1 [C/u] a chemical, sometimes used as a drug to make people calm or help them to sleep 2 [C] old-fashioned a remark that is intended to calm a situation, but is usually not sincere bronc /brank/ noun [C] Am E informal a bronco bron*chi»al / 'brarjkial/ adj involving or related to your bronchial tubes: bronchial pneumonia 'bronchial /tube noun [c] one of the tubes in your chest through which air goes into your lungs bron-chi'tis /bran'kaitis/ noun [u] an illness affecting your bronchial tubes in which you cough and find breathing difficult bron-co /'brankoo/ noun [c] a horse that is still wild, especially in a rodeo bron-to-sau-rus /.branta'soras/ noun [c] an old name of an APATOSAURUS Bronx cheer /.branks 'tfir/ noun [c] informal a sound made to show that you do not like or approve of /'broukarid3/

AmE

is

be cheating you.

broom /brum/ noun * 1

a brush with a long handle, used for sweeping dirt

[C]

from

floors

2 [u] a bush with small yellow flowers broom-stick /'brum.stik/ noun [c] 1 a type of broom made with sticks and twigs, witches are often shown riding through the air on broomsticks in children's stories. 2 the long wooden handle of a broom

Bros, abbrev Brothers: used

in the

names

of businesses

broth /bra6/ noun [u] 1 old-fashioned soup, especially when it is considered to be good for you: beef broth 2 a liquid used for giving flavor when cooking broth-el /'braGl/ noun [C] a place where men pay to have sex with prostitutes 1

broth-er /'brAdar/ noun

[C]

***

has the same parents as you: My Brian. Do you have any brothers and sisters? his younger /older /little brother —picture -» FAMILY TREE 2 E spoken used for talking in a friendly way to a man 2a. used, especially by black people, for talking about a black man 3 a man who is connected to you in some way and who you have feelings of friendship towards: All men are my 1

a boy or

brother's

Am

man who

name

is

brother

monk Brother David used for showing that you are surprised or annoyed: Oh brother, what a mess. religious group, especially a

broth-er2 /'brAdar/

:

interjection

broth-er-hood /'br\d3r,hod/ noun

1 [u] the friendship and support that a group of people, especially men, get from one another: He taught us freedom, tolerance, and brotherhood. 2 [C] a group of people, especially a group of men, who have similar interests or who do the same job: the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 3 [u] the relationship between brothers

brother-in-law

(plural brothers-in-law) noun [C] 1 the brother of your husband or wife —picture -> family 2 your sister's husband 3 the husband of your husband's sister, or of your wife's sister

tree

broth-er-ly /'brAdsrIi/ adj typical of the good that a man or boy has for his brothers and "Rachel, stop!" cried John, with brotherly anxiety. erly love/ advice a. typical of the feelings that

boy has for his male friends: He

a

feelings sisters:

broth-

man

or

a real brotherly a man's behavior toward a woman is brotherly, he likes her a lot but he does not love her in a romantic way: He gave her a brotherly kiss on the cheek. brougham /brum; bruam/ noun [c] a vehicle used in the past, pulled by a horse brought the past tense and past participle of bring brou-ha-ha /bruha ha/ noun [u] 1 mainly journalism a lot of complaints or criticism: There's been a lot of brouhaha about these new measures. 2 old-fashioned a lot of noisy activity brow /brao/ noun [c] • 1 literary the part of your face above your eyes: forehead: mop your brow (=wipe the sweat from your affection for

his co-workers,

felt

b. if

forehead) He mopped his brow with his handkerchief. furrow/wrinkle/crease your brow (=look worried or as if you are concentrating) She worked in silence, her brow furrowed. 2 an eyebrow: He raised his brows in surprise. 3 the brow the highest part of a hill, where the ground starts to

become

brow-beat /

bruising

169

We pray for all our brothers and sisters abroad. 4 brother or Brother a man who is a member of a brothers.

flat

brao.bit/ (pasttense browbeat; past

participle

browbeaten/ 'brao, bitn/) verb [t] to make someone do something by asking or threatening them until they agree: bully: browbeat sb into (doing) sth She wasn't going to let him browbeat her into agreeing to go. brown 1 /braon/ ad) *•• 1 something that is brown is the same color as wood The days were or coffee: He had lovely brown eyes. getting shorter and the leaves began to turn brown. 2 with darker skin than usual, after being in the sun brown as a berry (=very a lot: His face was very brown. brown) She came back from Italy brown as a berry. 2 brown /braon/ noun [c/u] * the color of wood or We decided coffee: The skirt is also available in brown. on browns and greens for the wallpaper in the study. 3 until it something cook [i/t] to verb brown /braon/ turns brown, or to become brown in this way: Brown meat before adding the vegetables. Wait for the onions to brown before adding the flour. brown 'ale noun [c/u] BrE a dark beer with a sweet the

or a glass or bottle of this informal 1 to bring your verb [i] lunch with you to work or school, usually in a brown

taste,

AmE

brown-bag

paper bag: brown-bag it / usually eat in the cafeteria but I'm brown-bagging it today. 2 to bring your own alcoholic drinks with you to a restaurant that does brown-bagger noun [C], brownnot serve alcohol bagging noun [u] brown-field /'braon.fild/ noun [C] an area of land in a town that was previously used for industry and where new buildings can now be built brown goods noun [plural] BrE business electrical goods such as televisions, radios, and computers, used

—

mainly for entertainment —compare white goods /braoni/ noun [C/U] a type of flat chocolate

brownie

cake, served in squares

Brownie /braoni/ noun

[c]

a

member

of the brownies

brownie points

noun [plural] informal approval you get from your teacher or boss by doing extra work or special FAVORS He's just trying to win some brownie points. Brownies, the / brauniz/ noun [plural] 1 in the U.S., the part of the girl a outs that is for girls between six :

and eight years old 2 in the U.K.. the part of the glides that is for girls between seven and ten years old brown-nose verb [i/t] informal to try very hard to please someone important or powerful, for example by agreeing with them all the time, in a way that annoys other people: He had just brown-nosed his way to the top. brown-nose noun [C]. brown- nosing noun [u] brown-out / braon.aot/ noun [C] AmE a temporaryreduction of electric power in an area — compare blackout

3

brown

rice noun

layer of the seed

[u] rice that

has not had the outer

removed

brown sauce

noun [C/u] BrE a dark cold sauce containing fruit and spices, eaten with meat /'braon.stoon/ noun 1 [c] a building made of red-brown stone, especially one built in the U.S. in the past: He lives in a brownstone in Brooklyn. 2 [u] a type of red-brown stone, often used for building: The original structure was built from brownstone in 1862.

brown-stone

Brown v. Board of Edu cation a U.S. supreme court decision that made for black people

it

illegal to

have separate schools

/braoz/ verb • 1 [i/t] computing to look for information on a computer, especially on the Internet: cell phones that can browse the Web 1a. to look at a Web site on the Internet: an

browse

excellent graphical interface for

2

[i]

browsing Web pages without being sure

to look at things in a store

whether you want to buy anything: "Can I help you, Sir?" "So thanks, I'm just browsing." Customers are welcome

to

browse. 2a.

[i]

[^through] to look at infor-

mation or pictures in a book or magazine, without looking for anything in particular: / browse through the help-wanted ads from time to time, but really I am quite happy where I am. 3 [l] technical if animals browse, they feed on plants, especially the leaves on trees: +on The system was very' effective in

spring.

stopping deer browsing on the new leaves in

— browse

noun

[singular]

brows-er

/'braozor/ noun [c] 1 computing a computer program that allows you to look at and search through information on the Internet 2 someone who is looking at things in a store without being sure whether they want to buy anything: Browsers are welcome, with no obligation to buy.

bruise 1 /bruz/

verb

•

cause a mark to appear on someone's body by it: She bruised her leg quite badly if you bruise easily, marks appear on your body when you are hit or knocked without a 1

[T] to

hitting or knocking when she fell. la. [i] lot

2

of force

to damage a piece of fruit and cause a soft brown area to appear on its surface 2a. [i] if fruit bruises [T]

it can easily become damaged [t usually passive] to harm someone's reputation or confidence: A spokesperson said the star had been bruised by the unfair reports in the press last week. bruised /bruzd/ adj: a bruised ego a bruised arm

easily,

3

bruise 2 /bruz/ noun

[c] 1 a mark that you get on your body if you are hit or if you knock against something: He had a nasty purple bruise over his eye. Most of the injuries were just cuts and bruises. 2 a mark on a piece of fruit that has been damaged

bruiser / bruzor/ noun [c] informal 1 a big strong man or boy who looks capable of hurting people: They looked like

a couple of bruisers, and

I

didn

2 someone who argues with a people

feel

bruising

1

lot

dare argue with them. of force, making other

't

rather afraid

/ bru/in/ noun 1 [u] an area of bruises on your body He suffered bruising to his face. la. marks on a piece of fruit that has been damaged 2 [singular] damage to someone's reputation or confidence: He took a bruising in the televised debate. The team gave the champions an unexpected bruising (defeated them

easily).

Q ,

D

bruising /'bruzirj/ adj very difficult a bruising battle between the two teams

brum-by

and unpleasant:

/'brAmbi/ noun

[C] Australian a wild horse, whose mother has escaped from a farm /brAntJV noun [C/U] a meal that combines breakfast and lunch and is usually served in the late morning: a special brunch menu bru-nette or bru-net /bru'net/ noun [c] a woman with dark brown hair compare blond 2 bru-nette adj brunt /brAnt/ noun the brunt the worst part of something that has a bad effect: bear/take the brunt of sth The Education Department is expected to bear the brunt of these cuts in funding. The eastern area took the brunt of the storm. It was the capital that bore the brunt of the recent

especially one

brunch

—

—

brus-chet-ta /brus'keta/ noun [u] Italian bread spread with oil, or oil and tomatoes, then toasted 1

/brAJV noun

** 4 fox's tail 5 trees/branches 6 use of a brush

1 tool

2 3

light

touch

short experience

an object used

for painting, cleaning things, or neat. It consists of a handle with stiff fibers or thin short pieces of plastic or wire called bristles that are attached to it: Remove any loose dirt using a soft brush. a wire brush 1

[C]

making your hair

a very gentle movement against something: the brush of his hand 3 [C] [+with] a short experience of a dangerous or unpleasant situation: He'd had a few brushes with the law but nothing serious. We'd had a brush with death that left us terrified. 3a. a short argument or minor disagreement with someone: He turned out to be the man she'd had the brush with when she first arrived. 4 [C] the tail of a fox 5 [u] an area of land with small trees and bushes growing on it: The deer disappeared into the brush. a brush fire 5a. brushwood 6 [singular] an instance of making something clean or neat using a brush: give sth a brush I'll give my teeth a brush before we leave.

2

[singular]

brush

2

••

/brAj/ verb 1 [T] to make something clean or neat using a brush: brush your hair/teeth She hadn't bothered to brush her hair. How often do you brush your teeth? 1a. to remove dirt from a surface using a brush: brush sth off /from sth Let me brush the dust off your jacket. 1b. to apply a liquid to a surface using a brush: Brush the lacquer on thinly. brush sth with sth First, brush the wall with a stiff brush to remove loose paint. 2 [I/T] to touch someone or something for a very short time when you go past them: Her sleeve brushed the wall. brush past/ against She brushed past him. 2a. [T] to touch someone or something very gently: He brushed her lips with his mouth.

3

[T]

to

surface by the movement of a brush: The artist created detail with a mass of tiny brushstrokes.

brushwood / have for

fallen

making

brAj.wod/ noun [u] small branches that from or been broken off trees, often used

fires

brush-work

/'brAj,w3rk/ noun [u] the way an artist creates effects using a brush: / recognized Van Gogh's

distinctive

brushwork.

brusque /brosk/ adj

speaking quickly in an unfriendly

way using very few words:

curt: His tone

was brusque.

often seems a little brusque when she is interviewing people, a. using quick movements, that show that you do not feel friendly toward someone: her brusque manner brusque-ly adv, brusque-ness noun [U]

She

—

Brus-sels

flooding.

brush

bubble

170

bruis-ing 2

remove something by moving your hands

quickly over a surface: The old man brushed some crumbs brush sth away Maggie brushed away his beard. her tears as she listened. brush sth from/off sth He jumped out to brush the snow off the windshield. brush a side phrasal vb [T] to refuse to accept that something is important or true: These longstanding traditions, values, and attitudes cannot be brushed aside quickly. The defendant brushed aside accusations that he had lied. brush down phrasal vb [T] to clean someone or something using your hands or a brush: He stood in the doorway brushing himself down. brush-off phrasal vb [t] to refuse to listen to someone, or to accept that something is true: The manager brushed / tried off suggestions that he had considered resigning. to explain it to him, but he just brushed me off. brush up phrasal vb [i/T] to practice and improve your skills or knowledge of something: / took a class to brush

from

+on the opportunity to up my German before the trip. brush up on various techniques brushed /brAjf/ adj brushed cloth is very soft: brushed cotton sheets

brush-off noun

[singular] informal a clear sign to someone that you are not interested in them or in their ideas brush'Stroke /'brAj,strook/ noun [c] a mark left on a

/'brAslz/ the capital city of Belgium, where the headquarters of the European Union is. People often use "Brussels" for referring to the government of the European Union.

Brussels sprout noun [c] a small round vegetable consisting of many green leaves wrapped tightly around each other bru-tal/'brutl/adj • 1 extremely violent: her tragic and brutal death brutal attacks I atrocities a brutal war 1a. a brutal person is extremely violent or cruel: The security guards are notoriously brutal.

2 extreme and unpleasant: The government instituted the reforms in a brutal and disorganized manner. the brutal morning light 2a. extremely honest, in a way that seems unkind: Let's be brutal here - he's not good enough. The brutal truth is that you're too old. bru-taMy adv:

—

The report was brutally honest. bru-tahi'ty /bru'taebti/ noun

[u]

extreme violence,

when it is deliberately cruel: accusations of brutality the brutality of the attack a. brutalities [plural] cruel and violent actions or events

especially

bru«tal«ize/'brutl,aiz/verb[T] 1 to make someone lose their ability to experience normal feelings, by treating them in a cruel and violent way: She was brutalized by years of abuse. 2 to do very cruel and painful things bru-tal-i-za-tion /.bruth'zeijn/ noun someone bru-tal-ized adj, bru-tal-iz-ing adj

to

1

brute /brut/ noun

[c]

1

a strong

man who

[U],

acts in a

cruel or violent way: a vicious brute 1a. a big man who looks strong: a big handsome brute of a man 2 a big strong animal 2a. an animal that you do not like or that frightens you

brute 2 /brut/

ad]

brute force/strength great physical

force/strength

brut-ish /'brutijV adj literary 1 violent and cruel: He was brutish and rough, and he terrified his opponents. lacking intelligence or other signs of being human /,bi 'es/ noun 1 [C] Bachelor of Science: a first degree in a scientific subject from a college or university. A first degree in a subject such as history or literature is a B.A. 2 [u] impolite bullshit BSc /,bi es 'si/ noun [C] BrE a b.s. degree BSE /,bi es 'i/ noun [U] bovine spongiform encephalopathy: a serious disease in cows that affects the nervous system and causes death. Meat from cows that have BSE is believed to cause CJD in humans.

2

B.S.

BSI, the

/,bi es 'ai/ the British Standards Institution: a British organization that sets the standards of quality and safety for products made in the U.K. BT / ,bi 'ti/ British Telecommunications pic: the largest British telephone company BTEC / 'bi ,tek/ noun [C] one of a large number of British qualifications relating to specific careers rather than

academic subjects

From the Business and Technology Education Council, the organization that organizes these qualifications.

BTW

abbrev by the way: used in e-mails and text messages for adding additional information

bub /bAb/ noun speaking to a

informal old-fashioned used for or a young person

[singular]

man

bub-bleVbAbl/nounlc] * 1 a ball of air or gas in a liquid: Gas bubbles in any Heat the milk until liquid tend to rise to the surface. bubbles form around the edge of the pan. 1a. a ball of air

bubble

buck naked

171

or gas in a substance that has become solid: bubbles of air trapped in ice Make sure there are no bubbles of air in the jam. 1b. a ball made of a thin outer layer of soap Children love blowing or bubble gum: soap bubbles bubbles.

2 3

a structure that is round like a bubble the circle around the words said by people in a cartoon: balloon

a bubble of sth a feeling that suddenly affects you: She a bubble of hysteria rising in her throat. on the bubble Am E in between success and failure in the near future, especially in a sport: The Yankees are sure to qualify for the postseason playoffs, but the Red Sox are on the bubble. burst sb's bubble to end someone's happiness by making them realize what is happening: / hate to burst your bubble, but I don t think he remembers you. the bubble bursts used for describing the end of a situation that seemed extremely good: When the economic bubble bursts, a lot of people are going to lose their jobs.

felt

money) This guy makes serious money, I mean big bucks. 2a. make a buck or make a few bucks to make money: Everyone's trying to think of ways to make a few bucks. 2b. make a fast /quick buck to make money quickly and often dishonestly: These companies are just out to make a fast buck. -» bang 2 3 the male of some animals such as rabbits or deer big

bucks (=a

—compare

lot of

doe

4 Am E informal old-fashioned

a young

man

the buck stops here/with sb used for saying who should accept the responsibility for something: The buck stops with the players, not with the manager. pass the buck to make someone else deal with something that you should take responsibility for: He accused the lawyers of trying to pass the buck on the case.

Harry Truman, who was U.S. president just after World War II, is reported to have had the expression "the buck stops here" as a sign on his desk, suggesting that he would not try to "pass the buck."

buck 2 /bAk/ verb it

in

[i] if an animal such as a horse bucks, kicks its back legs in the air or jumps off the ground an uncontrolled way

buck the trend/system spoken to succeed in doing something even though there is a general tendency for this not to happen: The auto industry bucked the trend with a

5%

increase in exports.

Am

phrasal vb [T] E [buck for sth] to try hard to get something, especially in your job: / think she's

buck for

bucking for a

bubble

bub-ble 2 /'bAbl/verb[i]* 1 if liquid bubbles, bubbles form and move in it: A pot of soup was bubbling away on the stove. When the sauce

remove it from the heat. 2 [+away/beneath] if something such as an emotion or violence bubbles away, it continues to exist but is not noticeable: Violence is bubbling beneath the surface. bubble up phrasal vb [l] to increase and become more obvious: Tension could bubble up again at any time. bubble with or bubble over with phrasal vb [T] [bubble (over) with sth] to be full of a happy or excited feeling: Everybody's bubbling with enthusiasm. 'bubble bath noun [u] a liquid soap that produces a lot of bubbles when you add it to the water in a bath a. [C] a bath with bubble bath in it bubble noun [C/u] a type of brightly colored chewing gum that you can blow into to form a bubble bub-ble-gum /'bAbl.gAm/ adj attractive to children or teenagers because of not being serious or not needing much mental effort: a bubblegum pop group 'bubble jet printer noun [c] a type of computer printer that uses air to blow ink onto paper 'bubble wrap noun [u] a sheet of plastic containing bubbles of air that is used for protecting things while they are being moved or mailed bub-bly 1 /'bAbli/ adj 1 lively, happy, and friendly: She's a lovely, bright, and bubbly girl. 2 mainly Br E full starts to bubble,

gum

of BUBBLES

bub-bly 2 /'bAbli/ noun [u] informal champagne bu-bonic plague /bjubanik 'pleig/noun [u] a

serious infectious disease that killed millions of people in Europe in the past but is now fairly rare. It is passed on by the fleas that live on black rats: black death

bucca-neer

/.bAka'nir/ noun [c] 1 a sailor in the attacked and stole from other ships: pirate 2 someone who is determined to succeed, especially in business or politics, even if this involves taking risks or doing things that many people would not approve of

past

who

buc-ca-neer-ing /.bAka'ninn/

adj brave and willing even if this involves doing things that people would not approve of

to take risks,

many

buck /bAk/noun[c]** 1

1

Am E informal

a dollar: You can get the batteries for a

few bucks at any drugstore.

2 bucks

[plural]

Am E informal

bucks are being spent

to

raise.

buck up phrasal vb [i/T] 1 informal to try to make someone happier, or to become happier: / took him out to lunch to try to buck him up. 2 buck up or buck your ideas up Br E spoken used for telling someone to try

money: More and more same ends.

achieve exactly the

harder

bucka-roo / .bAka'ru/ noun

[C]

buck'board/'bAk.bord/ noun

Am E informal a cowboy Am E a simple vehicle

[c]

pulled by a horse, used for traveling on in the past

bucket

/'bAkat/ noun [c] • a round open container with a handle, used for carrying liquid and substances such as sand or dirt 1a. the things in a bucket, or the amount a bucket contains: a bucket of soapy water 2 a part of a machine shaped like an open container, 1

1

used for moving

dirt, stones, etc.

buckets of sth Br E informal large amounts of something by the bucket Br E informal in very large quantities: They buy tickets by the bucket and sell them at a profit. in buckets informal if it rains in buckets, it rains very hard -» KICK

1

buck«et2 /'bAK3t/ verb bucket down

phrasal vb

[\]BrE

informal to rain very hard

buck-et-ful /'bAkat.ful/ noun

[C] the amount that is contained in a bucket bucket ,seat noun [c] a low deep seat in a car or

aircraft

Bucking-ham Pal-ace home

.bAknprn

'paetas;

.bAkinhaem

London

of the British king or queen. Buckingham Palace is also used for referring to the institution of the British monarchy and the people who work for it: Buckingham Palace refused to confirm or deny the reports. 'paetas/ the official

buck-le

in

1

/'bAkl/ noun [C] a metal object through which a strap is passed to fasten a belt, shoe, bag, etc. —picture -» FASTENER

buck-le 2

/'bAkl/ verb 1 buckle or buckle up [i/T] to fasten a buckle, or be fastened with a buckle: The bag buckles at the side. 2 [i/T] to bend, or make something bend under great pressure: The pillars began to buckle under the strain. 2a. [i] to suddenly become weak and bend: / could see his knees buckle after that last punch.

buckle down phrasal vb [l] informal to start working hard and seriously: knuckle down: If you don't buckle down, you 're not going to graduate. buckle up phrasal vb 1 [i] to fasten your seat belt in a car, airplane, etc. 2 [i/T] same as buckle 2 i: Buckle up your case. .buck 'naked adj informal not wearing any clothes

'*

buck-passing sibility

noun for something

with

yourself

it

the practice of passing responto someone else instead of dealing |u]

buck-ram

/'bAkrom/ noun [u] stiff cotton cloth used for covering books Buck's 'Fizz noun [u] BrE a mimosa buckshot /'b\k jut/ noun [u] small metal balls that are fired from a gun buck-skin /'b\kskin/ noun [u] soft leather made from the skin of a deer, often used for making coats and shoes

buck's party noun

[c]

Australian informal a bachelor

PARTY

buck teeth

noun [plural] top front teeth that stick out more than the bottom teeth buck-wheat /'b\k wit; b\khwit/ noun [u] a type of grain that is eaten or fed to animals bu-col-ic /bju'kuhk/ adj literary relating to the countryside, especially its pleasant aspects

bud 1

1

/bAd/ noun

[cj

work out a monthly budget and

stick to

it.

All schools on /within

are expected to manage their own budgets. budget (=spending only as much money as you have) So far the project is more or less on budget. over/ under budget (=over or under the amount you have to spend) The movie is already way over budget. a tight budget (a small amount of money) They run the magazine on a pretty tight budget, a. the amount of money a government has to spend: education /health /defense etc. budget There will be no further increase in the education budget. budget deficit (=the amount of money spent compared with the smaller amount that was available) The budget deficit needs to be reduced by some $120 billion. b. the Budget a statement about the financial position of the U.K., given in a speech to the British parliament every year and including details about future changes to taxes and public spending

budg-et 2

/'bAd33t/ verb [i] • to plan the way you will spend the money you have, especially so that you do not spend too much: ,4s a student, you have to learn how to budget.

*

Am E spoken

used for talking to a male friend: Hey, are you doing?

Bud! How

buffet

172

buck-passing

2 a tightly curled up part of a plant that will open to form a leaf or flower: yellow rose buds in bud (=with buds but no flowers) Do not prune fruit trees when they

—

are in bud. picture -> flower 3 science a part of a living thing that grows from before separating and becoming a new organism -» NIP TASTE BUD

it

budg-et 3

/'b\d33t/ adj [only before noun] very inexpensive: high-quality goods at budget prices a budget hotel

budg-ie /'bvd3i/ noun [C] informal a budgerigar buff 1 /b\f/ noun 1 [C] someone who is very interested in and knows a lot about a particular subject: a movie/ computer / wine buff 2 [u] a very light yellow-brown color, similar to the color of

sand

1

.

bud

2

/bAd/ verb

Bud-dha

[I]

to

in the buff informal wearing no clothes -» blind man's buff

produce buds

1

/'buds/ the title used for referring to the religious leader Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of

Buddhism

Bud-dha 2

/'buds/ noun

[c]

a statue or picture of the

Buddha

Buddhism

/'bu.dizam/ noun [u] the set of religious based on the teaching of Siddhartha Gautama. followers, called Buddhists, worship in temples.

beliefs Its

— Bud-dhist adj: a Buddhist monk /temple bud-ding / 'b.\din / adj

[only before noun] at the very beginning of a career in writing, acting, politics, etc. and likely to be successful at it: a short story competition designed to encourage budding authors a. just beginning or developing: budding export markets buddy /'bAdi/ noun [c] • 1 Am E spoken used for talking to a man whose name you do not know: Hey buddy, what are you doing? 2 AmE informal a friend: He lived across the road from 1

my

buddy, John.

3 someone who forms an arrangement with another person in which they help each other bud-dy 2 /'bAdi/ verb buddy up phrasal vb [l] AmE to make friends with someone 2 to form an arrangement with someone in which you help each other buddy- buddy adj informal very friendly, especially in a way that seems false or silly: She was my friend, before she got all buddy-buddy with the boss. buddy movie noun [c] a movie that is mainly about the friendship between two people buddy .system noun [c] an arrangement in which two people take care of each other or help each other to do something budge /bAd3/ verb [i/t usually in negatives] to move, or to move something, especially something that is very *\

heavy or

is

stuck: I pulled again, but the wheel wouldn't

It was wedged between two stones and we couldn budge it. +from They couldn't budge her (^persuade her move) to from his office until she got an answer.

budge.

't

not budge to refuse to change your opinion or decision about something: We've tried everything but they won't budge on the price. -» inch budge up phrasal vb [I] BrE informal to move so that there is space for someone else budg-er-i-gar /'b\d33ri,gar/ noun [c] a small bright blue, green, or yellow bird often kept as a pet. Budgerigars are often called budgies. budg-et 1 /'bAd33t/ noun [C] the amount of money a person or organization has to spend on something: Try to Two-thirds of their budget goes on labor costs. 1

***

buff 2 /b\f/

adj old-fashioned

informal with a healthy

body and muscles you can see buff 3 /bAf/ verb [T] to make something shine by rubbing it with something such as a soft cloth 1 buf-fa-lo /'b\f9lou/ noun [C] a large African animal similar to a cow, with curved horns -* water buffalo a. a large wild animal like a cow with a large head and thick hair on its neck and shoulders: bison 2 buf-fa-lo /'bAfalou/ verb [t] AmE 1 to use threats to make someone behave in a particular way: You may be able to buffalo Jack but

I'll

do whatever I please!

make someone confused: The fifth me completely.

mal

to

test

buffaloed

2

infor-

question on the

buff-er /'bAfar/ noun [C] • 1 something that protects another thing by being between it and something else that could harm it: The airbag acts as a buffer between the driver and the steering wheel. 1a. BrE one of two metal springs at the front and back of a train and at the end of a railroad line 1

that helps to protect the train if it crashes 2 computing an area in a computer's memory

where

information is kept temporarily when you are sending it from one system or program to another 3 something you use for polishing something, for example metal or your fingernails informal a man, especially an old man, who you think is slightly stupid but not unpleasant

ABrE

hit the buffers

Br E informal

to fail

buff «er2 / 'bAfar/ verb [t] to help protect something from harm or damage: a savings plan that can help buffer your earnings against inflation [C] a country that is between two other countries that are enemies but is not involved in the argument or war between them

'buffer .state noun

buffer zone noun

[c] an area of land between two armies that they are not allowed to enter, making it will attack each other less likely that they 1 buf-fet /b.\'fei/ noun [c] 1 a meal at which all the food is put on a table and people go and choose what they want: The price includes a buffet, all drinks, and live

a buffet lunch / supper 2 a piece of entertainment. furniture in a dining room for keeping dishes in and putting food on 3 Br E a small cafe at a bus or railroad station 3a. buffet or buffet car Br E a dining car

buf'fet 2 /'bAfat/ verb

keep hitting against All night the wind and rain buffeted the sides of the small tent. 2 [usually passive] mainly literary to treat someone in a negative or unfair

something with a

way

[T]

1

to

lot of force:

buffoon buf-foon

stupid and annoying

bug

1

/bAg/ noun

[C]

someone who behaves

way — buf-foon-er-y noun

in a

[u]

*

1 insect

4

2 infectious illness 3 computer/program

5 sudden enthusiasm + PHRASES

fault

for secret listening

1 [C] informal an insect: There were bugs crawling all over the kitchen floor. 2 [C] informal an infectious but usually minor illness: a flu bug* get/pick up a bug (=develop a sickness) You must have picked up a bug on vacation. 3 [C] a minor fault in a computer system or in a

computer program: The new program in

it.

4

[Cl

still

has some bugs

a small piece of electronic equipment used for secretly listening to what people are saying: Detectives planted (=put) a bug in his hotel room. had 5 [singular] informal a sudden strong enthusiasm for doing something: be bitten by the travel /fitness/cooking etc. bug (=to suddenly become enthusiastic about it) I'd been bitten by the backpacking bug pretty hard.

put a bug in sb's ear Am E informal to tell someone something that suggests what they should do: / put a bug in his ear about giving Helen a call. bug 2 /bAg/ verb [T] 1 informal to annoy someone: It really bugs me when people smoke in restaurants. 1a. to continue asking someone to do something in a way that annoys them: bug sb to do sth She keeps bugging me to paint the kitchen. 2 to hide a small piece of electronic equipment somewhere so that you can secretly listen

what people are saying: He was convinced that his was bugged. bug-a-boo /'bAga.bu/ noun [c] AmE something that worries people, especially something you think they are silly to worry about: that old 90s bugaboo, low selfto

office

esteem

bug-bear /'bAg.ber/ noun [C] a bugaboo bug-eyed /'bAg ,aid/ adj informal a bug-eyed

creature or person has eyes that stick out a. very excited or interested, so that your eyes are wide open

bug-ger word

1

for

/'bAgar/ noun

[C]

someone who

is

Br E impolite an insulting stupid or annoying a. in-

formal used for expressing sympathy about someone you like or feel sorry for: The poor little bugger's broken

bu-gle

/'bjugl/ noun [C] a musical instrument, consisting of a curved metal tube that is wide at one end and that you play by blowing into the other. Bugles are sometimes used by the army to show that an activityis about to begin or end. —picture -» bkass

build 1 /bild/

(past tense and past participle built /bilt/)

verb

• •• 1 [i/T] to make a building or other large structure by its parts together: Do you know when this house was built?* They're building a new bridge over the river.

putting

You need planning permission to build on this land. 1a. [T] to make a machine, vehicle, or other structure by putting its parts together: He's building his own computer. The boat was built to withstand every weather condition. 1b. be built of sth to be made from a particular material: The pyramids are built of solid stone. 2 build or build up [T] to develop something: He set out Many popular to build a business empire and succeeded. writers built up their reputations during the war. 2a. build (up) a picture of to gradually develop an idea of what someone or something is like: We need to build up a picture of the community's needs. 3 build or build up [i/T] to increase or to make something increase: The food industry needs to build consumer confidence again.

build bridges to help two people, groups, or countries who have disagreed to have a more friendly relationship: He played a key role in building bridges between

management and

the unions.

-> ROME

build a round phrasal vb [T] [build sth around sth] to make a particular aim or idea the main part of something:

Her whole campaign was

built

around economic

recovery.

build in phrasal vb [T usually passive] 1 to build something such as a piece of furniture so that it becomes part of a wall or room: They had built in a closet with mirrored doors. 2 build in or build into [build sth in/into sth] to make something part of a plan, system, calculation etc.: The cost of renting equipment should be built into your calculations.

build on phrasal vb [T] 1 build on or build onto [build sth on/onto sth] to build a new room or part onto the outside of a building: They've had an extension built onto the side of the building. 2 build on or build upon [build on/upon sth] to do something in addition to what you have already achieved: We need to build on the ideas we

have had so far.

his leg.

be a bugger Br E impolite to be difficult or annoying bugger all BrE impolite nothing at all: I'm leaving and bugger all they can do about it. /'bAgsr/ verb [T] BrE impolite 1 used for saying that you do not care about someone or something: Bugger the lot of them! 2 to have anal sex with someone 3 to break something: Don't tell me she's buggered the TV again! there's

bug-ger 2

bugger me/well I'll be buggered BrE impolite used when you are very surprised about something .bugger about or bugger a round phrasal vb Br E impolite 1 [I] to waste time behaving in a silly way 2 [T] [bugger sb about/around] to cause problems for someone .bugger off phrasal vb [l] BrE impolite 1 [usually in imperative] used for telling someone rudely to go away 2 to leave or go away: He always buggers off when it's time to pay.

.bugger up phrasal vb [T] BrE impolite to spoil something or do something badly bug-ger 3 /'bAgar/ interjection BrE impolite bugger or bugger it used for saying that you are annoyed about something bug-gered /'bAg 3rd / adj BrE impolite 1 broken 2 very tired 3 used for emphasizing that you do not know something: I'm buggered if I know what she sees in him. 4 used for emphasizing that you will not do something: I'm buggered if I'm listening to him any more.

bug-ger-y

/'bAgsri/ noun [u] legal anal sex 1 /'bAgi/ noun [C] 1 a small vehicle with four wheels, used especially for traveling over rough ground. grass, or sand -» dune buggy 2 a light vehicle pulled by a horse

bug-gy

bug-gy

builder

173

/ba'fun/ noun

2

Am

/ 'bAgi/ ad) E informal full of small insects: Kitchens in hot regions are often buggy.

build up phrasal vb 1 [l/T] same as build 3: Don't allow resentment to build up between you and your partner. These exercises are good for building up leg strength. 2 [T] same as build 2: Stevens played a key role in building up the company. 3 [T] to talk about someone or something in a very positive way so that people are impressed with them: They've built him up to be something that he isn't. 4 [T] to make someone bigger, healthier, and stronger, especially by making them eat more: You need lots offresh fruit to help build you up. 1

1

build up sb's hopes to make someone think that something good is going to happen when in fact it is very unlikely: / don't want to build up her hopes if he's not

coming back. -» buildup build

upon

will build

phrasal vb

[T]

same as build on

2:

The project

upon existing knowledge.

build up to phrasal vb [T] [build up to sth] to prepare yourself or someone else gradually for something that you are going to say or do: She'd been building up all week to telling them she was leaving.

build 2 /bild/ noun [singular] * the size and shape of someone's body: He was of medium build and about my height.

Words

frequently used with build

adjectives

medium, muscular,

slender, slim,

solid, stocky, sturdy,

build-er / bildor/ noun 1 someone whose job

[c]

wiry

*

is to build a particular type of vehicle, system, or machine: a firm of boat builders* The software has several new features put in by the builder.

2 someone whose job

is to

repair and build houses: The

builders will start work tomorrow. 3 something that helps to produce or things confidence skills builder

improve some-

merchant

builders'

noun [c] BrEa company that sells things that you need for building, for example bricks and sand build-ing/'bildnj/noun ••• 1 [C] a structure made of a strong material such as stone or wood that has a roof and walls, for example a house: The church is the only ancient building in the city to survive. a group offarm buildings 2 [u] the process of building houses, factories, office buildings, etc.: the building of a new hospital building materials/ regulations

building .block noun [C] 1 one of a set of solid pieces of wood or plastic that young children play with 2 [usually plural] one of the basic parts from which something is made and without which it cannot exist: Laws are the building blocks of an orderly

building permit noun

society.

AmE

[c] a document giving official permission from a local government to change an existing building or build a new one building site noun [C] a place where something is being built 'building so ciety noun [c] a financial institution in the U.K. similar to a savings and loan association a. an office of one of these organizations —compare credit

build-up

/'bild.Ap/ noun [C usually singular] 1 a gradual increase in the amount or level of something: The "greenhouse effect" is caused by the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 2 the time before an event when people are talking and preparing for it: + to During the buildup to the wedding, she had several arguments with her parents. 3 a description of someone or something in which you make people think they are very good: After such a huge buildup, we were disappointed with Sue's new boyfriend.

1 built /bilt/adj 1 used for describing the size and shape of someone's body: She's built like a dancer, very tall and slim. a powerfully built wrestler 1a. Am E impolite used for describing a woman with large breasts 2 used for showing where a machine or structure was produced or made: the Chinese-built railroad * an American- built

fighter plane -* jerry-built

built the past tense and past participle of build built environment, the noun all the structures people have built when considered as separate from the natural environment built- in ad forming part of something, and not separate from it: a word processor with a built-in spellchecker built-up adj a built-up area has many buildings in it: This is the only built-up area on 500 miles of coastline. bulb /bAlb/ noun [c] • 1 the part of a plant that is shaped like an onion from which a flower grows. You plant bulbs in the ground:

•• [C usually singular]

something that

is very large, wide, and solid: She heaved her formidable bulk off the frail chair. We looked up at the great dark bulk of the cathedral, a. (u] the fact of being large: Despite its bulk and weight, the Mercedes handles like a small car.

the bulk of sth the majority or largest part of something: Women still undertake the bulk of domestic work in the home. in bulk bought or sold in large quantities: large companies that buy and sell in bulk

bulk 2 /bAlk/

adj [only before noun] relating to the sale, production, or transportation of goods in large quantities: a producer of bulk agricultural chemicals bulk order a bulk order for 100 Christmas trees bulk buying/ purchasing/selling etc. Co-op members get the price benefit of bulk buying.

bulk 3

/bAlk/ verb bulk out phrasal vb

make

to

[T]

add something

to

something

bigger or more satisfactory: You can always bulk out a meal with bread or rice. bulk up phrasal vb [i] to become bigger and heavier: After bulking up for his last movie role, he's now down to a slim else to

it

75 kilos.

.carrier noun

[c]

a ship that carries large amounts

of a product

bulk-head

/'bAlk.hed/ noun [c] a wall that divides the inside of a ship or an airplane into separate areas

bulk-y

'DAlki/ adj too big to be carried or stored easily: too bulky to fit into the trunk of her car. a. big and thick: a bulky sweater b. big, wide, and solid:

The

/

TV was

—

bulk-i-ness noun [u] a tall bulky man 1 bull /bol/ noun •* 1 [C] an adult male of the cattle family 1a. an adult male cow —picture - ci2 2 [U] informal something someone says that is stupid or not true: nonsense, bullshit: You think you can win? That's bull. [C] business someone who expects the price of stock to rise and may buy them so they can sell them later at

3

a profit

4

2

[C]

— compare bear

an

official

2

2

statement from a pope

1

i

daffodil bulbs

bulge 1

/bAld3/ noun [c] 1 a shape that curves outward on the surface of something, often made by something under it or inside it: She was only three months pregnant but already had a slight bulge. 2 an increase in something, especially a temporary one or one that is not too serious: More convictions are leading to a bulge in the

prison population.

bulge 2 /bAld3/ verb

shop doing something with too

like a bull in a china

much enthusiasm or too quickly and carelessly way that may damage things or upset someone

in a

take the bull by the horns to deal with a problem in a very direct and confident way, even though there is some risk in doing this: / decided to take the bull by the horns and ask him to leave. -» RAG SHOOT 2 bull /bul/ verb [i/T] AmE to push in a rough way Bull, John /bul, d3an/ an imaginary character who is a symbol of Great Britain, represented as a short strong man wearing a top hat and a vest with the design of 1

1

,

the British flag on

bulb

/'bAlbas/ adj big and round, or shaped like an onion: the bulbous domes of Orthodox churches a bulbous red nose

it

a frame of strong metal bars around the front of a car or truck, used for protecting it if there is an accident bull-dog /'bul.dog/ noun [c] a dog with short hair, a short neck and large head, and short thick legs

bull .bar noun

The bulldog

is

[C]

sometimes used as a symbol of England

or Britain because of

and

its

its

qualities of determination

fighting ability.

verb 1 [i/T] to clear an area by stones, etc. with a bulldozer: Bulldozing

bull-doze /'bol.douz/ [i]

His biceps bulged as he

1

to stick out in a lifted the weights.

curved shape: 2 to be very

full

bulging

/'b.\ld3in/ adj 1 completely full: The refrigerator was bulging with food. a bulging suitcase /briefcase his big bulging 2 sticking out: bulging eyes /veins

muscles

bul-gur /'bAlgsr/ noun

[u] a type of wheat that has been and then dried, used especially in Turkish cooking bu-lim-i-a /bu'limia/ noun [u] a serious sickness in which a person makes himself or herself vomit after bu-lim-ic eating in order to control his or her weight compare anorexia adj

partly boiled

—

—

1

bulk /bAlk/ noun

bulk

union

2 a light bul-bous

bulldozer

174

merchant

builders'

removing earth,

make way for the new highway. 2 [T] informal to force someone to do something that they do really want to do by being very determined and not ignoring what they do to oppose you 2a. [i/T] informal began today

to

to rudely force

your way into or through a place

bull-doz-er / 'bul.douzsr/ noun [c] a heavy vehicle with a large curved open container at the front, used for moving earth and stones, destroying buildings, etc.. especially in order to

make land ready for new

building

work bull .dyke noun [C] offensive an offensive word for a gay woman whose appearance or behavior is considered to be typically male

bullet

2

a BULLET POINT MAGIC BULLET

-> BITE

1

,

bul-le-tin /'bobtin/ noun [c] • 1 a short news broadcast 1a. an official statement about something important 2 a magazine or newspaper that a club or organization produces regularly to give information to its members bulletin board noun [c] • 1 computing a place on a computer system or on the Internet where you can leave messages and read messages from other people 2 a board on a wall where you can put information or pictures for other people to see —picture -» board bullet point noun [c] a printed circle, square, etc. before each item on a list in order to emphasize it bul-let-proof /'bolit,pruf/adj 1 made from a material that stops bullets from passing through: a bulletproof vest /jacket /car 2 designed to be protected from problems or damage: a new bulletproof computer operating system

bullet fain noun [C] an extremely fast Japanese train bull-fight /'bol.fait/ noun [C] a traditional entertainment in which a person called a matador fights a bull and tries to kill it. Bullfights are popular especially in Spain and Mexico. — bull-fight-er noun [C], bullfighting noun [U] bull-finch /'bol.fmtJV noun with gray and pink feathers

bullfrog

a small European bird

[C]

/'bol.frog/ noun [c] a large frog that

makes

a deep loud noise

bull-whip

bol.hwip/ noun

/'bol.wip;

[c]

a long heavy

whip 1

bul-ly

* someone who frightens or smaller or weaker than they are:

/'boli/ noun [C]

hurts someone

who

is

the office/ school/ class/ playground bully a. someone who uses their influence or status to threaten or frighten someone else in order to get what they want 2 to frighten or hurt someone bul-ly /'boli/ verb [t] who is smaller or weaker than you: In one study 75 percent of students reported having been bullied in school. a. to use your influence or status to threaten or frighten

adj

what you want: stubborn

bull-head-ed-ness noun

adv,

[u]

bull-horn /'bol.hom/ noun MEGAPHONE bul-lion /'boljan/ noun

determined to do or

— bull-head-ed-ly

[u]

[C]

AmE

old-fashioned a

gold or silver in the form of

solid blocks

bull-ish /'boliJV

adj 1 business causing or expecting prices to rise in a financial market —compare bearish 2 expecting a successful future: optimistic: The team was in a bullish mood before the start of the game. bull-ish-ly adv, bull-ish-ness noun [U]

'bull .market noun [c] business a situation in which prices of shares on the stock market are rising compare bear market

—

bull-necked

/ .bol'nekt/ adj with a short thick neck [C] a young male cow that has been castrated (=had part of its sex organs removed) bull-pen /'bol.pen/ noun [c] Am E 1 a part of a baseball field where pitchers practice throwing the ball before they go on the field 2 informal a room where prisoners

bul-lock /'botak/ noun

are kept temporarily while they are waiting to go into a court of law

bull-ring /'bol.nn/ noun

[C]

a place where a bullfight

someone in order to get what you want: The government accused the company of bullying its rivals and stifling competition. bully sb into (doing) sth We will not be bullied into accepting an agreement that we do not like. bul-ly

3

/'boli/ bully for sb used for praising

way

that shows you are not at what they have done: "I've finished in a

"Well, bully for

all

all

someone

impressed with my homework."

you!"

boy noun [c] BrE informal someone who uses threats or violence to get what they want: Managers wanted to fire employees who stood up to their bully-boy

bully

tactics.

bul-ly-ing /'boliin/ noun [u] behavior that frightens or hurts someone smaller or weaker: a report about growing cases of bullying at work Students are encouraged to tell someone about any incidents of bullying. bully .pulpit noun [singular] Am £a position of authority that gives

someone the

ability to influence a large

number of people bul-wark /'bolwsrk/ noun

[Cl 1 formal someone or something that protects or defends something such as a belief, idea, or way of life: The country is valued as a bulwark of peace, stability, and democracy in a difficult + against a bulwark against a resurregion of the world.

2 a wall that is built for defense 3 bulwarks [plural] technical the sides of a ship above the deck 1 /b\m/noun [C] informal 1 AmE someone without a job or place to live who asks people for money in the street 2 Am E a lazy person 3 someone who spends all

bum

their time doing an activity or being in a place they enjoy: a beach surf bum 4 Br E the part of your body you sit on: bottom

bum 2

/b\m/ verb [T] informal to ask someone to give you something such as a cigarette, drink, or money without giving them anything in return: / managed to

bum

the train fare off my dad.

bum a round

phrasal vb informal 1 ['] to spend time relaxing and doing nothing: It's nice to have a day off to just bum around. 2 [i/T] [bum around sth] to spend time traveling around a place without having any particular plans about where you will go next bum out phrasal vb [T] Am E informal to annoy someone or make them disappointed: All this rain is really

bumming me out. /b\m/ ad]

bum 3

[only before noun] informal 1 bad or we got a bum deal. 2 AmE used for describing a body part that does not work correctly: a bum knee /leg /wrist -> bum rap bum bag noun [C] BrE a fanny pack bum-ble / 'b\mbl / verb 1 to speak in a confused way that is difficult to understand 2 to move somewhere without a clear purpose in a way that is not smooth or

unfair: / think

[

]

i

takes place .bull 'run noun [C] business a period during which prices of shares on the stock market are generally rising

AmE

'bull .session noun [c] informal a long friendly discussion, especially among a group of men

bull's-eye noun

the circle in the center of a target that you try to hit in the sports of shooting or archery. or in the game of darts: bull a. a shot or throw that hits the center of a target [C]

hit/score a bull's-eye informal to achieve exactly what you intended: The magazine's editorial this month hit a

bull-shit

graceful

bum-ble-bee / hunbl.bi/ noun [cl a bum-bling / b\mblin/ adj [only before

1

/'bol.jit/

someone says that

is

impolite something stupid or not true: Don 't give me

noun

[u]

that bullshit.' 2

bull-shit /'boljit/ verb [i/T] impolite to tell someone something that is stupid or not true — bull-shit-ter noun [Cl

.bull terrier noun [C] a small strong dog with short hair

large bee

noun] behaving in way that is confused and not properly organized: a bumbling attempt to start the race bum-mer /'bunar/ noun [singular] informal something that is annoying or disappointing: It was a real bummer, there was no snow.

a

bump

1

/b\mp/

verb

•

hit part of your body against it hurt: Be careful not to bump your head. 1a. [i/t] to hit against something solid once or many times: Small boats were bumping against the 1

bull's-eye.

Q

*

gence offascism

bull-head-ed /.bol'hedad/ get

bump

175

noun [C] •• 1 a small piece of metal that is shot from a gun and causes serious damage to the person or thing it hits: She was hit by an assassin's bullet. a bullet wound/ hole take a bullet (=be shot) He took a bullet in his thigh.

buMet /'bulit/

[T]

to accidentally

something, making

wooden

2

[i]

pier.

[+across/along/over

and down movements, not even: The airplane coming to a stop.

etc.] to

move with rough up

especially over a surface that

bumped across afield

is

before finally

,

bump 3

Am

bump a long

phrasal vb [i] to continue at around the same and falling only slightly: Their standard of bumped along without any significant increase. bump into phrasal vb (T] 1 [bump into sb] to meet someone unexpectedly: / bumped into your mother at the supermarket. 2 [bump into sth] to accidentally hit against something: As I turned around, I bumped into a filing level, rising

living

cabinet.

bump off phrasal vb [t] informal to murder someone bump up phrasal vb [T] informal 1 to increase something: We

bumped up another quarter

expect interest rates to be

point.

2

Am E to move someone We were bumped up to first

[usually passive]

better position or job:

to a class

when two seats became available. bump up a gainst phrasal vb [T] [bump up against sth] to experience a problem that slows down your progress: We're now bumping up against the limits of our expansion manufacturing facility. noun [C] 1 a raised part on a surface: Every time I went over a bump in the road, my bicycle chain came off. 1a. a raised part on your skin where you have been injured: Her body was covered in bumps and bruises. 2 a hit or knock to a part of your body: She got a nasty bump on the back of her head. 2a. a hit or knock against something solid: We felt the bump and knew the boat had run aground. 2b. the sound of something hitting against something solid 3 /b\mp/ adv things that go bump in the night humorous frightening and mysterious noises that you hear at night bumper 1 /'b.\mp3r/ noun [c] a long thin bar of metal or plastic attached to the front or back of a vehicle, designed to protect it if it hits anything bumpier2 / b.vmpar/ adj [only before noun] bigger or more successful than usual: a bumper crop It's been a bumper year for car sales. bumper car noun [c] a small electric car for one or two people that you drive around a special area at an amusement park and try to hit other cars bumper sticker noun [c] a small sign you can stick on your car with a message on it that may be funny, in the present

bump 2 /b.\mp/

bump

political, or religious

bumper-to- bumper ad],

adv in a long line of vehicles

and moving very slowly bump'kin /'b.vmpkin/ noun [C] an insulting word for someone who lives in the country. This word is used by people who think that people from the country are that are close together

not intelligent or educated.

bump-tious

/'b.vmpjas/ ad] behaving in an annoying shows you think you are very important bumpy /b.\mpi/ adj 1 a bumpy surface has a lot of rough or raised parts on it: a bumpy dirt road 2 a

way

that

bumpy

uncomfortable because of bad weather or a bad road 3 involving both failures and successes: Financial analysts expect a bumpy year ahead. a bumpy ride /road (=a situation with both failures and successes) It has been a bumpy road to justice. bump-i'ly adv 'rap noun [singular] informal unfair criticism or blame for something bum's rush noun get/be given the bum's rush to be forced to leave a place where people do not want you steer noun [c] informal a piece of false information or bad advice that influences you to do the ride, flight, or trip is

—

bum

bum

wrong thing

bun

/b.\n/ noun [C]

have a bun in the oven humorous 1

1

••

to

be pregnant

/bAntJV noun a group of people: They are a great bunch

[singular]

who have made me feel

welcome.

The volunteers are a

mixed bunch of people. a group of cut flowers that you hold together or that someone has tied together. A bunch of flowers that someone has arranged in an attractive way is called a bouquet. 2a. a group of bananas, grapes, cherries, etc. that grow together 2b. a set of keys that are together on a metal ring the best/pick of the bunch the best person or thing in a group a bunch Am E informal a large number or amount: Take some of my paper clips - I have a bunch. +of / have a bunch of stuff I have to do before lunch. thanks a bunch spoken thank you very much. This phrase is often used when you are angry or as a joke when you really are not grateful: You told Tony what I said? Thanks a bunch. bunch 2 /b.\ntJ7 verb 1 bunch or bunch up [i/t] if a group of people bunch, or are bunched, they get very close to each other: The girls were bunched up on one side + together The guests all bunched together of the room. near the buffet table. 2 [i/t] if cloth bunches, or you very

2

[C]

bunch

it, it comes together in small folds: This skirt tends to bunch around my waist. 3 [T] to put things such as flowers into a bunch: We'll bunch these herbs and sell them. 4 bunch or bunch up [i/t] to form a tight round shape, or to make something do this: He kept bunching

his

hand

threw

it

bundle

Karen bunched up

into a fist.

the

paper and

away.

/'bAndl/ noun [c] • a group of things that have been tied together, espeyou can carry them easily: The women carried heavy bundles on their backs. + of a bundle of clean clothes bundles offirewood 2 a group of things that are sold or offered as a set: a software bundle that comes with new computers + of The governor is introducing a bundle of measures to help single 1

1

cially so that

parents.

3 something that is wrapped in something soft such as a blanket so that you cannot see its real shape be a bundle of sth informal used for emphasizing that someone has a lot of a particular quality: Susan is a bundle of energy. a bundle of nerves (=very nervous) Rosie was a bundle of nerves at the interview. be a bundle of fun/laughs informal to be very enjoyable or funny. This phrase often shows that you really think someone or something is not enjoyable or funny: You haven't exactly been a bundle offun today. a bundle informal a lot of money: A new paint job will cost you a bundle.

bun-die 2

/

'bAndl/ verb

*

1 [T] to make someone go to a particular place by pushing them in a rough way: bundle sb into /out of/ through etc. sth He was quickly bundled into a police car. They blindfolded him and bundled him through the door. 1a. [I/T] to go somewhere quickly with other people, or to make people do this: Tourists bundled into the waiting

buses.

2 bundle or bundle up [T] to put things into groups and wrap or tie them together: Their clothes were bundled into plastic bags. 2a. to put two things together so that they can be sold or offered as a single product bundle off phrasal vb [T] to make someone go somewhere, especially in order to get rid of them: He was bundled off to boarding school when he was ten years old. bundle up phrasal vb 1 [i/T] to put warm clothes on yourself or someone else, or wrap someone in something warm: You'll have to bundle up, it's cold outside. 2 [T] same as bundle r. She bundled up her belongings and put them in a bag. bundle of joy noun [C] informal a baby. This word is usually used as a joke, especially when a baby is causing 2

problems.

*

a small round piece of bread: a burger in a bun 2 a hairstyle in which a woman's hair is tied in a tight round ball at the back of or on top of her head 3 buns [plural] Am E informal someone's buttocks 4 Br£ a small round cake, especially with a sweet sticky surface 1

bunch

bung

176

informal to take a seat away from a passenger on an airplane because the airline has sold too many tickets 3a. E informal to take someone's job away from them: He was bumped from the second shift and put on the third. [T usually passive]

bung

1

/b.\n/ noun [C] a round piece of rubber, plastic, cork, etc. used for closing the opening of a container

bung 2

/b.\n/ verb [t] 1 Br E informal to put something somewhere quickly and carelessly 1a. to throw something, often carelessly 2 bung or bung up to close a container with a bung bung up phrasal vb [T] same as bung2 2 be bunged up Br E informal to have a blocked nose because you have a cold

bungalow bun-ga-low

1

AmE

a small

BrEa house

house that is is all on one level

that

burvgee jumping

/'bAnd3i ,d3Ampin/ noun [u] the sport of jumping from a very high place while attached to a long piece of rubber that is just short enough to prevent you from hitting the ground. Each jump is called a bungee jump, and the person who jumps is called a bungee jumper.

bungle

1

/ 'bAngl/ verb [l/T] to spoil something by doing very badly: Police totally bungled the investigation. bun-gler noun [C], bun-gling adj bun«gle 2 /'bAngl/ noun [C] mainly BrE a situation that has been dealt with very badly bungled /'bAngld/ adj done very badly and without success: He was arrested after a series of bungled robberies. bun-ion /'bAnjan/ noun [C] a painful swollen area on it

—

the side of your big toe

bunk

1

/bAnk/ noun 1 [C] a narrow bed, often fixed to a wall: Marcus was lying on the top bunk feeling seasick. 2 [U] informal old-fashioned nonsense

bunk 2 /bAnk/ or bunk 'down

verb [i] informal to lie to go to sleep: It's fine - the kids can bunk down in the living room for one night. friend and I are bunking together (=sleeping in beds near each other) at camp.

down

My

'bunk ,bed noun

[c] two small beds that are joined together with one above the other —picture -» bed

'bunk beds noun [plural] bun-ker /'bAnkar/ noun

a bunk bed [c]

1

a

room

or set of rooms

with very strong walls, built underground as a shelter against bombs: a nuclear bunker 1a. a secret place, often underground, where government or military officials work during a war 2 a large hole full of sand on picture -* ci4 3 a small room a golf course: sandtrap or large container where you store coal bunk-house / 'bAnk.haos/ noun [C] a building where a group of workers sleep /'bAnkam/ noun [u] informal old-fashioned nonsense bun-ny /'bAni/ or 'bunny rabbit noun [c] a rabbit. This word is used by children or when talking to chil-

—

bunkum

bun-sen burner / 'bAnsan

,b3rnar/ noun [C] a piece of equipment that produces a gas flame, used for scientific experiments in a laboratory picture -» laboratory bunt /bAnt/ verb [I] AmE in the game of baseball, to

—

deliberately hit the ball so that distance bunt noun [C]

—

it

only goes a short

bunt-ing

/'bAntin/ noun [u] a line of small flags on a string, used for decorating buildings and streets for special occasions a. cloth used for making flags

Bun-yan, Paul /'bAnjan, pal /a character in traditional American stories who works as a lumberjack (=someone who cuts down trees) and is famous for his great size and strength

bun«yip stories,

/'bAnjip/ noun

[C]

Australian in old Australian lives in or near

an imaginary creature that

water to

bur /b3r/ noun [C] another spelling of burr burble 1 /'barbl/ verb 1 [i] to make a sound like water flowing 2 burble or burble on [i/t] to talk fast about something for a long time, especially in a way that annoys people because they cannot understand what you are saying burble 2 /'b3rbl/ noun [C] 1 a gentle sound like water flowing 2 fast talk that is difficult to understand

burbs

/b3rbz/ noun [plural] Am E informal the suburbs 1 /'b3rdn/ noun [c] *•

burden

a serious or difficult responsibility Unemployment places a heavy burden on the welfare state. + of Men say they are willing shoulder/carry the to share the burden of domestic work. burden (=deal with it) When an elderly relative becomes ill, you should not have to shoulder the burden alone. burden of responsibility/care An attempt was made to shift the burden of care from hospitals to the local community. 1a. the responsibility of paying an amount of money, especially when this is considered too much: These proposals would only increase the tax burden on business. + of a huge burden of debt 2 [usually singular] a negative feeling that is difficult to deal with and that you cannot get rid of: He will always carry a burden of guilt for what happened. 3 literary something heavy that you have to carry 1

[usually singular]

that

you have

to deal with:

the burden of proof legal the responsibility of proving that something is true in a court of law: In a criminal trial, the burden of proof lies with the prosecutor. -> BEAST OF BURDEN

bur-den 2

/'b3rdn/ verb

[T

often passive]

to

create a

problem or serious responsibility for someone: He was increasingly burdened by ill health. burden sb with sth / don't want to burden you with my troubles.

be burdened with sth literary heavy burden-some /'b3rdnsam/ lems for someone

bureau noun 1

[C]

/

'bjoroo/

(plural

to

be carrying something

adj

bureaus

formal creating probor

bureaux / 'bjorooz/)

***

a government department or part of a government European Affairs Bureau 1a. the

department: the

dren.

buoy

burgeoning

177

/'bAngaloo/ noun [c] often all on one level 2

1

week's Paris bureau 3 Am E a piece of furniture with several drawers for holding things such as clothes or towels. Br E chest of

drawers

4Br£a piece of furniture with drawers and a top part make a writing table bu-reauc-ra-cy /bja'rakrasi/ noun that opens to

**

a complicated and annoying system of rules and processes: a maze of bureaucracy 2 [C/U] the people employed to run government organizations: France created a powerful centralized bur1

[u]

eaucracy. /bai; 'bui/

noun

show ships where

buoy 2

Bureau the fbi in the U.S. 2 an organization that provides information or services: an advice bureau the Waste Management Information Bureau 2a. an office where information is collected, for example for a news organization: News-

[C]

it is

an object that floats on water and where there is danger

safe

or buoy 'up verb [T often passive] 1 to keep something floating on water 2 to help a company, market, or economy to be more successful: The stock market was buoyed by comments from the Federal Reserve chairman. 2a. to encourage someone and make them feel more confident: He has been buoyed up by the /bai;

'bui/

news.

buoy«an«cy

/'baiansi; 'bujansi/ noun [u] 1 the quality of being able to float: The raft lacked buoyancy. 1a. the ability of a liquid to make things float in it 2 a feeling of happiness and confidence: an atmosphere of optimism and buoyancy 3 the ability of a company, financial institution, or economy to be successful again after a difficult

period

buoy-ant

/'baiant; 'bujant/ adj 1 capable of floating 1a. a buoyant liquid is able to make things float in it feeling happy and confident 3 if the economy or an aspect of the economy is buoyant, it is successful and seems likely to remain successful: The housing market

2

remains buoyant,

buoyant-ly adv

bu-reau-crat / 'bjora.krat/ noun

[c]

*

someone who

is

to help run an office or government department. This word can suggest that you do not like people like this because you think they have too much power and care too much about rules and systems: He said the laws were created by interfering bureaucrats. bu«reau-crat-ic/,bjora'kraetik/adj * involving a lot of complicated rules, details, and processes: a bureaucratic nightmare a. relating to official processes and the people whose job is to make sure that they are followed: bureaucratic delays /mistakes /organizations bu-reau-

employed

crat'i'cally/,bjora'krxtikli/adv

bureau de change

/,

bjoroo

da

'Jond3/

(plural

bu-reaux de change /.bjorooz da 'Jnnd3/ or bu«reaus de change) noun [C] a place where you can buy or sell foreign money

burg /b3rg/ noun [C] Am E bur-geon / 'b3i"d3an/ verb

informal a town or city [i]

literary to

grow or develop

quickly

bur-geon- ing

/'b.irc^amn,/ adj growing or developing quickly: the nation's burgeoning middle class

pi

burger /'b3rgar/ noun [C] informal -k a hamburger a. pieces of meat or vegetable that are pressed together, cooked in a flat round shape, and served in a bread roll: a veggie/ turkey burger

burgh-er / 'bargor/ noun

[C] old-fashioned someone who lives in a town or city, especially someone who is rich and well respected burglar /'b3rgbr/ noun [c] • someone who enters a

building illegally in order to steal things

'burglar a larm noun [c] a piece of equipment that makes a loud noise if someone enters a building while it is switched on

AmE

burglarize

/'b3rgb,raiz/ verb [T) building and steal money, possessions, was burglarized three times.

to enter a

etc.:

My

house

/'b3rgbri/ noun [C/u] * the crime of entering a building illegally in order to steal things: He was jailed for 12 months for burglary. Burglaries are on the

burgla-ry

1

bur-gun-dy

[T]

burgundy

/'b3rgandi/ noun 1 [c/u] a type of wine in France 2 [u] a dark red color /'b3rgandi/ adj dark red

bur-i-al /'berisl/ noun * [C/u] the process of putting a dead body into a grave in the ground at a funeral: The family chose cremation rather than burial. burial rites a burial mound a. [U] the act of burying something in the ground: the burial of toxic waste

burial at sea a funeral ceremony that takes place on a ship, in which the dead person's body is dropped into the sea

ground noun [c] a place where dead people are buried, especially an ancient place

'burial

bur-lap

/'b3r,laep/ noun [u] a thick rough cloth that is used for making large bags. Br E usually hessian burlesque 1 /b3r'lesk/ noun [C/U] 1 a type of performance or entertainment that involves jokes, songs, and usually strippers 2 a performance or piece of writing that makes something funny by repeating or performing it in a silly way

burlesque 2

/b3r'lesk/ verb [t] to represent a serious subject in a silly way in order to make people laugh /'b3rli/

a burly

adj

— bur*li*ness noun [U]

Burmese

1

man

/b3r'miz/ noun

1

fat

is

and strong

the Burmese

[plural]

Myanmar, which was officially known Burma until 1989 2 [u] the official language people from

as of

Myanmar /b3r'miz/ adj someone who is Burmese is from Myanmar, which was officially known as Burma until 1989 a. relating to

Myanmar, or

its

language or

culture 1

/b3rn/

/b3rnt/) verb

(past tense and past participle burned or burnt

•••

1

produce light/heat

2 3 4 5 6

spoil

7 8

food

cause

9 10

injury

when light is on when cheeks are

pink

use fat/energy

body

in

of vehicles

feel strong

of

emotion

chemicals

put information on

CD

+ PHRASES

produces light and heat: The flames seemed to burn even brighter, la. [I usually progressive] if something is burning, it is being destroyed or damaged by fire. You can also say that it is on fire: Homes were burning all over the village. The truck had been burning for some time. 1b. [T] to damage or destroy something with fire: Demonstrators burned flags outside the embassy. burn a hole in sth The cigarette burned a hole in her blouse. burn sth to the ground (^completely destroy it by fire) The city of Tortona was burned to the ground. 1c. [T] to use something such as gas or coal to produce heat or energy: Jets burn less fuel the higher they go. You're not allowed to burn coal in this area. 1d. [T usually passive] to injure or kill someone by setting fire to them: According to 1

[I]

if

A fire

a

fire

or flame burns,

was burning

early reports,

many

it

in the hearth.

people were burnt to death in their

beds.

2

[l/T] if

a chemical burns something, it damages it by it touches: The acid had burned a hole in my sweater. 9a. to produce an unpleasant stinging feeling on your skin: The antiseptic really burned when I rubbed it on. 9b. if alcohol or spicy food burns, it produces an unpleasant stinging feeling in your mouth and throat 1 [T] technical if you burn a CD-ROM, you put infor[l/T] if

mation onto it be /get burned

1 to suffer by being treated badly, especially in a relationship 2 to suffer by losing money, especially in an unsuccessful business deal: musicians who were burned by greedy record companies be burning a hole in your pocket if money is burning a hole in your pocket, you want to spend it immediately burn your bridges to do something that makes it impossible for you to return to the situation you were in before burn the candle at both ends to work too hard as well as trying to do other things, so that you do not get enough sleep because you go to bed late and get up early burn your fingers or get your ringers burned informal to have a bad experience when something such as a relationship or a business deal goes wrong: They got their fingers burned and lost a lot of money. burn the midnight oil to work until very late at night burn rubber spoken to drive a car very fast it burns me E spoken used for saying that something makes you very angry: It burns me to know that they'll get away with it again.

Am

-» ear,

Burmese 2

burn

York.

destroying the places

to burglarize a building

from Burgundy 2

perature: Have you burned the toast again? 3 [T] to injure someone or a part of your body with something hot: The sand was so hot it burnt my feet. 3a. if your skin burns, or if the sun burns it, it becomes red and painful because of the heat from the sun: Wear a hat so you don 't burn your neck. 4 [I] if a light is burning, it is switched on: Sara left all the lights burning. 5 [l] if your cheeks are burning, they are red, especially because you are embarrassed 6 [T] to use fat or energy in your body: To change your body shape you need to burn calories. fat-burning exercises 7 [I] [+along/down/through etc.] informal if a vehicle burns somewhere, it goes there very fast 8 [i] to feel a very strong emotion or a great need for someone or something: +with / was burning with curiosity, but didn't dare ask what happened. burn to do sth / was burning to know how he had gotten along in New

9

increase in the area.

burgle /'b3rgl/ verb

burly

burn

178

burg-er

food burns, or

by being cooked

if

you burn

it,

it

for too long or at too

gets spoiled

high a tem-

money

way

phrasal vb [l/T] to remove something, or to be removed, by burning: They use lasers to burn away the cancerous cells. The kerosene finally burned away. ,burn down phrasal vb 1 [l/T] to destroy a building or something large with fire, or be destroyed in this way: The entire house burned down in 20 minutes. There are laws against burning down forests. 2 [l] if a fire or flame burns down, it becomes smaller and less hot: The fire in the grate gradually burnt down. .burn 'off phrasal vb [T] 1 to remove something by burning it: They managed to burn off the excess wax. 2 burn off or burn up to use up energy or get rid of fat from your body by doing physical activity: Swimming can help you

,burn a

burn off those unwanted .burn 'out phrasal vb

burns

itself out,

it

1

calories.

[l/T] if

a

fire

stops burning

2

burns

out, or if

it

[T usually passive] to

completely destroy the inside of something such as a vehicle or building: an empty house that had been burned out by kids 3 [l/T] if you burn out, or if you burn yourself out, you make yourself sick or unable to continue working because you have worked too hard 4 [T] to burn someone's home so that they have to leave it 5 [l/T] if a piece of electrical equipment burns out, or if it is burned out, it gets too hot and stops working 6 [l/T] if a strong feeling burns out, or if it burns itself out, you stop feeling it: His rage had been intense, but it had burned itself out. .burn up phrasal vb 1 [l/T] if something burns up, or if it is burned up, fire completely destroys it: The spacecraft has a heat shield to prevent it burning up when it re-enters the Earth's atmosphere. 2 [T] same as burn off 2: Dancers burn up a lot of calories. 3 [T] if a machine or vehicle

burn

bury

179

burns up fuel, it uses the fuel to work 4 [i] if someone is burning up, they are very hot, especially because they have a fever 5 [t] Am E informal to make someone very angry: That guy burns me up.

in the standard way of speaking: a Scottish burr bur-ri-to /ba'ritoo/ noun [c] a type of Mexican food made with a tortilla (=a piece of flat thin bread) that is folded over and filled with meat or beans and cheese burro /'boroo/ noun [c] a small donkey burrow 1 /'bAroo/ verb [i] 1 [+into/under/through] to make a hole or tunnel in the ground: The dog burrowed into the earth, looking for the bone. 1a. an animal that burrows digs a hole or tunnel in the ground to live in

2 [+into/under/through]

to push your hands or part of your body into or under something: He burrowed under

the comforter.

bur-row2

/'bAroo/ noun [C] a hole or tunnel in the ground made by an animal such as a rabbit bur-sar /'b3rsar/ noun [c] someone who is in charge of financial matters in a school, college, or university /'b3rsari/ noun [C] mainly Br E an amount of to someone to pay for their studies at a school or college

bur-sa-ry

money given

burst

1

/b3rst/ (past tense and past

participle burst)

verb

•*

something filled with air or water bursts, or you burst it, it breaks suddenly because there is too much pressure inside it or against it: Did a tire burst?* 1

[i/T] if

if

A dam

causing severe flooding. She spitefully burst boy's balloon. 1a. [I] literary if a bomb or firebursts, it explodes lb. [t] if a river bursts its banks, water rises above its sides and spreads over the the

burst,

little

work

surrounding area

burn 2

/b3rn/ noun

2

*

an injury that you get when something burns your skin: He suffered burns to his face and hands, la. a mark that appears on something when something burns 1

[C]

it:

There were cigarette burns all over the carpet.

2 the burn informal a hot feeling in your muscles you get when you do hard physical exercise

that

burned-out /bund

'aot/adj 1 a burned-out building or vehicle has no inside because it has been destroyed by fire: a burned-out truck 2 informal someone who is burned-out is very tired and has no energy, usually because of too much work or worry

burn-er

/'barnar/ noun [Cj an object used for heating or burning something: an incense burner a. one of the parts on the top of a stove that you heat pans on -» back BURNER

burning 1

/'b3rnin/ adj

being destroyed by

[only before noun]

*• a burning

hot: the burning sun of the desert

/ felt his

car

2 very

burning forehead.

3

and feeling as if a part of your body touching something hot: She felt a burning sensation painful,

is

in

her mouth. felt extremely strongly: world champion.

My

burning ambition

is to

be

burning issue /question something that people have strong opinions about and think is very important: The burning question

is:

can the Internet be regulated?

[T] 1 to rub metal until it improve your reputation or the way you

/'b3rniJ7 verb

shines

2

appear

to other people

to

— bur«nished/'b3rnijt/ adj

burn-out

/'b3rn,aot/ noun [singular/u] 1 informal the mental and physical condition of having no energy left or becoming sick after a period of very hard work 2 a situation in which an airplane or a spacecraft has used

and has no more power 3 damage caused equipment when it gets too hot .burnt 'offering noun [c] something that is burned on an altar and offered to God all of its fuel

to a piece of electrical

,

i

]

burst in on phrasal vb [T] [burst in on sb/sth) to suddenly enter a room where someone is doing something: The principal could have burst in on them at any moment. burst .into phrasal vb [T] [burst into sth] to suddenly start doing something: The audience burst into wild applause. burst into tears/song/laughter Terri keeps bursting into tears for no reason.

burst into flames to suddenly start burning with large flames: Their helicopter burst into flames after hitting a

power

line.

life to suddenly start working or becoming Banks of electronic equipment burst into life. burst out phrasal vb [T] 1 [burst out doing sth] to suddenly start laughing or crying: / almost burst out laughing when I saw what she was wearing. 2 to suddenly say or shout something: "I hate you!" Julia suddenly burst out. burst 2 /b3rst/ noun [C] 1 an act of bursting: a leak caused by a burst in a water pipe 2 [+of a sudden strong emotion that you feel for a short time: Stephen felt a sudden burst of indignation. 2a. a sudden short period of noise: bursts of machine-gun fire 2b. a short period in which you do something with a lot of energy or effort: After an initial burst of enthusiasm, she lost interest in her short bursts of intense activity job. a burst of color an area of a bright color on a plain

active:

]

4

burnish

[

burst into

burning buildings

fire:

[i] [+into /through/ out] to go somewhere quickly and suddenly: A man burst into the room waving a gun. 2a. [+into/onto/upon] to become noticeable or successful quickly and suddenly: He burst onto the racing scene in 1998. 2b. burst open if a door or container bursts open, it opens quickly and suddenly: The door burst open and in came Samuel.

burnt-out adj burned-out burp /b3rp/ verb to make

1 [I] a noise when air from your stomach passes out through your mouth: belch a. [T] to help a baby to bring up air from its stomach by hitting it gently on the back: wind burp 2 /b3rp/ noun [C] the noise you make when you burp burr noun [c] 1 bur or burr the part of some plants that is covered all over with prickles (=small sharp parts) and contains the seed 2 a way of pronouncing English where the "r" sounds can be heard more strongly than

background

burst-ing

/'b3rstin/ adj [never before noun] 1

[+with]

if

you are bursting with something such as pride, energy, or love, you feel or have a lot of it: He was bursting The new teacher was enthusiastic and with excitement. bursting with ideas. 1a. very eager to do something: bursting to do sth I'm absolutely bursting to tell you what happened. 2 if a place is bursting, it is very full: The bars were already bursting at 7 o'clock. bursting at the seams (=so full that there is no room for any more people or things) The camps are bursting at the seams with refugees. 3 spoken feeling very strongly that you need to urinate

bury /'beri/ verb 1

put sth/body

in

[t]

••

ground

2 cover sth 3 push sth into sth else 4 avoid feeling/memory

5 show idea 6 in soccer + PHRASES

is

wrong

1 [often passive] to put someone's dead body in the ground during a funeral ceremony: All his family are

m

bus

business

180

buried in the same cemetery. 1a. used for saying that someone has died: It 's not long since she buried her mother (=since her mother died). 1b. to put something in the ground and cover it with dirt: There's supposed to be treasure buried around here. 2 [often passive] to cover something with a layer or pile of things: My French homework is buried somewhere under this pile of books. 3 to push one thing into another very hard: sink: bury sth in /into sth Diane screamed as the dog buried its teeth in her arm. sth buries itself in /into sth The bullet had buried itself in the floorboards. 4 to stop yourself from having a feeling or memory by not allowing yourself to think about it: memories buried deep inside her subconscious 5 to show that a belief or idea is wrong: It's time to bury the myth that wealth will make you happy. 6 informal to kick the ball hard in soccer into the back of the net, scoring a goal

bury your face /head in sth to cover or hide your face with something, for example to avoid looking at someone: She buried her face

in her

bushranger

bush telegraph, the

noun BrE the way in which a group of people, especially people who work together, quickly find out news or information without its being officially

bus

**•

1

/bAs/ noun [C] a large road vehicle with a

lot of seats which you to travel on, especially one that takes you fairly short distances and stops frequently: by bus The children go to school by bus. take /catch a bus We took a bus downtown. miss the bus (=not reach it before it leaves) If we don't leave soon, we'll miss the last bus. 1a. a large road vehicle that you pay to travel in over long distances. BrE usually coach —picture -> ci 2 computing a set of wires that send information from one part of a computer system to another

1

pay

bus 2

/bAs/ (past tense and past participle bused or bussed; present participle bussing or bus-sing) verb [T] 1 to take

someone somewhere by bus: All 90 visitors were bussed to the airport, la. to take children on a school bus to a different area to go to school, so that children from different backgrounds can be educated together 2 AmE to remove dirty dishes from the tables in a restaurant: / used

bus-boy removes

bus-by

bush

to

bus tables

in

a diner.

AmE

/'bAS.boi/ noun [C] a boy or man who dirty dishes from the tables in a restaurant

/'bAzbi/ noun

/buJV noun

[C]

informal a bearskin hat

**

smaller than a tree and has many thin branches growing close together: a holly /rose I blackberry bush 2 the bush areas in hot countries like Australia and Africa that are not used for growing crops. They are usually far from cities and very few people live there. -» BEAT 1

[C]

a plant that

is

announced

bush-walker /'bojwokar/ someone who enjoys

noun

[C]

Australian

hiking (=going for long walks) in

the bush

bush-y

/'boji/ adj 1 bushy hair or fur is very thick: A fox has a long bushy tail. -» brighttrees or plants have a lot of leaves and branches growing close together: The roses have become

bushy eyebrows

2 bushy

eyed

—

very bushy this summer. bush-i-ness noun [U] bus-i-ly /'bizili/ adv if you are busily doing something, you are giving all your attention to it: The little girls

were busily playing in the sand.

business /'biznss/ 1

hands with embar-

-» HATCHET

noun [C) Australian live in the Australian bush and

someone who used to steal things from people who went there

noun

1

[

for

••• 4 of one 5 event

buying and selling

2 organization 3 sth to deal with

rassment.

bury your head in the sand to ignore a problem or an unpleasant situation and hope that it will disappear bury yourself in sth to spend all your time doing and thinking about a particular activity: Some people bury themselves in their work when their relationships end.

/'boj.remdpr/

particular person

+ PHRASES

work of buying or selling products or services money: representatives from business and politics our U the ]

latest business venture the business community (=all the people who work in business) a business associate/ partner the business section of the Sunday paper do business with sb I found them very easy to do business with. go into business It was a mistake to go into business with my brother, la. used for talking about how well a company or industry is doing: Business was booming (=doing very well). Cheap imports are damaging our business. We're hoping that business will improve this year. A little controversy will be good for business. 1b. used for talking about how many customers or contracts a company or industry has: a potential source Companies risk losing business if they of new business don't develop some new products. They're trying to attract business by cutting prices. 1c. a particular area of business: What business are you in?* You don't go into this the music/fashion/advertising business for the money. etc. business / have a few contacts in the music business. Ashley's in the retail business. -» show business 1d. used for talking about business compared to things that you do when you are not working: Are you here for business or pleasure? You can get reimbursed for all your on business expenses. a business lunch / trip / meeting business Jonathan was away on business. -» big business 2 [C] an organization that buys or sells products or services for money. This word often refers to a small organization that is owned and run by one person or a few people, while company can also refer to large organizations: a small family business Matthew's little Many small store has turned into a thriving business. run a business businesses fold (=fail) in their first year. Sheryl's parents run a small clothing business. start your own business After leaving school, Bob started his own

1

'bush baby noun in trees.

bushed

[C] a small African animal that lives has a long tail and very large eyes and ears. /bujt/ ad] [never before noun] informal extremely It

tired

bush-el

*

/'boji/ noun [C] a unit for measuring grain, vegetables, etc. equal to 35.24 liters in the U.S. or 36.4 liters in the U.K.

hide your light under a bushel to not tell anyone about abilities or what you have achieved 1 adj Am E informal 1 badly done or done in a way that is not effective 2 relating to a minor league baseball team 'bush .league 2 noun [c] informal a minor league

your

bush .league

computer business.

3

something that you have to deal with:Zs any other business to discuss?* unfinished business (=things that need to be dealt with) We've still got some [singular/u]

there

the business of (doing) sth unfinished business to settle. left the business of taking care of the dog to her /serious/tricky etc. business used brother. 3a. a risky for saying that something is dangerous/serious etc.: Disposing of industrial waste can be a dangerous business. For Jack, golf is a serious business. 4 [U] something that affects or involves a particular person and no one else: It's my business who I go out I'll loan money to whoever I want to - it's not your with.

Nancy had

business.

AmE

5 [singular] something that has happened, especially something that has caused problems and has been con-

/'bujman/ (plural busrcmen/'bojrnan/) noun Australian someone who lives in the Australian bush 2 Bushman a member of a group of people who live in southern Africa and who traditionally lived by

tinuing for a long time: This business about who's going I'm fed up with to do the housework has to be resolved. Ever since that business with her the whole business. boyfriend, Becky's been really depressed.

hunting

be back in business to be working or operating normally again: The stock market is back in business after its

in baseball

bush-man [C]

1

'bush medicine noun [u] Australian the traditional ways of treating illnesses used by aboriginal people in Australia

Christmas break.

be in business

1

if

a

company

is

in business,

it

is

business card

business.

be in the business of doing sth used for saying what the basic goals of someone's actions or business activities are. This expression is often used when you think someone wants or expects something unreasonable: /

am not in the business offiring my most valuable employees. business as usual used for describing a situation in which everything happens normally, especially after a period of time when things happen in a different way:

My

life

was

business

ruined, but

is

it

was business as usual for them.

business mainly spoken used for telling

someone that people do business

to

make money and

therefore other things, such as people's feelings, do not matter: He may be easygoing, but business is business, and he won't let anything get in the way of making a profit. get down to business to start doing something that you need to do: / have a flight to catch, so let's get down to business.

go about your business to do the things that you normally do: The street was full of people innocently going about their business. go out of business if a company goes out of business, it stops doing business permanently, especially because it has failed: Many firms went out of business during the last recession.

have no business doing sth

to do something you should does not affect or involve you at all: You had no business interfering in a family argument. like nobody's business spoken used for emphasizing that something happens very quickly, in very large quantities, or that someone does something very well: Letters have been pouring in like nobody's business. make it your business to do sth to make an effort to do something because you think it is important: She

not do, because

makes

it

it

her business

mean business have

to do: This

to be is

bust

181

operating normally: The company has been in business for almost 100 years. 2 informal to be ready to do something, because all the necessary preparations have been made: Just connect the printer to your computer and you 're in

to get to

know

all

her

staff.

very serious about something you

We mean business. mind your own business

not a game.

mind your own business

1

none of your business spoken used for telling someone rudely that you are not going to tell them or

about something because it does not affect or involve them: "Who were you with last night?" "Mind your own business." 2 to be doing the things you normally do, without affecting what other people are doing: There I was, minding my own business, when this man started yelling at me.

FUNNY BUSINESS, MONKEY BUSINESS 'business card noun [c] a small card that has a person's name on it, as well as the address, telephone number, and e-mail address of the company that they -»

work for 'business .class noun [u] part of an airplane that is more comfortable and has better service than the part where most people sit. Business class travel is more expensive than economy class travel but less expensive than first class travel: How much does it cost to fly business class to New York? 'business ,day noun [c] AmE a day on which most people work and business is done 'business end, the noun informal the part of a tool, piece of equipment, or weapon that does the main work: He Her hair looked like the business end of a broom. found himself staring down the business end of a revolver. business .hours noun [plural] the hours that a store or other business is usually open: You can reach me at this number during normal business hours.

business-like /'biznas.laik/ adj serious and effective in the way you deal with things: efficient: Alan chaired

businessman

/'biznas.maen/ (plural busi»ness«men /'biznas.men/) noun [C] 1 a man who works in business, especially a manager: a wealthy local businessman 2 a man who is good at dealing with financial matters: He's a better football coach than he is a businessman.

**

/'biznas.parsn/

[c]

business

[c]

a document giving details of a company's plans for the future: The first thing we need to do is draw up a business plan. business .studies noun [u] BrE the study of how businesses work, especially the financial and management aspects: a business studies degree .suit noun

a formal suit that someone

wears for work

busi-nesswom-an

/'biznas.womsn/ (plural business»wom«en/'biznos,wimm/) noun [C] * 1 a woman who works in business, especially a manager: She is a successful businesswoman as well as an

artist.

a woman who is good at dealing with financial matters: Madonna is a tough businesswoman and able to what she wants.

2

get

busk the

/bAsk/ verb streets

and

— busk'ing noun

mainly BrE to perform music in other public places for money

[I]

[U]

/'bAsksr/ noun [C] mainly BrE someone who performs music in the streets and other public places

busk-er

for money bus-load /'bAs.lood/ noun

[C] a large number of people all of the same type or all going to the event: busloads of elementary-school students

on a bus, usually

same

bus-man's hol-i-day /.DAsmanz 'hali.dei/ noun [singular] old-fashioned an occasion when you are on vacation, but do the same things as you do when you are working 'bus pass noun [C] a special ticket that allows someone to travel by bus without paying each time buss /das/ verb [T] Am E to kiss someone in a friendly way: He bussed her lightly on the forehead.

busser / 'bAsar/

noun

[C]

Am E a busboy

'bus .shelter noun [C] a structure that protects you from the weather while you are waiting for a bus 'bus .station noun [C] a building where buses start and finish their trips, or where buses that travel long distances stop to let passengers get on and off 'bus .stop noun [C] a place marked by a sign at the side of a road where buses stop to let passengers get on and They were waiting at the bus stop. 1 /bASt/ noun • 1 [C] a model of the head and shoulders of a person made out of stone, wood, metal, etc.: a bust of Shakeoff:

bust

speare

2

[C] a woman's breasts, used especially when taking their measurements: Measure the hips, waist, and bust. 3 [C] informal an occasion when the police go into a place to search it for illegal goods or activities, especially those relating to drugs 4 [singular] informal a complete failure: flop: The movie

was a

total bust.

bust 2

/bASt/ verb [T] informal 1 to break or damage something very badly: / busted my knee playing bas-

Thieves busted the lock and damaged the sliding ketball. 2 [usually passive] if someone is busted, they are arrested, especially for offenses relating to drugs: bust sb for sth He's been busted for drug trafficking. 2a. if the police bust a place, they search it for illegal goods or activities, especially those relating to drugs 3 to give someone in the military a lower rank as a punishment: He was busted to buck private. 4 bust or bust up to stop an activity or organization from continuing to happen or exist: Businessmen hired mobsters to bust the unions. door.

AmE

bust your ass/butt Am E spoken to put a lot of effort into doing something .or bust spoken used for saying that you will try extremely hard to succeed in something: It's Hollywood .

.

or bust.

the meeting in a very businesslike way.

busi-ness-per-son

business plan noun

(plural

busi«ness-

peo«ple/'bizn3s,pipl/) noun [C] someone who works in business, especially a manager: high-powered businesspeople

bust out phrasal vb [l] informal to escape from prison bust up phrasal vb informal 1 [T] same as bust- 4: Customs officers have bust up a major gun smuggling operation. 2 [i] BrE to have an argument and end a relationship -» BUST-UP

bust 3

/bASt/ adj informal 1 a company or organization is bust has lost all its money and can no longer continue to operate: bankrupt: go bust The company went bust after only a year in business. 2 Br E broken: My watch is bust. that

a

in

buster

but

182

bust-er /'bAStar/ noun spoken an impolite word used when talking to a man whose name you do not know, especially someone you are annoyed with: Get lost, buster!

bus-y 2

busy yourself to make yourself busy by doing a particular job or activity: He busied himself bizi/ verb

She busied herself by folding

with plans for the future. the laundry.

-buster /bAStar/ suffix mainly journalism used with some nouns to make nouns describing someone or something that attacks or removes something bad: crime-busters

stress-buster

bust-ier /bustjei/ noun

women

that

fits

[C] a piece of clothing for close to the top part of the body and

does not cover the shoulders or arms -busting /bAStin/ suffix mainly journalism used with some nouns to make adjectives describing someone or something that attacks or removes something bad: a crime-busting initiative

inflation- busting salary increases

1

bus-tie /'bAsl/ noun 1 [u] a lot of noisy activity in a crowded place: the bustle of the big city 2 [C] something that women wore around their waists in the past to hold their skirts away from their bodies at the back bus-tie 2 / 'bAsl/ verb [i] [+around/about] to do something or go somewhere quickly, usually because you are very busy: Maggie was bustling around doing the housework.

bustling

/'bAslip/ ad] a bustling place is full of noise activity and is usually pleasant and interesting: the bustling south end of the Las Vegas Strip a bustling city/

and

busy bee

noun [c) informal someone who is always busy doing things bus-y-bod-y /'bizibadi/ noun [c] informal someone who is very interested in other people's private lives and activities and tries to get involved in them in a way that is annoying: She's such an interfering busybody. busy signal noun [c] AmE the sound you hear when you call someone and they are already speaking on the

phone /'bizi,w3rk/ noun [u] AmE work that makes you look as though you are very busy when in you are achieving nothing but 1 1 weak bat; strong b\il function word **•

busy work fact

But can be used in the following ways: As a conjunction (connecting two phrases or clauses): She's 83 but she still goes swimming every day. As a way of starting a new sentence and connecting it to the previous sentence: It was in Cairo that he met Nadia. But that's another story. As a preposition (followed by a noun): There's been nothing but trouble since he came.

market /street

bust-up noun

BrE

informal 1 a serious argument or fight 2 the end of a relationship: He started drinking after the bust-up of his first marriage.

bust-y

/

[C]

/'bASti/ adj informal a busty

woman

has large

breasts 1

bus-y /'bizi/adj*** 1 having many things

to do: The parents of young children are always busy. a busy doctor He is an extremely busy man. + with Irina and Marcus were busy with preparations for their wedding. 1a. not able to do a particular job or to speak to someone because you are very busy: too busy to do sth I'm too busy to help you with your homework now. 1b. busy doing sth doing something, especially with a lot of attention or effort: We're all busy buying presents for Christmas. / was so busy worrying about Julie that I didn 't even think about Jake. 1 c. a busy time is when you have a lot of things to do: It's been a very busy day. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk to us.

Metaphor Being very busy at work is like being covered with things or surrounded by something such as water or the ground, so that you cannot move easily.

As an adverb: We can but hope

that things will

improve. 1 used for introducing a different idea used for joining two ideas or statements when the second one is different from the first one, or seems surprising after the first one: We're making a lot of progress, but we've still got a long way to go. Anna 's a highly intelligent girl, but she's very lazy. a simple but effective way offiltering water* What we are about to do is perfectly legal. But please don t discuss it with anyone. 1a. used after a negative for introducing what is true instead: His death was not a tragedy, but a release from pain and suffering. 2 used for changing the subject mainly spoken used when you are saying that you should not talk any more about a subject that you have just mentioned: It was a very complicated operation. But I don t want to bore you with all the details. There's also the question of how we're going to pay for this, but we can discuss that some other

time.

3 used in polite questions, requests, and statements spoken used after expressions such as "I'm sorry" and "excuse me" to introduce a polite question, request, or statement: Excuse me, but is there a post office anywhere around here?* I'm sorry, but all our operators are busy at moment. except used especially after words such as "nothing," "everyone," or "anything" to mean "except": She does nothing but complain all day long. There's no alternative but to scrap the whole plan and start again. I refuse to discuss my medical history with anyone but Dr. Grant. 5 used for expressing surprise spoken used when you are replying to someone and expressing surprise, disagreement, or annoyance "I've decided to resign. " "But why?" But you promised not to do anything without asking me first. 6 only formal only: We can but guess at the extent of the problem. Several Japanese companies already operate in the U.S., Nissan, Honda, Fujitsu, to name but a few. 7 without sth happening formal used after negative statements for saying that something does not happen without something else happening or being true: / never take a bath but the phone rings or someone knocks at the the

They keep piling more work on me. I'm up to my eyes /ears /eyeballs /neck in work. I'm drowning in paperwork. / have got a lot of work to wade through. I'm snowed under with work. / don t have time to turn around. We're absolutely swamped at the moment. We've been inundated with phone calls. They buried /immersed themselves in their work.

:

-» RESPONSIBILITY

2

full of people: a busy waiting room 2a. having a lot of traffic passing through: a busy highway Do not park your car near busy intersections. the busiest port in Europe 2b. having many customers: Stores are always busier on weekends.

3

if

someone's telephone

you try

is

busy,

it is

being used

when

to call: engaged: All lines are busy, please try your

call again.

4

4

door.

a busy design contains too

much annoying

detail

get busy 1 to start doing something: There's a lot to do, let's get busy. 2 E very informal to have sex keep sb busy to have or give someone a lot of things to do or think about, often as a way of filling up time: We You have enough work here to keep us busy for weeks. keep them busy while I call the police. / try to keep myself busy as much as possible. too busy doing sth used for saying that someone is paying too much attention to something, with the result that they do not have time for someone or something else: / tried to tell you, but you were always too busy talking

so

to listen. -* busily

Am

1 except for something: The work was now complete, but for a final coat of paint. 2 used for saying that something would have happened if something else or someone had not prevented it: Lee would certainly have been the starting quarterback, but for his recent

but for

But for your timely warning, we would have been unaware of the danger. but then mainly spoken used when you are adding a remark that makes what you have just said seem less surprising: What a stupid thing to do! But then I've always thought Colin was kind of dumb. No one ever listens to what I say, but then I'm only the assistant manager. last/next but one mainly BrE in a position that is just injury.

"

but

had committed

that the poor girl

suicide.

2

-HF but 2 /bAt/ noun no buts used

for telling

someone

that

they must do what you tell them to, and that their reasons for not doing it are not good: "I was going to clean my room, but. .." "No buts, just do it. butane /'bju.tem/ noun [u] a type of gas in a liquid form that is used as a fuel butch /botJV adj informal someone who is butch dresses and behaves in a way that is considered typical of a man. This word is often used to refer to gay men or gay women and is sometimes considered offensive. Opposite EFFEMINATE

—

butctver 1

buttoned-up

183

before the last one/just after the next one: My name was last but one on the list. no doubt/question but that formal used for emphasizing that something is certain: There was no doubt but

1

/'botjar/ noun

someone whose job

[C]

•

meat and sometimes meat. The store they work in is is to sell

also to kill animals for called a butcher's shop. 2 someone who has killed someone, often a lot of people, in a cruel and violent way

butch-er2

but'ter-fly /'bAtar,flai/ noun * 1 [C] a flying insect with large colorful wings —picture -»C13

2

[C]

someone who keeps changing from one

ming in which you lie on your front and move both your arms together above your head in a circular movement while moving your legs up and down together have/get/feel butterflies (in your stomach) to feel very nervous or excited about something that you have to do, especially

something important

[c] a small piece of metal with a hole through the middle, used for fastening things. It has sides that stick out so that you can turn it easily.

butterfly ,nut noun

butterfly stroke, the see butterfly 3 but-ter-milk /'bAtar,milk/ noun [u] the remains when fat is removed from cream

make

squash /.bAtar.nAt 'skwaJV noun [c/u] a long orange vegetable shaped like a bell with a hard skin and solid orange flesh that becomes soft when

They saw their parents, brothers, and sisters butchered. spoil or damage something by making

but«ter*y

butch-er-y

it:

They've butchered

my script.

/'botjari/ noun [u] 1 the cruel

and violent

killing of a lot of people: slaughter: At least 200 people lost their lives in the butchery. 2 the work of cutting up animals to be sold as meat

the most important male servant in a rich person's house, whose job is to organize the other servants, to welcome guests, to pour wine at meals, etc.

but'ler /'bAtbr/ noun

[C]

butt 1 /bAt/ noun

[c] 1 informal the part of your body on: bottom: They ought to get off their butts and go back to work. a pain in the butt That old computer is a pain in the butt'.-* kick 2 the part of a cigarette or cigar that is left after you have finished smoking it 2a. the end of the handle of a gun or tool: He was hit over the head with a rifle butt. 3 a very large container with curved sides that is used for collecting or storing liquids: a water butt 4 the act of hitting someone with your head: a head-butt

that

you

sit

1

if you are the butt of jokes or criticism, people often make jokes about you or criticize you: He became the butt of everyone's silly jokes. E spoken used for get your butt in/out of/over here telling someone rudely to go somewhere or do some2 thing: Get your butt over here right now!-* bust

be the butt of sth

Am

butt 2 /bAt/ verb

[T) if

a person or animal such as a goat them with the top

butts someone or something, they hit of their head

butt in. ,butt out phrasal vb [I] spoken used for telling someone rudely to go away or not get involved in something: It's my problem, so butt out!

but-ter /'bAtar/ noun [u] •* a solid yellow food made from cream that you spread on bread or use in cooking: bread and butter* a stick of butter salted/ unsalted butter 1

butter wouldn't melt in sb's mouth used for saying that although someone looks as if they are not capable of doing bad things, they are in fact capable of doing

them -» BREAD-AND-BUTTER but-ter2 / 'bAtar/ verb [T] butter the bread.

to spread butter on something: hot buttered toast -» bread

.butter up phrasal vb [T] informal to be nice to someone so that they will help or support you: He was trying to butter up the electorate with promises of tax cuts.

but-ter-cup /'bAtar.kAp/ noun

[C]

a plant with small

bright yellow flowers —picture -» C9

but«ter»fat /'bAtar.faet/ noun [u] the fat in milk but-ter-fin-gers /'bAtar.fingarz/ noun [singular] mal someone who has a tendency to drop things

cooked /'bAtar.skatJ/ noun [u] a type of candy or a sweet sauce that is made by boiling brown sugar and butter together in

it

/'bAtari/ adj buttery food has a lot of butter if it has butter in it

or tastes as

but-tock

/'bAtak/ noun [c usually

plural]

round parts of your body that you

sit

one of the two on —picture -»

BODY

button

**

1

/'bAtn/ noun [c] a small round object that is used for fastening clothes by pushing it through a hole: He had undone the top button of his shirt. a blouse with small pearl buttons —picture -» fastener 2 a small object that you press to make a machine start working or perform a particular action: Just press this button to start the computer. Press the pause button. Click the left mouse button twice. 2a. one of the small parts on a telephone that you press to call a number: a push-button phone 2b. computing a symbol on a computer screen that you can use to start programs: Click on the Start button. 3 a small round object that fastens onto your clothes with a pin and usually has a picture or writing on it: He was wearing a button saying "Bush for Presi1

AmE

dent.

"

button if a machine works at the works extremely quickly and easily: Customers can buy and sell stock at the touch of a button. push/press the right buttons mainly journalism to please an audience with a political speech by saying things that the audience agrees with: The speaker pushed at the touch of a touch of a button, it

all the right buttons.

push/press sb's burtons

,butt in phrasal vb [I] informal to join a conversation or activity without being asked to: Sorry, I didn't mean to

I'll

in order to

but-ter-nut

but-ter«scotch

in

liquid that

butter, used in cooking or as a drink

/'botjar/ verb [T] 1 to kill an animal and cut it up so that it can be eaten: Four lambs were butchered and roasted for the celebration dinner. 2 to kill someone, often many people, in a cruel and violent way:

3 informal to many changes

activity

or person to another, and never stays long with any of them: She's such a social butterfly! 3 the butterfly or the butterfly stroke a way of swim-

infor-

1 to deliberately say something in order to make someone angry or upset: / try not to get mad, but he knows exactly how to push all my buttons. 2 to make someone sexually excited

-» BRIGHT

but-ton 2

/'b\tn/ verb [i/t] button or button up to fasten something with buttons, or to be fastened with buttons: Button your shirt, Johnny, while Ifind your shoes. a dress that buttons down the back

button it spoken used for telling someone in a rude way to be quiet button up phrasal vb [i/T] same as button 2 His jacket was buttoned up all the way to his neck. button ,bar noun [c] computing a row of symbols on a computer screen that you can use to start programs :

quickly

button ,day

noun [C] Australian a day on which people buy and wear buttons with messages on them to show their support for a group or organization

down adj [only before noun] a button-down shirt has the ends of the collar fastened to the shirt with buttons but-toned-up/,b\lnd \p / ad\ Br E informal unwilling to show or talk about feelings and emotions button-

'

13

buttonhole a small hole in a piece of clothing through which you push a button to fasten it 2 BrEa boutonniere [C] 1

button-hole 2 /'b,\tn hool/ verb [T] informal to stop someone and make them listen to what you have to say when they do not really want to .button 'mushroom noun [c] a small round mushroom (=a type of fungus with a eat as a vegetable)

.button 'nose noun [c] button- through adj

flat,

usually white, top that you

a small round nose [only before noun]

buy

/bai/

BrEa

button-

(past tense and past participle bought /bat/)

verb

**• [i/T] to get something by paying money for it: / need buy some new clothes. Now you can buy and sell shares on the Internet. Tickets can be bought at the door. A lot of people just come into the shop without buying. buy sth from sb/sth / bought a ball from the toy store. buy sth off sb I said I'd buy his bike off him. buy sb sth He's always buying me presents. buy sth for sb Ed's parents bought that new computer for him. buy sth for S50/S60 etc. They buy (sth) in bulk This dog offered to buy the car for $4000. opposite sell food is cheaper when you buy it in bulk. 1a. [T] if an amount of money buys something, it is large enough to pay for that thing: $10 million would buy you a nice house in Malibu. the best education money can buy 1b. buy or buy off [T usually passive] informal to give someone something so that they will do something dishonest for you: bribe: It's nice to know that some people

1

to

—

can't be bought. 2 [T] to get something you want or need, usually by losing something else that is important: buy sth with sth attempts to buy peace with land buy sth at the expense/ cost of sth Increased profits would be bought at the expense of paying less attention to quality. 3 [T] to do something in order to get more time to do or finish something else: a move that should buy us another week buy time Many feel that these latest negotiations are all part of a rebel plot to buy time to try to win more support. [T] spoken to believe or accept something, especially something that is unlikely to be true or reasonable: "It's her birthday, but I told her I had to work late." "She'll never buy that!"

4

(have) bought it informal to have been killed: Sam nearly bought it in that car accident.

buy

BrE

buy a large quantity of something: Supermarkets have been buying in champagne in

phrasal vb [T]

to

for Christmas.

buy into

phrasal vb [T] [buy into sth] 1 to buy part of a business, especially in order to get control of it: Moves to buy into other companies have failed. 2 informal to start to do something that a lot of other people are doing, or to believe something that a lot of other people believe: You don't buy into all this garbage, do you? ,buy 'off phrasal vb [T] informal 1 same as buy lb: Efforts to buy her off have failed. 2 to pay someone to stop threatening you or blackmailing you ,buy out phrasal vb [T] 1 to pay money to your business partner so that you can control all of a business you previously owned together: The board members have offered to buy me out. 2 [buy sb out] Br E to pay money so that someone can leave an organization, especially the military, before the time that they had originally agreed: + of He bought himself out of the army. 1

Am

sb's contract E to pay a person or organization the rest of an amount of money that has been promised in a contract so that someone can leave or be forced to leave their job early ,buy up phrasal vb [T] to buy large amounts of something or all of it that is available: Developers have been buying up old factories and converting them into luxury apartments.

buy out

buy 2

/bai/ noun [c) something that you buy: Check out our fantastic bargain buys in the January sale! a good/ bad etc. buy (=something that is worth/not worth the amount of money you paid for it) That shirt was a really

great buy.

buy-back / "bai.baek/

noun [c] business an arrangement in which someone agrees to buy back shares or property that they previously sold to someone a buyback program that removed 640,000 guns from private ownership :

buyer /'baiar/

through skirt or dress has buttons that go from the top to the bottom but-tress 1 /'bAtras/ noun [c] a structure made of brick or stone that sticks out from the wall of a building to Support it -» FLYING BUTTRESS but-tress 2 /'bAtras/ verb [J] formal to make someone or something stronger by supporting them in some way bux-om /'bAksam/ adj a buxom woman is slightly fat in an attractive way, with large breasts 1

buzz saw

184

1

but-ton-hole /'bAtn.hool/ noun

noun

[c]

•**

1 someone who buys something: Falling interest rates are good news for home buyers. the problem of finding overseas buyers for our products 2 someone whose job is to choose and buy products for a large store to sell: a buyer for Macy's

buy-out / 'bai ,aot/ noun

[C] business a situation in which the managers or people employed in a company take control of it by buying all of its stock: a management

buyout

buzz

1

/bAz/ verb 1 [I] when an insect such as a fly or it makes a rough continuous sound 1a. [i] used about machines or electric tools that make a similar sound when they are being used: Saws were buzzing everywhere. 1b. [i] [+around/by/past etc.] to move somewhere while buzzing: Flies were buzzing around my head. A small airplane buzzed past. 1c. [I usually progressive] if your ears or your head are buzzing, you can hear a continuous sound inside your head: My head was still buzzing hours after leaving the nightclub. Id. [i/t] spoken to press a buzzer to attract someone's attention: Just buzz me when the client arrives. Buzz if you know the answer. 2 [I usually progressive] if a place or group of people is buzzing, there is a lot of noise or activity: +with Normally the house was buzzing with bee buzzes,

cheerful conversation. a classroom buzzing with activity 2a. i+with] if someone's head, mind, or brain is buzzing with ideas, questions, etc, they cannot stop thinking

about them: His mind was always buzzing with new and exciting ideas. She left the police station, her head still buzzing with all that had happened to her. 3 [T] informal to fly an airplane low over people or buildings: The locals are fed up with being buzzed by military jets. 4 [I] [-t-around/about] to move around quickly and busily: Jane buzzed around serving drinks and chatting with her guests.

,buzz in phrasal vb [T] informal to allow someone to enter a door that is controlled by an electric buzzer: Don 't buzz in any visitors who are unknown to you. .buzz 'off phrasal vb [I usually in imperative] informal used for telling someone in a rude way to go away: Buzz off, will you - I'm trying to work.

buzz 2

/bAz/ noun [singular] 1 a continuous noise 1a. a continuous sound that an insect or a machine makes 1b. the

sound of many people talking

at the

same

time:

Am E

informal the low buzz of occasional conversation 2 a pleasant feeling of being slightly drunk 3 informal a strong feeling of pleasure or excitement: I get a real buzz out ofplaying in front of an audience. 3a. a lively positive feeling among a group of people or in a particular place. There's been a definite buzz about the place since the new arrived. 4 informal information that people are talking about that is not official and is not definitely rumor: The film is getting a lot of good buzz (=people true: are saying good things about it) in Hollywood. The buzz among fans is that their idol is about to get married.

manager

give sb a buzz informal to phone someone: I'll give you a buzz tomorrow. a vulture 2 BrE buz-zard /'bAzard/ noun [C] 1 a large bird that kills other birds and animals for food. It is a type of hawk. 3 mainly spoken an unpleasant or mean person: The selfish old buzzard!

AmE

'buzz .cut noun

AmE

a hairstyle in [c] cut very short using electric clippers

which hair

is

/'bAzar/ noun [C] a small piece of equipment that buzzes when you press it, used mainly for getting someone's attention: Press the buzzer and speak into the

buzz-er

intercom.

saw noun [C] an electric tool for cutting materials such as wood and metal. It has a round blade that goes around at high speed: circular saw

'buzz

"

buzzword /'bAZ,w3rd/ noun [c] a word that has become very popular, especially a word relating to a particular activity or subject: a speech full of buzzwords and empty promises The buzzword of the moment is "accountability.

BVDs / ,bi

vi 'diz/

Am E trademark a type of underpants

by /bai/ function word

***

By can be used in the following ways: As a preposition (followed by a noun): The building was destroyed by fire. As an adverb (without a following noun): As time went by, things

byline

185

buzz-word

improved.

1 used for stating who or what does sth 1a. used, especially with passive verbs, for showing who does something or what causes something: Injured refugees were treated by a Red Cross doctor. Hull House was founded by Jane Addams in 1889. Children are fascinated The fabric had been faded by the by the idea of magic. sun. a rebellion by separatist guerrilla forces 1b. used for saying who wrote a book or a piece of music, who painted a picture, etc.: a novel by Graham Greene* mural paintings by Diego Rivera 1c. have a child /baby /son/ daughter by sb used for saying who the other parent of someone's child is: She had a child by each of her three

husbands. for stating how sth is done 2a. using a parmethod to achieve something: Foreign languages were taught by the traditional method at my university. The palace balcony is shielded by bulletproof glass. Every bit of lace is made by hand (=not using a machine). by doing sth By using the Internet you can do your shopping from home. by mail/phone/fax etc. They exchanged New Year's greetings by e-mail. We'll send you the tickets by mail. 2b. using a particular method of transportation: by car/train/bus/air etc. Sophie's parents arrived by taxi. 2c. using a particular road, path, door, etc.: We returned home by a different route. She went in by the side entrance. 2d. using a particular name or title: Staff members generally address each other by their first name. The U.N. refugee agency is known by its initials UNHCR. 2e. used for saying how you start or finish something: I'm going to start off by explaining the purpose of our campaign. 3 before or until 3a. not later than a particular time or date: The meeting should have finished by 4:30. Application forms must be received by March 31st. 3b. during the period until a particular time or date: By mid afternoon over 5,000 people had visited the exhibition. by the time (that) By the time Charlotte was 15, she had already achieved worldwide fame. 4 how sth happens used when saying that something happens in a way that was not planned or intended: Take care that you don't shoot one of us by mistake. We met quite by chance. *Bya stroke of luck Ifound the perfect title for my new book. 5 used for saying that time passes used for saying that time passes, or how it passes: As time went by, people's attitudes slowly changed. The days and weeks seem to fly by. I find that Friday afternoons just drag by (=go very slowly). 6 used for stating how large a change or difference is used for showing how much something has changed, or how much difference there is between things: House prices rose by an average 23% during 1998. Owen broke last year's world record by 2.4 seconds. -» far 2b 7 moving past sb/sth used for saying that someone or something goes past you: She walked right by me without saying a word. There were angry shouts from the crowd as the president's motorcade drove by. 8 beside or near beside or close to someone or something: She was sitting over there by the window. There's an ashtray just by your elbow. 9 according to rules according to rules or laws Casinos are forbidden by law to contribute to political campaigns. In the police force we have to do everything by the

2 used ticular

:

rulebook.

10 according to particular standards used for showing that something is judged according to certain standards of behavior, quality, etc.: It's no use trying to Her judge 18th-century morality by modern standards. performance was amazing by any standard. 1 1 visiting a place used for saying that someone stops somewhere for a short time, especially while going to

another place: drop/stop/come by Why don't you stop by on your way home from work?* Peggy dropped by the office this afternoon.

12 used for stating how you hold sb/sth used for saying which part of a person's body or thing you take in your hand when you hold them: Taking me by the arm, she led me into the next room. Always pick up a CD by the outer edge to avoid damaging the surface. 1 3 concerning personal details used for referring to someone's personality, job, origin, name, etc.: by nature/ profession/birth/name etc. She was, by nature, a cheerful and friendly sort ofperson. *An American by birth, Cassidy had spent much of his life in Bolivia. 14 used for giving calculations and measurements 14a. used for saying what units of measurement are used Floor coverings are priced by the square foot. Industrial workers are generally paid by the hour. sold by the dozen 14b. divide/multiply by used for saying how a :

number

is

calculated: To convert gallons to liters multiply

by 3.785. 14c. used for giving the size of an area, object, or space by stating its length, width, height, etc.: The house has a spacious dining room, measuring 18 by 15 feet. / usually get 4 by 6 inch prints of my pictures. 15 used for showing a gradual process 15a. used when saying that something happens or changes gradually: little by little/bit by bit Little by little Philip got used to life on the farm. day by day/week by week etc. His medical condition is continuing to improve day by day. 15b. used when things or people do something or are dealt with one after the other: one by one/stage by stage One by one the men came forward to receive their medals. item by item The finance committee checks through each document, item by item. (all) by yourself/itself/himself etc. 1 alone: The child had wandered off by herself into the woods. Her story by itself is not enough to convict him. It was miserable

spending Christmas all by myself. 2 without being helped by anyone else: He couldn 't have planned the whole thing by himself. As she watched, the chairs seemed to slide across the kitchen floor by themselves. You can't carry that big table all by yourself. by and by literary after a short time by and large used for referring to something in a very general way: By and large I think the emphasis should be on recruiting the right people. by the by old-fashioned by the way by God/gum/ Jove etc. informal old-fashioned used for emphasizing what you are saying or for expressing surprise: / said we'd be there and, by God, we'll be there. by night/day during the night/day: In the desert we traveled by night to avoid the blistering heat. by the way used for saying that a remark is not relevant to the main subject of your conversation. The abbreviation is often used in e-mails and text messages: By the way, Jeff called this afternoon and he wants you to

BTW

call

bye

1

you

bye

him

back.

/bai/ interjection

•••

goodbye: Bye for now - see

later.

2

/bai/ noun [C] a situation in which a player or a team does not have an opponent at a particular stage of a competition and goes straight into the next stage: The team was given a bye in the first round.

bye-bye

/'bai

bai/ interjection goodbye: Bye-bye, boys

and girls. by-e lection noun

[c] mainly BrE an election in one particular area to choose a new representative in par liament or on a council, or to replace someone who died or left the job

by-gone

/'bai.cpn/ ad] [only before noun] happening or existing during a period of time in the past: bygone age /era /days /times These pictures belong to a bygone

age.

by-gones

/'bai.cpnz/ noun let bygones be bygones to decide to forget about a disagreement or something unpleasant that has happened in the past: We decided to let bygones be bygones and befriends again.

by-law /'baib/ noun

[C] 1 a law made by a local government that applies only in that area 2 a rule made by an organization for its members by-line /'bai lam /noun [C] the writer's name printed at the top of an article in a magazine or newspaper: / like seeing my byline when I open the newspaper.

13

BYO /hi wai '00/ abbrev Australian bring your own: used by restaurants to show that they do not sell alcohol but that people can bring their own /,bi wai 00 'bi/ abbrev bring your own bottle: used on invitations to show that you should take your own wine, beer, or other drink to a party by-pass 1 /'bai,paes/ noun [c] 1 a road that goes around a town or city so that you can avoid going through its center: the Leesburg bypass 2 a medical operation to make someone's blood flow past a blocked or damaged part of their heart rather than through it: heart bypass He underwent a triple heart bypass operation last March. 3 technical a tube that allows gas or liquid to flow around something rather than through it

BYOB

by-pass 2

/'baipaes/ verb

[t]

•

to avoid dealing with someone or something, especially because you think you can achieve something more quickly without using them: / bypassed the lawyers and filed the documents myself. 2 to avoid the center of a town or city by using a road that goes around it: / took the road that bypassed the city altogether. 3 to perform a medical operation to make someone's 1

blood flow past a blocked or damaged part of their heart rather than through it: an operation to bypass the

damaged

byzantine

186

BYO

artery

by-prod-uct /'bai.pradAkt/ noun

[C] 1

a product that

made

as a result of making another product: +of the byproducts of petroleum refining 2 something not intended or planned that happens as a result of another situation or something that you do: +of An increase in crime is the byproduct of poverty and unemployment. is

by-road /'bai.roud/ noun [c] a quiet minor road by-stand-er / 'bai.stamdar/ noun [c] someone who is in a particular place by chance when an accident or an unusual event happens but who is not directly conwith it: innocent bystander Three bystanders were wounded in the explosion.

nected

byte

/bait/ noun

[C]

innocent

computing a basic unit for storing

computer information, used for measuring the size of a document. A byte is usually made up of eight bits. byway /'bai,wei/ noun [c] 1 a quiet minor road that is not used by many cars or people: the highways and byways of Vermont 2 byways [plural] the less important aspects of a subject: a personal exploration of the byways of Indian history

by-word /'bai,w3rd/

noun [singular] [+for] if someone or something is a byword for a particular quality, they have a strong reputation for that quality: The city is a byword for intolerance. byz-an-tine /'bizn,tin/ adj formal complicated and difficult to understand: the byzantine power structure of the old department

or C (plural C's) noun [C/u] 1 the third English alphabet. C is a consonant. 2 C the first note in the musical scale of C major 3 C a grade that a teacher gives to a student's work to show that it is average: I got a Con my French exam. 4 C the ROMAN NUMERAL for 100 -» C IN C, C OF E, C-NOTE, C-SECTION

c

/si/ (plural

c's)

letter of the

C abbrev

1

Celsius 2 see: used in e-mails and text mes(=see you tomorrow)

C U 2moro

sages:

c. abbrev 1 cents 2 century 3 c. or ca. circa: used E before a date that is not exact: He died c. 1890. 4 cup: used for showing amounts to be used in cooking food: Pour in 2 c. milk.

Am

© a symbol meaning "copyright"

/,si

an 'dAblju/ noun

[U]

country and western

music

CA abbrev California ca.

1

/kaeb/noun

[c]

*

1 a taxi: a cab driver pulled by horses that

—picture

a cab. la. a vehicle in the past as a taxi

Let's take

was used

-» C6

the front part of a bus, train, or truck where the driver sits

cab 2 /ksb/ verb AmE to go

••

1

/'keibl/ noun cable television: The company broadcasts on

and

ellite

somewhere

1 [i] to drive a taxi as a job 2 [i/ in a taxi or carry someone or

something in a taxi: They offered to cab the documents to the downtown office. ca-bal /ka'bael/ noun [C] formal a small group of people who secretly work together to get power for themselves cab-a-ret /.kasba'rei/ noun 1 [c/u] entertainment in a restaurant or club, performed while you eat or drink

2 [C] a restaurant or club where cab«bage/'kabid3/ noun •

there

is

cabaret

1 [C/U] a hard round vegetable with green or purple leaves that can be eaten raw in salads or cooked —picture -> en 2 [C] BrE informal an offensive word for someone who is completely unable to move or speak because their brain is very badly damaged

cab-bage-town

/'k wake-

-» CLOSE 2 future

a loud shout to someone who is not near you: hiker heard his calls for help. an act of telephoning someone: phone call: an incoming/outgoing call You can't take incoming calls on The helpline received 100 calls in the first the payphone. return a call (=telephone someone who couple of hours. tried to telephone you) He never returned her calls. take /answer a call He took the call in his study. make a call Can you wait while I make another call? give sb a call Why don't you give me a call in the morning? 3 [C/u] the sound that an animal usually makes 4 (C] a loud signal played on a musical instrument to tell people to do something: a bugle call 5 [C] a formal or public request that something should happen: +for A government spokesperson has rejected calls for tougher immigration laws. There were renewed calls for a return to the peace talks. a call to sb to do sth This is a call to all voters to participate. 5a. a request that someone pay back money they were lent 6 [C] a short visit to someone, especially to their home: pay a call on sb/pay sb a call We decided to pay another call on the Browns. 7 [C] an announcement in an airport telling passengers to go to their airplane because it is leaving soon: This is the last call for flight UA 554 to Denver. 8 [C] a decision that you have to make, especially when 1

+for

2

calm

191

up phrasal vb 1 [i/T] to telephone someone: / called call (sb) up to do sth Nancy had him up and told him. called up to invite him. 2 [T] to ask someone to play in a sports team, especially a team at a higher level 3 [T] to make information in a computer appear on the screen: Call up the menu and click on "Documents. " 4 [t] to make you remember something: evoke: Seeing Paula in that white dress called up memories of his Aunt Sara. 5 [T] mainly Br E to draft someone into the military 6 [T] to use magic to try to make the spirit of a dead

call

literary

young and not experienced

in life

call-, up noun [c] mainly BrE 1 a draft for a military force 2 an invitation to someone to play in a sports team at a higher level: Wilkinson's performance earned him his call-up for Saturday's game.

cal-lus /"kaebs/ noun [c] a hard thick area of skin caused by rubbing, especially on your hands or feet call waiting / lol weitirj/ noun [u] a system that lets you answer a second telephone call without ending your first telephone call

calm /kam/adj •• 1

not affected by strong emotions such as excitement, anger, shock, or fear: An hour after the accident. I was starting to feel calmer. stay/keep/remain calm We were told to stay calm, that help was on the way. 1a. used about the way someone talks or behaves: a calm quiet 1

voice

2 calm water does

not

move very much: The ocean

looks

calm calm

3

if

today. We could see surface of the lake.

our

re/lections in the

the weather is calm, there is very little wind: a We're going to see a period of calmer weather

calm day

starting this weekend.

4

peaceful and not affected by violence, fighting, or excited activity: The city appears calm after last night's

missile attack. a calmer day on the stock market after yesterday's big falls calnvly adv, calm-ness noun [u]

calm 2 /kam/

**

verb [t] to make someone feel more relaxed and less emotional: None of our efforts to calm her succeeded, a. to make a situation more peaceful and less affected by violence, fighting, or excited activity

down phrasal vb [i/T] to begin to feel more relaxed and less emotional, or to make someone do this: Calm down and tell us what's going on. She finally managed to calm him down.

,calm

calm 3 /kam/

noun

[u]

•

a situation in which everything is peaceful and there no trouble or violence 2 a state in which you are not affected by strong emotions such as excitement, anger, shock, or fear: He 1

is

accepted her decision with his usual calm. 3 a state in which there is no wind, so that the sea

does not

move very much

the calm before the storm a quiet time just before problems or arguments start cal'0*rie/'kaebri/ noun [c] * 1 a unit for measuring how much energy you get from food. People who are worried about getting fat pay a lot of attention to the number of calories in their food: How many calories are there in a slice of chocolate cake? a low-calorie diet count calories Counting calories is a way of life for most of Hollywood's stars. 2 science a unit for measuring heat

cal-o-rif-ic /.kaeb'nfik/ adj 1 containing a ories and therefore likely to make you fat producing energy or heat

cahurrvny /'ksebmni/ noun about someone that to

damage

is

[C] very

lot of cal-

2

science

•••

in camera legal happening in private, without other people knowing what is said on/off camera while a camera is recording/not recording what is happening: He was caught on camera robbing the bank. He made a few remarks off camera.

cam-er-a-man

/'ka2m(9)r3,maen/ (plural cam*er*a*men /'ka£m(3)r3,men/) noun [C] someone who operates a camera for making movies or television programs

camera-shy

adj

not willing to have your photograph

taken

cam-i-sole /'ksmi.sool/ noun

[C] a piece of women's underwear that covers the top part of the body, with thin straps at the shoulders

camomile

/'kaemsrnail/ another spelling of cham-

omile

canvoii'flage 1

/kaem3,fla.3/ noun [singular/U] 1 a way of hiding people or objects by making them look like the natural background: an expert in military camouflage 1a. the type of clothes or face paint that soldiers wear to make themselves more difficult to see: dressed in camouflage a camouflage jacket /uniform 2 the color or shape of an animal that makes it difficult to see because it looks similar to what is around it 3 a way of hiding the truth

formal a comment is intended

[i]

to give birth to a calf

of calf

/'kaelvi.nizsm/ estant Christianity based on Someone who believes these vinists are often considered opinions.

noun [u] a type of Protthe ideas of John Calvin. ideas is a Calvinist. Calto

have very

strict

moral

ca*lyp*so /ka'hpsou/ noun

[c/u] a type of Caribbean song, often one that deals with politics in a humorous

way /'keiliks;

'kaeliks/

noun

[C] technical

part covering a flower before

it opens /kagm/ noun [C] technical a part fixed to a wheel that makes something move backward and forward or up and down when the wheel turns

ca-ma-ra-der'ie

/,kam(3)'rad3ri; ,kaem(3)'raed9ri/ friendship and trust between people in a group

camber / 'kaembsr/ noun [C] technical a gradual curved from the center of a road down to its sides cam«bric /'keimbnk/ noun [u] thin white cloth made from cotton or linen cam-cord-er /'kaem.kordar/ noun [c] a small camera used for recording pictures and sound onto videotape slope

came the past tense of come cam -el /'kaeml/ noun [C] a

1

large animal with a long neck and one or two humps (=large round raised parts) on its back. It is often used in deserts for carrying

people or things.

/'kaemlher/ or camel's hair AmE noun [u] a thick soft light-brown cloth made from wool, used for making coats camel-lia /ka'milia/ noun [C] a red, white, or pink flower shaped like a rose

canvehhair

Ca m-e-lot / 'kaema.lat/ in old stories, the place in southwest England where King Arthur lived with his knights. People sometimes use this word to describe a place or time of great peace and beauty and also about the time when John F. Kennedy was President of the U.S. (1961-

,A'V>V

>W//jW camouflage

the green

cam

[u]

camera

not fair or true and

Calvinism

noun

considered an exciting time of change in America. Cam-em-bert /'ksmam.ber/ noun [c/u] a type of soft round French cheese with a white skin came-o /'ka?mi,oo/ noun [C] 1 a small part played by a well-known actor in a movie or play: a cameo role/ appearance / performance 2 a piece of jewelry with a raised design, usually in the shape of a woman's head, on a background of a different color /'ksm^rs/ noun [C] 1 a piece of equipment used for taking photographs 2 a piece of equipment used for making television programs, movies, or videos 63),

their reputation

calve /kaev/ verb calves the plural

ca-lyx

camp

192

much calmer

cam-ou-flage 2 /'kaems.fk^/

verb [t] 1 to hide a person or object by making them look like the natural background 1a. to hide a sound with louder or similar sounds 2 to make an animal difficult to see because it looks similar to what is around it 3 to hide the truth camp 1 /kaemp/ noun 1 [C/U] a place with tents or other shelters where people go for a vacation: The kids were sent away to camp every summer. She's spending two weeks at a music camp. 1a. a collection of tents or trailers (=small houses on wheels) that people use when they are traveling: Their camp was just below the summit, lb. a place with tents or other shelters for people such as soldiers or prisoners

*•*

to live in: refugee/ internment/detention camp After the war, millions of people ended up in refugee camps.

2

[C]

the the

a group of people within a larger group

who have

same ideas or support the same person: People in Brown camp (=who support Brown) deny this rumor.

3

[U] a style of art or entertainment that deliberately does not follow traditional ideas about what is considered good in order to produce a humorous effect: This movie is pure camp.

have a foot in each camp/in both camps to support or belong to two different groups set up/pitch camp 1 to put tents somewhere and stay there for a while 2 to stay outside somewhere and refuse to leave: Reporters had pitched camp outside his house.

camp 1

can

193

camp 2 /kaemp/ verb to stay

[I]

*

camp-ing /'ksmpin/

somewhere

temporary

shelter:

for a short time in a tent or other They camped for two nights in the

forest.

2 camp

camp out to stay outside a place until you you want: Journalists had camped in front of

or

get what the house.

camp out

phrasal vb [i] 1 to sleep outside, with or without a tent or other shelter: He planned to camp out in the wild. 2 to stay in a place without the furniture and equipment that you would normally have 3 same as camp 2 r. They camped out on the sidewalk all night. camp up phrasal vb camp it up informal to behave in a way that is deliberately artificial, especially in order to make people laugh at traditional ideas about how men and women should behave camp 3 /kaemp/adj 1 art or entertainment that is camp deliberately does not follow traditional ideas about what is considered good in order to produce a humorous effect 2 a man who is camp behaves in a way that does not follow traditional ideas about male behavior, especially in order to attract attention cam-paign /kaem'pem/ noun [c] 1 a series of things that a politician or political party does to try to win an election: It is alleged that the party used illegal methods to finance its campaign. an election/ re-election campaign 1a. a series of things such as television advertisements or posters that try to persuade people to buy a product: The campaign boosted sales of the jeans by 200%. an advertising /publicity /marketing campaign 1b. a series of actions intended to produce political or social change: a literacy /recruitment /antidrug campaign + for/against Local people have launched a campaign against closing the hospital. campaign to do sth There's been a campaign by local fishermen to ban imported shrimp. 2 a series of actions by an army trying to win a war: This victory was the turning point of the campaign. air/

[u]

*

the activity of living

camping trip go camping camping as much as we used to. camp-site /'kaemp.sait/ noun [c] 1 AmE a piece of land that one person or one group camps on: That spot under the trees would make a good campsite. 2 BrEa CAMPGROUND cam-pus /'kaempas/ noun [C/U] * an area of land in a tent, usually for fun: a

We

don't go

containing all the main buildings of a university, school, or other organization such as a hospital: a tour We have rooms for 2,000 students on of the campus campus, a. used for talking about universities or student life in general: campus politics/ newspapers

man on campus Am E a man who is well known in an organization or group and behaves as if he knows he is important campy / 'kaempi/ adj camp cam-shaft /'kaemjaeft/ noun [C) technical a bar in an engine, fixed to a cam can 1 1 weak ksn; strong kaen/ modal verb *** big

Can

••*

1

noun

is

usually followed by an infinitive without "to":

/ can speak French.

Sometimes

following infinitive:

Come and

it is

used without a

help us,

if you

can.

Can

does not change its form, so the third person singular form does not end in "-s": She can speak Japanese.

Questions and negatives are formed without "do": Can

you swim? of can is cannot: We cannot allow Cannot is often shortened in conversation or informal writing to can't: I can't find

The negative form

this behavior to continue.

my brown jacket. Can

is

often used in tag questions: They can't hear us,

can they?

Can has no to

bombing campaign

is

participles and no infinitive form. Be able used as the infinitive to show ability or

want to be able to choose my own career. Could is used as the past tense of can when it means that someone had the ability to do something, or that something was possible: New York was a place where anyone could start a business. But was/were able to is used for saying that someone actually succeeded in doing something: By climbing on the table he was able possibility: /

Words

campaign

frequently used with

verbs

conduct, fight, launch, lead, mount, spearhead, wage

campaign

2

/kaem'pem/ verb

[i]

1

*•

change by persuading other people or the government to do something: + for/against She has been campaigningfor stronger 1

to try to achieve political or social

anti-pollution laws.

campaigned

to

2

win an

to try to

campaign

to

to

save their local movie theater.

campaigning hard

election:

in the

The Republicans have been

future, especially after a long time: She'll be able to walk soon. hundred years from now people will be

Midwest.

A

cam-pa-ni-le

/.kaempa'nili/ noun [c] a tall tower with a bell at the top, especially one near a church but not a part of it

cam«pa«nol«o«gy /.ksmpa'nabdsi/ noun

able to visit Mars. Can is usually used when planning or deciding about the near future: We can go shopping

tomorrow.

[u] the skill

There is no perfect tense of can, so has/have been able to is used: / haven't been able to call my parents

or study of ringing bells

'camp bed noun [C] mainly BrEa cot that you can fold Camp David the country home of the U.S. president Maryland camp-er/'kaempsr/noun [c] 1 someone who is staying in a tent or temporary shelter, usually for fun 2 a motor vehicle used for living in on vacations. It is smaller than a motor home, —picture -» C6 happy camper informal someone who is happy camper van noun [c] BrE a camper you stay in in northern

camp-fire /'kaempfair/ noun people who are camping

[c]

a

fire built

outside by

'Camp

,Fire an organization for boys and girls that teaches them about nature, camping, and other practical things

camp

follower noun

[c] 1 someone who travels with goods or provide services to the soldiers a group or political party but does not officially belong to it, especially in order to get an advantage camp-ground / 'kaemp.graond/ noun [c] Am E a place where people on vacation can stay in tents or other temporary shelters cam-phor /'kaemfar/ noun [u] a substance with a very strong smell used for keeping insects away

an army

to sell

2 someone who supports

reach the window.

There is no future tense of can, but will be able to is used for saying that someone will have the ability to do something or that something will be possible in the

do sth They actively

yet.

have the ability or means to do sth la. to have the necessary ability, knowledge, money, or equipment to do something: "Can you swim?" "No I can't." Ingrid could play the violin by the time she was six. The machine can translate simple messages into 24 different languages. They couldn afford to pay for a nice funeral. The U.N. has promised to help as much as it can. 1b. used for saying that you see, hear, feel, taste, smell, understand, or remember something: Paul could hear someone calling There have been May Day celebrations here for his name. as long as anyone can remember. 2 used for saying what is possible 2a. used for saying whether the situation makes it possible for you to do something at a particular time: I'm sorry, Dr. Brown can't speak to you now - she's got someone with her. If the weather's good tomorrow, we can go fishing. How can I work with all this noise going on? 2b. used for saying that it is possible to do something: You can travel from London to New York in under 6 hours these days. Tickets can be bought from the Tourist Information Center. 3 be allowed to do sth to be allowed to do something, or have the right or power to do it: You can borrow my calculator if you want. Anyone age 18 or over can vote in a general election. You can't sit there. Those seats are 1

't

can into battle.

4

used in requests,

offers, etc. spoken used in requests,

when offering or suggesting something: Can you tell me where Mr. Lawson's office is? Can I have another or

Can I offer you something to make a suggestion? 5 when sth should not happen [always in negatives] used for emphasizing that something should not happen or continue: We can't go on borrowing money when there's These men cannot be no hope of ever paying it back. allowed to profit from their criminal activities.

piece of that delicious cake?

Can

drink?

6 used

I

for expressing surprise [usually

questions]

size

how

in

negatives or

mainly spoken used when you want to emphasurprised or shocked you are: He can't be here

already! I haven't even started getting dressed. Of course I'm not lying to you. How can you say such a thing! 7 used for emphasizing how you feel [usually in negatives or questions] spoken used with verbs such as "say," "imagine," or "believe" when you are telling someone about a situation and you want to emphasize how strongly you feel about it: / can't tell you how relieved I am to know that everyone is safe. You can guess how I / can't believe she told felt when he said I was too old.

him that. 8 used for saying what sometimes happens used for saying that something sometimes happens or is sometimes possible or true: Temperatures can reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. Even minor head injuries can

9 when

sb will have to do sth spoken used for saying what someone will have to do, when you are annoyed with them or do not approve of them: If he doesn't want to come to work on time, he can look for another job. 10 when sth seems very unlikely [always in negatives] used for saying that you feel sure something is not I'm possible or true: The hotel can't be far from here. sure he can't have forgotten about the wedding! 1 1 when nothing else is possible used when only one opinion, meaning, or decision is possible: How can I possibly refuse such a charming invitation? Can there be any doubt about his intentions? When he slams the door like that, it can mean only one thing - trouble.

no can do humorous a very informal way of saying that you cannot do something that you have been asked to do: No can do, I'm afraid - I need the boss's signature for that. -»

CAN-DO

what/ who/ where can. .? spoken used when you cannot understand a situation and you are considering possible .

explanations: Who can be calling us at this time of night? What can they be doing upstairs to make so much noise?

•••

can 2

/kaen/ noun [c] 1 a closed metal container with round sides, for food or drinks. It is opened with a can opener. In British English the word tin is usually used if a can contains food, but not if it contains a drink: empty beer cans a picture -» container la. a metal can of beans /soda container with round sides and a lid, used especially for holding liquids: There's a little paint left in the can. a garbage can 1b. spray can: a can of insect repellent 1c. the amount of food, drink, paint, etc. that a metal container holds: + of Add two cans of tomatoes to the sauce

—

and stir. 2 the can Am E informal a toilet 3 the can Am E informal a prison 4 Am E impolite your bottom a can of worms a situation that involves a complicated set of problems that you discover when you start dealing with it: You opened a real can of worms with that last question.

in the can informal movie, is in the can, -» CARRY

can 3 /kaen/ verb

[T]

if it

a piece of work, especially a has been finished

•

preserve food in metal containers by storing it without air 2 Am E informal to make someone leave their job, for example because their work is not good enough. The usual word for this is to fire someone: He got canned for to

showing up

can

it

Canada Day

kasnado ,dei/ July 1, a Canadian public holiday, celebrated because on this day in 1867 Ontario united with Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia Ca-na-di-an 1 /ks'neidian/adj 1 someone who is Canadian is from Canada 2 relating to Canada, or its language or culture: a Canadian accent Ca-na-di-an 2 /ko'neidion/ noun [c] a person from /

Canada

canal

/ks'nael/ noun [c]

**

an artificial river: the Panama Canal Canals were dug to connect England's industrial cities with the ocean. 2 a passage in the body shaped like a tube: the ali1

mentary canal

ca'nal boat noun

[c]

a long boat used on canals

can-a-pe

/'kaena.pei/ noun [c] a small biscuit or piece of bread with food such as cheese or meat on top, served at a party

ca-nard /ka'nard/ noun

[c] formal

a false story or piece

of information

ca-nar-y /ka'neri/ noun kept as a pet,

ca-nas-ta

known

[c]

a small yellow bird that

is

for its beautiful singing

/ks'naesta/ noun [u] a card

game played with

two decks of cards

can-can /'kaen.kaen/ noun [c] a dance performed by line of women who kick their legs high

a

can-eel

/'kaensl/ (present participle can-cel-ing or cancelling; past tense and past participle cancelled or canceled)

1 [l/T] to say that something that has been arranged will not now happen: Jackson canceled the tour The 4:05 train has after suffering a throat infection. been canceled. 2 [T] to say that a legal agreement or obligation is now ended: There has been a call for Third World debt to be canceled. 3 [T] to mark a ticket, stamp, or check so that it cannot be used again

verb

be serious.

1

candidacy

194

Only the President could order the armed forces

reserved.

late

once too often.

Am E spoken

stop talking

used for rudely telling someone to

cancel a check Br E to tell your bank that a check you have written should not be paid by them. AmE stop payment on a check cancel 'out phrasal vb [l/T] to stop something from having any effect: Our votes will cancel each other out. can-cel-la-tion /.kaensl'eijn/ noun 1 [C/u] a decision to stop something that has been arranged from taking place: the cancellation of yesterday's game 1a. [C] aticket, time, or place that becomes available because someone decides not to-do what they have arranged: The hospital will let you know if there are any cancellations. 2 [C/U] a decision to end a legal agreement or obligation: the cancellation of the contract

••*

can-cer

/'kaensar/ noun 1 [c/u] a serious illness caused by a group of cells in the body increasing in an uncontrolled way. Cancer is often treated by chemotherapy (^special drugs) or by radiation Some cancers are easier to treat than others. lung /breast/ prostate cancer He cancer cells I patients died of lung cancer. cancer of the cervix/prostate/colon She was diagnosed with cancer of the cervix. 2 [C] something harmful that affects a lot of people and can-cer-ous adj: is difficult to stop: the cancer of greed cancerous cells Can-cer /'kaensar/ noun [c/u] one of the 12 signs of the zodiac, represented by a crab (=sea animal with a hard shell). A Cancer or a Cancerian is someone born between June 22 and July 22 and is believed by some people to be influenced by this sign. can-de-la-bra /.kaendl'abra/ noun [c] a large candlestick or light that holds several candles or small lights :

—

/ 'kaendid/ adj 1 honest and direct, even when the truth is not pleasant: She was very candid with him about the standard of his work. He gave a remarkably candid interview. 2 a candid photograph of someone is natural and informal and is taken without them knowing that they are being photographed: candid shots can-did-lyadv a natural and inforcan-did 2 /'kaendid/ noun [c]

can-did 1

—

AmE

mal photograph can-di-da /'kaendids/ noun [u] medical a fungus in the body that can cause an infection called thrush can-di-da-cy /'kaendidssi/ noun [C/u] the fact that someone is a candidate in an election: his candidacy for the presidency

candidate

***

can-ker /'kaenkar/ noun 1 [c/uj a disease that affects trees and plants 2 [u] a disease that causes painful infected areas in the ears of cats and dogs 3 [C] literary a harmful influence that spreads and is difficult to stop

:

the

can opener

195

can-di-date/'kaendi,deit; 'kaendidst/ noun [C] 1 one of the people competing in an election: the Democratic/ Republican candidate la. one of the people competing for a job The candidate must demonstrate good communication skills. +for There were two candidates for the position. 1b. one of the people competing for a prize: + for She was asked to read out the list of candidates for

award for

best actor.

'canker ,sore noun [c] AmE a small sore mouth can-na-bis /'ksnabis/ noun [u] marijuana

2

canned

the obvious candidate. + for This encounter is a candidate a prime canfor the tournament's most exciting game. didate (=very likely to do something) She looks like a

canned laughter

/kaend/ ad] canned food has been preserved in a metal container without air: canned beans/peaches

a person or thing that is likely to do or be something: They needed a location for the movie, and the church was

didates

may

to a television or radio

use a calculator. [u]

mainly

••

can-ni-bal-ism

a stick of wax with a to give light 1

can-non 2

[c]

AmE an

water with your bottom

can-non-ball 2

[+into/off] to

[I]

'candy ,bar noun

first

and your

legs folded

/'kaenan.bol/ verb [i] to jump into water first and your legs folded

[u] regular soldiers whose lives are not considered important during war a. a person or group that is used by other people to help them achieve something, not caring if they are harmed

***

ka'nat/ modal verb the negative formal way of saying and writing this is can't: Please don't tell me what I can and cannot do! What if the parties cannot agree? You cannot escape

to

form of can. The

and

less

the law.

cannot (help) but formal to have no choice except to do something: You cannot help but like her. As I look back

AmE

over my career, I cannot but smile. can-ny / 'kaeni / adj good at judging situations, especially

AmE

in business,

and careful not

1

ca-noe /ka'nu/ noun

Christmas

BrE cotton candy covered with a pattern of narrow lines of color on a white background cane 1 /kern/ noun * 1 [C/U] the hard light stem of some plants, especially bamboo la. [U] the stems of some plants dried and woven together to make furniture: cane chairs 2 [C] a long thin stick that a person uses to help them walk, especially one with a curved handle 2a. a stick used for punishing children in schools 2b. the cane a punishment given to children in schools in which they are hit with a cane —picture -» stick cane 2 /kein/ verb [T] to punish a child in school by hitting them with a stick ca-nine 1 /'kei.nam/ adj relating to dogs: canine health ca-nine 2 / kei.nam/ noun [c] 1 canine or canine tooth one of the four pointed teeth toward the front of your mouth. The front teeth between your canines are called incisors, and the large square teeth behind them are called molars. 2 technical a dog canister /'kaemstsr/ noun [c] 1 a metal container with a lid for storing food such as coffee, sugar, or flour 2 a round metal container that is used to hold gases or chemical substances under pressure: canisters of oxygen tear gas canisters 3 a low round metal container for

into

'cannon fodder noun

a bar of candy, usually [c] covered with chocolate and often containing nuts and caramel (=soft cooked sugar) 'candy cane noun [C] a long thin piece of red and white candy shaped like a hook that is eaten at

[c]

to

be tricked

* a long narrow boat that you

push through the water using a paddle /ka'nu/ verb [I] to travel in a canoe

/'kaendi.fbs/ noun [u]

candy-striped

knock

with your bottom

apple covered with a

layer of caramel (=soft cooked sugar) or candy served on a stick

storing film

/'kaenan/ verb

can-not/ 'kae.nat;

'candy apple noun

the practice of

someone or something with a lot of force can-non-ball 1 /'kaenan.bol/ noun [c] 1 a heavy solid metal or stone ball shot from a cannon 2 a jump into

candies.

baby informal very easy

[u]

1

can-dle-stick

like taking candy from a do -» arm candy, eye candy

noun

can-ni-bal-ize/'kienibl.aiz/verb [t] 1 to take parts of something, for example parts from a machine, in order to make something else 2 business to take assets (=money or property) from one business in order to improve another one 3 to eat another human, or another animal of the same type can-non /'kaenan/ noun [c] 1 a large powerful gun used in the past that shot large solid metal balls 2 a large heavy gun on a ship or tank -» loose cannon

not hold a candle to to be much less good, beautiful, impressive, etc. than someone or something else -» burn can-die-light /'kaendl.lait/ noun [u] the light from a burning candle: We ate by candlelight. can-die-lit / keendl.lit/ adj lit only by candles: a candle-

can-dy-floss

/ 'kaenibl .izam/

being a cannibal

you burn

lit dinner / 'kaendl, stik/ noun [c] an object for holding a candle can-do adj eager to do difficult jobs and confident of success: a can-do attitude can-dor /'kaendar/ noun [u] honesty, even when the truth is not pleasant can-dour / 'ksndsr/ the Br E spelling of candor can-dy /'kaendi/ noun Am E **[u] sweet food made of cooked sugar or chocolate but not containing flour: Our kids aren't allowed to eat candy. a candy store Would you like a piece of candy? a. [C] a piece of candy. One piece is usually just called a piece of candy. BrE sweet: The window display showed rows of delicious

show

human flesh 2 an animal own type

/'kaendid/ adj candied fruit has been boiled in sugar to preserve it /'kaendl/ noun [c] it called a wick that

recorded laughter added

/'kaenibl/ noun [C] 1 someone who eats that eats other animals of its

can-ni-bal

can-died

string in

[u]

put into cans

BrE

CANDIDACY

can-die

noun

can-nel-lo-ni /.kaens'looni/ noun [u] tubes of pasta filled with a meat or cheese mixture can-ner-y /'kaenari/ noun [C] a factory where food is

prime candidate for a nervous breakdown. 3 formal someone who is taking an examination: Can-

can-di-da-ture /'kaendidstjor/ noun

inside the

ca-noe 2 can-on

ad)

/'kaenan/ noun [c] 1 formal a generally accepted rule: The economy's extraordinary growth defies the canons of economics. 2 [usually singular] a list of writers, musicians, etc. whose work is generally accepted or studied 2a. all the writing, music, etc. that is generally accepted as the work of one writer, musician, etc.: a lesser-known movie in the Kubrick canon 3 a Christian priest who works in a cathedral 4 a type of music in which different instruments or voices start the same series of notes, one after another

ca-non-i-cal/ka'nanikl/adj 1 following the generally accepted rules of something 2 based on the laws of a Christian church can-on-ize /'kaena.naiz/ verb [T] to announce officially that someone is a saint (=a Christian person whose life was very holy) can-on-i-za-tion / .kamonai'zeijn/ noun

—

[c/u] ,

canon law

noun

[u]

the set of laws of a Christian

church

ca-noo-dle /ka'nudl/

verb [I] informal old-fashioned to hold and kiss another person in a romantic way

can .opener

noun [C] a piece of equipment with a circular blade used for opening cans. BrE usually tin

opener

— picture -»

m

canopy canopy

G

short form the usual way of saying or writing cannot. This is not often used in formal writing: Can you come a little earlier^* Why can t we?* They can't be serious.'

can't /kient/ 'i

cant /kamt/ noun

[u] talk that is

not sincere, often about

religion or morals

cantaloupe

or can-ta-loup /'kaentl.up/ noun [c] a large round fruit with a thick gray-green skin and sweet orange flesh. A cantaloupe is a type of melon.

can-tan-ker-ous /ksntsnkaras/

adj

always com-

plaining or arguing and easily annoyed

cantata /kam'tata/ noun [c] a piece of religious music performed by singers and an orchestra /kaen'tin/ noun [c] * 1 a small container for carrying water when you are walking

can-teen

2 mainly Br E

a

room

in a factory, school, or hospital usually cafe-

where inexpensive meals are served. Am

E

teria

3 BrE

a box containing a set of knives, forks, and spoons: a canteen of cutlery

can-ter 1

/'kaentar/ verb [I] if a horse canters, it runs it runs slowly, it trots, and if it runs as it gallops.

fairly fast. If fast as it can.

can-ter2 /'kaentar/ noun [singular] the way a horse runs when it canters a. a ride on a horse that is cantering can-ti-le-ver /'kaentilivsr/ noun [c] a piece of wood or metal fixed to the side of an upright post or a wall for supporting something such as a bridge: a

and used

cantilever bridge roof

countries are divided

Can-ton-ese

/kaenta'niz/

adj

connected

with the

Guangdong region of southern China, or its language, food, or culture: a delicious Hong Kong-style Cantonese meal

Canuck

/ks'nAk/ noun [C] informal someone who is Canadian, especially French Canadian. This word is sometimes used as an insult. Ca-nuck adj Ca-nute /ks'nut/ a king of England. Denmark, and Norway who once stood in front of the sea and ordered it to stop moving toward the land. People sometimes refer to Canute when they are talking about actions that will never succeed. can-vas /'kaenvas/ noun * 1 [U] strong heavy cotton cloth used for making tents,

—

2

and

sails

canvas or other cloth on which artists paint with paints 2a. [C] a picture painted with oil paints on

[u]

oil

canvas or other cloth

can-vass

1

/ kaenvas/ verb 1 [i/t] to ask many people an area for their opinions and encourage them to vote for someone or support something: +for Volunteers

in

are needed to help canvass for the Republican candidate. canvass support We 're canvassing support for a new school in our neighborhood. 1a. [T] to ask many people in different places for their opinions: We will be canvassing the views of teachers all over the country'- 2 [T] to discuss an idea in order to decide whether to accept it or not: Various possibilities have been canvassed. can-vass-er

—

noun

[C]

can-vass /'kamvas/ noun

a period of time spent asking people for their opinions or support can-yon /'ksenjan/ noun [c] • a long deep valley with very steep sides made of rock 1

/kaep/noun

1 soft hat

2 3 4

iid/covering

top part limit

cap 2 a lid or part that fits over the top of something: Meg screwed the cap back on the bottle, —picture -» cs 3 literary the top part of a mountain: the hills with their snowy caps 3a. the top part of a wave 3b. the round top part of a mushroom 4 a limit on the amount of money that you can spend or charge: Airlines began to impose a $50 cap on commissions for domestic flights. 5 a hard cover attached to a tooth to protect it or replace part of it 6 a small amount of explosive that is used to make a loud noise in a toy gun called a cap pistol

go cap in hand to sb to ask someone in a

way

makes you

that

feel

to give

you money

ashamed

put on your thinking cap informal to try to think of a new idea or a new solution to a problem set your cap for/at sb old-fashioned to try to make someone fall in love with you

cap 2 /kaep/ verb

[t]

•

1 to say or do something that is better, funnier, cleverer, etc. than something good, funny, clever, etc. that someone has just said or done la. mainly journalism to be a very good or very important event that happens at the end of a series of events: His victory- in the world championship capped a brilliant week's skiing. The festivities were capped by a presentation to all the

committee members. 2 to put a cover or lid on something: It's a good idea to cap the chimney to prevent dirt from getting in. 3 to set a limit on the amount of money that someone can spend or charge: The interest rate has been capped at 7.5 percent.

to attach a hard cover to a tooth to protect it or replace part of it: She smiled, revealing a row of perfectly

capped

teeth.

be capped with/by literary to have something on top: The mountains were capped with snow. to cap it all mainly BrE informal used when you are saying that a bad or disappointing thing happens after several other bad or disappointing things have already happened

CAP, the

/

ei 'pi/

,si

Common

the

Agricultural Policy:

a set of laws about farming and food production made by the European Union

ca-pa-bil-i-ty

/

keips'bibti/ noun [c/u]

•*

1 the ability to do something: She could win the comThe firm wants petition - she certainly has the capability. the capability to increase its manufacturing capability. to do sth The train has the capability to reach speeds of over 200 miles per hour. * the capability of doing sth He

has the capability of becoming an excellent teacher. 2 the number of weapons, soldiers, etc. that a countryhas for fighting a war: military/defense capability The country has virtually no military capability of its own. within/beyond sb's/sth's capabilities able/not able to be done by someone or something: These calculations are beyond the capabilities of even the most advanced computers. The course is well within the capabilities of most people.

ca-pa-ble /'keipabl/

adj

•••

able to do something: / want to see you achieve what you are capable of. capable of (doing) sth The port He is capable of handling 10 million tons of coal a year. is capable of anything (=any action, however bad) if it furthers his ambition. 2 very good at doing a job The staff all seem very capable. / was impressed by his capable handling of the situation. ca-pa-bly adv: / asked Gail to take over, which she did very capably. 1

[+of]

:

2

cap

a soft hat with a stiff part called a bill or visor that comes out over your eyes: a baseball cap 1a. a soft hat that people wear as part of a uniform: a nurse's chauffeur's sailor's cap 1b. a soft hat that you wear to protect or cover your hair: a swimming/ bathing/ shower 1

4

beam

can-to / kaentoo/ noun [c] a section of a long poem can-ton / kaen tan; ksen'tan/ noun [c] one of the political regions into which Switzerland and some other

shoes,

capacity

196

kamapi/ noun [c] 1 a cloth cover above something such as a bed or chair 2 a curved roof over part of a building 3 a mass of leaves and branches that form a cover high above the ground: the forest canopy 4 a transparent cover over the front part of an airplane where the pilot sits canst I weak kanst; strong kamst/ verb thou canst an old phrase meaning "you can" /

on money

[c]

[c]

••

—

ca-pa-cious /kapeijas/ contain a

5 artificial tooth cover 6 explosive in toy gun + PHRASES

lot of

adj

formal large enough to

things easily

ca-pac-i-tor /kapyesitar/ noun [c] science a piece of equipment in which electricity is stored ca-pac-i-ty /ka'paesati/ noun [C/u] **• 1 the amount of something that can be put in a container or the

number

of people that a place has

room

cape

something can produce

there in her capacity as patron of the charity.

cape

/keip/ noun [C] 1 a large area of land that continues farther out into the sea than the land it is part of. This word is often used in the names of places. 2 a loose piece of clothing without sleeves that hangs from

your shoulders

Cape

Ca-nav-er-al /.keip ka'naev^Jral/ the home of the Kennedy space center in Florida where U.S. space vehicles and missiles are built and sent into space

Cape Cod

an area in southern Massachusetts where many people go on vacation 1 camper / keipar/ noun [c] 1 a food with a strong flavor that consists of a small green flower bud preserved in salt or vinegar 2 informal an activity that is not honest or not very serious: How did you get involved in that caper?

keipar/ verb

/

(i)

literary to

run or jump around

happily

cap-il-lar-y /'kaepi.leri/ noun [C] science a very small tube that carries blood around your body. Capillaries are a type of blood vessel. cap-i-tal /'kaepitl/ noun 1 capital or capital city [C] the city where a country or region has its government: Madrid is the capital of

•••

1

Spain. state/regional/provincial capital Tallahassee is the state capital of Florida. 1a. the most important place for an activity or industry: Milan, Italy's fashion capital +of Officials will fly to Houston, capital of the American oil industry. 2 capital or capital letter [C] the large form of a letter, for example "A" or "B," that you use at the beginning of a sentence or name: in capitals He wrote the title in capitals.

3 or

money or property that you use to start a business invest to earn more money

[u]

4

[C] technical the decorated top part of a column (=tall stone post that supports a building)

make

capital out of sth to get an advantage from a situation, especially a bad situation: She accused him of trying to make political capital out of an important issue.

capital 2 1

/'kaepitl/ adj

••

a capital letter is the large form of a example "A" or "B." that you use at the

[only before noun]

letter, for

beginning of a sentence or

name

2BrE informal old-fashioned excellent with a capital A/B/C etc. used for emphasizing that something is very true: This is a case of incompetence with a capital

capital ex penditure noun [ul business money that a company spends on things such as equipment and buildings that

it

needs to operate as a business

capital gains tax noun [u] a tax that a person or company pays on the profit you get from selling property or from money you have invested

capital-intensive

adj a capital-intensive business or activity needs to have a lot of money invested in it compare labor-intensive

—

cap-i-tal-ise /'kaepitl,aiz/a BrE spelling of capitalize capital-ism / 'kaepitl, izom/ noun [u] *• an economic system in which property, businesses, and industry are owned by individual people and not by the government 1 cap-i-tal-ist /'kaepithst/ noun [c] •• 1 someone who supports the system of capitalism 2 someone who is successful in business or invests money in businesses for profit 2 cap-i-tal-ist /'kaepitlist/adj • based on or supporting the system of capitalism: a capitalist society I economy I country

a professional/personal/advisory etc. capacity formal having a particular job or position when you do something: lam here in a personal capacity, not on behalf of the company. in your capacity as Elizabeth Taylor was in

ca-per2

capri pants

197

+ of The fuel tanks have a capacity of 25,000 gallons. a concert hall with a seating capacity of 800* filled/full to capacity ^completely full) All the country's prisons are a capacity crowd /audience (=a very full to capacity. large crowd/audience that completely fills a place) The game is set to attract a capacity crowd of 42,000. 1a. the amount of information that can be stored on a computer disk 2 the ability to do something: Her poor health limits her capacity to do sth They are worried earning capacity. about their capacity to invest for the future. +for Harry had a tremendous capacity for work. 3 the amount of goods that a company can produce or the amount of work it can do: New machinery could increase our production capacity by 25 percent. The plant The present rail has a capacity of 120,000 tons a year. at full capacity network has plenty of spare capacity. (=producing as many goods as possible, or doing as much work as possible) The factory is now operating at full capacity. 3a. the amount of energy or power that for:

I.

cap-i-tal-is-tic / kaepitl'istik/ adj relating to capitalism or typical of capitalism

cap-i-tal-ize / 'kaepitl ,aiz/ verb [t] 1 to write something using capital letters 2 business to sell something you own for money that you need: You can choose to capitalize some of the value of your pension. highly/well capitalized business a highly/well capitalized business has a lot of money invested in it capitalize on phrasal vb [t] [capitalize on sth] to use an event or a situation to help you achieve something or get an advantage: He is trying to capitalize on popular discontent with the current administration.

capital letter see capital' 2 capital offence noun [c] a crime for which the punishment is death a. humorous something that is considered a very bad thing to do capital 'outlay noun [u] capital expenditure .capital punishment noun [u] the punishment of being legally killed

cap-i-ta-tion /.kaepi'teijn/ noun [c] business a tax or payment where the same amount of money is paid by each person Cap-i-tol, the / 'kaepitl/ 1 the building in Washington. D.C. where the U.S. Congress meets to make laws 2 the building in the main city of each U.S. state where government officials meet to make state laws .Capitol 'Hill 1 the hill in Washington. D.C. on which the Capitol is built 2 the U.S. Congress: He was Capitol Hill's

most militant health-care campaigner.

ca-pit-u-late /ka'pitja.leit/ verb [i] formal 1 to stop opposing what someone wants and agree to it, usually because they are stronger than you: The police capitulated and allowed the march to go ahead. + to We will not capitulate to the demands of terrorists. 2 to stop fighting in a war and accept that you are defeated: surrender ca-pit-u-la-tion /ka.pit JVleiJn/ noun [U] cap'n /'kaepn/ noun spoken a way of writing "captain" that shows how it sounds, used for speaking to the

—

captain of a ship

cap-ping

/'kaepin/ noun [u] the policy of setting an on the amount of money that someone can

official limit

spend or charge cap'puC'Ci-no/.kaepo'tfinoo/noun [c/u] strong coffee made with hot milk and often with cinnamon or chocolate powder on top ca-price /ko'pris/ noun [C/U] a sudden and unexpected change of opinion or behavior without any good reason: WHIM

ca-pri-cious/ko pn Jos /ad] suddenly and unexpectedlychanging your opinion or behavior without any good reason —ca«pri'cious'ly adv

Cap-ri-corn /'kicpnknrn/ noun

.capital asset noun [c] business something such as equipment or buildings that a company owns and uses in doing its business capital city see capital' .capital crime noun [c] a crime for which the punishment is death i

[c/u] one of the 12 signs of the zodiac represented by a goat. A Capricorn is someone born between December 22 and January 19 and is believed by some people to be influenced by this sign.

capri pants narrow pants

/ko'pri paents/ noun [plural] that end just below the knee

women's

capsicum capsicum cap-size

/ k;ep saiz, kaep'saiz/ verb [l/T] if you capsize a boat or if it capsizes, it turns upside down or onto its side in the water

la

cap-stan ment

/

that

[cj a round piece of equipwind a heavy rope, especially on

ksepstan/ noun

you turn

to

a ship or at a port

capsule /

kspsal, kaepsjul/ noun [c] 1 a small round container filled with medicine that you swallow whole: Take two capsules three times a day. 2 the part of a space vehicle in which people travel 3 a small container in which seeds or eggs develop in some plants and animals

capsule ho tel

o^n [c] a type of hotel in Japan where people stay when they finish work late and do not have time to go home. They sleep in small narrow areas like long boxes.

Capt.

caravan

198

kiepsikom/ noun [c/u) a red, green, or yellow vegetable with white seeds inside. The more usual word for this is a pepper. /

abbrev captain 1

cap-tain /kaeptm/ noun

[c]

••*

the person in charge of a ship or aircraft: We were invited to dine with the captain of the ship. 2 an officer of middle rank in the army, marines, or U.S. Air Force 2a. an officer of high rank in the navy 2b. in the U.S.. a police officer of high rank, above that Of LIEUTENANT 3 the player who leads a sports team: She was captain of the Olympic swimming team. 1

someone so that they become your prisoner: men had been either killed or captured. 1a. to catch an animal: Police officers finally cornered and capto catch Most of the 1

tured the dog.

2 to get equipment or control of a place from your enemy during a war: Rebel forces captured the village. They captured or destroyed over 400 tanks. 2a. to get control of something from an opponent in business or politics: Japanese firms have now captured over 50 of the market. Democrats had hoped to capture a larger share of the vote. 3 to express what someone or something is really like in a way that people can clearly recognize: The movie succeeds in capturing the mood of the 1960s. The artist has captured her perfectly.

4

to record an event in a movie or photograph: The whole incident was captured by a young American photographer. capture sth on film /camera /video The idea was to capture on film how the countryside was changing. 5 in a game such as chess, to win the right to remove one of your opponent's pieces 6 computing to put information or pictures into a form that can be used by a computer

capture the headlines to be the main story in the news capture sb's heart to make someone love you capture sb*s interest/imagination/attention etc to make someone interested in or excited about something: Her story captured the interest of the world's media. capture a title to win an important race or competition

cap-tain 2

/ kaeptm/ verb [T] 1 to be in charge of a sports team: He captained the foot ball team for two seasons. 2 to be in charge of a ship or aircraft

cap-tain-cy / 'ksptmsi/ noun is

captain:

McXeal

will take over the captaincy-

next season.

captain of industry noun [c] mainly journalism someone who owns or manages a large important company 1

caption

/'kspjsn/ noun [c] words printed near or on a picture that explain something about the picture a. a joke that is printed underneath a humorous drawing or photograph cap-tion 2 / kaepjsn/ verb [t] to put a caption above or below a picture cap-tious / kaepjss/ adj very formal tending to complain about things that are not important

captivate

/'kaepti.vert/ verb [t] to attract or interest

someone very much: Their romance

captivated the whole

country.

cap-ti-vat-ing

/ kaeptiveitin/ adj very interesting or attractive in a way that takes all your attention: a captivating tale His smile was captivating.

/'kaeptrv/ adj • a captive wild animal is kept such as a park or zoo instead of being allowed environment a. kept as a prisoner: take/hold sb captive She was kidnapped and held captive

cap-tive

1

in a place

to live in its natural

for over a week.

cap-tive 2 /

kaeptiv/ noun [c] as a prisoner

captive audience noun must

listen to

someone who

[c]

what someone

is

being kept

a group of people who saying because they

is

cannot leave cap-tiv-i-ty /ksp'trvati/ noun [u] a situation in which a person is being kept as a prisoner: The girls should be in captivity At least released from captivity immediately. a quarter of the prisoners died in captivity, a. a situation in which wild animals are kept in a place such as a park or zoo instead of being allowed to live in their natural environment: in captivity crocodiles that were born in captivity

cap-tor /

kaeptar/ noun [c] as a prisoner

cap-ture 1

1

/'kaeptfar/ verb

catch person/animal

2 take equipment/place 3 express how sb/sth is 4 record in movie/photo

someone who [t]

frequently used with capture

nouns

atmosphere, essence,

mood,

3

flavor,

spirit

[c/u] the job of being the

captain of a sports team, or the time during which

someone

Words

is

keeping you

•• 5 in games like chess 6 put data on computer + PHRASES

cap-ture

2 /

ksptjar/ noun

[u]

•

1 the act of catching someone so that they become your prisoner: avoid/evade/escape capture He tried to evade capture by leaving the country. 2 the act of getting control of something from your

enemy during a war: The campaign culminated

in the

capture of Rome. 2a. the act of getting control of something from an opponent in business or politics: the capture of a huge sector of the satellite TV market 3 computing the process of putting information or pictures into a form that can be used by a computer: a newsystem for data capture

car /kar/ noun

[c]

•••

a road vehicle for one driver and a few passengers. Someone who drives a car is called a driver: She's learning to drive a car. I'll take you to the train station in the car. She got into her car and drove away. a car accident factory manufacturer by car It's quicker to go by car. —picture -» c:. C8 2 one of the separate sections of a train. Br E carriage: Our car was near the front of the train. 2a. restaurant/dining/sleeping car the part of a train used for a particular purpose, for example eating or sleeping 1

AmE

ca-rafe

/ka'raef; ks'raf/ noun [c] a glass container for serving wine or water at meals, with a wider top than a bottle

car a larm noun [c] a piece of equipment that makes a loud noise when someone tries to steal your car ca-ram-ba /ka'ramba/ interjection (ay) caramba informal used for expressing your excitement, pleasure, or enjoyment 1

car-a-mel /'kersmel; karmal/ noun 1 [c/u] candy made from sugar, butter, and milk 2 [u] burned sugar used for coloring and flavoring food karmsl/ adj light yellowish-

car-a-mel 2 /keramel; brown in color

caramelized

/ keram? laizd; karms.laizd/ ad] caramelized food has a layer of slightly burnt sugar on it car-a-pace /'kerspeis/ noun [c] 1 technical a hard shell on the back of an animal such as a turtle 2 literary an attitude that someone has developed as a protection against other people car-at / kerst/ noun [c] a unit for measuring the weight of dlamonds and other jewels. It equals 0.2 grams a 30:

carat

diamond

[c] 1 a group of people and vehicles or animals traveling together, especially in a

car-a-van / kcra.vaen/ noun

caravan site desert

2a. a vehicle that Romanies live

sometimes pulled by a horse noun [c] BrEa trailer park cara-way/'kers wei/noun [u] the seeds of a plant used for flavoring food such as bread or cakes car-bine /kar.bam/ noun [C] a short light rifle car-bo-hy-drate /.karboo'hai.dreit/ noun [c/u] a substance found in foods such as sugar, bread, and potatoes. Carbohydrates supply your body with heat and energy. in,

caravan site

a.

'car

a food that contains carbohydrates noun [c] a bomb hidden in or under a car

[C]

bomb

noun •• 1 [U] a chemical element that is found in all living things, and can also exist as diamonds or coal 2 [C] a piece of carbon paper car-bon-at-ed /'karba.neitsd/ adj a carbonated drink has small bubbles of air in it carbon copy noun [c] someone or something that is almost exactly like another person or thing

carbon /'karban/

The

original

meaning of carbon copy was a copy made

using carbon paper.

carbon

dat-ing /'karbsn

noun

,deitin/

method by measuring [u] a

of finding out the age of a very old object the amount of radioactive carbon it contains

di-ox-ide /.karban dai'ak.said/ noun [u] • a gas without color or smell, produced when you breathe out or when substances containing carbon are burnt. The fact that the earth is getting hotter because of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is called the green-

carbon

house

effect.

carbon e'missions

noun [plural] carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide in the atmosphere, produced byvehicles and industrial processes

carbonized

/'karbs^aizd/ adj used for describing is so badly burnt that it is black in color carbon mon-ox-ide/karbsn ms'nak.said/noun [u] a poisonous gas without color or smell, produced by

something that

the engines of vehicles

'carbon paper noun

[c/u] very thin black or blue paper that you place between two pieces of paper in order to copy your writing from the top piece onto the bottom piece

'carbon tax noun

[c/u] a tax on vehicles or factories that produce a lot of carbon emissions

car-bun-cle /'kar.bAnkl/ noun [c] lump under your skin, caused by an jewel at:

3

a building that concrete carbuncles

carbu-re-tor

is

1

a big painful

infection 2 a red extremely unpleasant to look

/'karbs.reitsr/ noun [c] the part of a car

engine that mixes air and gas in order to provide power car-bu-ret-tor /'karba.reitsr/the BrE spelling of car-

buretor

carcass

/'karkss/ noun [c] 1 the body of a dead animal 2 the outside part of a vehicle, building, or other object that is left when the rest of it has been [C]

medical a substance that can cause cancer

car-cin-o-gen-ic / karsns^enik/ ad] medical likely

to

cause cancer 1

1 for

health club. flash a card Oshow someone a card quickly) They said they were from the gas company and flashed cards at us. 2a. a small piece of thick stiff paper with your name, your job, and the name of your company printed on it: business card: Let me give you my card. 2b. a piece of thick stiff paper on which you record information about something: / looked at my score card. 2c. a piece of thick stiff paper with printed information on it, usually part of a set: a collection of recipe cards 2d. a list of the sports events that are planned to take place at a particular time: There are six events on the

card today. 3 [C] a piece of thick stiff paper folded into two equal parts, with a picture and a message on it: greeting card: She sent me a lovely card on my birthday. a card says/ reads sth The card read, "Get Well Soon! Love from all at the office."* birthday/ Christmas /get-well, etc. card Did we get a Christmas card from your brother this year? 3a. a postcard: / scribbled a quick card to my parents. 4 [C] one of a set of 52 small pieces of thick stiff paper used for various games. The set is called a pack or deck and is divided into four suits: hearts, diamonds, picture -» cie clubs, and spades: playing card 4a. cards [plural] the activity of playing games with a at cards. play set of 52 cards: I've always been lucky cards Let's play cards this evening. game of cards There's time for a quick game of cards. 4b. [C] one of a set of small pieces of thick stiff paper used in games or activities such as tarot 4c. the cards [plural] playing cards or tarot used for trying to discover what will happen She said she had seen in the future: The cards never lie. our future in the cards. 5 [C] something that gives you an advantage in doing something: sb's strongest/best/trump/winning card His strongest card was his friendship with the prince. 6 [C] computing a part inside a computer that holds a chd?: You'll have to install a new ethernet card. 7 [C] informal old-fashioned someone who makes you laugh 8 [u] Br E thick stiff paper, thinner than cardboard

—

the cards are stacked against sb informal used for saying that someone will probably fail the cards are stacked in sb's favor informal used for saying that someone will probably be successful have a card up your sleeve to have a secret advantage that you can use later hold/have all the cards to be in a good position when you are competing against someone because you have all the advantages hold/keep/play your cards close to your chest to not tell people what you are thinking or planning (if you) play your cards right informal used for saying that if someone does something right and is lucky, they might get what they want in the cards very likely to happen lay/put your cards on the table to tell people exactly what you are thinking or what you are intending to do play the. .card to use a particular quality, argument, etc in order to gain an advantage: politicians who play the nationalist card in order to get votes .

card 2 /kard/

destroyed

car-cin-o-gen /kar'sm9d33n; 'karsna^en/ noun

card /kard/ noun

card catalog

199

2 BrEa trailer

•••

paying/getting

money

2 with information 3 for sending greetings 4 for playing games 5 sth giving an advantage

6

in a

7 sb

cardamom

computer

who makes you

verb [t] 1 Am E to ask someone to show a document that proves their age, especially in a bar 2 mainly journalism to achieve a particular score, especially in golf: Vickery finished third after carding a score of 68. 3 to give a player a red card or yellow card in soccer, for bad behavior 4 to pull a tool like a comb through wool or cotton to make it ready for spinning / kardamsm/ noun [u] the seeds of a plant used for giving a particular flavor to food. Cardamom is a spice.

laugh

8 thick stiff paper + PHRASES

/'kard.bord/ noun [u] • very stiff thick making boxes card-board /'kard.bord/ adj 1 [only before noun] not seeming very real: a movie full of cardboard characters 2 made of cardboard: a cardboard box a life-sized cardboard cut-out of a police officer card-carrying ad] belonging to an organization, especially a political organization, and supporting it very strongly: a card-carrying member of the Communist Party card catalog noun [c] a box of cards, each of which has different information on it, usually arranged in alphabetical order in a library'

card-board

1

paper, used especially for 2

1 [C] a small flat piece of plastic used for getting money etc. or for buying things. You are usually given a special number, called a PIN number. with your card so that you can get money from a machine: / gave the waiter my card. She produced her Visa card and paid the bill. 1a. a phone card 2 [C] a small piece of thick stiff paper or plastic that shows who you are and that you have authority or

from a bank, atm,

permission to do something: / handed the assistant my library card. / can't find my membership card for the

"

cardholder

"

card-hold-er /'kard.hooldar/ noun [c] someone who owns a credit card or debit card for buying things with car-di-ac /'kardi.aek/ adj [only before noun) medical connected with your heart: The cause of death was cardiac failure. ,

cardiac ar'rest noun

[C]

medical a heart attack

car-di-gan /'kardigan/ noun [C] a jacket knitted from wool, which you fasten at the front with buttons or a zipper

—picture

cardi-nal

-* cs

cardinal 2

/'kardinl/ adj [only before noun]/orma/ very important: The cardinal rule in working with large powerful animals is never to take any risks. a cardinal error as

number

noun

[c]

an ordinary number such number such as

or 3, as opposed to an ordinal 2nd, or 3rd

1, 2,

1st,

cardinal 'point noun

[C] technical one of the four main points on a compass (=a piece of equipment that shows

direction)

.cardinal 'sin noun [C] 1 humorous something that is considered to be bad or wrong so that you must not do it: He committed the cardinal sin of forgetting their anniversary. 2 something that the Christian religion says is bad so you must not do it car*di*ol*o*gy / ,kardi'abd3i/ noun [u] medical the area of medicine that deals with the heart and the diseases that affect

it

car-di-o-vaS'CU-lar /.kardiou'vaeskjalar/ adj medical connected with the heart and the blood vessels 'card shark noun [C] AmE a professional card player who cheats in order to win money 'card sharp noun [c] a card shark 'card table noun [c] a small table that folds up when not in use, used especially for playing card games

care

***

1

[never progressive] to be /ker/ verb [l/T] interested in someone and want them to be well and happy: / wish I had someone who cared. Only Ed cared enough to come and talk to her. + about / don't think she cares about him at all. a. to be interested in something and feel strongly that it is important: + about No one seemed to care about her feelings. + what /why etc. Of course I care what happens to the school! not care either way /one way or the other (=not worry about what is decided) Our mother said she didn't care either way, as genuinely care He wasn't long as we were all happy. lying - he genuinely didn't care whether he passed the test or not. care deeply/passionately They cared passionately about the environment. neither know nor care He neither knew nor cared what she meant by that remark.

any person/thing you care was

definitely

to

name/mention anyone

used especially in comparisons: It hotter than any place in the tropics you'd

or anything at

perhaps sb would care to do sth/would sb care to do sth? spoken used for asking someone to do something, in a way that shows that you are angry or upset: Perhaps one of you would care to explain this to me? Would someone care to tell us just what is going on here? see if I care spoken used when talking to someone who has made you angry or upset, for saying that their actions do not worry or interest you: Oh, just go - see if I care!

who cares? spoken used for saying that you do not think

1

/'kardinl/ noun [C] 1 a North American bird with a crest (=a pointed group of feathers) on the top of its head. The male is bright red. 2 a priest with a very senior position in the Roman Catholic Church, below that of the pope

.cardinal

CARE

200

all,

care to mention.

be past caring Br E spoken to be no longer interested in someone or something, because they have made you feel annoyed or tired of them: "Don't you want to know what she said?" - "No, I'm past caring. sb couldn't care less or as if sb cares or what does sb care? spoken used for emphasizing that someone thinks something is unimportant. These phrases usually show that the speaker is angry or upset: / couldn't care less how you do it -just do it. As if she cares whether he's What does the bus company care if you happy or not! have to wait for three hours? for all sb cares spoken used for saying that someone would not be worried or affected by a particular situation or action: For all he cares, I could be lying dead somewhere. Ask my parents yourself, for all I care - it won't make any difference. more/longer etc. than sb cares to remember/admit/ mention used for saying that something has been happening for a long time or very much: I've been doing this job for more years than I care to remember. He had hurt her more than she cared to admit. not care to do sth formal to not want to do something: The President said he did not care to comment.

something is important and that you are not worried about it: "I don't know. Who cares?" / mean, really, who cares whether he lied or not?

would you care for sth spoken formal used for asking politely whether someone would like something: Would you care for some coffee? would you care to do sth spoken formal used for asking politely whether someone would like to do something: Would you care to sit down? care for phrasal vb [T] 1 [care for sb] to love someone, especially in a way that is based on friendship rather than sex: He really cared for her. She made him feel special and cared for. 2 [care for sb] to do the necessary things for someone who needs help or protection: look after: The inspectors make sure that the elderly residents are well cared for. Teach your children how to care for their pets. 2a. [care for sth] to treat something carefully so that it stays in good condition: look after: Your clothes won 't last as long ifyou don care for them properly. 't

3

sth/sb]/orma/ to like or want something or someone: I don't much care for chocolate. [often in negatives or questions] [care for

care 2 /ker/ noun

••*

and

attention: / can see that a lot of care has gone into your work. with care The label on the box said "Handle with care." great/special/extra care He was choosing his words with great care. reasonable/due care legal: The employer had failed to exercise reasonable care. exercise care formal: The police must exercise more care in the arrest of young offenders. 2 [U] the activity, skill, or profession of looking after someone who needs help or protection: Some of the injured were in need of hospital care. The unit provides The elderly specialist medical care for premature babies. residents receive an excellent standard of care and treatment. / left him in your care - you should have watched him! + of a technique used in the care of mental patients 2a. in the U.K., the system in which local government takes care of children whose parents are either dead or not able to take care of them themselves: in care She spent her first 12 years in care. take sb into care Her two children were taken into care. 3 [U] the use of skill and effort to keep something in good condition: advice on the proper care of your new car a good skin-care routine 1

[U] effort

4

[C/U] mainly literary a worry about someone or something care of used when saying where you can send someone's letters while they are not at home. You write the abbreviation c/o on the envelope, before the address: Send it to Pedro care of me, if you like. not have a care in the world to not be worried about anything take care 1 to be careful: Take care on those steps! + (that) Take care that you don't fall.* take care (not) to do She took sth Please take care not to step on the cables. extra care to lock all the doors this time. + with You need to take more care with your writing. 2 spoken used for saying goodbye to someone in a friendly way: Bye now! Take care! take care of 1 to do the necessary things for someone who needs help or protection: Who will take care of the children? 2 to treat something carefully so that it stays in good condition: All the neighbors take very good care of their yards. 3 to do what is necessary to deal with a person or situation: I'll leave you to take care of the Can you take care of this customer, please? refreshments. 4 informal to pay for something: used especially when you are offering to pay for someone else: She picked up the check, saying, "Let

CARE

me

take care of that.

/ker/ a U.S. organization that sends packages containing medicine, food, clothing, or other things to

care assistant care of old people or people with serious illnesses, often in a special hospital

ca-reen

/ka'rin/ verb

[+down/along/off] to

[i]

move

forward quickly and suddenly, going from side to side in an uncontrolled way: The car hit a guardrail and careened across the freeway, a. [+from/toward] to be in a situation that changes quickly in an uncontrolled way: The country has careened from one crisis to another. an economic system careening toward collapse

carreer 1 /ks'nr/ noun [C] *** a job or series of related jobs that you do, especially a profession that you spend a lot of your working life in: Choosing a career can be a the problems of combining a career +in a career in computer science +as He started out on a career as a photographer. has just academic /political /managerial etc. career Rosen had

very difficult decision.

and a family

pursue /embark on/ decided on an academic career. follow a career Only 20 percent of the students intend to pursue careers as engineers in industry. make a career out of sth young graduates looking to make a career out of teaching end /ruin sb's career the financial scandal that ruined her career a distinguished/successful/glittering career He subsequently enjoyed a distinguished career in the diplomatic service, a. the time when a sports player, entertainer, or artist is active or working: the biggest fight of his career She played more than 800 games in a career spanning 20 years. sb's playing/acting career the injury that ended his playing career launch a /your etc. career The 25-year-old actress is now launching her career over here. the peak/ height of sb's career In 1999 Mackay was at the peak of her show business career, b. [only before noun] connected with someone's career: a good career choice He felt like a career change and went into teaching. a job with excellent career prospects

a good/smart/clever career move an action or change of job that helps you to be successful in your career: Insulting the boss's daughter was not a good career move. make a career out of (doing) sth to do something regularly, often something wrong or silly, so that you get a reputation for it: My brother seems to be making a career out of upsetting people.

Words frequently used with career adjectives

brilliant,

a career politician, soldier, teacher, etc. wants to be in their profession for a long time and to achieve success or power in it

ca-reer /ka'nr/

[only before noun]

verb

[i]

1

[+into/along/down

etc.] to

move forward very quickly driver lost control

and

in an uncontrolled way: The the truck careered through the

streets. 2 to be in a situation that you cannot control because things are happening so quickly: The economy is in danger of careering out of control. ca-reer-ist /ka'rinst/ noun [c] someone who enters a profession in order to be successful in it, but does not care very much about its principles. This word shows that you dislike people like this. ca-reer-ist adj

crowded

ca'reer

who

— woman (plural ca'reer women) noun [c] a woman

more interested in her career than in being married and having children. People who use this word is

often think this

care-free

is

a bad thing.

happy and without any worries, problems, or responsibilities: She was feeling perfectlyrelaxed, almost carefree. Dan thought back to those carefree days when he was a student.

careful

/'ker,fri/ adj

/'kerfl/adj

water.

2 spending money only when it is necessary: We're going to have to be more careful now that Dad's lost his be careful with (your) money She's always been job. 2a. used humorously about careful with money. someone who is not as generous with money as they should be (be) careful spoken used for telling someone to pay attention, for example in order to avoid an accident: There's some ice there - be careful!* Careful, Peter! You'll fall! if sb isn't careful spoken used for warning or threatening someone: If you're not careful, you'll break it. you can't be too careful spoken used for saying that it is important not to take risks care-f uMy adv: a carefully worded letter* He washed the antique plates very carefully.

—

Words

frequently used with careful

nouns

analysis, assessment,

1

consideration, deliberation, examination, handling, observation, planning, preparation, scrutiny, supervision, thought, timing, watch

/'ker.givar/ noun [c] someone who takes care of a child or an adult who is sick or unable to care for themselves

care-giv-er

'care .label noun [c] a label inside a piece of clothing that tells you how you should wash and dry it

care-less /'kerbs/

adj

*

1 a careless person does not think about what they are doing, so they make mistakes, hurt people, or damage things: Try not to be so careless next time! it was careless of sb It was very careless of you to leave the medicine where the children could get it. la. used about someone's actions: a careless piece of work careless driving 2 [+of /about] formal not thinking or worrying enough about something: an administration that is careless of press freedom 3 natural and relaxed: a lazy, almost careless gesture a careless laugh 3a. old-fashioned carefree care-less-ly adv, care-less-ness noun [U]

care .order noun

varied

ca-reer2 /ka'nr/ adj

+ with Please be very careful with those plates! 1b. used about someone's actions: The project needs careful planning. After careful consideration, we are giving the prize She took a few careful steps into the to a children's book.

—

checkered, distinguished, promising, successful,

glittering,

3

careworn

201

who need them anywhere in the world 'care as sistant noun [C] someone who takes people

•••

1 if someone is careful, they think about what they are doing so that they do not do anything wrong or so that they avoid problems: Teachers have to be careful when criticizing pupils. Even the most careful proofreader will miss the occasional error. + who/what/how You must be careful who you accept a lift from. + (that) Be careful that + about People the medicine is kept away from children. be should be more careful about the things they say. careful to do sth She was careful to keep her records up to damage: date. la. trying hard not to cause harm or

[c] a legal arrangement in the U.K. for the local Social Services to take care of a child instead of the child's parents

AmE

care package noun

[c] 1 a present of food, clothes, or other necessary things that you send to people in need 2 a present, especially of food, that you send to someone who is away at school or somewhere where they are unable to get things they are used to having: Mom sends me a care package of homemade cookies

every

month or

ca-ress

1

so.

/ks'res/ verb

[T] 1

to

move your hands

gently

over someone's face or body in a way that shows you love them: She caressed his shoulder lovingly. 2 literary to touch someone or something gently in a pleasant

way ca-ress 2

/ka'res/ noun [C] a gentle movement of your hands over someone's face or body in a way that shows you love them care-tak-er 1 /'ker.teikar/ noun [c] • 1 someone whose job is to take care of a house or land, usually for an owner who is away 2 someone who takes care of a person who cannot take care of themselves, for example because they are too young or too sick: caregiver: She served as caretaker to the two youngest children.

3 mainly Br E a .janitor care-tak-er2 /'ker.teikor/

adj [only before noun] responsible for a duty or activity for a short time until someone else is hired or elected: a caretaker manager

caretaker government noun

[c] a temporary government that is in charge of a country until a new government is elected care-worn / 'ker worn / ad] mainly literary looking tired, worried, and unhappy

E

carfare

AmE

carfare

/'kar.fer/ noun [uj old-fashioned money that you pay to ride a bus, streetcar, or subway (=train that travels underground)

(plural cargoes) noun [c/u] * things that are being sent by ship, airplane, train, or truck: a cargo of oil bound for New York a. [only before noun] used about ships, airplanes, etc. that carry goods: a cargo ship/airplane

car-go /'kargoo/

cargo pants

noun [plural] loose pants made of heavy cotton with six pockets, two of which are at the side of the legs just above the knees

car-i-bou /'kera.bu/ noun [c] a large brown animal with long thin legs and horns on its head that lives in northern North America car-i-ca-ture /'kenka.tjor/ noun 1 [c] a drawing of someone that strongly emphasizes their main features, especially in order to make them seem funny caricatures 1

:

of political leaders 2 [C/u] a description of a person, place, or situation that makes them seem silly by emphasizing only some aspects of them 2a. someone or something that seems silly because they show very strongly the aspects that are considered very typical of a particular person, thing, or group 2

/'kenka.tjur/ verb [T] to draw or describe someone or something in a way that makes some aspects of them seem funny

car-i-ca-ture

car-i-ca-tur-ist

/

'kenka,t Jurist/ noun [c]

someone who

draws or writes caricatures [C] a musical instrument consisting of a set of bells in a small tower that you play using a keyboard in the same way that you play a piano

/'kenn/

adj

kind, helpful,

and sympathetic

BrE

a profession that

toward other people

caring profession noun

[c]

involves taking care of other people, for example social work and nursing

car-jack-ing /'kar,d3aekin/ noun [c/u] a crime in which someone attacks the driver of a car and steals the car. Someone who does this is called a carjacker.

car-mine /'kar.mam; 'karmin/

—

adj

mainly

literary

between red and purple in color car-mine noun [u] car-nage / 'karnid3/ noun [u] a situation in which there is a lot of death and destruction: a scene of carnage a. mainly journalism a situation that is difficult or full of problems: There was economic carnage on the stock

exchange yesterday.

carnal

/ 'karnl/ adj mainly literary relating to or involving sex or the body car-nal-i-ty/kar'naelati/noun [u], car-nal-ly adv

—

car-na-tion /kar'neijn/ noun [c] a flower with a sweet smell, often worn as a decoration on formal occasions such as weddings

— picture -» C9

Car-ne-gie Hall /.karnagi 'hoi/ a famous concert hall in New York City where many musicians hope to perform one day

car-net /kar'nei/ noun [c] BrE a small book that you can use on public transportation

of tickets

/'karnivl/ noun 1 [C]AmE a collection of large machines you can ride on, and places where you can buy food and try to win prizes by playing games. Carnivals usually travel from town to town. Br E fair E a fair at a school 2 [C/u] a lively festival in 1a. which people walk through the streets playing music, dancing, and often wearing unusual colorful clothes

Am

car-ni-vore /'karni.var/ noun

[c] an animal that eats other animals. An animal that only eats plants is called a herbivore, and an animal that eats flesh and plants is called an omnivore. a. humorous someone who eats meat. This word is used especially by vegetarians.

car-niv-o-rous /kar'nivaras/

adj

a carnivorous animal

eats other animals

car-ol

brown powder made from the seeds

/'kerab/ noun [u] a sweet

tastes like chocolate Mediterranean tree / 'keral/

noun

and

[C]

is

ca-rouse /ka'raoz/

verb [i] mainly literary to drink alcohol and enjoy yourself in a noisy way

car-ou-sel /,kera'sel/noun [c] 1 Am a large circular machine that moves around with wooden horses or other objects on it, that children can ride on while music plays. BrE roundabout 2 a moving surface in an airport from which you collect your bags carp 1 /karp/ (plural carp) noun [C] a large fish that lives in lakes and rivers carp 2 /karp/ verb [i] to complain a lot, especially about things that are not important

car-pal tun-nelsyn-drome/karpl unl sindroom/ noun [u] a medical condition in which a nerve in your wrist is squeezed and your hand hurts

car park noun [C] BrE a parking lot or parking garage car-pen-ter /'karpantar/ noun [c] someone whose job is to make things from wood or repair things that are made of wood car-pen-try /'karpantri/ noun [u] the activity of making things from wood or repairing things that are made of wood car-pet /'karpat/ noun *• 1

[C/u] a thick soft cover for a floor: wall-to-wall carpet (=cut to fit a room) There was a green wall-to-wall carpet in the hall. 2 [C] [+of] mainly literary a layer of something soft cov-

ering the ground

be called on the carpet informal to be criticized by

someone in authority car-pet 2 /'karpat/ verb

[T usually passive] 1 to cover a with a carpet 2 BrE informal to criticize someone very severely for something they have done wrong car-pet-bag / 'karpat ,baeg/ noun [C] a bag you use when traveling made from very thick cloth car-pet-bag-ger / 'karpat .baegar/ noun [c] AmE someone who gets involved in politics in a place away from where they live, because they think they will be more successful there a. someone from the North of the U.S. who went to the South to get political or financial advantages after the Civil War, especially in a dishonest or immoral way carpet- bomb verb [T] to drop a lot of bombs from airplanes all over an area in order to destroy everything

floor

on the ground

car-pet-ed / 'karpatad/ adj a carpeted room or area has carpet on the floor

car-pet-ing /'karpatirj/ noun [u] thick woven material used for making carpets 'carpet sweeper noun [C] a piece of equipment that you use for cleaning a carpet, consisting of a box with a brush inside and a long handle car pool noun [C] 1 a group of car owners who agree to travel together to

work, school,

etc.,

so that only one

is used each time 2 a group of cars owned by a company that can be used by people who work for the company 'car-pool verb [I] AmE if a group of car owners car-

car

carnival

car-ob

car-ol-ing /'keralin/ noun [u] AmE the activity of singing special songs at Christmas ca-rot-idar-ter-y/ka,ratid artari/noun [c] one of the two main arteries on each side of your neck that carry blood from your heart to your head

1

car-il-lon /ka'nljan/ noun

caring

carriage

202

that of a

pool, they agree to travel together to work, school, etc., so that only one car is used at a time [c] AmE a lane on the highway which cannot be used by cars containing only one

carpool Jane noun person

car-port /'kar part/ noun

[c] a shelter for a car that is attached to the side of a house and consists of a roof but no walls car-rel /'keral/ noun [c] a small enclosed area in a library, usually containing a desk and a chair for one person to study at

car-riage /'kend3/ noun* 1

a traditional song sung at Christ-

vehicle pulled by horse

2 moving part of machine 3 for moving sth heavy

4 way sb walks 5 part of train 6 (cost of) moving goods

carriageway [C]

car>riage«way /'kend3,wei/ noun

[c]

BrE one

side of

a major road, used by vehicles traveling in the same direction

car-ri-er /'keriar/ noun

[C]

company that moves sth 2 vehicle that moves sth 1

3

• 4 metal frame on bicycle 5 TV/insurance company

of a disease

a company that moves goods or people from one place to another: an international carrier 2 a vehicle or ship used for moving goods or people, 1

especially soldiers -» aircraft carrier 3 someone who can pass a genetic disease to their children without suffering from it themselves 3a. a person or animal that can infect another person or animal with a disease without getting it themselves 4 a metal frame attached to a bicycle and used for carrying things 5 a company that provides telephone or television service 5a. a company that provides insurance

AmE

'carrier pigeon noun [C] a pigeon that has been trained to carry messages car-ri'On /'kerian/ noun [u] the decaying flesh of dead animals carrot /'kerat/ noun * 1 [C/U] a long hard orange vegetable that grows under the ground and has green leaves on its top —picture -»

en

2

[C] informal something that someone promises you as a way of encouraging you to do something: the electoral carrot of early tax cuts

carrot and stick a mixture of promises and threats to persuade someone to do something, especially to work harder

carry 1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1

/'keri/ verb

•••

somewhere

do sb else's work

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

lead to punishment

20

take sb/sth

have goods for sale spread disease always have

a feeling

publish/broadcast sth

have

a

carry

203

a vehicle with wheels that is pulled by horses, especially one used in the past before cars were invented 2 [C] a moving part of a machine that supports another part: a typewriter carriage 3 [C] a piece of equipment with wheels used for moving something heavy, especially a large gun 4 (singular/ul/orma/ the way someone moves their body when they are walking 5 [C] Br E a car of a train 6 [U] BrE the process of moving goods from one place to another 6a. the cost of moving goods 1

guarantee

win election

have message/warning

support weight involve risk/danger

make an aim

possible

accept responsibility

encourage support of

smells/sounds

develop to certain

level

be pregnant in

adding numbers

+ PHRASES

11 vote for and accept 1 [T] to hold someone or something using your hands, arms, or body and take them somewhere: Do you mind carrying this box for me? Luke was carrying a bag over his shoulder, —picture -» next page la. to have something with you, usually in your pocket or bag: /

much cash with me. British police officers normally don't carry guns. 1b. to take or deliver a message to someone: They carried the news of the massacre back to their villages. 1c. if water or air carries something or someone, it takes them with it as it moves along: The oil was carried by the tide onto the shore. Id. if a vehicle carries someone or something somewhere, it takes them there: An airplane carrying 120 passengers has crashed in India. 1e. if a road, pipe, or wire carries something along it, that thing moves or flows along it: a cable carrying electricity to nearby homes 2 [T] if a store carries goods or products, it has them for sale: We are urging stores not to carry goods made with never carry

child labor. 3 [T] to have a disease and be capable of infecting someone else with it 3a. to have a gene that causes a

particular medical condition that you can pass to your children 4 [T] if you carry a feeling with you, you have it in your mind all the time: He would carry the guilt with him forever.

5 [T] to publish or broadcast a news story: All the papers carried the story the next day. 6 [T] if something carries a guarantee, it has it. All our products carry a full 25-year guarantee. 7 [T] E to win an election in a particular state or district: A Democrat has not carried Arizona since 1948. 8 [T] to do some of the work that someone else should be doing so that they can continue to do their job: His colleagues rapidly grew annoyed at having to carry him. 9 [T] if a crime carries a particular punishment, that is the punishment people will receive for committing it: Murder carries a compulsory sentence of life imprisonment. 10 [T] if something carries a message or warning, it has it written on it: Packs of cigarettes must carry a government health warning. 1 1 [T usually passive] if a motion (=a formal suggestion of policy) is carried, it is accepted officially because the majority of people have voted for it 12 [T] if walls or posts carry part of a building or structure, they support its weight 13 [T] if something carries a danger, it might cause something bad to happen: The treatment carries less risk than some medications. 14 [T] to make it possible for someone to achieve something: His determination to succeed carried him to the top

Am

of his profession.

15 [T] if you carry responsibility or blame for something, you accept it: The government must carry the blame for this terrible tragedy. 16 [T] to persuade a number of people to support your ideas: She seemed to carry the whole audience with her. 17 [I] if a smell or sound carries, it can be smelled or heard over a distance: His voice doesn't carry very well. 1 8 [T] to do or develop something to a particular point or level: Carried to extremes, such behavior can be selfdestructive. / know we all need to be careful with our money, but some people carry it too far! 1 9 [T] old-fashioned if a woman is carrying a child, she is

pregnant

20

[T] spoken to add a number to the bottom of the next row of numbers on the left when adding rows of

numbers as fast as your legs can carry you at the quickest speed that you can run: Her son raced down the driveway as fast as his little legs could carry him. be carrying a few pounds/a little bit etc. to weigh

more than you should by a particular amount: He was in his mid-forties, I guessed, and carrying a little extra weight.

carry all/everything before you to be extremely successful and defeat all your opponents carry the can Br E informal to be the person considered responsible for something carry conviction BrE to be capable of persuading someone that something is true or real carry the day to be the winner in a competition, debate, argument, or fight carry a (heavy) load/burden to have responsibility for something difficult or unpleasant: He carries the heavy burden of leadership. carry sth in your head/mind to remember information correctly without having to write it down carry a torch for sb to be in love with someone, usually when they do not realize this carry a tune to sing musical notes correctly carry weight to be respected and have influence: Dr. Watson has worked in the region for 40 years, and his opinions carry great weight. carry yourself to hold or move your body in a particular way: You're tall and you carry yourself extremely well.

away to become so excited or involved in something that you lose control of your feelings or behavior: Let's not get carried away. The deal could still fall through. get carried

carry forward phrasal vb [T] 1 to take the total of a column of numbers from the bottom of one page to the

carry

c

cartwheel

204

top of the next 2 to take something such as money or vacation time that are available for you to use in one period of time into the next one carry off phrasal vb [T] 1 to deal successfully with

something difficult: Both actors have the stylish self-confidence needed to carry off these roles. 2 to win a prize: At last week's Oscars, a small number of movies carried off nearly all the major awards. carry on phrasal vb 1 [i/t] [carry on sth] to continue doing something: Carry on. You're doing fine. He moved to Atlanta to carry on his work. For the moment we've been told to carry on as usual. +with Just carry on with what you were doing. carry on doing sth If you carry on spending money like that, you'll end up in debt. 1a. [l] to continue going in the same direction: Turn left at the [T] traffic lights and carry on up the high street. 1b. to continue something that someone else started: Her daughter intends to carry on her mother's research. 2 [l] informal to behave in an angry, excited, or emotional way: "No matter how much you carry on, Mother," said Sally. "I'm not going to marry him. "3 [l usually progressive] old-fashioned if two people are carrying on, they are having a sexual relationship that you do not approve of carry out phrasal vb [T] to do something that you have said you will do or that you have been told to do: Maybe she ought to have carried out her threat to go to the police. He waited until they had carried out his orders to the fullest, a. to do something important: The construction work was carried out by a local contractor. An investigation is being carried out by the prison warden. Some practical experiments carried out by Mayo in the early 1930s produced interesting results. carry over phrasal vb 1 [l/T] if something carries over or is carried over from one situation into another, it has the same effect in the new situation as it had in the old one: Stresses at work can often be carried over into your home life. 2 [T] to take something that you earn or are given in one year or period of time into the next one: You are not allowed to carry over vacation time from one year into the next. carry through phrasal vb [T] 1 [carry sth through] to complete something that was planned, often despite difficulties or opposition: It's a tough job, and we're relying on you to carry it through. 2 [carry sb through (sth)] to make it possible for someone to deal successfully with a difficult or unpleasant situation: In the end, it was her passionate belief in justice that carried her through.

carrying charge

AmE

,tjard3/ noun [c] to pay if you pay for some-

/'keriin

extra money that you have thing in small regular payments

carryings-on

'an/

/keriirjz

noun

[plural)

spoken

unusual, surprising, or annoying behavior

carry-on 1

carry-on bags or suitcases are ones that you can keep with you on an airplane

carry-

ad] [only before noun]

on 2 noun

[singular]

BrE spoken an annoying, silly,

or unreasonable situation

carry-out

/'keri.aot/ noun [c] food that you buy in a restaurant and eat somewhere else. Br E usually takea. a restaurant that sells food that you eat some-

away

where else car-ry-o-ver /'keri.oovar/ noun

[singular] 1

something

that is the result of a situation that existed in the past: Getting up early is a carryover from the time when I was in the army. 2 an amount of something, especially money, that has not been used up and can be kept and used later: a $7 million carryover from last year

carsick car

/'kar.sik/ adj feeling sick

— car-sick-ness noun [u] 1

cart /kart/ noun

[c]

from traveling

in a

•*

a vehicle with four wheels and no roof that is pulled is used for carrying things 2 Am E a shopping cart 3 a small table with wheels, used for moving food and drinks. Br E trolley 1

by a horse and

AmE

put the cart before the horse to do one thing before another thing that you should have done first [T] informal to carry or take something somewhere, especially something that is heavy or difficult to hold cart off phrasal vb [T] informal to take someone somewhere, especially to a prison or hospital: / was carted off in an ambulance with the sirens blaring. carte blanche /kart 'blantJV noun [u] the freedom to do what you want in a particular situation cartel /kar'tel/ noun [c] a group of people or companies who all agree to sell something at the same price so that they can all make profits without competing with one another cart-horse /'kart.hors/ noun [c] a big strong horse used for pulling carts and other heavy things in the

cart 2 /kart/ verb

past

car-ti-lage /'kartlid3/ noun [u] a substance similar to bone that surrounds the joints (=places where two bones meet) in your body cart-load /kart, loud/ noun [C] the amount that you can carry in a cart car-tog-ra-phy /kar'tagrafi/ noun [u] the work of making maps car-tog-ra-pher noun [C] car-ton / 'kartn/ noun [c] 1 a container for liquids that

—

—

picture -» is made of stiff thick paper: a milk carton container 1a. the liquid in a carton or the amount that drank whole carton a carton contains: She a of orange juice. 2 a container for goods, made of cardboard

car-toon /kar'tun/ noun a movie or

[c]

*

TV

show, especially for children, that is made by photographing a series of drawings so that people and things in them seem to move 2 a humorous drawing in a newspaper or magazine, often with words written below 2a. mainly BrE a come 1

STRIP

3 technical a drawing that an artist does as preparation for doing a painting or other work of art

cartridge /'kartnd3/ noun

carry

/ 'keri/ noun 1 [C] the action when an offensive player runs with the ball in football: Sanders had 30 carries in the Lions' win over the Bears. 2 [C/U] technical the distance that a ball, bullet, or missile flies through the air

AmE a large soft bag with

car-ry-all /'keripl/ noun [c] handles car-ry-cot /'kerikat/ noun [c]

BrE a

portacrib

[c] 1 a small container with film or magnetic tape inside that you put into a camera or tape recorder 2 a small metal tube containing a bullet and a substance that will explode that you put inside a gun 3 a small container with ink inside that you put into a printer or pen cart-wheel /kartwil; kart.hwil/ noun [c] 1 a circular movement in which you throw yourself sideways with your hands on the floor, swing your legs over your head, and then come back with your feet on the floor: Children were doing cartwheels on the lawn. 2 a large wooden wheel from a cart cart-wheel verb [l]

—

"

carve carve /karv/ verb • 1 [i/t] to make an object by

one side can use against the other

cutting it from stone or wood: He carved a statue of her out of an old log. 1a. [T] to produce a pattern or writing on the surface of something by cutting it: She carved his name on her school

desk.

2 [i/T] to cut a large piece of cooked meat into thin pieces before serving it 3 [T] if wind, a river, etc. carves something in the land, it produces it over a period of many years: The river has carved a series of spectacular gorges. carve out phrasal vb

[T]

to

develop a career or position

for yourself by working hard .carve up phrasal vb [T] 1 to divide something such as land between different people or countries, especially in a way that seems unfair 2 informal to attack and cut someone with a knife 3 BrE informal to drive past another car that is traveling in the same direction as you and then move in front of it too soon

carv«er /'karvar/ noun [c] 1 someone who carves objects from stone or wood 2 a carving knife carving /'karvin/ noun [c] * an object, pattern, or piece of writing made by cutting stone or wood: a beautiful

wooden carving

'carving knife noun [c] a large knife for cutting cooked meat into thin pieces —picture -» knife 'car wash noun [c] a place with special equipment for washing cars /.kaesa'noovs/ noun [c] a man with a reputation for having many sexual partners

Ca*sa*no«va

This is one of several names from literature that can be used to refer to men like this. Others are Don Juan, Lothario, and Romeo.

cas-cade

1

/kae'skeid/ noun [C] 1 mainly literary a 2 a series of things that come quickly one after the other: The bank's collapse led to a cascade of business failures. 3 mainly literary something that hangs down in large amounts, for example cloth or hair

small waterfall

cas-cade 2 flow down

/kae'skeid/ verb [i] [+to/down/from/over] to or hang down in large amounts: The tears cascaded down her cheeks. dark hair that cascaded to her shoulders

case 1

1

/keis/ noun

••*

example/instance

2 situation affecting sth 3 legal matter for court 4 reasons for/against sth 1

[C]

cash

205

5 situation/person 6 container/cover 7 in language + PHRASES

an example or instance of something: In

"

law court: the

case for the prosecution/the defense The assistant district attorney informed the judge that he had completed the case have a case (=have a chance of for the prosecution. winning) The lawyers told me I didn't have a case. 4 [C] a set of facts and arguments that you can state for or against something: This horrible crime strengthens +for/ the case of those who want all guns to be licensed. against The case against lowering educational standards is overwhelming. make a case for sth Calvin makes a this unpopular policy in his article. *A case state your can be made for reducing taxes right now. case She was being offered a chance to state her case. 5 [C] a situation or person to be dealt with, often by an official: reports of cases of neglected and abused children Each social worker was assigned 30 cases. 6 [C] a container or cover for keeping or protecting something: Have you seen my glasses' case anywhere? The paintings were shipped in large wooden cases. 6a. a piece of furniture made of wood and glass in which objects are shown in a store or museum 6b. a container for holding a large number of separate things, especially bottles, or the things in the container: +of We bought a case of wine. 6c. mainly Br E a suitcase 7 [C/u] linguistics a form of a noun, adjective, or pronoun in some languages that shows its relationship to other words in a sentence

good case for

a case in point an example of the situation or behavior that you are talking about: Shoppers tend to think that high prices mean high quality. Electronics are a case in point.

get off sb's case [usually in imperative] spoken to stop criticizing someone in any case 1 whatever the situation is or will be: Traffic may be bad, but in any case we'll be there in time for dinner. 2 used for adding information to support a statement or make it clearer: Nobody saw her on the train. In any case, she probably didn 't have enough money for a ticket. in case 1 if: In case you can't come, give me a call before I leave for work. 2 in order to be prepared for something that may happen: Take an umbrella in case it rains. just in case I'll make some sandwiches, just in case we get hungry later. + of In case of bad weather, the wedding will be held indoors. 3 used for explaining why you are doing something: In case you were wondering, I'm here to see

your brother, not you.

on sb's case spoken criticizing someone all the time on the case dealing with something: "Who's finding out about the hotel?" "Don't worry, Jane's on the case. /keis/ verb [T] very informal if a criminal cases a place, such as a bank, they watch it and look around it to help them plan their crime: He saw McVeigh casing the Oklahoma City federal building before it was bombed. a. case the joint often humorous to look carefully at a place that you intend to visit later

case 2 the major-

ity of cases, keeping a project within budget depends on + of a serious case of nerves It was a case of love at first sight. 1a. an instance of a disease: + of a bad case of food poisoning 1b. a person with a disease: He treated several cases of severe sunburn. 2 [C usually singular] a situation or set of conditions, especially one involving a particular person or thing: as is the case Often, as is the case for these families, there is no other source of support. be the case This was the case in the past, but now life is different. if that's the case / think If that's the case, I'm not surprised he was angry. we can make an exception in your case. in that case "I don't need it tonight." "In that case, I'll keep it until tomorrow, "in which case They had the choice to comply with the conditions, in which case the bombing would have stopped. it's a case of It really is a case of "no news is good news. it is the case that Isn't it the case that they're afraid of change? 2a. as the case may be used for saying that either of two things may be true, depending on the actual situation: An important consideration is the candidates' experience, or lack of it, as the case may be. 2b. on a case-by-case basis according to the particular facts relating to each situation: The only thing we can do is to negotiate on a case-by-case basis. 3 [C] a legal matter that will be decided in a court: a civil /criminal case The case involved charges of police corruption. + against He was confident the case against him would be dropped. win /lose a case He would do anything to win a case. 3a. a crime that the police are trying to solve: At least a dozen officers are investigating the murder case. 3b. the evidence and arguments that

efficient cost control.

in a

be cased in sth

to

be completely covered in something,

especially as a protection

case .history

noun [c] the details of someone's past illnesses or problems that are kept as a record for use by doctors or social workers caseload /'keis.lood/ noun [c] all the cases that someone is responsible for dealing with at the same time, especially a doctor, lawyer, or social worker She has a heavy caseload (=many cases). case-ment /'keismant/ or casement window noun [C] a window that swings opens like a door compare sash window case .study noun [c] 1 a piece of research that records details of how a situation develops over a period of time: a case study of a tribal group in Borneo 2 a set of events that is a good example of a particular idea or situation: The country's decline is a case study in economic mismanagement. case work noun [u] work that a social worker does to help a particular person or group of people with social problems. The person who does this work is called a case worker. cash 1 /kaeJV noun [u] ••• 1 money in the form of bills and coins: Some checkout in cash Do you want to lines at the store take cash only. pay in cash or by credit card? :

—

cash

cast

206

2 money

any form, especially money that is availyou to use when you need it: The Treasury has in

able for cash reserves of about $500 short of cash so she decided

short of cash Olga's put off her trip. cash /kaeJV verb [T] • to exchange a check for its value in bills and coins: Can I cash a check at the front desk? cash in phrasal vb 1 [i] to use an opportunity to make a profit or gain an advantage: The Broncos failed to cash in as the game ended with the ball on the 10-yard line. + on They accused her of trying to cash in on her daughter's fame. 2 [T] to exchange something such as stock or an insurance policy for its value in money cash out phrasal vb [i] to exchange something for money, especially at the end of a game: Having won a thousand dollars in chips at the casino, Bob cashed out and went home. billion.

to

2

AmE

cas'sa-va /ka'sava/ noun

a tropical plant with roots that can be cooked and eaten or made into flour

cas-se-role

/'kaesa.rool/ noun [c/u] a deep dish with a used for cooking a mixture of meat, vegetables, etc. in the oven a. food prepared in a casserole dish: a

lid,

chicken and vegetable casserole cas-sette /ka'set/ noun [C] * a small flat plastic case containing audiotape for playing and recording music and other sounds a. a flat plastic case with videotape inside: video cassette

cas-sock

/'kaesak/ noun [c] a long loose piece of clothblack and covering the whole body, traditionally worn by some priests ing, often

cast 1 1

[c]

a check written by a bank pay the

that guarantees (=makes a formal promise) to

amount written on it cash-less /'kaefbs/ adj done without any exchange cash: The use of credit cards

is

of

making us a cashless society.

cash .machine noun [c] mainly BrE an atm cash-mere /'kaejrmr/ noun [u] very soft wool

that

a type

4 give light/a shadow 5 throw

—

cashier's check noun

for part

3 lookatsb/sth

policy,

a position of responsibility, especially in the military, because they have done something wrong

/kaest/ (past tense and past

choose actor

2 describe sb as

.cash-and-carry

adj if a store has a cash-and-carry customers must pay cash and take whatever they buy with them cash card noun [C] mainly Br E an atm card compare BANK CARD, CREDIT CARD, DEBIT CARD cash cow noun [c] a product or business that earns a lot of money, especially when this money is used to pay for something else: Action films are the cash cows in the movie business. cash crop noun [C] a crop that farmers grow so that they can sell it, rather than using it themselves cash discount noun [c] a reduction in the price of something that is offered if you pay the full amount immediately in cash cash dispenser noun [c] BrE an ATM cash-ew /'kaeju; kasju/ or 'cashew ,nut noun [c] a curved nut eaten as a food cash flow noun [u] * business the rate at which a business takes in money through sales and pays it out for the things it needs to continue operating: Getting the money upfront will improve our cash flow significantly. cash flow problems a. humorous the amount of money you have available to spend castvier 1 /ks'Jir/ noun [c] someone whose job is to receive or give money in a store, bank, etc. castvier2 /kae'Jir/ verb [T]/orma/tomake someone leave

[u]

participle cast)

verb

***

6 move fishing line/net 7 make sth in a mold 8 tell the future 9 slide out of skin + PHRASES

performer for a particular part or for a particular type of part in a movie, play, etc.: Ralph Fiennes was cast in the lead role of King Richard. cast sb as sth She was tired of always being cast as a sex symbol. 1a. to choose all the performers for a movie, play, etc. 2 [T] to describe someone or something as belonging to 1

[T]

to choose a

a particular type: categorize: cast sb as sth From his days on the team he was cast as a troublemaker. 3 [T] to look at someone or something in a particular way: cast a look /glance She cast an impatient look at Mitch and stormed out of the room. cast an eye over/ cast your eyes over Harry cast his eyes over the bewildering array of instruments on the control panel. 4 [T] mainly literary to make light or a shadow appear in a particular place 5 [T] literary to throw someone or something someearliest

where

6 [i/T] to swing a fishing rod forward so that the end of the line falls into the water 6a. to throw a fishing net into the water 7 [T] to form an object by pouring liquid metal or liquid plastic into a mold: The Rodin sculptures are cast in bronze. 8 [T] to make a horoscope in order to say what will happen in the future, by calculating the positions of stars and planets 9 [T] if a snake casts its skin, it slides out of it be cast away to be left on an island or beach because your ship has sunk be cast down mainly literary to feel upset or disappointed cast doubt on sth to make something seem less certain, good, or real: The recent downturn in sales casts doubt on

you

the company's future. fresh information that casts doubt on his integrity cast sth from your mind to stop thinking about something, so that you will no longer be affected by it or worried about it cast (new/fresh) light on sth to provide information that helps people understand something more clearly: Human genome research is casting new light on Alz-

/'keisin/ noun [c] a layer of a substance that is used for covering something: rubber /copper /aluminum

heimer's disease. cast your mind back Br E to think about something that happened in the past, especially in order to remember

comes from a type of goat

cash on [u] cashpoint /'kasj.pomt/ noun [C] BrE an atm cash register noun [c] a machine with containers for delivery noun

holding

bills

cod

and coins that shows customers

in stores

how much they have to pay cash-strapped adj not having as much money

as

need: a cash-strapped private club

cas-ing casing

ca-si-no /ks'sinoo/ noun [c] a place where people gamble (=risk money in the hope of winning more) by playing card games, roulette, or slot machines cask /kaesk/ noun [c] a round wooden container for storing a liquid, especially alcoholic drink: barrel

cas-ket /'kseskat/ noun [c] 1 a coffin for a dead body 2 a small decorated box for keeping jewelry and valuable objects in

Cas«san«dra/k3'saendr3/ noun says that something very bad

who

is

[c] is

someone who always going to happen and

therefore not listened to

From old Greek stories in which a princess of Troy named Cassandra knew what would happen in the future but

was not

believed.

something important: Try to cast your mind back last conversation you had with her.

to the

cast your net wide to consider or involve a large variety of people or things cast a shadow over sth to make a situation seem less hopeful and more likely to end badly .Last night's killings cast a dark shadow over the peace talks. cast a spell on/over sb 1 to use magic to make something happen to someone 2 to have a strong emotional effect on someone: The Grand Canyon never fails to cast a spell over the traveler. cast a vote/ballot to vote in an election: Fewer than 20% of the votes cast were for conservative candidates. cast a round for phrasal vb [T] [cast around for sth] to look for or try to think of something, especially when you feel pressure to do something quickly: Casting around for a safe topic, she made a comment about the weather.

cast

thing: It took many years for Chicago to cast off its reputation as the home of violent gangsters. 2 [i/T] to untie the rope fastening your boat to the land so that you can sail away 2a. [i] if a boat casts off, it is untied and moves away from the land 3 [i/T] to finish a piece of knitting by removing the stitches from the needle and making a neat edge cast on phrasal vb [i/T] to start a piece of knitting by making the first row of stitches cast out phrasal vb [T] literary to force someone or something to leave a place

cast 2

/kaest/ noun

1 all

2

actors

for

• 4 5

movie/play

in

broken body part

3 sth made

in a

in

/'kaests

has sunk and

who

someone whose ship on an island or beach where

wei/ noun

is left

[plural]

[c]

[c/u] one of the social classes that people are born into in Hindu society, or the system of having these classes 2 [C] a group of people who have the same social or professional status

building

is

1

technical a castellated to look like a castle, usually with

/ 'ksesta.leitad/ adj

made

BATTLEMENTS

cast*er

/'kaestar/ noun [c] one of a set of small wheels that can move in any direction and are often attached to the bottom of a piece of furniture or equipment

casti-gate

/'kaesti.geit/ verb

[T]

formal

someone or something severely: He was racist by his opponents.

— cas'ti*ga*tion

to

criticize

castigated as a /,kaesti'geijn/

[u]

casting

/'kasstin/ noun 1 [u] the process of choosing people to act in a movie, play, etc. 2 [C] an object formed into a particular shape by pouring a liquid into a mold: cast

'casting couch, the noun humorous a situation in which someone agrees to have sex in return for getting a job as an actor: Her rise to stardom owed much to the casting couch.

.casting 'vote noun

[C] the vote that gives one group a majority when the other votes are equally divided. The person in charge of a committee, for example, often has the right to give a casting vote.

.cast 'iron noun It is

made

[u]

very hard iron that breaks easily. by being heated and poured into

into objects

molds. adj 1

made

•

- ci6

build castles in the air to have hopes and dreams that are unlikely to become real

cas-tor

another spelling of caster oil with a bitter taste,

/ 'keestar/

castor

'oil noun [u] a type of used in medicines in the past

cas'trate

/'kas.streit/ verb [T] to remove the testicles (=the pair of male sexual organs) of a man or animal

— cas-tra-tion

noun [U] ca-su-al /'kas3U3l/ adj ** 4 temporary

relaxed/informal to

wear

5 not doing sth regularly 6 without strong feeling

1 relaxed and informal: The bar has a casual low-key atmosphere. The interview took place around the kitchen table and was very casual, la. seeming relaxed and not worried about anything: Paul tried to sound casual but I could tell something was worrying him. 1b. used when you are criticizing someone for being too relaxed or not careful enough about what they do or say: The report notes the firm's casual attitude towards safety procedures. 2 casual clothes are comfortable, and appropriate for wearing in informal situations 3 [only before noun] happening without being planned or thought about: a casual meeting /remark The disease cannot be spread by casual contact. 4 working in temporary jobs: a casual laborer The workforce is mainly unskilled and casual. 4a. used about jobs that are not regular or permanent: casual employ-

ment

5

[only before noun]

doing something sometimes, but not

often or regularly: occasional: casual moviegoers Even casual readers of the business pages will be aware of

Greenspan 's influence. 6 [only before noun] not involving strong feelings or emotions: casual friendships He described himself as a casual acquaintance of the Kennedys'. casual sex (=between people who do not know each other well) He was only

—

looking for casual sex. ca-su-aMy adv cas*u*a*lise a Br E spelling of casualize cas-u-a-lize /'k^us.laiz/ verb [T] BrE to employ workers only when they are needed instead of as permanent staff ca*su*a*li*za*tion /,kaE3U3li'zeiJn/ noun [U]

casuals /'ka^uslz/ noun [plural] informal clothes ca«SU«al«ty/'ks3U3lti/noun 1 [C usually plural] someone who is injured or killed in an accident or military action: There were no reports of casualties from the attack. heavy casualties A small group of rebels inflicted heavy casualties (=many people injured or killed) on the government forces. 2 [C] someone or something that is damaged or suffers as a result of something else: +of Education has again been a casualty of government spending cuts. 3 [U] Br E an emergency room in a hospital ca»su*ist*ry /'ka^uistri/ noun [u] very formal the use of clever arguments, especially on moral issues, to try to make someone believe something that is not true ca-sus bel'li /.kasos 'beli/ noun [C] formal an event or situation that causes a

cat /kaet/ noun

[c]

war

*••

1 an animal with soft fur, a long thin tail, and whiskers, that people keep as a pet or for catching mice. young cat is called a kitten. 1a. a wild animal that looks like cat, for example a big a lion or tiger: big cat 2 old-fashioned an insulting word for a woman who

A

likes to annoy and upset other people be the cat's pajamas/meow Am E informal to be better than everyone else (has the) cat got your tongue? spoken used when someone does not speak when you expect them to let the cat out of the bag to tell someone something

was intended to be secret: He has let the cat out of bag about the government's true intentions. Am E informal unable to you are very nervous

that the

of cast iron 2 very definite, and castcertain to be effective: She's got a cast-iron alibi. iron safety procedures 3 very strong, or able to deal with

cast- iron

[c]

—

there are no other people

caste /kaest/ noun

cas-tel-lat-ed

—picture

1

a Spanish musical instrument consisting of a pair of small round pieces of wood or plastic held in one hand and brought together quickly to make a clicking sound, used especially by dancers

noun

noun

cast-iron nerves

a large strong building with thick walls, built in the past to protect the people inside from being attacked 2 one of the pieces used in the game of chess: rook

mold

/.kaesta'nets/

/'kaesl/

a cast-iron stomach

1

2 comfortable 3 not planned

injured part of the body, such as an arm or leg, while it is getting better: Sheila broke her arm skiing and had wear a cast. 3 [C] an object formed into a particular shape by pouring a liquid into a mold, allowing the liquid to become hard, and then removing the mold: The museum's study hall has casts of many Greek statues. 3a. a mold used to form a particular shape 4 [singular] Br E a particular type of something, especially someone's mind, face, or features: cast of mind men of a military cast of mind 4a. the particular way that something looks, especially if it is only slightly noticeable: His face had a slightly greenish cast. 5 [C] the action of swinging a fishing line or net into the water

cast*a*way

castle

fishing

to

cas-ta-nets

difficult conditions:

particular type

1 [C] all the performers in a movie, play, etc.: An allstar cast includes Michael Douglas as the U.S. President. She was a member of the cast of The Sound of Music for years. + of The play has a cast offour. 2 [C] medical a hard cover for protecting a broken or

noun

cat

207

aside phrasal vb [T] to get rid of someone or something because it is no longer interesting or valuable to you .cast off phrasal vb 1 [T] to get rid of someone or some,cast

like a cat on a hot tin roof stay still or concentrate because or worried

cataclysm

catch

208

like the cat that got the

cream mainly Br E very pleased

about something you have achieved look like something the cat dragged in informal to have a very dirty or messy appearance put/set the cat among the pigeons mainly Br E to cause trouble by doing or saying something when/ while the cat's away (the mice will play) humorous used for saying that people will do what they want and have fun if someone in authority is not there 2 -» CAT AND MOUSE, FAT CAT, FIGHT 2b, RAIN ROOM cat-a-clysm /'ksta.klizam/ noun [c] literary 1 a sudden violent change, especially a social or political one 2 a sudden natural event that causes a lot of damage, for example a flood or an earthquake cat-a-clys-mic / .ksts'klizmik/ adj 1 changing a situation in a sudden, violent, and unpleasant way: a cataclysmic eruption 2 informal used for emphasizing that something is very bad: a cataclysmic failure cat-a-combs /'kaeta.koumz/ noun [plural] a series of passages and rooms below ground where dead people are buried in the walls Cat-a-lan /'kaetl.sn/ noun [u] a language that people speak in parts of the northeast of Spain cat-a-log /'kstlpg/ noun [C] •• 1

1

,

catastrophic

/,ka.'t3'strufik/ adj causing a lot of or making a lot of people suffer: catastrophic

damage

floods a. used for describing something that is very bad: the company's catastrophic losses cat-a-strophi-cal-ly / kaHo'strufikli/ adv

cat-a-ton-ic /kaeta'tanik/ adj medical unable to move or control your movements as a result of illness or shock cat-bird seat /'ka;tb3rd ,sit / noun be in the catbird seat Am E informal to be in a situation where you have an advantage 'cat .burglar noun [c] a thief who gets into buildings by climbing up walls cat-call /'kast.kol/ noun [c] a loud whistling sound that someone in an audience or a crowd makes to show that they do not like a person or a performance

1

of all the things in a library, or sale: a computerized library catalog

a

1

list

museum,

exhibit,

2 a book containing information organized in a specific way, and often containing pictures: sale/mail order/ course catalog the winter course catalog Mail order catalogs for Christmas start arriving in October. 3 a series of bad things that happen: This catalog of disasters includes thousands of incidents of chemical con-

catch

catch

cat-a-log

2

1

2 3 4 5 6

make

a list of things that includes details about each one: Journals all have to be cataloged by library staff. 2 to list a series of things: The safety report cataloged a host of serious problems. / 'kaetl.og /

verb

[t] 1

catalogue / 'kaetlpg / the Br E

to

8 9 10

cat-a-lyst /'kaet(3)hst/ noun [C] 1 someone or something that causes something to happen or change: +for The new development will act as a catalyst for growth in business and tourism. 2 science a substance that causes a chemical reaction to happen more quickly but is not science causing a chemhappen more quickly 2 causing something to happen or change catalytic converter noun [c] a piece of equipment attached to a car that reduces the amount of poisonous

cat-a-lyt-ic

/.kasts'litik/ adj 1

ical reaction to

gases that

it

sends into the air

cat-a-ma-ran

/.kaetams'raen/ noun [c] a sailing boat that looks like two boats fastened together

mouse

and noun [u] a situation in which you let someone else believe that they have managed to escape, before you actually catch them: a game of cat and mouse play cat and mouse (with sb) Dora knew the detective was playing cat and mouse with her, waiting for his chance

,cat

to

trap her. 1

/'kaeta.pAlt/ noun [C] 1 a large weapon used in the past for firing heavy stones la. BrEa slingshot 2 a piece of equipment on a ship used for sending aircraft into the air 2 cat-a-pult /'kaeta.pAlt/ verb 1 [i/t] to suddenly put someone into an important position 2 [T] to push or fire someone or something very quickly through the air cat-a-ract / 'kaeta raekt/ noun [C] 1 a medical condition affecting your eyes in which they become white and you gradually lose the ability to see 2 literary a large WATERFALL ca-tarrh /ka'tar/ noun [u] mainly BrE a medical condition in which your nose and throat become blocked with a thick liquid called mucus, usually when you have

cat-a-pult

a cold

ca-tas-tro-phe /ka'taestrafi/ noun [c] an event that causes a lot of damage or makes a lot of people suffer: disaster: an economic/ humanitarian/ natural catastrophe a. used about an event that causes serious difficulty for a particular person or group of people: It would be a catastrophe if we didn 't make the playoffs.

stop and hold sth/sb stop sb escaping find

and arrest

(hunt and) stop animal

get on public vehicle

discover sb doing sth

7 get disease/illness

spelling of catalog

affected itself

/kaetJV (past tense and past participle caught /kot/)

•••

verb

tamination.

1

find sb not talk hit

prepared

to/telephone sb

part of

body

11 get stuck on sth

12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

see/watch/listen to sth discover soon enough getsb's attention etc.

see/smell for short time

hear sth that sb says

show/represent of light

20 wind/wave 21 between possibilities 22 get into bad situation + PHRASES

start to burn

to stop and hold something that is moving through the air, especially an object that someone throws: She tossed the bag of potato chips to Kate, who caught it with one hand. "Can I borrow your pen?" "Here, catch!" 1a. [t] to stop and keep hold of someone who is falling: Anne stayed close enough to catch the child if he 1

[i/T]

lb. [T] if a container catches liquid or small objects or pieces, they fall into it when it is below them: Put a bucket over there to catch the drips. 1c. [l] to be the catcher in baseball 2 [T] to get hold of and stop someone you have been chasing so that they cannot escape: She raced to catch the toddler before he could make it out of the front gate. "Can't catch me," her brother shouted as he ran up the stairs. 2a. to take hold of someone or a part of their body with your hands: Jack caught her as she made for catch sb by the wrist/ elbow/ sleeve etc. With the door. catch one swift movement, he caught her by the wrist. hold of sb/sth She caught hold of his arm and pulled him

fell.

back. [T] if the police catch someone, they find them and arrest them: The police say they're doing all they can to catch the culprits. 4 [T] to stop an animal, bird, or insect and prevent it from escaping, especially using a trap: a device used for We rescued a rabbit caught in a trap. catching flies 4a. to hunt and stop an animal in order to kill and eat it: Wolves hunt in packs, using careful strategies to catch their prey. 4b. to get a fish from a river, lake, or the ocean, using a fishing net or rod: Drift nets are used mainly for catching tuna. freshly/locally caught freshly

3

caught trout

5 [T] to get on a train, bus, airplane, or boat that is traveling somewhere: I caught the next train back to New York. 5a. to arrive in time to get on a train, bus, airplane, or boat that is traveling somewhere: If we want to catch that bus we'll have to leave right now. have a train/bus/plane etc. to catch / have a train to catch, so we have to finish by 4:30.

catch 6

catch sb in the act (of doing sth) Burglars who are caught in the act have little chance of escaping puncatch sb red-handed (=find someone doing ishment. something wrong or illegal) Diana was caught redhanded taking money from her mother's purse. 7 [T] to get a disease or illness: He caught the flu and had to stay in bed. catch sth from sb/sth Brian caught catch your death (of cold) chickenpox from his nephew. (=get a bad cold) Get out of those wet clothes or you'll catch your death of cold. 8 [T] to find someone in a situation that they are not expecting or prepared for: The railroads had all been caught completely unprepared by the sudden snowfalls. catch sb by surprise The question caught their spokescatch sb at a bad moment/time I've person by surprise. obviously caught you at a bad moment. I'll come back later. catch sb off guard (=do something that someone is not ready for) Harry looked up suddenly, catching Emily off guard. 9 [T] informal to find someone available to talk by going to or telephoning them at the place where they are: Call me at the office. You can usually catch me there after 8:30. Margaret caught me just as I was leaving. [T] to hit someone on a part of their body: He caught 1 his opponent with a right cross to the chin. 10a. to hit part of your body on something by accident: Sue slipped in the yard and caught her head on the gate post. 11 [I/T] to become stuck on something, or make something do this: As she ran, her foot caught on something and she fell. I must have caught my shirt on a nail when I was moving that wood. 12 [l/T] to start to burn: The dry twigs soon caught fire. 13 [T] informal to see, watch, or listen to something: Want to catch a movie tonight? 14 [T] to discover a problem or medical condition and stop it from becoming worse: Doctors assured her that her symptoms had been caught early enough to treat. 15 [T] to have a sudden effect on something such as someone's attention or imagination: Suddenly my attention was caught by a truck parked a short distance ahead. His campaign seems to have caught the imagination of many other Germans. 16 [T] to see or smell something for a very short time: catch sight of sb/sth As she went out, she caught sight of catch a glimpse of sb/sth People herself in the mirror. lined the streets outside the theater to catch a glimpse of her. catch a whiff of sth (=smell something) Adam caught a whiff of expensive perfume as she passed by. at her.

17

[T usually

someone

in

negatives or questions] to

hear something

The music was so loud I didn't catch I'm sorry, I didn 't catch your name. 18 [T] to show or be a symbol of something: It wasn't a very radical or intellectual newspaper, but it caught a mood of dissent in mid-1950s America. 19 [T] if light catches something, or if something catches the light, the light shines on it and makes it look bright and shiny: A fish in the river catches the light one second and swims off into a dark pool the next. 20 [t] if the wind or a wave catches something, it gets behind or under it and suddenly blows or pushes it hard: The balloon was caught by the wind and carried away. 21 [T usually passive] if you are caught between two opposite feelings or actions, you do not know how to react to something: We were caught between wanting to believe him and finding his story too unlikely for words. 22 [T usually passive] to become unexpectedly involved in an unpleasant or annoying situation: be caught in sth We were caught in a heavy storm. Sorry I'm late - I got caught in traffic. be/get caught up in sth She got caught up in a clash between protesters and police. be caught in the middle (=be involved in a disagreement between other people) My parents are always arguing, and it's me who gets caught in the middle. that

what he

catch

209

to find someone doing something that they do not expect you to see, especially something wrong or illegal: catch sb doing sth Several times she'd caught him staring [T]

says:

said.

be caught with your pants down informal to be embarrassed by something that happens because you are not prepared for it catch your breath 1 to take time to start to breathe normally again after physical exercise: / had to stop about halfway up the hill and catch my breath. 2 to stop breathing suddenly for a short time because you are

surprised or impressed: beautiful scenes that make you catch your breath catch sb's eye 1 if something catches your eye, you suddenly notice it: There was one painting that caught my eye. 2 to get someone's attention by looking at them: He tried to catch the attendant's eye but the man was already turning away. catch the post Br E to mail a letter in time for the next collection

catch some rays spoken to lie in the sun for pleasure or to make your skin darker catch the sun to be in a sunny position catch you later spoken used for saying goodbye to someone when you expect to see them soon, or later the

same day you won't/wouldn't catch sb doing sth used for saying it is very unlikely that someone will or would do something: You wouldn catch me taking work home every

that

't

night. -» ROCK

1 ,

SHORT2

[T] Br E [catch at sth] to reach out and try to get hold of something catch on phrasal vb [i] 1 to become popular or fashionable: Sports drinks have caught on as consumers have +with Cruise control inibecome more health-conscious. tially was thought of as a luxury item, but slowly caught on with car buyers at other levels. 2 to understand: He didn't catch on at first. +to Then I caught on to what it was the guy was saying. catch out phrasal vb [T] BrE 1 to show that someone has made a mistake or is not telling the truth, especially by asking them questions 2 [usually passive] to put someone in an unpleasant or difficult situation that they are not prepared for catch up phrasal vb [I] 1 to go faster so that you reach the person or vehicle in front of you: + with We left first, but they caught up with us. 2 to improve in order to reach the same standard or rate as someone or something: He's missed so much school that he's going to find it very hard to catch up. + with Pressure grew for salaries to catch up with inflation. 3 to do something that should have been done before: The deadline's tomorrow. How are we ever going to catch up in time?* + on I just want to go home and catch up on some sleep. +with Employees are struggling to catch up with the backlog. 4 to talk to someone you have not seen for some time and find out what they have been doing: Come over tomorrow and we can catch up. +with I'll catch up with you another time, Kevin. It'll give them a chance to talk and catch up with all their news. catch up with phrasal vb [T] [catch up with sb] 1 to find and arrest someone who has committed a crime after searching for them or chasing them: The police will catch up with you sooner or later. 2 to begin to have an effect on someone: The lack of sleep caught up with her, and she

catch at phrasal vb

began

to

catch 2 1

doze

off.

/kaetJV noun

•

stopping and holding sth

2 game of throwing 3 hidden problem 4 sth for fastening

ball

5 amount of fish caught 6 pause in speech 7 appropriate partner

1 [C] an act of stopping and holding an object moving through the air, especially a ball: Well done! Good catch! 2 [U] a game in which children throw a ball to each

other

3 [C usually singular] a hidden problem or difficulty in something that seems extremely good: It sounds like a fabulous opportunity, so what 's the catch?* It is very cheap, but the catch is that you have to be at the airport at 3 in the morning. 4 [C] an object used for fastening something such as a window, door, or container: a broken window catch -» SAFETY CATCH 5 [C] an amount of fish that have been caught: Catches of Atlantic salmon have declined significantly. 6 [C] mainly literary a sudden pause in what someone is saying as a result of a strong emotion: "I love you so much. " he said with a catch in his voice. 7 [C] informal old-fashioned someone who would be an appropriate husband, wife, or partner: A penniless writer's not exactly a good catch, is he?

catch-22 tvventitu/ noun [c] a difficult situation that is impossible to escape from because each part of the problem must be solved first

From the title of a novel by the U.S. writer Joseph Heller, first published in 1962. The novel is about a group of people in the U.S. air force who find themselves in a number of funny situations caused by

silly

military rules. 1

catch-all

intended to include a

adj

lot

of different

things: a catch-all phrase

catch-all

2

noun [c] 1 a word, phrase, or group that includes a lot of different things 2 E a container for a variety of things that are not related to each other

Am

kaet Jar/ noun [c] in baseball, the person who stands behind the person who is hitting the ball and catches any balls that are not hit —picture -> cis

catch-er /

catch-ing

/'kaetfirj/ adj a disease, mood, or idea that is catching spreads quickly to other people: coxtagioi-s catchment ar-e-a /'kaetfmant ,eria/ noun [c] 1 the area of land around a river or lake that it gets its water from 2 BrE the area for which a school or hospital provides a service

catch-phrase / 'kaet f ,freiz/ noun [c] a short phrase that manv people know because a famous person often says it

catch- up noun play catch-up Am E to try to make as much progress as someone or something that you are competing with

catch-word

/'kaetf,w3rd/ noun [c] a word used for representing a particular idea, usually one that is popular for a short time

catch-y

tune or phrase is catchy it is easy to remember cat-e-chism /'kaeta.kizam/ noun [singular] a set of questions and answers, especially a formal way of teaching people about the Christian religion cat-e-gor-i-cal /.kaeta'gankl/ adj clear and definite about what you mean: a categorical assurance/ statement cat-e-gor-i-cal-ly /.kaeta'gonkli/ adv in a very clear and definite way: He categorically denies the charges. attracts

/'kaetji/ adj if a

your attention and

cat-e-go-rize

/ kaetaga.raiz/ verb [T] to put people or things into groups according to their qualities: classify

— cat-e-go-ri-za-tion/,kaetagan'zeifn/noun[u]

cat-e-go-ry /'kaetagari/ noun [c] a group of people or things that have similar qualities: The winners in each of the seven categories were then chosen. + of a proposal to ban some categories of weapons fall into a category (=belong to a category) Computer viruses fall into three

broad

caucus

210

catch-22 / kstj

categories.

ca-ter /'keitar/ verb [i/t] to provide food and drinks at an event: Who's catering the party?* +for I'm catering for a wedding reception next week.

cater for phrasal vb [T] BrE [cater for sb/sth] to provide people with everything they want or need: The school aims to cater for children of all abilities. cater to phrasal vb [T] [cater to sth] to provide people with something they want or need, especially something unusual or special: TV shows catering to young male audiences

ca-ter-er /'keitarar/ noun [c] a person or business that organizes the food and drinks at an event such as a party or meeting ca-ter-ing /'kertanrj/ noun [u] • the job of organizing the food and drinks for an event such as a party or meeting: Who's doing the catering for the reception?

the

catering staff

caterpillar /'kaetar pilar/ noun [c] a small long thin insect with many legs that eats plants and develops into a butterfly or

Caterpil-lar

moth —picture

-» C13

trademark a type of track that fits over the wheels of a heavy vehicle such as a tractor or tank and helps it to move over soft or rough ground. A vehicle that has a track like this is also called /'kaetar pilar/

a Caterpillar.

cat-er-waul

/ 'kaetar

caterwauls, they

wal/ verb

[i]

if

a person or animal

make an unpleasant loud high

noise

cat-fish / 'kaet.fiJV noun [c/u] a fish with long hard hairs near its mouth that lives in lakes and rivers

cat-gut /'kxt.gAt/ noun

strong string made from animals' intestines, used for making the strings of musical instruments [ul

ca-thar-sis /ka'Garsis/ noun [u] the process of expressing strong feelings that have been affecting you so that they do not upset you anymore ca-thar-tic /ka'Gartik/ adj allowing you to express strong feelings that have been affecting you so that they do not upset you anymore cathedral /ka'Gidral/ noun [c] • the most important church in an area that a bishop controls: Washington National Cathedral

cath-e-ter / kaeGatar/ noun [c] a thin tube put into your body to remove a liquid such as urine cath-e-ter-ize /'kaeGata.raiz/ verb [t] to put a catheter into a part of someone's body

cath-ode / 'kaeGoud/ noun of electrical

cathode ray tube ment

[c] science

the part of a piece

equipment such as a battery where an compare anode

electric current leaves

in televisions

—

noun

[c] science

a piece of equip-

and computers that sends an image

to the screen

cath-o-lic /'kaeG(a)hk/ ad] including a wide variety of different things: Jane has fairly catholic tastes in music. Cath-o-lic 1 /'k SALT CELLAR suffix used with some adjectives to make adjectives describing how many cells a living structure has: a single-celled organism

-celled /seld/

eel-list /'tjelist/ noun

[C]

someone who plays the

cello

ceMo

/'tjeloo/ noun [C] a large musical instrument with strings, held between the legs by someone who is sitting and played by pulling an object called a bow

across the strings

—

picture -» stringed instrument /'sebfein/ noun [u] a very thin clear material used for wrapping things

cellophane

/'sel.foon/ noun [c] •• a telephone you can carry around with you. BrE usually mobile phone —picture -» C3

cell-phone

cellular

/'seljabr/ adj 1 relating to or consisting of cells: diseased cellular tissue 2 relating to a cellphone or its system of communication: cellular communications 3 made up of small units or enclosed spaces: a cellular structure 4 made of a material with holes in it that keeps you warm in cold temperatures and comfortable in warm temperatures: a cellular blanket

animal or plant

.cellular 'phone noun [c] formal a cellphone cel-lu-lite /'selja.lait/ noun [u] small lumps of below the skin, especially on the upper legs

fat just

celluloid

/'seljs.bid/ noun [u] a thin clear plastic material used in the past for making film for cameras

used for making movies b. old-fashioned used for referring to the movies in general: the latest celluloid star to brave the stage

a. this material,

cel'lu-lose /'scljulooz/ noun [u] a substance that forms the walls of plant cells and plant fibers Cel-si-us /'sclsios/ noun [u] a system for measuring temperature that is part of the metric system, in which water freezes at degrees and boils at 100 degrees

—compare

Fahrenheit

1

a

Celt /kelt; selt/

Celtic

noun

[c]

keltik; 'seltik/adj relating to the Celts, or their Celtic art

/

language or culture:

Celtic fringe, the noun Scotland.

Ireland, and Wales, when considering their culture and history /sa'ment/ noun [u] • 1 a gray powder used in building that becomes very hard when you mix it with sand and water 2 formal something that helps to make a relationship, idea, etc. stronger: A belief in freedom is often seen as the cement of our nation. ce-ment 2 /sa'ment/ verb [T] 1 to make a relationship, idea, etc. stronger or more certain: The goal of the president's visit was to cement relations between the two countries. 2 cement or cement over to cover a surface with cement 2a. to attach something with cement or a similar substance: The post has been cemented into the

especially

ce-ment

1

driveway.

cement mixer noun [c] a machine that mixes cement, sand, and water to

cenve-ter»y

make concrete

/'sema.teri/ noun [c]

where dead people are buried

cen-o-taph remind wars to

*

an area of ground

— compare graveyard

/'sena.tasf/ noun

[c] a large structure built people of soldiers, sailors, etc. who died in

1

cen-sor

/'sensar/ verb [t] to remove parts of a book, etc. for moral, religious, or political reasons: The book had been heavily censored.

movie,

letter,

cen'Sor2

/'sensar/ noun [c] someone whose job is to of books, movies, etc. that they consider inappropriate for moral, religious, or political

remove any parts reasons

cen-sO'H-ous

/sen 'sodas/

adj

formal always wanting

and

to criticize other people or ideas

cen*sor*ship

find faults in

them

/

'sensar Jrp/ noun [u] the process of letters, etc. that are considered inappropriate for moral, religious, or political reasons cen-sure 1 /'sen Jar/ noun [u] formal severe criticism of someone: a vote of censure

removing parts of books, movies,

cen-sure 2

/'senjar/ verb [J] formal to criticize someone severely: He was censured by the party for his comments.

cen-sus

/'sensas/ noun [C]

*

an occasion on which

government officials count the people who live in a country and record other information about them: statistics from the 2000 census census returns a. an occasion when a particular group of people or things is officially counted: +of The company carried out a census of its employees.

cent /sent/ noun [c] *•* a small unit of money used in many countries, for example the U.S., Canada, and Australia. There are 100 cents in a dollar is C": The stamp cost 90 cents.

and

its

symbol

put in/toss in/ give your two cents' worth Am E to give your opinion about something, even if people do not want to hear it a red cent a very small amount of money: He said not one red cent of taxpayers' money had been spent on the

/sen'tenari;

noun

'sentn.eri/

[c]

mainly

BrEa

centennial [c] a day or year that people celebrate exactly 100 years after an important event: A parade was held as part of the celebrations for the centennial of the nation's independence. cen-ter 1 /'sentar/ noun

cen»ten»ni*al /sen'tenial/ noun

••*

1

middle

2 building/area 3 of attention

for sth

4 5

not

left-

player

in

or right-wing

sport

+ PHRASES

the middle of a space or area: in the center of the room 1a. the point that is in the exact middle of a circle 1

[C]

attention.

4 the

center a political party, group of parties, or position that is not extreme because of being neither left-wing nor right-wing: Clinton helped move the democratic party to the political center. 5 [C] a player in football whose position is in the middle of the offensive line 5a. a player in basketball whose position is near the basket —picture -» cis 5b. a player in games such as hockey and soccer whose position is in the middle of a line of forwards (^attacking players) be at the center of sth to be the main subject or cause of something: the woman at the center of the latest political scandal -» center of excellence, center of gravity

cen'ter2 / 'sentar/ verb

**

[T] to place something in the center of a space or area: Can you center the headings?

center a round or center on or center upon [T] 1 if something centers around a person or thing, or is centered around them, they are its main subject of attention or interest: A substantial portion of the debate centered around the issue of coalitions. The talk centered

around trade relations with China. 2 if something centers around a place, it happens mainly there: The celebrations will center around the church. centered /'sentard/ adj sensible, calm, and confident: Julia is intelligent and very centered. -centered /sentard/ suffix 1 used with some nouns to

make adjectives describing who or what is considered most important when planning a policy or activity: learning methods a student-centered approach 2 used with some adjectives to make adjectives describing the center of something: soft-centered child-centered

chocolates / 'sentar ,fould/ noun [c] the two pages that face each other in the center of a magazine a. these pages showing a photograph of someone with no clothes on b. someone who appears with no clothes on in the centerfold of a magazine

cen-ter-fold

center forward noun the front for

row

[c] the person in the center of of attacking players in some team sports,

example soccer

center of excellence noun

[c] a place where there are very high standards of work: The college is a center of excellence in the teaching of music. center of 'gravity noun [singular] the point in any object around which its weight balances

/'sentar ,pis/ noun [C] 1 a decoration or

arrangement of flowers that you put in the middle of something, especially in the middle of a table 2 the most important feature of something: Clearly health care is

the centerpiece of our agenda.

[u] a situation in which someone attracting a lot of interest or attention: The economy is again at center stage. take center stage (^attract interest, attention, or activity) The debate over our environmental policy' is likely to take center stage again.

.center 'stage noun

100 years old or older

cen«ten'a»ry

or sphere (=a shape like a ball) 1b. the middle of a piece of chocolate or candy 2 [C] a building, group of buildings, or area where a particular activity is performed: a conference /arts center the conference center in the new hotel 2a. an important place for a particular activity: one of the great financial centers of Europe* The founding of the university was important in making Prague a cultural center. a center of sth the greatest center of learning and the arts in Japan a center for sth The town is a major center for the insurance industry3 [C usually singular] the person or thing that people pay a lot of attention to or show a lot of interest in: center of attention He was very shy and hated being the center of

cen-ter-piece

construction.

cen«taur/'sen,tor/ noun [c] a creature in ancient Greek stories with the head, arms, and chest of a man, and the body and legs of a horse cen-te-nar-i-an /.senta'nerian/ noun [c] someone who is

centilitre

214

a member of an ancient group of people who lived in parts of Western Europe a. someone who is related to the ancient Celts

Celt

or something

centi-grade

is

/'senti.gread/

noun

[u]

old-fashioned

CELSIUS

centigram

/'senti.graem/ noun [c] a unit for measuring weight in the metric system. There are 100 centigrams in one gram. cen-ti-li-ter / 'senti.litar/ noun [c] a unit for measuring

an amount of liquid or gas in the metric system. There are 100 centiliters in one liter. cen-ti-li-tre /'senti.litar/ the Br E spelling of centiliter

centimeter /'senti.mitar/ noun [c] a unit for measuring length in the metric system. There are 100 centimeters in one meter.

cen-ti«me-tre /'senti.mitar/ the BrE spelling of meter cervti-pede /'senti.pid/ noun [c] a very small with a long narrow body and many pairs of legs cen-tral /'sentral/adj ***

centiinsect

is very convenient for using stores, theaters, etc.: My apartment is very central. a central location All hotels have been specially selected for their central location. 2 a central idea, aspect, system, etc. is one of the main ones that is used or needed: This organization occupied a central role in the development of U.S. economic policy. a central feature Political life has changed since broadcasting became a central feature of our lives. +to Her work remains central to an understanding of this period of + in issues that are central in the lives of women history. prisoners of central importance (=very important) Listening skills are of central importance to a child's development. 2a. something that is central is extremely important, and often causes something else to happen or develop

3

central control comes from one main organization that usually tells a lot of smaller organizations what they should do: The system is subject to massive and increasing central control. 3a. a central organization is a main organization that controls a lot of smaller ones: the Communist Party's central committee 3b. used in the names of organizations: the Central cervtrahi'ty /sen traeliti/ noun [u] Intelligence Agency [only before noun]

—

Words

frequently used with central

nouns

argument, aspect, debate, feature, idea, importance, issue, role,

2

theme .central 'bank noun [c] a national bank that controls a nation's policies on money and interest rates .central heating noun [u] a system for heating a whole building by sending hot air or water through pipes to all the rooms cen*tral»ise /'sentra,laiz/a BrE spelling of centralize cen-tral-ism /'sentra.hzam/ noun [u] a way of controlling a country, company, etc. in which the main authority comes from one central group of people cen-tral-ize /'sentra.laiz/ verb [T] to give control of a country, organization, or industry to one central group of people: The company plans to centralize its financial services at its new location. .central locking noun [u] an electronic system for

locking

all

the doors of a car at the

same time

/'sentrali/ adv 1 something that is done is dealt with by a central organization or system: a centrally planned economy Our staff are now recruited centrally rather than locally. 2 formal in the middle of a space: The table was placed centrally in the room. 2a. centrally located near the middle of a city or area, and therefore very convenient: the centrally located Hotel Miramar 3 formal mainly: This is what the Cold War was centrally about. .central 'nervous .system noun [c] the part of your nervous system that consists of your brain and your SPINAL CORD prasesin cen-tral pro-cess-ing u«nit /.sentral junit/ noun [C] a cpu in a computer .central reservation noun [c] BrE a median on a

central-ly centrally

highway cen-tre /'sentar/the BrE

centred

[c]

a

machine

that

uses centrifugal force to separate heavier substances in a con-

from lighter ones by spinning them around tainer

centrip-e-tal force /sen, tnpatl Tors/ noun [u] science a force that makes things move toward the center of something when they are moving around that center formal not extreme in your moderate centrist noun [C] cen*tu*ri»on /sen'turian/ noun [c] a military officer in ancient Rome who was in charge of about 100 soldiers /'sentrist/ adj

political beliefs:

—

/'sentjari/ noun ••• 1 [C] a period of 100 years, usually counted from a year ending in -00. For example, the 20th century is the period from 1900 to 1999: They discovered paintings dating the early /mid /late 15th etc. from the 17th century.

cen-tu-ry

century a castle built in the early 10th century the turn of the century (=around the end of one century and the beginning of the next) The population will probably reach 60 million by the turn of the century. 2 [C] any period of 100 years: It was the worst storm in nearly a century. 2a. centuries [plural] hundreds of years: The tribe had died out centuries before.

CEO /,si

i 'oo/ noun [C] * Chief Executive Officer: the most senior manager in a corporation who has more authority than anyone else and is responsible for its success

ce*ram*ic /sa'ncmik/

adj

made from

very high temperature so that ceramic

it

clay baked at a

has become hard:

tiles

ceranvics

/sa'ramiks/ noun

of making ceramic objects decorations, or art

ce-re-al

1

[u]

the art or process

[plural]

ceramic objects,

•

noun

/'sirial/

2

1 [C/u] a food made from grain, for example wheat, oats, or corn, mainly eaten with milk for breakfast: a bowl of cereal 2 [C] a plant that produces grain, used as food for people and animals: cereal crops

cerebel-lum

/.sera'belam/ noun [C] medical the part of your brain that is responsible for your balance and

movement cer-e-bral

/'serabral; sa'ribral/ adj

to or affecting

1

medical relating

your brain 2 formal dealing with com-

plicated ideas rather than with emotions: intellectual: her rather cerebral style offiction

.cerebral 'palsy noun

[u] a medical condition affecting someone's control over their movement and speech, usually caused by damage to the brain before or during

birth

cer-e-mo-ni-al

1

/.sera'mounial/ adj 1 a ceremonial event follows a formal or traditional pattern: This drum is only used on ceremonial occasions, la. used in a ceremony: a ceremonial dagger 2 a ceremonial job exists for traditional reasons, and the person who has it does not have much power cer*e*mo*ni»aMy adv

—

cer-e-mo-ni-al 2 /.sera'moonial/ noun [c/u] all the activities and traditions relating to a particular ceremony: an expert on White House ceremonial

cer*e*mo*ni*ous / .sera'moonias/ adj appropriate

for a

ceremony: looking splendid and ceremonious in his gold robe cer'e*moTii'ous«ly adv cer-e-mo-ny /'sera.mooni/ noun •• 1 [C] a formal public event with special traditions, actions, or words: a ceremony to honor those who died in the war an awards ceremony 2 [u] the formal traditions, actions, and words used to celebrate a traditional or religious event: They celebrated

—

Easter with lavish ceremony.

without ceremony in a quick, informal, and sometimes impolite way: Dumping the report on his desk without ceremony, she turned and walked out. -» STAND 1

spelling of center

/'sentard/the Br E spelling of centered cen-trif-u-gal force /sen.tnfjagl Tors/ noun [u] science an effect in which an object that is moving around a central point appears to be moved away from the center

by some force

cen-tri-fuge /'sentn,fjud3/ noun

centrist

the central part of a place is the area in the middle of it: They live in central Boston. in some regions of central and eastern Asia 1a. [only before noun] a central place is in the middle of something: The hotel's rooms are built around a central courtyard. 1b. used for saying that something is in the middle of an area, so it [only before noun]

1

certain

215

cen-ti«me'ter

ce-rise

/saris; sari// adj ce-rise noun [U]

certain

1

/'s3rtn/adj

bright

red-pink

in

color

•••

1 [never before noun] having no doubts that something is true: SURE: I'm not absolutely certain, but I think I'm right (that) You can be pretty certain she's not going to like -I-

"

"

certain +

certain,

still

can't be certain

who

is

—opposite uncertain

2

definitely going to happen: They face certain death if they are sent back to their home country. Success is by no means certain. be certain to do sth Interest rates seem certain to rise next month. it is certain (that) It's not certain that this method would have worked. + of Mexico is now certain of a place in the finals. 2a. definitely true: One thing was certain: someone had been in his room. 2b. definitely known: it is certain who It's not yet certain who the driver of the car was.

make

certain to take action in order to be sure that

something happens or be sure that it is true: make sure: (that) You should call the office to make absolutely certain

-i-

everything

certain

is in

order.

**

2

/'S3rtn/ determiner used for referring to someone or something without being specific about exactly what or who they are: Certain basic rules must There are certain things we need to discuss be obeyed. urgently, a. spoken used for referring to someone or something without saying their name, when you know that the person you are talking to knows who or what you are referring to: A certain person is going to be there, so you might not want to come.

a certain 1 some, but not very much: Did she detect a certain smugness in his tone?* a certain amount of sth A certain amount offat in your diet is good for you. 2 used for talking about someone when you know their name but nothing else about them: The owner of the house, a certain Mr. Brady, was reportedly living abroad. certain 3 / 'S3rtn/ pronoun certain offormal several spepeople or things belonging to a larger group: some: Certain of the criticisms made then are now widely accepted.

cific

•*•

certain-ly

/'s3rtnli/ adv 1 used for emphasizing that something is definitely true or will definitely happen: / certainly hope you're right. There certainly wasn't any point in doing it now. 2 used for expressing agreement or giving permission: "We'd like you to explain your proposal to us in greater

certainly not used for saying no or refusing permission in a strong clear way: "Barney will be so relieved. Can I tell him?" "Certainly not. cer-tain-ty /'s3rtnti/ noun ** 1 [C] something that will definitely happen or that you feel very sure about: Victory looked like a certainty, but then we lost three games back to back. He clung to the

certainties of his Catholic faith. 2 [U] the feeling of being completely

sure about some-

thing: conviction: with certainty / can't tell you with any certainty what the outcome of the operation will be.

cer«ti«fi«a«ble /'S3rti,fai3bl/ adj 1 someone who is certifiable is officially considered to be seriously mentally ill 1a. humorous behaving in a crazy unreasonable way 2 able to be officially accepted or approved: certifiable cer«ti»fi*a«bly adv financial information

—

certificate /sar'tiftkst/ noun ment or record

[c]

** an official docu-

stating that particular facts are true.

For example a birth certificate gives the official facts about your birth and a health certificate gives the facts about your state of health, a. an official document stating that you have passed an examination, successfully completed a course, or achieved the necessary qualifications to

work

in a particular profession

cer*tif»i*cat*ed /sar'tifi.keitsd/

adj

mainly

BrE

1 a certified professional the training they officially need to do. BrE usually certificated 2 having an official document that shows official facts. BrE certificated

/,s3rtifaid/ adj

person has done

all

.certified 'mail noun [u] AmE mail that is recorded when you send it and again when the post office delivers it The person you sent it to signs their name to prove they received it. Br E recorded delivery certified public accountant noun [c] AmE a cpa /'s3rti,fai/ verb [T]

something

ill

certi'tude

/'s3rti,tud/ noun [u] formal the feeling of being certain about something cervical /'s3rvikl/ adj medical 1 relating to a woman's cervix cervical cancer 2 relating to your neck: a broken fourth cervical vertebra cervical 'smear noun [c] Br E medical a pap smear :

cervix

/'s3rviks/ noun [C] the entrance to the womb (=the part of a woman's body where a baby can grow) /si'zcrion/ or cesarean 'section noun [C] a medical operation in which a baby is born by being removed from the woman's body through a cut made in her abdomen because the baby cannot be born

ce«sar»e*an

in the normal way ces-sa-tion /se'seijn/ noun [C/U] formal an end

is true,

1

to

something: + of a cessation of hostilities cess-pit /'ses,pit/ noun [C] a cesspool

cess- pool

/'ses.pul/ noun [C] 1 a large covered hole or container in the ground for collecting the liquid and solid waste that flows from a building 2 Am E a place or situation in which people behave without any moral standards

CF /

'ef/

,si

abbrev cystic fibrosis

cf abbrev used .

for referring to

something that

is

con-

nected with the subject you are discussing or reading about CFC /.si ef 'si/ noun [C] chlorofluorocarbon: a gas used in refrigerators and in some aerosol containers. CFCs are not often used anymore because they damage the ozone layer of the Earth's atmosphere.

CFO

/ ,si ef 'ou/ noun [C] Chief Financial Officer: the person in charge of the financial policy and decisions in a corporation

CGT /

d3i

,si

'ti/

abbrev Br E capital gains tax

[C/U] a type of white wine from central France a. a type of white wine similar to French Chablis, made in California cha-cha /'tja.tja/ noun [C] a South American dance with short quick steps, or the music for this dance cha-dor/'tjador/ noun [c] a loose piece of usually black clothing that covers a woman's whole body including her head, worn by some Muslim women chafe /tjeif/ verb 1 [I] to feel annoyed and impatient about something that stops you doing what you want: /Ja'bli/ noun

+ at /under We were all beginning to chafe a little under such close supervision. 2 [i/T] to rub the skin on a part of your body and make it sore: The collar had been The backpack's straps were beginning chafing his neck. to chafe. 2a. [T] to rub a part of your body in order to

make chaff

it 1

warm

[u] the outer part of wheat and other removed before the grains are used separate the wheat from the chaff to decide which / tjaef/

grains that

noun

is

people or things ant, etc.,

among a group are good,

useful, import-

and which are not

chaff 2

/tjaef/ verb [T] old-fashioned to say things to someone that are intended to make them feel silly or

embarrassed in order

to

have fun: tease

cha-grin /Ja'gnn/ noun cer-

tified

certified

ard: Government auditors will certify the financial reports. Beef exports must be certified safe and disease-free. 1a. to give someone an official document stating that they have passed an examination or have achieved the qualifications necessary to work in a particular profession 2 to state officially that someone is seriously mentally

Chablis

detail. " "Certainly.

certhfy

chain

216

who We

going to win. + of/about I've never been more certain of anything in my You know/ entire life. don't seem too certain about it. say for certain / think I met her in 1985, but I can't say for it.

to state officially that

accurate, or of a satisfactory stand-

[u] formal a feeling of being very annoyed, disappointed, or embarrassed: to sb's chagrin The report finds (much to the chagrin of male drivers) that women are generally safer behind the wheel cha-grined adj than men.

—

1

chain /tjem/ noun 1

***

connected metal rings

2 series of people/things 3 group of businesses

4 5

in

selling

houses freedom

sth limiting

1 [C/U] a series of metal rings connected to each other, used for fastening, pulling, or lifting things: There was a rusty iron chain hanging from the gate. The crate was secured with a strong chain. 1a. [C] a series of small

chain

islands

extending eastward.

human chain

(=line of people) Firefighters formed a human chain to carry the -> climbers chain of command injured to safety. 2a. a long series of events, facts, or ideas that are all related to each other: +of a chain of events that eventually led to murder The virus becomes weaker as it passes down the chain of infection. 2b. science a series of atoms connected in a line: a polymer chain 3 [C] a group of businesses such as stores, hotels, or restaurants that all belong to the same person or company: Japan's leading hotel chain +of a chain of

appliance stores 4 [C] BrE a situation in which you cannot sell your house until the person whose house you are buying has bought their new home. This situation can involve many people because the sale of each person's house depends on the sale of the next.

5 chains

[plural]

literary

conditions that limit your freedom, especially unpleasant responsibilities or bad conditions that you live in 2 chain / tjem/ verb [T] to use a chain to fasten something so that it cannot be stolen, or to fasten someone so that they cannot escape: The more dangerous prisoners were kept chained. chain sb/sth to sth Protesters had chained themselves to the railings. chain sb/sth up rows of chained up bikes chain

to be forced to stay in an unpleasant situation: With a major deadline to meet, Hannah had

be chained to sth been chained

to

her desk all weekend.

that soldiers in the past

wore

for protection

chain of com'mand noun

[C] a system in which each person in an organization has a particular status and gives orders to the person immediately junior to them chain re'action noun [C] a series of events that happens very fast, with each event causing the next one a. a series of chemical reactions, each one of which causes the next one 'chain saw noun [c] a tool used for cutting down trees, with a blade consisting of a set of connected metal points that are driven around very fast by a motor chain-smoke verb [i/t] to smoke one cigarette immechain smok-er noun [C] diately after another 'chain stitch noun [C] a way of sewing in which each stitch is made by pulling the thread through the stitch

—

before

it

'chain .store noun [C] one of a group of stores that belong to the same person or company

chair 1

•••

all

/tjer/ noun 1 [C] a piece of furniture for one person to sit on, with a back, legs, and sometimes two arms: / had to sit on a hard wooden chair all day. —picture -> next page 2 [C] the person who is in charge of a meeting, committee, or company: All questions must be addressed to the chair. + of He is the former chair of the Atomic Energy Commission. 2a. the position or job of being a professor in a university: He held the Einstein Chair of Physics at Princeton for 30 years. -> chairman, chairperson, chair-

woman

3 the chair informal chair2 /tjer/ verb [T]

the electric chair

• to be the person in charge of a meeting, committee, or company: She subsequently chaired the executive board of the corporation.

chair-lift /'tjer .lift/ noun [c] a line of chairs that carry people up and down a mountain, especially people who

want

to ski

chair-man

/'tjermon/ (plural chair-men /'tjcrman/) noun the person who is in charge of a meeting or [C] committee. Many people prefer to say chair or chairperson, because the word chairman suggests that the person in this position is always a man. a. the person in charge of a large organization or corporation: the new Chairman of Malaysian Airlines chair-man-ship / tjerman.jip/ noun [c/u] the position of being a chairman, or the time during which someone is a chairman

**•

chair-per-son

/'tjer.parson/

noun meeting or committee

(plural

chair-per-sons

the person in charge of a a. the person in charge of a large organization or corporation

/'tjer.parsans/)

[C]

chair-wom-an

(plural chair«wom«en /'tjer .woman/ /'tjer.wimm/) noun [C] the woman who is in charge of or committee the woman in charge of a a meeting a. large organization or corporation

chaise

/Jeiz/ noun [C] 1 in the past, a type of carriage with two wheels, pulled by a horse 2 Am E a chaise longue chaise longue /.Jeiz 'Ion/ noun [c] 1 a chair with an arm on only one side and a long seat on which you can sit with your legs stretched out 2 Am E a long chair with a back you can move so you can sit up or lie down, often used outside in warm weather —picture -> chair chaise lounge /tjeis laund3/ noun [c] a chaise longue chalet /.Jae'lei/ noun [c] a wooden house built in a mountain area, especially in Switzerland. Its roof usually has steep sides. chal-ice /'tjaelis/ noun [c] a large cup for wine, especially one used during the Christian ceremony of holy

communion

gang

noun [c] a group of prisoners who are chained together while they work outside 'chain letter noun [c] a letter sent to several people asking them to send a copy of the letter to several other people. The letter often contains a threat that something bad will happen if it is not sent to other people or a promise of money if it is. .chain-link 'fence noun [c] a fence made of thick wire woven into a pattern of diamond shapes 'chain mail noun [u] clothing made from metal rings

'chain

challenge

217

metal rings connected to each other that is worn as a decoration: She wore a delicate gold chain around her neck. 1b. [C] the circle of connected metal parts that turns the wheels of a bicycle 1c. [C usually plural] a long series of heavy metal rings fastened like a rope to a prisoner's arms and legs: in chains Women prisoners were kept in chains during childbirth. 2 [C] a series of people or things of the same type that form a connected line: +of In 1910 there was a proposal for a chain of telegraph stations to link up the empire. The region includes Sumatra, Java and a chain of smaller

chalk

1

/tjok/ noun [u] a type ofsoft white stone a. [c/u] a stick of white or colored chalk, used for writing or drawing, especially on a chalkboard

chalk 2 chalk:

/tjbk/ verb [T] to write or draw something with chalked on the fence marking the spot.

An X was

chalk up phrasal vb [T] 1 to score points or achieve success in a game: In 1989, she chalked up the first of her five successive championships. 1a. to achieve a particular level or number: He has already chalked up over 100 hours The stock market fell back after of solo flying time. chalking up record gains. 2 Am E to consider something as having a particular cause: attribute: Low voter turnout was chalked up to a dull campaign.

chalk sth up to experience to consider something bad that happens to you as an experience that will help you to deal better with similar situations in the future chalk-board / Jnk.bord/ noun [c] Am E a smooth hard green or black surface that you draw or write on with chalk, used especially in a classroom: blackboard 't

chalk-y /'tjoki/ ad] 1 containing chalk: 2 feeling or tasting like chalk chal-lenge /'tj)ebnd3/ noun •*•

chalky

soil

1

1 [C/U] something that needs a lot of skill, energy, and determination to deal with or achieve, especially something you have never done before and will enjoy doing: / was bored with my job and felt I needed a new +of We were all enthusiastic walkers, and challenge. enjoyed the challenge of this remote place. meet a challenge (=deal with it successfully) Are western nations ready to meet the enormous environmental challenges that

the challenge is to do sth The challenge for lie ahead? policy-makers is to achieve economic growth without darnaging the environment. face a challenge (=have to deal with one) The company faces the daunting challenge of completing the building on time. 2 [C] an action or idea that questions whether something is true, accurate, or legal: He began a legal challenge to clear his name. +to There seems to be no significant challenge to the party's free-market ideology.

challenge

chamber pot

218

high chair

armchair

pose/present a challenge to sth Recent discoveries pose a serious challenge to accepted views on the age of the universe. 2a. a refusal to accept someone's authority: +to The strike was seen as a direct challenge to the authormount a challenge (=make one) ity of the government. They have failed to mount a serious challenge to the existing leadership. 2b. legal a refusal to accept someone as a member of a jury

3

to someone to compete or fight, especially in a sport: +for Agassi returned to make a major challenge for the Wimbledon title. issue a challenge One of the men issued the challenge, "I'll take on [C]

an invitation

[singular] used in the names of competitions, especially sports competitions: one of the golfers competing in the Million Dollar Challenge

any two of you." 3a.

Words frequently used with challenge adjectives

biggest, daunting, formidable, greatest, major, new, serious

1

verbs

accept, enjoy, face, meet, pose, present, relish, rise to

1

challenge 2 /'tfaebnd3/ verb

[t]

•••

whether something

is true, accurate, or challenged the assumptions that are This decision is likely to be challenged challenge sb on sth They're not by the oil companies. challenge sb likely to challenge us on any of the details. to do sth We challenged the company to prove that its system was safe. la. to refuse to accept someone's authority: The president has accused the provincial government of challenging his leadership, lb. legal to refuse to accept someone as a member of a jury 2 to invite someone to compete or fight: challenge sb to sth The girls challenged the boys to a game of basketball. 3 to test someone's skill and abilities: My present job doesn 't really challenge me. A problem that has intrigued and challenged me for many years. 4 [usually passive] if you are challenged by someone, they ask you who you are and why you are in a particular place: We were immediately challenged by armed guards.

1

to question

legal:

made

No one has

in the report.

challenged /'tfaelmd3d/ adj • 1

unable to do particular things without

difficulty

because of being disabled in some way: visually challenged (=unable to see well) 2 humorous used with other words to mean that

someone lacks a particular quality or ability: vertically challenged (=not very tall) sartorially challenged (=badly dressed)

challenging /

tjaelmd3in/ adj difficult to deal with or achieve, but interesting and enjoyable: a challenging and rewarding job

cham-ber /'tjeimbar/

noun

*•

a large room in a public building, especially one used for meetings: the council chamber of city hall a debating chamber 1a. a room used for a particular a torture purpose: Tutankhamun's burial chamber chamber 1b. an old word for a private room or a bedroom :the master's chamber 1c. chambers [plural] the offices used by judges 2 [C] an enclosed space, especially one inside a machine, a plant, or someone's body: the chambers of the heart 2a. the part of a gun where you put the bullets 3 [C] one of the sections of a legislature. In many systems there is a lower chamber such as the U.S. House of Representatives and an upper chamber such as the U.S. Senate. 1

[C]

chanvber-lain /'tjeimbarbn/ noun

[c]

the official in

charge of taking care of the house of a king, queen, or other important person

chamber-maid whose job

is to

/

ifeimbar.meid/ noun

[c]

a

woman

clean the bedrooms in a hotel

chamber music

noun [u] a type of classical music played by a small group of musicians noun [c] an organization of people who own stores and businesses in a particular town or city. Their aim is to improve conditions for business in their area. chamber orchestra noun [c] a small orchestra that plays classical music chamber pot noun [c] a round container kept in a bedroom in the past and used as a toilet during the night

chamber of 'commerce

chameleon /ka'milian/ noun [c] 1 a type of small lizard with skin that changes color to match the colors around it 2 someone who changes their opinions, ideas, or behavior to fit any situation

1 [C] a wild animal similar to a goat that lives in the mountains of Europe and Asia 2 [C/U] soft leather made from the skin of a chamois, goat, or sheep, used for cleaning things and making them shine

chanvois/'Jaemi/ noun

cham-o-mile

/'kaema.mail/ noun [c/u] a plant with a pleasant smell and small white flowers with yellow centers. Its flowers and leaves are often dried and used for

making

tea:

chamomile

tea

champ /tjaemp/ noun [C] informal a champion champ 2 /tjaemp/ verb [i/t] to bite or eat food 1

noisily:

CHOMP

cham-pagne

/Jaem'pein/ noun [u] a type of French sparkling wine that people often drink to celebrate special occasions

cham-pi-on 1

1

/'tjaempian/ noun

[C]

•**

someone who has won an important competition,

especially in a sport: the world heavyweight boxing chamBrazil's first game will be against Italy, the defending champions (=the team that is the champion at this time). 2 someone who publicly supports or defends a set of beliefs, political goals, or a group of people: + of a champion of the rights of developing nations

pion

cham-pi-on 2 / Jaempian/ verb [T] * to publicly support 't

or defend a set of beliefs, political goals, or a group of people

**•

cham-pi-on-ship

/'tjaempisnjip/ noun a competition to find the best player or team in a sport or game: the World Chess Championships 1a. [singular] the position of being a champion: Two more points and the championship will be his! 2 [U] the support someone gives to a set of beliefs, political goals, or a group of people: +of their championship of the homeless 1

[C]

chance

1

/tjaens/ noun

•••

an opportunity for you to do something, especially something that you want to do: opportunity: +for The meetings are very short, so there is little the chance to do sth Parchance for real discussion. 1

change

219

cha-me-leon

[C usually singular]

ticipants are given the chance to learn another language.

give/offer/provide a chance The show provides a chance for the public to look at all the latest software. get/ have a chance We work together whenever we get a chance. jump at/seize/grab a chance (=use an opportunity when it appears) Gina got up to leave and Sam, seizing his chance, followed her out. blow your chance informal (=have an opportunity but not use it well) They've blown given the chance their chance of getting the money back. (=if you had the opportunity) What would you say, given chance second/another the chance to talk to her again?* a last chance / These players deserve another chance. warned her that this was her last chance. 2 [C/U] the possibility that something will happen: The chance of rain is less than 20%. a chance of (doing) sth For the first time in 15 years, they have a realistic chance +(that) Is there any chance they of winning an election. will reverse their decision? a good /fair /slim chance There is now only a slim chance that a recession can be avoided. not stand a chance (=be not at all likely to be able to do something) He doesn 't stand a chance of winning the tournament. a fighting chance (=a chance to succeed if you try very hard) We still have a fighting chance of a fiftybeating them if we keep our minds on the game. fifty chance /an even chance (=a situation in which the chances of something happening or not happening are equal) He had a fifty-fifty chance of surviving the operation. 3 [U] the way things happen without being planned or expected: luck: The results may simply be due to chance. by chance It was simply by chance that Nicholson was cast in the movie. pure/sheer chance Pure chance had brought us together that day.

any chance of. .? spoken used for asking someone to give you something or do something for you:,4nv chance .

of a cup of coffee, Steve?

by any chance spoken used when you are asking questions to find out whether something is true: You don't happen to recall his name, by any chance?

the chance of a lifetime or a chance in a million an opportunity to do something that you will never have again sb's chances the degree to which someone is likely to achieve something: /// wanted to get a job in advertising, what do you think my chances would be?* sb's chances of (doing) sth What are their chances of winning the championship this season? (the) chances are spoken used for saying that something is likely to happen but is not certain: The chances are that I will be looking for a new job soon. chance would be a fine thing Br E spoken used for saying that something that you would like to happen is extremely unlikely fat chance very informal used for saying that something is extremely unlikely: You think she will let you go by yourself? Fat chance. on the off chance if you do something on the off chance, you do it even though you think it is unlikely to succeed: She thought of calling him on the off chance of catching him at home. take a chance (on) or take chances to do something even though it involves risk: Lorraine didn't know me but she took a chance on my honesty. It is just not worth taking any chances.

chance 2

/tjaens/ verb 1 [T] to do something even it involves a risk: He stepped back and chanced a look at Martha. chance it informal: It looked like rain so I decided not to chance it and brought my umbrella. 2 [i] mainly literary to do something in a way that is not planned: +to Roger would have seen her if he chanced to look around.

though you know

chance on

chance upon phrasal vb [T] mainly literary someone or something when you did not was browsing in a bookstore when I chanced

or

to find or see

expect

to: /

upon an old friend.

chance 3

/tjaens/ adj [only before noun] not planned or expected: a chance meeting /discovery /encounter

chan-cel

[c] the part of a church where during a religious ceremony chan-cel-ler-y /'tjaensbri/ noun 1 [C] a building where a chancellor has his or her office 1a. [singular]

/'tjaensl/

noun

the priests and choir

sit

who work in a chancellor's office 2 [C] an ambassador's office in an embassy chan-cel-lor /'tjaensabr/ noun [c] • 1 someone who is the official leader of a university 2 the leader of the government in some countries, for example Germany and Austria 3 the chancellor of the exchequer in the U.K. the officials

Chancellor of the Exchequer noun [c] the member of the British government who is responsible for taxes and for deciding how the government spends its money chan-cer-y

/'tjaensari/ noun [singular] 1 legal the part of law or a court of law that considers fairness and not just existing laws when making decisions 2 mainly

BrEa kept

government

3 Chancery

office where official documents are a division of the British High Court

of Justice

chanc-y /'tjaensi/ adj

informal involving a risk and not certain to be successful: risky: Buying a used car is always a little chancy.

chan-de-lier

/Jaenda'lir/ noun [c] a large light that hangs from a ceiling and has branches for holding electric lights or candles

chan-dler

/'tjaendbr/ noun [c] 1 chandler or ship's chandler someone who sells equipment that people need on a ship 2 someone in the past who made and sold candles

change 1

1

/tjemd3/ verb

become/make

2 start sth new 3 replace sth/sb 4 put on different clothes 1

[I/T]

to

•••

different

become

5 get on different vehicle 6 exchange money + PHRASES

different or to

make someone

or

something different: Some things never change. After a few days the weather changed dramatically. The law was changed in 1989. the changing role of women in the workplace change little (=not very much) The school has changed little since it was built 30years ago. change (sth)

change from sth

The town has changed from a small fishing

a bustling tourist attraction, la. if the wind it starts coming from a different direction 1b. to become a different color: change color The leaves are already starting to change color. change from sth to sth The signal changed from green to red. 2 T] to stop doing one thing and start doing something different: Dave said he might change jobs. change (sth) to sth I changed the order to once a year instead of monthly. Consumers are increasingly changing to low-fat milk. 3 [t] to replace something with a new or different thing: I'm sick of these curtains, let's change them. Can you help me change a tire? 3a. if you change a bed or change the sheets, you put clean sheets, covers, etc. on the bed 3b. if you change a baby or change its diaper. you take off the dirty diaper and put on a clean one 3c. if you change someone who performs a service for you. you use someone else: Have you changed your hairdresser? 3d. Br E to exchange something you have port

change

220

to sth

to

changes,

[

change into

phrasal vb [l/T] [change into sth] 1 to stop being in one state, condition, or form and start being in another, or to make something do this:>ir what point does boiling water change into vapor? 2 in stories, if a person or thing changes into something, or is changed into something, they become that thing by magic: The frog changed into a handsome prince. change over phrasal vd T] to stop doing or using one thing and start doing or using something else: + to When did the school change over to the phonics system? change up phrasal vb [i] BrE to start driving in a higher [

GEAR

Other ways of saying

adjust to change something slightly so that exactly the way you want using the remote control. the seat?

bought

4 T] to take off the clothes or a piece of clothing you are wearing and put on different ones: Wait, I'll go and change. + into / took a bath and changed my clothes. You should change into some dry socks. +out of He went upstairs to change out of his good suit. get changed Do I have time to get changed before we go? "] to leave one airplane, train, bus. etc. to get on 5 We changed another: You'll have to change in Chicago. planes in Miami. 5a. all change Br E spoken used for telling people on a train or bus that they must leave it because it is not going any farther [

[

of the post-Cold

convert

modify to make small changes, for example to a machine or system, in order to make something suitable for a different situation: The exhaust system has to be modified to meet new emission standards. transform to change something completely so that it looks or works much better: Putting in a larger kitchen has completely transformed the house. new discoveries that could transform the way we treat cancer vary to make continuous or repeated changes something: It's important to vary' your diet.

change 2

to start to work or develop in a or at a different speed: With the business

different way concluded, the convention changes gear and becomes like a huge party. 2 to start using a different gear when you are driving a car or riding a bicycle change hands 1 if something changes hands, it gets a new owner: The house has changed hands several times in the last few years. 2 if money changes hands, one person gives it to another as payment, sometimes in a dishonest way: Xo money actually changed hands. change your mind to change a decision or an opinion: Travis was about to say something, then changed his mind. + about I've changed my mind about Steve. change sides to stop supporting one person or group in

an argument and start supporting the other change the subject to stop talking about one thing and start talking about another, especially because the first is difficult or embarrassing in some way: lean see that you 're getting upset. Let's just change the subject. change tack to try to get what you want by using a different method: He suddenly changed tack and lowered his asking price. change your tune informal to start saying something different about a subject or situation or behaving in a different way: He soon changed his tune when he saw how angry I was. -» CHOP

thing

:

Words

frequently used with

adverbs

change

completely, considerably,

1

dramatically, drastically,

fundamentally, radically, significantly

change down lower gear

phrasal vb

[l]

BrE

to start driving in a

/tjemdj/ noun

to

•••

1 difference

2 when sb/sth is replaced 3 enjoyable new activity 4 another set of clothes

football pitch

1

situation.

to

spare room into a study.

bill?

the worse.

War

change something so that it can be used for a different purpose: We're going to convert the

change direction/course

change gear /gears

the height of

to change something to deal with a specific The recipes can be adapted for vegetarians. They need to adapt their military forces to the needs

[~] to exchange money from one country for money with the same value from another country: change sth change some dollars into pesos. 6a. to exchange a bill or coin of high value for bills or coins of lower value: Can anyone change a twenty-dollar

to start being better the weather changed for

it is

You adjust the volume

Can you adjust

situation:

6

change for the better/worse worse.4s the afternoon wore on.

it:

adapt

for /into sth / need to

1 to start doing something completely new or different: Most students change direction during their first year. 2 to start moving in a different direction: I felt the boat change direction. change ends if two opponents or teams change ends, they each move to the opposite half of a tennis court or

change

more formal word for "change": His election could alter the balance of power in the region. alter a

5 small amounts 6 on a trip + PHRASES

of

money

1 [C] a situation in which something becomes different or you make something different: A number of significant changes have taken place since the 1960s. + in a change in the law +to The report proposes some fundamental changes to the Social Security system. undergo a change The computer industry' has undergone enormous changes make a change We made a few in the last 20 years. changes to the schedule for tomorrow's meeting. 1a. [U] the process by which things become different: Older a conpeople sometimes find it hard to accept change. ference on climate change 2 [C] a situation in which one person or thing is replaced by another: + of There's been a change of plans. a change of address +from the change from military' to

civilian rule

3

[singular]

a

new activity or experience that is different

and enjoyable: +from Everyone needs a change from the same old routine. 4 [C] another set of clothes that you take with you so that you can wear them instead of the ones you are wearing, if necessary: a change of clothes/ clothing/ socks /underwear etc. It's going to be wet and muddy, so bring a change of clothes.

5 [U] the money that someone gives back to you when you give more money than it costs to buy something: keep the change They told the cab Here's your change. driver to keep the change. 5a. coins instead of bills: I'm loose change She opened sorry I don t have any change. her purse and took out a handful of loose change. small (= value) We'll need a couple of dollars low change coins of in change He had in small change to pay for the rides. about So in change. 5b. [+for] if you have change for a bill or coin of high value, you have bills or coins of lower value that you can exchange for it: Do you have change for a ten-dollar bill? 6 [C] a part of a trip when you leave one airplane, train, bus. etc. to get on another: The trip takes five hours, with a change in Dallas.

changeable

Words

frequently used with

adjectives

change

dramatic, drastic, fundamental, major, radical, significant,

1

changeable

/'tjeind33bl/ ad] tending to change suddenly and often: inpredr table: a period of changeable change-a-bil-i-ty tjeindj^'bllati/ noun [U] weather

—

/tjemdjd/ adj * different from before: Changed climate conditions could bring many problems world's to the farmers. a changed man/woman AfterCatherine's death. Mr. Edwards was a changed man. change-less /'tjeind^tas/ adj literary remaining the same, and never changing

changed

/'tjeind5hn/ noun

a child they stole the

[c] in stories,

believed to have been left by fairies real child from its parents

when

change of

life, the noun informal the menopause change-o-ver / tJemd3,ouv3r/ noun [c] a change from

one method, system, or activity to another: +to the changeover to a new currency +from the formal changeover from British to Chinese rule change purse noun [c] Am E a small bag in which to keep coins. Br E purse Changing of the Guard, the / .tjemdjin s\ 5a gard/ a ceremony outside Buckingham Palace in London that many tourists go to watch, in which a new set of soldiers replaces the ones guarding the palace changing room / 'tjeind5in rum/ noun [c] a room in which people can change their clothes before and after playing a sport a. BrE a fitting room at a store channel /'tjsnl/ noun [C] ••* 1

1 television station

2 way to send information 3 passage/cut in surface 1

4 narrow area of water 5 way of using ability

a television station and the programs that

it

broad-

mation or for sending or receiving something: We can reach these markets through our existing distribution channels. The government is using diplomatic channels to negotiate a ceasefire. +of It is important to maintain clear channels of communication. go through the proper channels (=use the correct method) It could take weeks if you went through the proper channels. 3 a narrow passage made in the ground so that water can go along it: irrigation channels that supply the crops with water 3a. a long narrow cut in a surface: the

channel in which the door slides 4 a narrow area of water joining two oceans 4a. a narrow area of deeper water in a river, port. etc. that ships can use 5 [+for] a way of showing people what you are feeling or thinking, or of using your energy or ability: She was seeking a channel for her creative energies. chan-nel 2 / t fsnl/ (pasttense and past participle channelled n channeled; present participle channelling or channel-ing! verb [T] • use money/supplies

2 use your energy for sth 3 put sth through a system

to

million into developing

2

new

products.

use your energy, ability, feelings, or ideas for a particular purpose: channel sth into sth She channeled all her energies into her career. 3 to make something follow a particular system: channel sth through sth .4// information on the classes is channeled through the principal 's office. All the company 's sales are channeled through outside distributors. 4 [usually passive] to send something such as water along a passage: channel sth into/to sth Water is channeled into to

the lakes from the hillsides. 5 to allow the spirit of a dead person to speak using your voice, as some people claim to be able to do

Chan-nel, the

/ tjicnl/ the engi.ish channel between England and France channel surfing or channel hopping noun [u] a way of watching television in which you keep changing quickly from one channel to another using a remote

CONTROL

— channel- surf verb

4 send water in a direction 5 speak for a spirit

[

I

]

tunnel under the English Channel between England and France chant 1 / tjsnt/ noun 1 [c] a word or phrase that people keep shouting or singing many times: The crowd of 60.000 started a chant of "Go! Go.' Go.'" 2 [C/u] a piece of religious music sung using a very limited range of notes, or music of this type: a Buddhist chant a

train

chant 2

/tjaent/ verb [i/t] 1 to keep shouting or singing a word or phrase many times:.4// was mobbed by adoring crowds chanting his name. 2 to sing a piece of religious music using a very limited range of notes changing noun [U] chan-ty / 'Jasnti/ noun [c] Am E a song that sailors sing Cha-nu-kah /'hanak?/ another spelling of Hanukkah chaos /'kei.as/ noun [u] 1 a situation in which everything is confused and in a mess: bring /cause /create chaos There have been severe total /complete/ floods, bringing chaos to the region. utter /absolute chaos The new road construction has caused total chaos in the city. in chaos Six months after

—

**

the revolution, the country is still in chaos. science the state believed to have existed before the universe gained order, in which it had no shape or form

2

chaos theory

noun [u] the scientific study of complicated systems whose behavior is strongly affected by minor changes in conditions

cha-ot-ic /kei'utik/ adj happening in a confused way and without any order or organization: The situation at the border was chaotic, with thousands of refugees arriving every day.

chap

1

— cha-ot-i-cal-ly

kei'atikli/adv

if your skin chaps, or if it is becomes dry and painful, especially because of cold weather chap 2 /tfaep/ noun [C] Br E informal old-fashioned a man. especiaDy one that you like -» chaps

/tjaep/ verb [i/t]

chapped,

He changed casts: Let's see what's on the other channels. the channel to a news program. 2 [usually plural] a method used for communicating infor-

1

use money or supplies for a particular purpose: channel sth into sth The company has channeled $1.2 1

Channel Tunnel, the

sweeping

change-ling

chaplain

221

a change for the better/ worse something new or different that will make a situation better worse: Mr. Appleby described the new legislation as definitely a change for the better. a change of direction/course 1 a situation in which someone starts doing something completely new or different: He was looking for a complete change of direction. 2 a situation in which a person or vehicle starts moving in a different direction a change of heart a situation in which you change your opinion about someone or something: She seems to have had a change of heart about their future together. a change of scene/scenery/air a period of time that you spend in a different place in order to feel better or more healthy: / needed a change of scene from the city. for a change instead of what usually happens: Why don t you let me drive for a change?* It s nice to hear some good news for a change. -» SEA CHANGE

it

chaparral

/JaepOTael/ noun [u] a type of land in the southwest of the U.S. where many small trees and bushes grow close together chap-el /'tjwpl/ noun [c] •• 1 a small church, or a special room used as a church, where Christians can pray or worship: The hospital has its own chapel. 1a. a separate room or area within a church where people can go to pray or worship on their own 1b. Br E a church where nonconformists go to pray and worship 2 a group of labor union members, especially in the newspaper or publishing industries chaperon or chape-rone / j.eporoon/ noun [C] 1 Am E a parent or teacher who goes to a school dance 1

or other event to help to take care of the students: Three adult chaperons went with the class on their trip to Europe. 2 in the past, an older woman who went with a young woman who was not married to a social event to make sure that she behaved well

chap-e-ron 2 or chap-e-rone / japoxoun/ verb [t] Am E to go somewhere with a young woman or group of children as their chaperon

chap-lain /tjspbn/ noun minister

who works

in

[c]

a Christian priest or

an institution such as a school

"

chaplaincy

chap«let

/'tjasplat/

noun

[C) literary

a circle of flowers

and leaves that you wear on your head chapped /tjaept/ adj chapped skin or lips are dry and painful, especially because of cold weather

chaps

/tjaeps/ noun [plural] pieces of leather that cowboys wear over their pants to protect their legs when

riding horses /'tfaeptar/ noun [c] ••• one of the sections into which a book

chap-ter 1

The war was now entering

its

divided.

A

final chapter.

+ of It seemed that a chapter of my life was closing. 3 a local club or organization that is part of a much larger club or organization: She's the president of the Iowa chapter of the Professional Insurance Agents' Association. 4 all the priests who belong to a cathedral the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's Cathedral :

chapter and verse full and accurate information about something: They would have his file and get chapter and verse on his time in the army. Chap-ter 1 1 /.tfaeptar ilevn/ a part of a U.S. law that allows companies with serious financial problems to organize themselves in a different way and pay the money that they owe slowly instead of stopping operating completely Chap-ter 7 /.tjaepta 'sevn/ a part of U.S. law that allows a person with serious financial problems to avoid paying most of the money that they owe in exchange for giving up some of their property 'chapter house noun [c] 1 Am E a meeting place for students who are members of a fraternity or sorority at a university 2 a building where the priests who work in a cathedral have meetings

char Ajar/ verb it is

1

burned until

ifsomething chars or is charred, outer surface becomes black: Cook

[i/t]

its

under a hot grill until the skin chars. 2 Br E old-fashioned to clean a building, especially someone's house, as your job char-ac-ter /'keraktar/ noun ••• the peppers

1 qualities of personality

2 what makes sth different 3 morally good qualities 4 unusual person

[

5 sb in book, movie, 6 sb's reputation

l

]

etc.

7 letter/number/symbol

1 [C usually singular] the qualities that make up someone's personality: This stinginess with money was one aspect of Steve's character that I didn't like. in /out of character (=typical/not typical of someone's usual behavior) / can't understand why Simon refused to help; it seems so out of character. 1a. [singular] the qualities that people from a particular place are believed to have: He understood so much about our national character. 2 [C/u] the qualities that make something clearly different from anything else: Each of his books has its own distinctive character. The two towns are similar in + of The house was size but very different in character. not in keeping with the character of the surrounding area. 2a. a quality that makes something interesting or attractive: a traditional inn with a lot of character and

charm

3

character You'd like Joe, he's a real character. 5 [C] a person in a book, play, movie, etc.: The book has a solid plot and likable characters. the main /central character The movie's main character is played by George Clooney.

6

when this reliable they are: Did she cast a

[C/U] someone's reputation, especially

shows how honest or slur on

my character?* My client is a man ofgood character.

7 [C] a letter, number, or symbol that is written, printed, or used in computer programs: The password may be up to 12 characters long. [c] an actor who plays unusual, strange, or interesting characters instead of being one of the main characters

'character .actor noun is

chapter usually has a number or a title: See Chapter Three for more details. +A number of other theories will be discussed in the following chapters. 2 mainly literary a section of someone's life or a period in history:

charge

222

or a hospital, or in the army: the prison chaplain chap-lain-cy / tjicpbnsi/ noun [c] the job of a chaplain, or the place where a chaplain works

good personal qualities, especially the qualities and determined when doing something She had to stand up and make a speech to 500 people, so it was quite a test of character. The team showed real character in coming back from behind like that. character-building (=helping to develop someone's [U]

of being brave difficult:

character) the idea of competitive sport as a characterbuilding activity 4 [C] a person of a particular type: McMahon is one of a shady/ suspicious/ the sport's most colorful characters. unsavory character a reformed /changed character Jake used to be pretty wild, but he's a reformed character now. 4a. informal someone with special qualities that make them different from most people and interesting to know: She was quite a character, I can tell you. a real

.character assassi'nation noun

[c/u] the deliberate

and unfair destruction of someone's reputation char-ac-ter-i-sa-tion / keraktan'zeijn/a Br E spelling of characterization

characterise

/'kerakta,raiz/a

BrE

spelling of char-

acterize

char-ac-ter-is-tic

••

1

a par/ .kerakta'nstik/ noun [C] ticular quality or feature that is typical of someone or something: In the future parents may be able to choose their children's physical characteristics. the main /defining/ distinguishing characteristic A purple rash is one of the distinguishing characteristics of the disease. 2

char-ac-ter-is-tic /.kerakta'nstik/ adj •• typical of someone or something: Saffron gives the rice in this dish its characteristic yellow color. Sue answered with her characteristic frankness. +of The white stone houses are

—

characteristic of the island. char-ac-ter-is-ti-cally /.kerakta'nstikli/ adv: His speech was characteristically dull.

char-ac-ter-i-za-tion /.keraktan'zeiTn/ noun [c/u] 1 the way in which a writer creates characters in a book, play, movie, etc.: Tey's novels are well constructed, with strong characterization and a fine prose style. 2 the way in which someone or something is described as a particular type of person or thing: They portray him as a weak leader, but I don 't think that 's a fair characterization.

char-ac«ter«ize/'kerakta,raiz/verb [T] •• 1 formal to describe someone or something as a particular type of person or thing: characterize sb/sth as sth The military is usually characterized as being very conservative. 2 to be a typical quality or feature of someone or something: the rice fields and temples that characterize the island be characterized by sth (=have something as a typical quality or feature) The 1980s were characterized by high inflation and high unemployment.

char-acter-less

/'keraktarlas/ adj very ordinary and with no interesting qualities: a characterless building [c] a reference for a job cha-rade /Ja'reid/ noun [c] an attempt to pretend that a situation is good or satisfactory, when in fact it is not: / wish they'd drop this pathetic charade of pretending nothing's the matter. The election was condemned as "an empty charade. charades /Ja'reidz/ noun [u] a game in which you can use only actions or movements to help the other players to guess a word or phrase char-broil / 't Jar, broil/ verb [i/T] to cook food by putting it over a fire made of charcoal —char-broiled adj: a

'character .reference noun

charbroiled steak

char-coal 1 /'tjar.kool/ noun [u] a black substance made from burned wood, used as a fuel, especially for cooking food outside. You can also use sticks of charcoal for drawing.

char-coal 2

/'tjar.koul/ adj something that is charcoal dark gray in color chard /tjard/ noun [u] a vegetable with white stems and large dark-green leaves charge 1 /tjard3/ noun •** is

1

1

amount

2 3 4 5

when

of

sb

amount

is

money

to

pay

accused

of electricity

an attack running fast

amount

[C/U]

6 sb you take care

of

cause emotion

7

ability to

8

instruction to do sth

+ PHRASES

of explosive

an amount of money that you have

to pay,

charge visit

started crying.

7

the ability to produce strong emotions or issue still carries a charge in American politics. a real-life tragedy that gave the movie a serious emotional charge E formal an official instruction to do some8 [C] thing: charge to do sth The department has given us a charge to work within certain parameters. [singular]

feelings:

The

Am

get a charge out of sth

because

it is

how fast

his

exciting:

Am E to

enjoy doing something

He got a charge

out of seeing just

new car could go. if you are in charge, you have control over someone or something and are responsible for in charge (of)

them: Who's in charge here? The nurse in charge Philips in explained what the treatment would be like. charge of our marketing department. put sb in charge (of sb/sth) He was subsequently put in charge of the whole investigation.

in sb's charge if a person or thing is in your charge, you are responsible for taking care of them: She always worried a lot about the young children in her charge. take charge (of) to take control and become responsible for someone or something: It was a great relief when Heather arrived and took charge of the project. -» COVER CHARGE, DEPTH CHARGE

Words frequently used with charge verbs

admit, bring, deny, drop, face,

2

prefer, press, refute

charge 2 1

/tjard3/ verb

asksbto pay money

2 arrange for sb to pay 3 accuse sb of crime 4 run toward (to attack)

••• 5 put electricity into 6 make sb responsible 7 fill container + PHRASES

ask someone to pay an amount of money for something you are selling to them or doing for them: +for Most health clubs charge extra for massages. charge sb sth (for sth) You will be charged a fee for changing your ticket. They charged us $24 for three drinks. be charged at sth All calls are charged at $1.00 per minute. 2 [T] to arrange for payment to be made later: charge sth to sb/sth The flights were charged to his personal account. Guests can make phone calls and charge them to their rooms. 2a. to pay for something with a credit card / decided to charge it, since I didn 't have any cash on me. 3 [T] to accuse someone officially of committing a crime: Two men have been charged in connection with the charge sb with sth The police have charged him with fire. murder. 3a. formal to claim that someone or something is bad or has done something bad: charge sb/sth with 1

[I/T]

:

charity

223

when you

a place or when someone does something for you: You will have to pay a small admission charge. + of There is a charge of $50 if you are over a week +for There is no charge for late with your payment. using the library. free of charge (=with no charge) The provides range organization a of services free of charge. at no extra charge (^without having to pay any more) Breakfast may be served in your room at no extra charge. 2 [C] an official statement accusing someone of committing a crime: + of They faced charges of conspiracy and murder. + against The investigation resulted in criminal charges against three police officers. * press/ prefer/ bring charges (=officially accuse someone of a crime) In the drop the charges end we decided not to press charges. (=no longer officially accuse someone of a crime) She was accused of shoplifting but the police later dropped the charges. release sb without charge He was questioned for six hours but released without charge. 2a. a claim that someone or something is bad or has done something bad: + of How do you respond to these charges of racism? +that The leadership rejected charges that it was insensitive to the plight of the unemployed. 3 [C] the amount of electricity that something holds or carries: The proton has a positive electrical charge. 4 [C] an attack by people or animals running very fast toward someone or something: Captain Walker led a charge straight into an enemy stronghold. 5 [C] an amount of the substance that makes a bomb explode 6 [C}formal someone that you are responsible for and take care of: She didn 't like it when her young charges especially

to

(doing) sth U.N. weapons inspectors will this week charge Iraq with violations of the agreement. + (that) Republicans blocked Lee's nomination, charging that he was unqualified for the job. 4 [i/t] to attack someone or something by running very fast toward them: The colonel gave the order to The ushers panicked as angry fans charged charge. toward them. 4a. [i] to move somewhere quickly and carelessly: + into/around/down etc. The door flew open and Penny charged into the room. problems caused by-

down rural roads 5 charge or charge up [i/t] to put electricity into a piece of electrical equipment such as a battery: The

semis charging

phone won t work if it isn charged up. 6 [t] formal to make someone officially responsible for doing something: be charged with (doing) sth The company has been charged with maintaining our computer 't

systems.

7

[J]

all to

formal to fill a glass completely: / would ask you charge your glasses and join me in a toast to Max

and Sue. charge up

phrasal vb [i/T]

same as charge"

s

charge-a-ble /'tjard3sbl/ adj formal 1 if an amount of money is chargeable, it must be paid: Interest is chargeable at 5 percent per year. 2 considered to be a crime that you can be officially accused of: a chargeable 3 if income or property is chargeable, you must pay tax on it: chargeable assets charge account noun [c] an account that you have with a store by which you buy goods with a charge card charge card noun [c] a plastic card that you get from a particular store and use to buy its goods and pay for offense

them

later

charged

/tjard3d/ adj filled with a strong emotion such as excitement or nervousness: the highly charged atmosphere of the trial +with a silence charged with meaning change d'affaires /,Jar3ei ds'fer/ noun [c] an official

who

represents the government of their

own

country in a foreign country when there is no ambassador there charg-er AJarx^ar/ noun [c] 1 a piece of equipment used for providing a battery with electricity 2 a horse ridden by a soldier when fighting in battle in the past charge .sheet noun [c] an official record in which the police write down the names of people they have accused of a crime char-grill / 'tjar.gnl/ verb [i/t] to cook food such as meat or fish very quickly over strong heat char-grilled adj: a chargrilled steak char-hot /'tjerist/ noun [c] a vehicle with two wheels and no roof that was pulled by horses in races and battles in ancient times. Someone who drove a chariot was called a charioteer. cha-ris-ma /ks'nzma/ noun [u] a strong personal quality that makes other people like you and be attracted to you: charm: a man sadly lacking in charisma char-is-mat-ic /.kenz'mxtik/ adj 1 a charismatic person has a strong personal quality that makes other people like them and be attracted to them: What the party needs is a more charismatic leader. 2 relating to a group of Christians who believe that God can give people unusual abilities, for example, the ability to cure people who are sick char-i-ta-ble /'tjentabl/ adj • 1 intended to help people who are poor or sick, or who need advice and support: a charitable organization institution, trust charitable work. charitable person has a kind attitude toward other people and does not judge them or criticize them too char-i-ta-ble-ness noun [u]. char-i-ta-bly adv severely

2 a

char-i-ty /'tjersti/ noun ••• 1 [C] an organization to which you give money so that it can give money and help to people who are poor or sick, or who need advice and support: The March of Dimes is a registered charity. 1a. [u] these organizations considered as a group: raise sth for charity The show raised thousands of dollars for charity. give/ donate sth donated the prize money to charity. a charity event/ concert/ gala a charity event to raise money for the

to charity /

"i

charlatan

o

and partner. charity begins at home spoken used for saying that you should take care of yourself, your own family, friends, or country before you start helping other people

char-la-tan /'Jarbtan/ noun [c] someone who cheats people by claiming to have special knowledge or abilities

Charles-ton

/

tjarlstan/ noun [C] a fast dance that

was

popular in the 1920s

char-ley horse / tjarli ,hors/ noun [singular] Am E informal a pain, especially in your leg or foot, caused by a muscle becoming tight or stiff char-lie

/'tjarli/

noun

[u] very

informal the illegal drug

charm

/tjarm/ noun

••

1

/tjart/ noun

a

1

[C]

a

way

list,

••

drawing, or graph showing information in

that is easy to understand: For birth rates in the

1990s, see the chart

on page

Enter your results on the

247.

chart.

2

a map, especially one used for planning what direction a ship or aircraft will travel in 3 [C] a circular drawing used in astrology that shows the position of the sun and stars at the time of someone's birth 4 the charts [plural] a list showing the CDs that people have bought the most copies of in the previous week: Their new single is likely to top the charts again this week. [C]

chart 2 1

A

/tjart/

verb* how something develops and changes:

to record

[T]

team

every week to chart their progress. 2 [T] to make a map of an area 3 [T] to plan a trip or course of action: They have already begun charting the course for the next campaign. 4 [I] if a CD charts, it sells enough copies to appear on visits

charter

a personal quality that attracts people to you and makes them like you: Even journalists succumbed to great/considerable/immense Roosevelt's easy charm. charm She is a woman of great personal charm. turn on the charm (=use it to influence someone or achieve something) They were reluctant to let us in until Sue turned on the charm. 1a. charms [plural] pleasant or attractive qualities or features: Visitors are delighted by the village's more rustic charms. The place held no 1

chart

the charts

COCAINE 1

chase

224

money

or food that is given to people who are poor or sick so that they can live: Their plight is a miserable one, but they do not want charity. 2 [u] kindness that you show toward other people by not judging them or criticizing them too severely: show charity (to sb) Steele showed no charity to his former friend

school lb. [U]

[u]

charms for me -

it was bare and isolated. 1b. [u] the quality of being pleasant or attractive: The building has been modernized but retains its traditional charm. a classic children's tale that has lost none of its charm 2 [C] something that people believe brings them luck: a good-luck charm 2a. a small object worn on a piece of jewelry: a gold charm a charm bracelet 3 [C] something believed to have magic power, especially a magic phrase 3a. work like a charm to be very

effective

charm 2 /tjarm/ verb

[T]

* The children

enthusiastic singing. She was charmed by Henry's thoughtfulness. 2 to deliberately make someone like you so that they do what you want them to do: He was able to charm my mother into helping him financially. 3 to use magic to influence or control someone or

something

charmed

/tfarmd/ adj extremely lucky or fortunate: charmed life/existence He seems to have led a charmed a charmed circle since arriving in Hollywood. (=group of people with special rights or powers) Those doctors outside the charmed circle were beginning to get a

life

impatient for change.

charm-er

/'tfarmar/ noun [c] someone who is good at making people like them, especially in order to gain an advantage -» snake charmer

** very attractive and pleas-

charming illustrations There lots of charming little restaurants along the river. used about someone who behaves in a way people She gave are attracted to: He's a very charming man. him her most charming smile, b. used about someone, especially a man, who is not trusted although they seem very pleasant: He can be charming when he wants something. a charming rogue c. used for saying that you do not like what someone has done: They've left all charm-ing-ly adv their clothes on the floor. Charming! charm-less /'tjarmbs/ adj formal not attractive or ant: a children's book with

are

charter2

/'tfartar/ verb [T] 1 to rent a boat, airplane, or bus, especially for use by a group of people 2 legal to create a city, university, private corporation, etc. by giving it a charter

chartered ac-count-ant noun

—

pleasant in any

way [singular]

mainly journalism a

series of actions intended to get people to like you so that you can influence them

and

trust

charm

.school noun [C] old-fashioned a school where young women learn to behave politely and make themselves physically attractive

channel house / 'tjarnl

[C]

BrEa

/.tjartard s'kauntant/ certified public accountant

them at a lower price .charter member noun

who

,haus/ noun

[c] literary

a place

where the bodies and bones of dead people are kept charred /tjard/ adj black and burned

[c]

AmE

started a club or organization.

one of the people

The British word

is

founder member.

chartreuse

1

bright green-yellow

/Jar'truz/ adj

in

color

chartreuse 2

a green or yellow alcoholic drink, sometimes drunk after a meal chart- .topping adj selling the most copies of a CD in charta particular week: a chart-topping group/ song /Jar'truz/ noun

[u]

—

topper noun

[C]

char-wom-an

/'t Jar

.woman/

char«wom»en old-fashioned a woman (plural

/'tjar,wimm/) noun [C] BrE whose job is to clean a building, especially someone else's

house

chary

/'tjeri/ adj formal [+of /about] unwilling to do something because you are afraid that something bad will happen

chase

a.

'charm offensive noun

legal

[C]

charter flight noun [c] an airplane trip arranged by a travel company that has bought all the seats and sells

1 to give someone pleasure or enjoyment: clearly charmed the audience with their

charm-i ng / 'tjarmin / adj

••

1

/'tfartar/ noun an official document that creates a city, university, private corporation, etc. and describes its purpose and its legal rights: Maryland was established with a charter from the King of England. 1a. an official document describing the goals, rights, or principles of an organization: The Olympic Charter forbids sex discrimination, lb. an official agreement or statement that makes rules for something: the Environmental Charter 2 [U] the process of renting a boat, airplane, or bus, especially for use by a group of people 2a. [C] a boat, airplane, or bus that is available for rent: a German charter carrying 200 tourists a charter jet /yacht /aircraft 1

1

1

/tjeis/ verb

**

follow sb/sth quickly

2 force sbfrom power 3 hurry

4 try hard to getsth 5 decorate metal + PHRASES

to follow someone or something quickly in order to catch them: pursue: They were chased by photographers + after / chased after the as they took their son to school. 1

[i/t]

robbers for several blocks. chase sb/sth down/up/along sth The band has often been chased down the street by enthusiastic fans. 1a. [T] to follow someone or something quickly in order to make them go away: chase sb/sth off The male fish chases off other males that try to chase sb/sth away He chased get too close to the females. chase sb/sth out of sth We the snakes away with a stick. chased the cat out of the house. 2 [T] to force someone out of a position of power: chase sb/sth from sth The military leaders were chased from power two years ago. chase sb/sth out of sth Amin was chased out of the country in 1979. 3 [I] informal to do something in a hurry: + down /up/

chase

chase a way

cheap

225

along I saw Jill chasing up the walk waving a letter. + around I've been chasing around all week buying presents. + all over There's no sense in chasing all over the country. 4 [T] to try hard to get something you want such as a job, prize, or money: Tiger Woods was chasing another European title. Many companies are still chasing debts that are more than five years old. 4a. [i/T] to try to get someone to have a sexual relationship with you: Aren't you getting a bit old for chasing girls? + after She could not imagine him chasing after other women. 5 [T] technical to decorate metal using a special tool: an elaborately chased silver dish phrasal vb

[T] literary

to get rid of

something

exchange messages with someone using a computer so that you are able to see each other's messages immediately, especially on the Internet ,chat away phrasal vb [l] same as chat' 'chat up phrasal vb [T] Br E informal to start a conversation with someone because you want to have a sexual or romantic relationship with them: When I left, Sally was getting chatted up by the barman. chat 2 /tjaet/ noun * [C] a friendly conversation: I just have a chat (with sb) / had an rang up for a chat. + about / hear you two interesting chat with his sister. have been having a cozy little chat about me! a. [u] informal talk: I've got no time for idle chat.

2

to

I

unpleasant

down

someone or to get something you need: Police chased down two As soon as we suspects seen fleeing the scene of the crime. chase down further information, we will bring it to you. chase up phrasal vb [T] mainly BrEI to find out what is chase

phrasal vb [T] to try

hard

Words

to catch

being done about something: My department is responto ask someone who sible for chasing up deliveries. 2 should have done something why they have not done it: Why don't you chase up those software people today?

frequently used with chat brief, confidential, cozy, friendly,

adjectives

informal,

little,

quiet

cha-teau /JVtoo/ (plural chateaux /Jae'tooz/) noun

[C] a French countryside chat-elaine / jaetl.ein/ noun [C] old-fashioned a woman in charge of a castle or large house 'chat group noun [C] computing a group of people who regularly exchange messages on the Internet, especially people who share an interest 'chat ,line noun [c] BrE a telephone service that you call if you want to talk to other people for fun 'chat room noun [C] an area on the Internet or a computer network where people can exchange messages compare newsgroup 'chat show noun [c] BrE a talk show chat'tel /'tjaetl/ noun [c usually plural] legal something that you own -» goods and chattels chat-ter 1 /'tjstar/ verb [i] 1 chatter or chatter away

castle or large

house

in the

—

chase

chase 2 /tjeis/

noun

•

the action of following someone or something quickly because you want to catch them: "Stop thief!" a car/police chase they shouted and joined in the chase. a high-speed car chase la. give chase formal to follow someone quickly in order to catch them: The man ran out and Darnell gave chase. 2 [singular] the act of trying to get something you want: The thrill of the chase motivates many entrepreneurs to +for Tiger Woods is leading the chase attempt takeovers. for the championship. 1

[C]

cut to the chase informal to start to talk about the most important part of something, without wasting time: OK, let's cut to the chase. How much do you want? chas-er /'tjeissr/ noun [C] a weak alcoholic drink that you drink immediately after a strong alcoholic drink or a strong alcoholic drink you drink immediately after a weak one chasm /'kaezam/ noun [C] 1 a very big difference that separates one person or group from another: + between a widening chasm between town and country 2 a very deep crack in rock or ice chas-sis /'faesi/ (plural chassis /'Jaesiz/) noun [C] 1 the frame and wheels of a vehicle 2 the landing gear of an

or chatter on to talk continuously in a fast informal way, usually about unimportant subjects: Stop chattering and open your books. She chattered on for twenty minutes while I got ready. + about What have you two been chattering away about all morning? 2 if birds, animals, or machines chatter, they make short high The noises: The monkey was now chattering with rage. telex chattered all night. 3 if your teeth chatter, they knock together from fear or cold chat*ter 2 / 't faetar/ noun [u] 1 continuous fast informal talk, usually about unimportant subjects: the excited chatter of the crowd There is too much idle chatter in this office. 2 short high noises that some birds, animals, or machines make chat-ter-box / 'tjaetar.baks/ noun [C] informal someone

who

chauf'feur

/t feist/ adj old-fashioned someone who is chaste does not have sex a. mainly literary showing no interest chaste-ly adv in sex: a chaste kiss

chaste

—

chasten

/ 'tjeisn/ verb [T usually passive]/orma/ to make someone feel ashamed or less confident: She seemed suitably chastened by the experience.

chas-tise /tJVstaiz/ verb [T] 1 mainly journalism to criticize someone 2 old-fashioned to punish someone chas'tise-ment noun [U] by hitting them

/'foofar, Joo'f3r/ verb [t] to drive a rich in their car as your job,

and important person around

chau'virvist /'foovinist/

/'tjaestati/

noun

[u]

a

obedience.

'chastity ,belt noun [C] a metal belt used in the past to prevent a woman from having sex chat 1 /tjaet/ verb [i]** 1 chat or chat away to talk in a friendly way: The +with doctor chatted away as she examined my hand. She laughed and chatted happily with the other women. about They sat waiting, chatting about nothing

in

noun

[C]

someone

who

believes that their own country, race, sex, or group is better than any other. This word is used especially about men and their attitude toward women. chau-virvism noun [U], chau*vin*ist adj. chauvinistic /Joovi'nistik/ adj

—

cheap

1

1 not

/tjip/ adj

•••

expensive

2 not of good quality 3 against spending money

way

of life that does not include any sexual activity, especially for religious reasons: The young monks took vows of chastity and

-i-

is to

chauf-feur 2

—

particular.

1

/'Joofar; Joo'f3r/ noun [c] someone whose drive a rich and important person around in their car, usually wearing a special uniform

job

usually wearing a special uniform

aircraft

chas-ti-ty

talks a lot

/'tjaeti/ adj 1 someone who is chatty enjoys talking a lot in a friendly way: Rosie is certainly in a chatty mood today. 2 a chatty writing style is friendly and informal: a bright, chatty letter

chat-ty

4 unkind/unfair 5 without value + PHRASES

not expensive: People should have access to cheap, fresh The local buses are cheap and reliable. a cheap food. The machine is relatively and plentiful source of energy cheap to build but expensive to maintain. 1a. used about something that is lower in price than usual or than you expected: Silver is very cheap in Mexico. 2 not expensive and not of good quality: People were drinking cheap wine from plastic cups. He was always buying her cheap jewelry. a cheap imitation Always ask products by name our cheap beware imitations' of for 1

1

cheap

E

not happy about spending money even on necessary things: She's so cheap she wouldn't even buy her own mother a birthday card. 4 a cheap action or remark is unfair or unkind and does not deserve respect: I'm not interested in scoring cheap points in this debate. a cheap joke /jibe Senator Wilson should be dealing with the problem, not making cheap jibes. a cheap trick He said he realized it had been a cheap trick and he was sorry. 5 not considered important or valuable: It happened

during the war when

life

was

cheap.

at half the price Br E informal used for emphasizing that something is good value and not considered

cheap

expensive

or service that

not of the best quality

is

cheapness noun

— cheap-ly adv.

[U]

TAUT1

cheap 2 /tfip/ adv at a low price: I can't believe I managed dirt cheap informal (=at a very low to get it so cheap. price) I got this bike dirt cheap at a garage sale. a. going cheap informal being sold for a lower price than is usual: They've got a bunch of furniture going cheap. b. not come cheap to cost or charge a lot: He doesn't come cheap, but he gets the job done on time.

cheap-en

[t] 1 to make someone or less valuable or respected: This type of advertising cheapens the image of the brand. 2 to reduce

/'tfipan/ verb

something seem

the price of something

cheap-ie or cheap-y

—

cheap'jack

noun

/'tjipi/

thing that does not cost cheap-ie adj quality

[c]

much money

or

informal someis of very poor

/

/

tjip,d5aek/ adj 1

tjipou/

adj

informal extremely inexpensive

and not of good quality

cheap-skate /'tfip.skeit/ noun fc] who does not like to spend money

cheap

informal someone

thrill noun [c] something that does not give real satisfaction

cheat

1

/tfit/ verb

is

exciting but

•

behave dishonestly or not obey rules, for example in order to win a game or do well in an examination: Kids have always found ways of cheating on tests. You can't do that - it's cheating. 1a. to do some1

[i]

to

thing that is not correct but makes it easier to succeed: You can cheat by adding a little flour. [T] to treat someone dishonestly: The builders had cheated her by using low-quality materials. cheat sb (out) of sth He was accused of cheating investors out of their life savings. 2a. feel /be cheated to feel that you have not been treated fairly: I felt cheated by all the drawbacks

2

and

3

[

delays. ]

to

have sex with someone who

wife, or partner:

He swore to me

not your husband, that he had never cheated. is

cheat death/fate to avoid death when this seems impossible

cheat on phrasal vb [T] 1 [cheat on sb] to secretly have sex with someone other than your husband, wife, or partner. You can also say that someone is unfaithful to their husband, wife, or partner: He discovered that she'd been cheating on him. 2 [cheat on sth] to cheat by not obeying the rules on something: They say she cheated on her taxes. cheat2 /tfit/ noun [C] 1 someone who cheats: stricter penalties for tax cheats 2 something that is dishonest or unfair 2a. something that is not correct, but helps you to succeed

check 1

1

/tfek/ verb

••* 4 mark to show agreement 5 give sb bags/suitcases + PHRASES

examine sth/sb

2 look/ask again 3 stop action/event 1

check

[

]

or

check over

local fire department.

+that Before starting, check that

you have everything you need. + whether Could you please check whether a package has arrived for me? check to see if He checked to see if Gail was still there. it is wise to check sth /it is worth checking sth It would be wise to check the availability of seats before going to the concert. 3 [T] to stop yourself or someone else from doing something: Paul was about to answer but checked himself when he saw Julie's expression. 3a. to stop something bad from happening or getting worse: They are taking measures to check the spread of the disease. 4 [T] Am E to make a mark / to show that something is correct, that you agree with it. etc. Br E tick: Check the appropriate boxes on the form. 5 check or check in T to give your bags and suitcases to an official at an airport so that they can be put on an airplane: How many bags do you have to check? check against phrasal vb [T] [check sth against sth] to find out whether information is accurate or useful by comparing it with other information: The police are [

]

checking his fingerprints against their database. in phrasal vb 1 [i] to arrive at a hotel where you have arranged to stay and give your personal details to the person working at the reception desk: Have you checked in yet? 2 to arrive at an airport and show your ticket to an official: You must check in at least one hour before your flight. 3 [T] same as check' 5: Roger checked in his suitcase. 4 [T] [check sb in] to deal with someone when they arrive at a hotel or at an airport

check

not expensive or valuable 2 unfair or unkind: The land fell victim to a bunch cheapjack speculators. of

cheap»o

order to find out whether it is how it should be: Always check your spelling. He checked the contents of the package The official checked our passports. Would you carefully. check the tires for me? have sth checked You should have T your eyes checked regularly 'la. to examine someone or something in order to find out if something is present: Have you checked your email? check sth for sth / checked the car for signs of damage. +for The doctor checked for a pulse, lb. [i/t] to look at writing or pictures in order to get information about something: Check the label before you put that shirt in the wash. check sth for sth Check our Web site for details of our special offers. + through She checked through her notes for his address. ~] to make certain of something, for example by 2 looking at the information again or by asking someone: / think he's gone home - but let me check. I'll check the dates. + with For further information, check with your [

cheap at the price Br E used for emphasizing that something is worth more than it costs: He'd spent $75,000 but said his victory was cheap at the price. on the cheap informal 1 if you buy something on the cheap you do not pay the usual price: It's a great opportunity to pick up a car on the cheap. 2 if you do something on the cheap you spend less money and get a product

->

check

226

3

[T]

to

examine something

in

[

]

from which they have arranged checked us

to fly:

The

receptionist

in.

check into phrasal vb [t] [check into sth] 1 to arrive at a hotel where you have arranged to stay and give your personal details to the person working at the reception desk We won 'the able to check into the hotel until 3 'clock. 2 to try to find out more information about a particular subject: I'll check into the tours and see how much they :

cost.

check off phrasal vb [T] to mark things on a list to show that vou have dealt with them or that thev are correct. Br E tick off check on phrasal vb [T] to look at someone or something so that you are certain they are safe, satisfactory, etc.: The boss arrived to / sent Michael to check on the kids. check on our progress. phrasal vb 1 [1] to leave a hotel after paying the bill: +of Joan had already checked out of the hotel. 2 [T] to pay for your goods before leaving a E to borrow supermarket or other large store 3 [T] a book from a library 4 [T] to examine someone or something in order to be certain that everything is correct, true, or satisfactory: The police are checking the woman out. I've been taking lots of photographs, just to Go to the doctor and get yourself check out the camera. checked out. 4a. informal to look at someone or something to see whether you like them: Have you checked out the new health club yet? 5 [1] if information checks out. you feel that it is true after examining it: Their story' just didn 't check out. check over phrasal vb [T] 1 same as check 1: All written work should be checked over for spelling mistakes. 2 [check sb over] to examine someone to find out whether there

check out

AmE

Am

1

is anything wrong with them: The nurse began checking him over. check up on phrasal vb [T] [check up on sb] to find out information about someone, especially secretly: Ken told me someone had been checking up on me.

check check 2 1

••• 5 mark of agreement 6 pattern of squares 7 in game of chess

examination of sb/sth

using 24 round pieces. Br £ draughts —picture -» ci6 1 [singular] the place you go to when you arrive at an airport or hotel: I'll see you at the checkin. 2 [uj the process you go through when you arrive

+ PHRASES

an examination of something

it is

AmE

Am

keep/hold sb/sth in check to control someone or something that might cause damage or harm: Attempts to hold global warming in check are being made by many countries.

Words

frequently used with

adjectives

check

random, regular, stringent, thorough final,

check-book

/'tfek.bok/ noun

routine,

[c]

AmE

1

a small book and use

of printed pieces of paper that you can sign instead of money to pay for things

noun [u] Am E the practice of paying people a lot of money for stories that are then printed in a newspaper, especially when they are giving information about famous people check-box /'tjek.baks/ noun [c] a small square on a computer screen that you click on with your mouse to choose a feature

checkbook journalism

check card noun [c] Am E a debit card checked /tjekt/ adj printed or woven in

check-er / 'tjekar/ noun [c]AmE1 someone whose job is to calculate what you owe and collect your money for the goods you buy at a supermarket. Br E cashier 2 any one of the small round pieces used in the game of checkers. Br draught

AmE

1

a /'tjeksr.bord/ noun [C] special board used for playing the game of checkers, size. which has 64 black and white squares of equal

Br E draughtboard

checker-board 2

AmE

printed or /'tjekar.bord/ adj in a pattern of squares of equal size and two white different colors, especially black and

woven

/'tjekard/ ad) 1 if someone has had a checkered past or a checkered career, they have experienced both successes and failures: He remains a popular figure despite his checkered past. 2 with a pattern of squares in two different colors, all of the same size: a

:heckered

noun [c] and white squares that is car finishes the race

an airport: check-in time

AmE

a desk where you [c] go to hand in your bags and suitcases and have your

checked

ticket

an airport

at

check-in .desk noun [c] BrE a check-in counter check-ing ac-count / tjekirj akaont/ noun [C] Am E a bank account in which you keep money that you can take whenever you want, using your checkbook or debit card. Br E current account —compare savings account check-list / tjek.list/ noun [c] a list of all the things you need to do or consider: We ran through the checklist of equipment.

check-mate / 'tfekrneit/ noun

[c/u] in chess, an attack that your opponent's king cannot escape from, so that

you win the game /'tjek.aut/ noun [C] the place where you pay in a supermarket or other large store check-point / tJek.pDint/ noun [c] a place where traffic can be stopped by soldiers or police

check-out

AmE

check-room

& room in a /'tjekruim/ noun [c] restaurant or other public place where you can leave your coat, hat, bag, etc. so that someone will guard them. Br E cloakroom: coat check, cloakroom, hatcheck

checks and balances

noun [plural] a political system in which no single part of a government can become too powerful, because it needs the agreement of the other parts for its actions to be legal a. a system that limits power within a group or organization

noun [C] Am E the small piece of paper left in your checkbook when you tear out a check, used for recording the amount of money on the check and the person you are paying it to check-up /'tjek \p/ noun [C] an examination by a doctor or dentist to check that you have no problems: a regular dental/ physical checkup ched-dar /'tjedar/ noun [c/u] a type of hard yellow cheese cheek 1 /tfik/ noun 1 [C] the soft part on each side of your face below your eyes: Sarah kissed her on the cheek. pale pink rosycheeks —picture -» head 2 [C] informal one of the two soft parts of your body that you sit on: buttock 3 [singular/ u] BrE behavior that is rude or does not

check stub

r

••

show respect, especially toward someone who is older or more important: I've had enough of your cheek. have the cheek to do sth He had the cheek to suggest that I should be the one to apologize! cheek to cheek if people dance cheek to cheek, they dance holding each other very close with the sides of turn the other cheek to deliberately not hurt or upset someone who has hurt or upset you -» JOWL cheek 2 /tfik/ verb [T] BrE informal to speak rudely to

someone

cheek-bone

/tfik.boon/ noun [C usually plural] one of the two bones on each side of your face, below your eyes: She had a thin face with high cheekbones. /'tfiki/ adj BrE behaving in a way that does not show respect, especially toward someone who is older or more important: You're a cheeky little boy! a. showing a lack of respect, but in a way that seems lively and attractive instead of rude: a cheeky grin look cheek-i-ly adv: He grinned cheekily and left the room.

cheek-y

cheek-i-ness noun [U]

a flag with a pattern of black waved in a car race as each

1

cheep

AJip/ verb

[i]

if

a bird cheeps,

it

makes short

high sounds

cheep

2

/tjip/ noun [c] a short high

sound that a bird

makes

cheer

checkered tablecloth

checkered flag

at

check-in counter noun

their faces touching

a pattern of

squares: a red-and-blue checked shirt —picture -> Co

E checkerboard

/

check-in noun

to find out whether as it should be: + for a check for spelling errors + on make a routine checks on the condition of the planes check He made a final check of the doors to be sure they do a check They'll be doing a sound check were locked. before the concert. 1a. an examination of someone to find out whether they are healthy: checkup: +for a routine check for skin cancer 1b. an examination by the police, army, etc. of an area, or people or vehicles passing through an area, in order to be certain that there is no danger or illegal activity: Airport police later confirmed that the courier had managed to pass through + on They run the security check without being detected. a police check on all applicants for a gun license. -» spot check 2 [C] one of the pieces of printed paper that your bank gives you so you can pay for things without using money: +for a check for $50 by check (=with a check) Can I pay by check? 3 [C] something that controls another thing and stops it from becoming worse, too powerful, etc.: +on Economic forces act as a check on political power. a piece of paper that you are given in a 4 [C] restaurant showing you how much money you owe. Another word for this is bill, which is the usual British word: How much is the check? E a mark / that you put next to something to 5 [C] show that it is correct or that you have dealt with it. Br E tick 6 [C/U] a pattern of squares, usually of two colors: a wearing a check shirt sheet with red and white checks 7 [u] the position of the king in the game of chess when it is threatened by another piece [C]

AmE

a game for two tjekorz/ noun [u] people, played on a board with black and white squares

check-ers

2 for paying from bank 3 sth controlling sth else 4 amount you owe 1

cheer

227 /tjek/ noun

1

/t fir/ verb

*•

to give a loud shout of happiness or approval: The crowd cheered and threw flowers to the 57-year-old The prince was cheered by a 10.000-strong audience. tenor. 1

[i/T]

"1

Va

cheer 2

cherry

228

you are cheered by something such as a piece of news, it makes you happier or less

cheese-cloth

worried: He seemed genuinely cheered at the prospect of

cheesed off

[T

my

usually passive]

if

arrival.

starts. 1 [l/T] to become less sad, or to make someone feel less sad: / tried to cheer him up, but he just kept staring out the window. 1a. [l always in imperative] spoken used for telling someone to try to be happier: "Cheer up," he said. "It can't be that bad." 2 [T] if you cheer a place up, you make it look brighter by adding colorful things: Cheer up a dull room with fresh flowers.

cheer up phrasal vb

/tjir/

noun

•

1 [C] a loud shout of happiness or approval: A great cheer went up from the crowd. Troops raised a loud cheer as the president appeared. 1a. three cheers for used for telling people to shout three times to show their approval of someone or something 1b. a phrase or short poem that people at a sports event shout to encourage their team 1c. two cheers for Br E used for saying that you think something is good but that it could be better: Two cheers for yesterday's bold decision to cut interest rates.

2

[U]

mainly

literary a feeling of happiness:

The survey

will bring little cheer to teachers.

-» BRONX CHEER, CHEERS

cheerful

/'tfirfl/adj

*

cloth /.tjizd

'of/

ad)

BrE

informal feeling

be her usual cheerful

2 making you

feel happy because of being pleasant or enjoyable: She painted her room in cheerful orange and

a cheerful pop song The fire was a cheerful sight on such a cold, dreary day. cheer-ful-ness noun [u] cheer-f ul-ly / 'tjirf(3)li/ adv 1 in a way that shows that you are happy: She could hear him whistling cheerfully in the garden. 2 in a way that makes you feel happy: a

—

cheerfully decorated kitchen

sb could cheerfully do sth mainly Br E used for saying you would like to do something bad to someone who has annoyed you: I could cheerfully kill him for this.

that

cheer-i-o /,tJiri'oo/ interjection BrE informal good-bye cheer-lead-er /'tjir.lidsr/ noun [c] 1 one of a group of people, especially young women, who shout and dance to encourage the crowd to cheer at a sports event

2 a strong supporter of a person, organization, or idea cheer-lead-ing /'tjir.lidirj/ noun [u] 1 the activity of being a cheerleader at a sports event 2 strong support of a person, organization, or idea

cheerless / 'tjirbs/ adj

mainly literary making you feel sad because of being cold, dark, or unpleasant: gloomy cheers /tjirz/ interjection 1 used for expressing good wishes when holding a glass of alcohol, just before you drink it 2 BrE informal thank you: "Here's that book you wanted to borrow." "Oh, cheers." 3 BrE informal good-bye cheery / 'tjiri/ adj feeling or showing happiness: cheerful: Jack was his usual cheery self. a cheery face/ smile/ voice cheer-i-ly adv: She rode off, waving cheerily. cheer-i-ness noun [U] cheese /tfiz/ noun [c/u] ** a solid food made from milk: a piece of cheese a store selling a range of French cheeses goat's cheese a cheese omelet

—

say cheese used for telling someone to smile when you are taking their photograph -> big cheese cheese-board / 't fiz.bord/ noun [c] 1 a board used for serving or cutting cheese 2 mainly BrE a number of different cheeses served in a restaurant as part of a meal cheese-burg-er / 'tjiz.bsrgar/ noun [c] a type of burger that has a piece of cheese on top of the meat cheese-cake /'tjiz.keik/ noun 1 [c/u] a type of cake made of soft cheese and sometimes fruit 2 [u often before noun] Am E old-fashioned photographs of women wearing no clothes or very few clothes, printed in magazines, books, etc. and designed to be sexually attractive: cheesecake pictures

chees-y

up:

it.

informal lacking style or good quality and slightly silly: crummy: cheesy shoes 2 tasting like cheese or tasting of cheese: cheesy biscuits 3 a cheesy smile is wide and looks false: his cheesy grin /'tjizi/ adj

1

chee-tah

/'tjits/ noun [C] a large African wild animal that has yellow fur with black spots and can run extremely fast —picture -» ci2 chef /Jef/ noun [C] * someone who cooks food in a restaurant as their job

chef d'oeu-vre

/,jei 'd3vra/ noun [c] very formal the best piece of work that a writer, artist, etc. has ever produced: masterpiece [c] *** a substance used produced by a process involving chemYou must wear gloves when handling any of these 1

chem-i-cal /'kemikl/ noun in chemistry or istry:

the chemical industry

chemicals.

the

dumping of

toxic

chemicals 2

chem-i-cal /'kemikl/ adj ** involving chemistry or produced by a method used in chemistry: chemical prothe chemical composition of the atmosphere

cesses

.chemical engineering noun [u] the development of new chemical substances and processes that can be

chemical re'action noun [c] a process that happens when chemicals combine and form different substances: the chemical reaction between ozone

.chemical 'warfare noun

self.

yellow.

+ about She sounded really cheesed off about

used in industry

behaving in a happy friendly way: Stephen was a cheerful, affectionate child. "I'll do everything I can to help you, " she said with a cheerful grin. Paula seemed to 1

—

[u] thin light cotton

annoyed or disappointed about something: fed

cheer on phrasal vb [T] to shout loudly in order to encourage someone: I'll be there to cheer you on when the race

cheer2

noun

/'tJiz.klaO/

weapons

in

[u]

and

chlorine

the use of chemical

wars

.chemical 'weapon noun

[c] a weapon that contains a poisonous chemical substance che-mise /JVmiz/ noun [C] a long loose dress or piece of underwear, worn by women chemist /'kemist/ noun [c] * 1 a scientist who studies chemistry: a brilliant young

research chemist

2 BrE someone who works

in a drugstore preparing

and selling medicines 3 chemist or chemist's Br E a drugstore

•*

chem-is-try

/'kemistri/ noun [u] the scientific study of the structure of substances and the way they react with other substances: organic/ inorganic chemistry a professor of chemistry la. the chemistry of a plant, animal, or thing is its structure and the reactions that take place within it: the complex chemistry of the human body 2 the emotional relationship between people, especially when they are strongly attracted to each other: The chemistry between the marketing manager and his 1

assistant

was obvious.

che-mo-ther-a-py /.kimoo'Gerspi/ noun ment

[u]

the treat-

of diseases, especially cancer, by drugs

chenille

/Ja'nil/ noun

cloth used for

making

[u] thick, soft, slightly furry clothes, etc.

cheque /tjek/the BrE spelling of check 2 cheque-book /'tjek,buk/the BrE spelling 2

of check-

book

chequ-ered /'tjekard/the BrE spelling of checkered Cheq-uers /'tjeksrz/ the official country home of the British prime minister

chequ-ing account

/'tjekin a.kaunt/ noun [C] Can-

adian a CHECKING ACCOUNT

cherish

/'tjenJV verb

[t]

1

to look after

someone or

something because you love them very much 2 to keep something pleasant in your mind for a long time: / cherish the memory of those happy times. 3 to think that something is very important and to wish to keep it: / cherished

my

—

cher-ished adj: a cherished one of my most cherished pos-

independence.

dream / hope I memory sessions

che-root

/Js'rut/ noun [C] a cigar that is flat at both

ends /'tferi/ noun • a small round red or black

cher-ry 1

[C]

— picture -> cio

fruit: cherry

pie/jam

cherry-pick 2 cherry 3 cherry

or or

ries 3a. [U]

the cherry on the cake the final thing that makes

something perfect

'cherry-pick verb

[t]

choose the best things or people

to

out of a group

'cherry picker noun

[c]

that can be raised to let above the ground

.cherry to'mato noun

informal a vehicle with a box

someone

[C]

in

it

work very high

a type of very small tomato

cherub

/'tjerab/ noun [C] 1 (plural cher*u*bim 'tjerabim; 'kersbim/) a type of angel that is represented in art as an attractive, slightly fat small child or baby 2 an attractive child or one who behaves very well

/

che-rii'bic /tJVrubik/ adj mainly literary attractive in the natural and slightly fat way of a small child or baby: his cherubic face

Cheshire cat with a big or

chicken

229

cherry red [u] bright red cherry tree [C] a tree that produces cherthe wood of a cherry tree

kaet/like a/the Cheshire Cat

/.tfejar

chew the

fat informal to have a friendly conversation, often for a long time: We chewed the fat until the early hours of the morning. -» urn. on

chew on

phrasal vb [T] informal [chew on sth] to think about something carefully for a long time, before making a decision about it: The investors have several economic reports to chew on. chew out phrasal vb [T] informal to speak angrily to someone because they have done something wrong: Mom really chewed me out the time I got in a fight. chew over phrasal vb [t] informal to think about something carefully or discuss it carefully with other people before making a decision about it: Officials meet regularly to chew over the future of the company. chew up phrasal vb [T] 1 to chew something for a long time, until it is very soft or in very small pieces and easy to swallow 2 [usually passive] informal if something

AmE

chewed

it becomes torn apart and destroyed: new pants got chewed up in my bike chain. chew /tju/ noun [C] 1 Am E a small amount of tobacco for chewing 2 Br E a hard candy that you have to chew until it is soft enough to swallow chew-ing gum /'tjuirj ,gAm/ noun [u] a type of candy that you chew for a long time but do not swallow: a

gets

The

smile

silly

nails or your lips, you bite them continuously, especially because you are feeling nervous

chew your

up,

legs of my 2

From

the Cheshire Cat, a cat that

Adventures British writer Lewis Carroll. in the novel Alice's

in

is always smiling Wonderland by

/tjes/ noun [u] * a game for two people, played on a board with black and white squares, using different shaped pieces, including two kings. The aim is to get the other player's king into a position where it cannot move: Do you play chess? a game of chess a chess set —picture -» ci6 chess-board /'tjes.bord/ noun [c] a square board used for playing chess —picture -» ci6 chessman / fes.rruen/ (plural chess-men / 'tjes.men/l or chess piece /'tjes ,pis/ noun [c] one of the pieces used for playing chess —picture -* ci6 chest /tjest/ noun [C] ••• 1 the upper front part of your body between your neck and your stomach: a broad/ hairy chest Have you had any chest pains? 1a. Br E informal used for referring to health problems in the area of your chest, especially in your lungs: a bad chest I've got a bad chest. picture -»

chess

't

—

BODY 2 a CHEST OF DRAWERS 3 a large strong heavy box used for moving or storing things

something off your chest to talk to someone about something that has been worrying you, so that you feel get

better about

it

stick of chewing gum chew-y / 'tjui/adj chewy food has to be chewed for some

time before

is soft

it

enough

to

swallow: chewy bread

rolls

Chi-an-ti

/ki'aenti/

noun [C/U] a red wine from Tuscany

in Italy

chi-a-ro-scu-ro /ki.ara'skurou/ noun [u] the way that light and dark areas create a pattern, especially in drawings and paintings chic 1 /Jik/ adj fashionable and attractive in style: a sunny waterfront with a range of sidewalk cafes and chic boutiques

chic 2

/Jik/ noun [u] an attractive fashionable style that people admire: designer /casual /hippie /radical chic

chi-ca

noun

/'tjika/

[C]

AmE

informal a girl or young

woman Chi-ca-na /tJYkana/ noun [C] AmE a female citizen of the U.S. who was born in Mexico or whose family was originally

from Mexico: mexican-american

chi-cane

/Ji'kein/ noun [C] a part of a road, especially a track for race cars, with a bend shaped like the letter

"S"

a large sofa, often

chi-can-er-y /JYkemari/ noun [u] formal the use of clever, unfair, or dishonest methods to trick people,

chest-nut /'tJes.nAt/ noun 1 [C] a large smooth redbrown nut that you can eat: roast chestnuts chestnut stuffing 2 chestnut or chestnut tree [C] a tall tree with

Chi-ca-no /tJYkanoo/ noun [C] AmE a male citizen of the U.S. who was born in Mexico or whose family was

ches-ter-field /

't

festar.fild/

noun

[c]

covered in leather

large wide leaves that produces chestnuts 2a. [u] the wood of a chestnut tree —picture -* C9 3 [U] a red-brown color: She had thick chestnut hair. 4 [C] a horse that is red-brown in color

old chestnut a story or joke that has been repeated so often that everyone

is

bored with

it:

Not that old chestnut

again!-* horse chestnut, water chestnut

chest of 'drawers noun

[c]

a piece of wooden fur-

niture with several drawers, used mainly for storing clothes: bureau chest-y /'tjesti/ adj BrE informal 1 offensive a chesty woman has large breasts 2 suffering from or caused by an infection in the lungs: a chesty cough che-val glass /JVvael ,glaes/ noun [C] a long mirror attached to a frame that stands on the floor

chev-ron

/'Jevran/ noun [c] a shape like a

"V"

a.

a

in the shape of an upside-down "V" that soldiers, police officers, etc. wear on their sleeve to show

symbol their

rank

Chev«y

chew

/'Jevi/

noun

[C]

informal a Chevrolet car

/tfu/ verb •• [i/t] to use your teeth to bite food your mouth into small pieces so that you can swallow +on He was High-fiber foods take longer to chew. chewing on his meat as if he found it hard to swallow. a. [I/T] to bite something continuously but not swallow it: We're not allowed to chew gum in class, b. [T] if you in

it:

1

especially in legal matters

originally from Mexico: mexican-american

chi-chi

informal trying to be fashionable and that is too obvious and complicated: house chick /tjik/ noun [C] 1 informal a woman. This word is usually considered offensive. 2 a baby bird /

'fi

,Ji/ adj

attractive in a

her chi-chi

way

little

chickadee

/'tjiko.di/ noun [c] a small North American bird with a black and white head and gray wings chick-en /'tfikan/ noun *• 1 [C] a bird kept for its eggs and meat. The sound it makes is called clucking. The female chicken is called a hen and the male is called a rooster. A baby chicken is called a chick. 1a. [u] the meat of a chicken:/r/erf/ 1

roast/ grilled chicken

a chicken leg

picture -» ci2

[C] informal someone who is not brave enough to do something: coward 3 [u] a game played especially by children in which the winner is the person who continues doing something dangerous the longest: play chicken The kids were

2

playing chicken on the railroad track when the accident happened. 3a. a situation in which two groups or countries threaten each other until one gives the other what they want: game of chicken The affair degenerated into the longest game of chicken in diplomatic history.

be running around like a chicken with its head cut off Am E to be moving around very quickly because you are trying to do many things in a short period of time

^

chicken

c

child

230

or because you are very nervous and upset chickens come home to roost used for saying that the bad results of something someone has done are starting to happen or to become clear -» CHICKEN-AND-EGG, COUNT 1

chick-en 2

/'tjiksn/ adj [never before noun] informal not brave enough to do something: / was terrified, but I didn't want the others to think J was chicken.

chick-en 3

/'tjiksn/ verb chicken out phrasal vb [I] informal to not do something you were going to do because you are too frightened: I was going to tell her how much it really cost, but I chickened out.

chicken-and- egg

adj [only before noun]

a chicken-and-

chief ex ecutive noun

abuse

*

[c]

1 chief executive or chief executive officer the most senior person working in a company or organization who is responsible for running it: ceo 2 the leader of a local or state government organization: Colorado's new chief executive 3 the Chief Executive E the President of the U.S.

AmE

Am

.chief justice noun

the most senior judge in a court of law, especially the U.S. Supreme Court

chief -ly

adv

/'tjifli/

[c]

*

mainly or mostly, but not com-

pletely: He will be remembered chiefly for the innovations There are branches of the of his early years at the school. store all over the country, but chiefly in the south.

one where it is impossible to say which of two things happened first or caused the other to

.chief 'minister noun

happen

.chief of police (plural .chiefs of police) noun [c] AmE the most senior police officer in a city who is in charge

egg situation

is

From the question: "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?", which is impossible to answer because neither could exist without the other.

[c] the political leader of a state in India or of a territory in Australia

of

all

the police there

.chief of 'Staff

(plural .chiefs of staff)

noun

[c]

*

someone whose job is to manage the people who work for a government leader and to advise that leader 2 the most senior officer in the army, navy, or air force 1

'chicken feed noun that

informal an

[u]

amount

of

money

too small to be satisfactory

is

chicken-fried 'steak noun

[c/u] a U.S. dish that consists of a thin piece of beef covered with breadcrumbs (=very small pieces of bread) and cooked in hot oil

'Chicken

.Little noun

thinks something bad

AmE

[c]

going to

is

someone who always happen

From hit

the children's story in which Chicken Little is on the head by a nut and thinks the sky is falling.

chick-en-pox

/'tjikan.paks/ noun [u] an infectious disease that most children get once, in which the skin is covered with red spots. Chickenpox is a more serious disease in adults.

chicken

,run noun [c] an area inside a fence where chickens are kept and allowed to walk around chick-en-shit /'tjiksnjit/ noun AmE offensive 1 [C] someone who is afraid to do something: coward 2 [u] something that is not important at all and does not deserve attention

— chick-en-shit adj

'chicken .wire noun [u] a type of light wire net used especially for making fences for keeping chickens inside an area

'chick

,flick noun [c] informal a movie intended espewomen, often about a romantic relationship

cially for

chick-pea

/'tjik,pi/ noun [C/u] a round yellow-brown seed that can be cooked and eaten: garbanzo

chicle

/'tjikl/ noun [u] the thick juice of a tropical Central American tree, used to make chewing gum

chi-co

/

't

fikou/ noun

[C]

Am E informal a boy or young

man chic-o-ry

/'tjiksri/ noun [u] 1 green leaves that have a bitter

in salads

chide

2 Br E an

AmE a vegetable taste, usually

eaten

with

raw

to

endive

an angry way because you wrong: rebuke: chide sb for sth

them

in

think their behavior is The company was chidedfor

its

lack of original research.

chief 1 /tjif/ ad] [only before noun] *•• 1 main or most important: The majority of the market

the leader of the Jewish comof a tribe (=a

group of families or communities that are related

each

to

other): chief

chif -f on /JYfun; cloth made from

chig-ger

common

'Ji.fan/ noun [u] very thin transparent silk or nylon a chiffon scarf :

/'tjigar/ noun [c] a small insect larva, in warm parts of the U.S., whose bite causes

painful lumps on your skin

chi-gnon

/'finjan/ noun

[C]

a woman's hairstyle in

which long hair is tied in a loose ball at the back of the head chi-hua-hua /tjYwawa/ noun [c] a very small dog with short smooth hair and pointed ears chil-blain /'tjil.blem/ noun [C] a painful swollen lump on a finger or toe, usually in cold weather

child /tfaild/ (plural children /'tjildran/) noun [c] **• 1 a young person from the time they are born until they are about 14 years old: The nursery has places for The movie is not suitable for young children. 30 children. He can't understand - he's just a child. 1a. [only before new pronoun] for or about children: a child car seat grams to address the problem of child poverty 1b. [only before noun] used for snowing that the person mentioned is a child: a child actor child workers 2 someone's son or daughter of any age: All of our They're expecting their children are grown and married. second child in May. only child (=someone who does not have any brothers or sisters) I was an only child and very lonely growing up.

3 an adult who behaves in ways that are not reasonable

4 someone whose

character

is

influenced by the

main

political and social attitudes of a particular period of time: + of a selfish, materialistic child of the '80s

be with child old-fashioned to be pregnant have a child or have children to be or become a parent: fertility

treatment for couples

Gateway. Unemployment was the chief cause ofpoverty during the 1930s. Dana had always considered her looks her chief asset. 2 highest in authority, position, or rank: Keith joined the govthe company as chief industrial engineer. ernment's chief negotiator at the talks Chief Justice William Rehnquist

has gone

[C]

munity in a particular country chief -tain /'tjiftan/ noun [c] the leader

or sensible

/tjaid/ verb [l/T] mainly literary to criticize

someone or speak

.chief 'rabbi noun

who

can't have children

to their chief rival,

chief 2

teenager

•••

/tjif/ noun [c] 1 the person who is in charge of an organization or department, or who has the main responsibility for something: The high-powered delegation includes military + of the chief of the Red and foreign intelligence chiefs. Cross mission in the war zone 2 the leader of a group of people who have the same customs, beliefs, and language and live in a particular

CLASSICS / 'klaesikl/ adj [usually before

noun]

**

following the original or traditional standard for something: Keynes's criticism of the classical theory offull 1

employment relating to classical music classical composers relating to the language, literature, and culture of

Ancient Greece and Rome:

ing: School

management

is

often too detached

from

the

classroom.

.class 'struggle or .class 'war noun [singular/ u] according to Marxism, a situation in which rich and powerful people and working-class people compete for political and economic power class-work /'kl2es,w3rk/ noun [u] work that students do in class, not as homework class-y / 'klssi/ adj informal 1 something that is classy is attractive, fashionable, and of excellent quality: a classy hotel/ ski resort 2 someone who is classy has the natural ability to choose the best thing or behave in an appropriate way in every situation: Caroline's too classy

to

say anything nasty like

clat-ter or

if

1

you

that.

/'klsetar/ verb 1 [i/T] if a hard object clatters, clatter it, it makes several loud short noises

:

classical

mythology

a

clas-

sical scholar

4

is

AD

2

2 3

information

clas-si-fieds, the /'klaesi.faidz/ noun [plural] the classified ads in a newspaper clas-si-fy /'klaesi.fai/ verb [T] •• 1 to put people or things into particular groups according to the features that they have: classify sb/sth according to sth In the study families are classified accordclassify sb/sth into sth The speciing to their incomes. mens were then classified into four groups. 1a. to decide which group someone or something belongs to, according to the particular features they have: classify sth as sth These cows are now classified as a rare breed. 2 to make information secret: The government has clas-

playing classic symptoms of shock. a classic example/ case Their romance is a classic case ofopposites attracting. 4 extremely good: It wasn't a classic game, but it was

clas-si-cal

/'klaesi.faid/ adj classified

and allowed to be known by only a few people connected with the government or military classified ad or .classified advertisement noun [C] a short advertisement that you put in a newspaper, for example so that you can sell something: want

dis-

2

is

class-room

classic suit

clas-sic

whose work

officially secret

something in a particular group because they have similar features or qualities: be classed as sth She is now

3

clatter

243

BrE

one of the levels that a university degree qualification is divided into according to how well you do in your final examinations. The levels are first class, second class, and third class. be in a class of your/its own to be much better than anyone or anything else: When it comes to exciting cities, [C]

linguistics used for referring to an ancient form of a language used during a time when important literature was written: classical Sanskrit/ Arabic

as it hits against another hard object or surface: Her shoes clattered on the stone floor. 2 [i] [+down/around/up etc.] to move somewhere making a series of loud short noises: He came clattering down the stairs. 2

clat-ter /'klstar/ noun [singular] a series of loud short noises made when a hard object hits against another

P

clause

that

states

the fee

will

be returned

in

case of non-

performance.

2

group of words that includes a verb and a subject and is a sentence or a main part of one claustrophobi-a / kbstro'foobb/noun[u] 1 a fear of being in a small or crowded space or in a place that seems difficult to get out of quickly 2 an uncomfortable feeling that you have when you think that you do not have enough freedom to do what you want linguistics a

claustrophobic

/.kbstra'foobik/ adj 1 feeling afraid because you are in a small or crowded space or in a place that seems difficult to get out of quickly 1a. a claustrophobic place makes you feel afraid and uncomfortable because it is small, crowded, or difficult to get out of quickly 2 feeling unhappy because you are in a situation in which you do not have enough freedom: / was starting to feel claustrophobic in my relationship with Javier.

clavichord

/'klaevijord/ noun [c] a musical instrusimilar to a piano that was used especially in the

ment

18th century clav-i-cle /'klasvikl/ noun [C] medical one of a pair of bones that go across the top of your chest from the shoulder to the bottom of the neck: collarbone —picture -*

SKELETON

claw /kb/ 1

noun [c] 1 [usually plural] the sharp curved part at the end of some animals' toes, for example a cat 2 [usually plural] the sharp curved end of a front leg of an ocean creature such as a crab that it uses for holding things: pincer 3 a curved end on a tool or machine, used for pulling or picking things up get your claws into sb informal to get control over someone and make them do what you want, especially in a romantic or sexual relationship

claw2 /kb/ verb

1 [i/t] to attack someone or try to cut or tear something using claws: The bear had clawed the tree trunk to shreds. + at You could hear the dog clawing at the door. 1a. [i/T] to attack someone or try to cut or tear something using your fingernails She clawed his left cheek with her long red nails. + at His bony fingers clawed at my face. 2 [i] [+at] to try to take hold of something with your hands: The children were clawing :

at

my pant

legs.

claw your way out of sth/to sth/back

etc. to reach a particular place, situation, or state, as a result of great effort or despite great difficulties or opposition: The

Rams had

clawed their way back into the game. claw back phrasal vb [t] Br E to get something again that you had lost such as power, especially gradually and with difficulty a. if a government or company claws back money after losing it, it gets it again, for example, by making people pay higher taxes or charging higher prices

claw hammer metal parts on

its

[c] a hammer with two curved head, used for pulling nails out of

[u]

••

wood clay /klei/ noun

noun

a type of heavy wet dirt that becomes hard when it is baked in a kiln (=oven), used for making cups, plates, and other objects: clay pots 2 a soft, usually colored substance that can be pressed or rolled into any shape, usually used by children 3 a hard surface made from clay on which tennis is played -» FOOT 1

AmE

1

pigeon

,clay

noun

a circular clay object thrown into the air by a machine so you can shoot at it

clean 1

1

/klin/ adj

[c]

***

not dirty

2 not guilty/illegal/wrong 3 smooth/regular/neat

Tom had

scrubbed the floor clean, la. clean people and animals keep themselves and the places where they live clean: Pigs are actually very clean animals. 1b. clean air or water has no dirty or dangerous substances in it: Many refugees are living in appalling conditions, without clean water and proper sanitation. the clean country air 1c. clean machines and processes do not create much pollution: clean technologies We already have the cleanest dieselfuel in the world. 2 not guilty of anything illegal or wrong: an attempt by the government to project a clean image Why couldn 't the president send somebody with a totally clean record? 2a. clean language or humor does not offend people, especially because it does not involve sex: It was all good clean fun. keep it clean (=not say anything offensive) Keep it clean - there are children listening. 2b. fair and done according to the rules: It was a good clean fight. 2c. informal not carrying anything illegal: The police stopped him, but he was clean. 2d. informal no longer using illegal drugs: Carter's been clean for six

months. 3 clean

shapes,

lines,

or

+ PHRASES

movements are smooth,

regular, or neat: the clean lines of a good design clean smells, tastes, and colors are light and fresh: The wine is clean and fresh, though with a robust flavor. 5 a clean piece of paper does not have anything written on it 5a. a clean copy of a document has had all the mistakes in it corrected

4

a clean

bill of health a statement that someone is healthy or that something is operating correctly or is in good condition: give sb/sth a clean bill of health After a thorough investigation, the department was given a clean bill of health. a clean break 1 a sudden complete end to something such as a relationship or a period of time spent in a place: make a clean break After the divorce, I decided to make a clean break and moved to a new town. 2 a break in a bone into just two pieces along a straight line a clean slate a situation in which everything bad or wrong that you have done in the past is forgiven or

forgotten, and you can make a new start: start/begin with a clean slate/sheet Firms often want to start with a clean slate when setting up a new subsidiary. a clean sweep 1 a situation in which one person or team wins all the prizes or all the different parts in a competition: The United States had a clean sweep in the 100 meters. 2 a new start after getting rid of old methods, ideas, or staff come clean to tell the truth about something that you have kept secret: + about /on /over It is time for the Republicans to come clean on their plans for new taxes. with It was time to come clean with my mother. make a clean breast of sth to tell the truth about something wrong that you have done so that you can stop feeling guilty about it -> NOSE SQUEAKY CLEAN, WHISTLE -I-

1

1

,

clean 2

***

/klin/ verb 1 [T] to remove the dirt from something: Paul's cleaning his car. Do you want the windows cleaned? clean sth off sth / cleaned the mud off my shoes. 2 [i/T] to remove the dirt and dust in a house or other building: We've cleaned the house from top to bottom. / spent the morning cleaning. 2a. [l/T] to clean houses or buildings as a job: His mother supported the family by +for The woman who cleans for me has cleaning offices.

the flu. 3 [T] to remove the inside parts of fish before cooking it

an animal,

bird, or

clean sb's clock Am E to defeat someone badly in a fight or competition clean your plate Am E to eat all of the food on your plate

clean out phrasal vb [T] 1 to make a place or container clean or neat by removing objects that are not wanted and getting rid of any dirt or dust in it: They spent the

day cleaning out the garage. 4 light and fresh 5 without writing/errors

not dirty: Go and put on a clean shirt. nice clean towels spotlessly clean Everything in the house was spotlessly clean. neat and clean / like to keep the place neat and clean. brush/scrub/sweep/wash/wipe etc. sth clean 1

clean

244

hard object or surface: He put the tray down with a clatter. clause /kfoz/ noun [c] • 1 a part of a legal document or law that officially states that something must be done: A clause in the contract

1a.

to

remove

objects

from

a place or container in order to make it neat: I've cleaned out all the junk from the cellar. 2 informal to empty a place of objects or goods, especially by stealing or

buying them in large quantities: Government soldiers The supermarkets moved in and cleaned the village out. were cleaned out by panicking shoppers. 3 informal to use all of your money: This will clean me out. I'll have to sell the house.

clean make

a place completely really ought to make a start on getting to clean up in here this I'm going this place cleaned up. afternoon. 1a. [T] to remove objects from a place in order to make it completely clean and neat: Joe can clean up the mess. 2 [T] to wash someone who is dirty: / Come into the bathroom and I'll get you cleaned up. cleaned myself up and got ready for dinner. 3 [I] informal to make a lot of money: He really cleaned up on the stock market. 4 [T] to stop bad, unfair, or criminal behavior in a place or activity: Is there the political will to clean up the banking system? a campaign to clean up the city's [T] to remove pollution from a place or an streets 5 industrial process: We need a systematic plan for identifying and cleaning up waste sites. 1

[i/T] to

clean up your act informal to start behaving in a more appropriate and sensible way clean up after phrasal vb [T] [clean up after sb] to clean a place after someone has made it dirty or messy: Residents have been told to clean up after their dogs.

Other ways of saying clean

wash

to clean

Mom

clean-ly

with one smooth movement: She's a strong player who hits the ball cleanly. 2 without creating a lot of mess or pollution: The good thing about it is that it burns cleanly. cleanse /klenz/ verb 1 [i/t] to clean your skin by using a special liquid or cream: To have perfect skin you must cleanse, tone, and moisturize. a cleansing cream 1a. [T] to clean a cut in your skin 2 [J] formal to get rid of someone or something bad or unpleasant: cleanse sb/sth of sb/sth The mayor has promised to cleanse the city streets

a

your face from his

1

2 3 4 5 6

using water, soap, and a mop (=a cleaning tool with a long handle): Don't walk over the to clean a floor

1

sweep

to clean a floor, a set of stairs, or a sidewalk using a brush with a long handle: We scrubbed the and swept the hall.

kitchen floor

to remove dust from furniture, shelves, and other surfaces, using a soft cloth: / hardly ever dust the

dust

bedrooms.

cleanse to clean your skin thoroughly, often using a special liquid or cream: Gently cleanse the wound and apply a loose bandage.

clean 3

/klin/ adv informal used for emphasizing that something happens completely: +through/off/out etc. The bullet passed clean through his chest. The blast blew the windows clean out of the building. clean forgot / was

so worried about you, I clean forgot to feel sorry for myself. [singular]

Br E an occasion when you

clean-er

a clean-cut

/'klinsr/ noun [c]

man

12 time: available 13 not close to/touching 14 showing nothing wrong 15 left after taxes/cost 16 winning by amount

without clouds/rain etc.

easy

to

see

easy

to

hear

•

a chemical substance used for cleaning things 2 a piece of equipment used for cleaning things 3 mainly Br E someone whose job is to clean the rooms in a building

the cleaners a place where you can get clothes, curtains, dry-cleaned (^cleaned with chemicals, not soap and water): dry cleaners take sb to the cleaners informal 1 to take most of someone's money, usually by treating them unfairly or dishonestly 2 to defeat a person or team completely cleaning /'klinirj/ noun [U] * the activity or job of making rooms in a building clean: do the cleaning Who does the cleaning and cooking in your house? etc.

cleaning lady or cleaning woman who works as a cleaner

woman

/'klenlinss/ noun [u]

noun

[c]

guilty feelings

17 complete

clear He's

made his

intentions quite clear.

make

sth abundantly /perfectly clear Anthony had made it abundantly clear that he did not want to see her. get sth clear Let's get something absolutely clear: you're not going to get any help from me this time. la. is that clear?/do I make myself clear? used for emphasizing your authority over someone when you are telling them to do something: You are not to see him again. Is that clear? 2 obvious and impossible to doubt: it is clear (that) It was very clear that something was worrying him. it is not clear whether It is not clear whether Johnson 's brother shares these views, aclearcase/; appears to be a clear case of discrimination. a clear favorite They have always been the clear favorites to win the championship. clear evidence There was clear evidence putting him at the scene a clear indication His secretary could give of the crime. no clear indication of when he was expected back. 3 transparent: a clear glass bottle 4 if the sky or the weather is clear, there are no clouds, rain, etc.: clear blue skies bright and clear The following

Sunday was bright and clear. 5 easy to see: Though the picture was

small,

it

was

clear

sharp.

6

looks clean and neat

1

cleanliness

11 without

easy to understand: Clear instructions are provided.

and

clean something adj

10 not confused

obvious transparent

make sth

scrub to clean something by rubbing it hard, using a stiff brush with soap and water: It's going to be hard to scrub that saucepan clean.

clean-cut

**•

8 eyes: bright and healthy 9 skin: healthy

off his jacket.

clean 4 /klin/ noun

/klir/adj

easy to understand

7 not blocked

it.

brush to rub something with a brush in order to remove dirt, dried mud, dust, etc. You also brush your teeth using a toothbrush, toothpaste, and water: Brush your teeth after every meal. Ben was

mud

clean-shaven man shaves the hair he does not have a beard or

[c/u] the process of cleaning a place thoroughly, especially by removing pollution or

A

brushing

adj a

face, so that

mustache clean-up /'klinAp/ noun

to clean a surface such as a table, window, or shelf using a cloth, especially a slightly wet cloth: bartender was slowly wiping the counter.

mopped

of crime. 3 [T] literary if God cleanses you of is forgiven -> ethnic cleansing

your sin

clean-shaven

clear 1

Go and wash

is

floor after I've

sin,

1

cleans-er /'klenzar/ noun [c/u] 1 a chemical liquid or powder used for cleaning kitchens, bathrooms, etc. 2 a special liquid or cream used for cleaning the skin on

wipe

mop

/'klinli/ adv

waste

something using water and sometimes

outside washing the car. your hands for dinner. soap:

clear

245

up phrasal vb clean and neat: We

.clean

a

easy to hear: "I did it, " she said in a clear voice. 7 if a surface, road, or passage is clear, there is nothing on it that blocks it or gets in the way: From the window + of All the main there was a clear view of the mountains. roads are now clear of snow. 8 clear eyes are bright and healthy 9 clear skin is smooth and healthy 10 not confused: He defines logic as "the art of clear thinking. " Jane had no clear idea where she would go. be clear about /on sth You need to be clear about the purpose of the meeting. I'm not very clear on what this last sentence means. be clear in your mind (about sth) I'm completely clear in my mind about what happened that day. 1 1 not affected

by guilty feelings: sb's conscience is had done her duty, and her conscience was clear. have a clear conscience / have a clear conscience. We didn do anything wrong. 12 if a period of time is clear, you have not arranged to do anything during it: I'll keep Thursday afternoon clear She 't

1

the process of

keeping yourself and your possessions and property clean 2 the degree to which something is clean clean- living adj someone who is clean-living has a way of life that is healthy and morally good clean living noun [U]

—

clear in case

we need

to meet.

13 [+of] not touching something or not too close to it: Make sure your hands are completely clear of the blades. 14 if a medical test is clear, it shows that there is nothing wrong: All the

tests

came back

clear.

clear 15

clear $300.

16 winning by a particular distance or points in a race or competition 17

[only before noun]

number

of

Br E complete

keep a clear head. -» ALL CLEAR, COAST CRYSTAL CLEAR, LOUD 2 SEE

to

1

,

clear2 /khr/ 1

verb

1

,

*••

empty place of sb/sth remove sth blocking sth

10 pass without touching

prove sb not guilty

12 do all your work 13 start to disappear

when weather improves give/get permission

accept check stop being confused, etc.

earn after taxes/costs

11 deal with problem

14 become transparent 15 become healthy 16 stop looking upset, etc.

[

l

]

cleared quickly after the final speeches. 2 [T] to remove something that is blocking a place such as a road or passage: The police cleared a way through to the front of the building. 2a. [i] to stop being blocked: Eventually the roads cleared and the traffic began to flow again. 3 [t usually passive] to prove officially that someone did not do something wrong: be cleared of sth Yesterday the two men were cleared of murder. 4 [i] if the sky or the weather clears, the weather becomes brighter and there are no more clouds, rain,

The sky was beginning to clear. 5 [t] to give or obtain permission for something to happen: clear sth with sb You'll have to clear this project with the head office. 5a. [t] to give an airplane, ship, or person permission to enter or leave a place: clear sth for sth After half an hour the plane was cleared for takeoff. 5b. [T] to obtain permission to enter a country or take something into a country, after being checked by officials: clear immigration /customs /passport control etc.:

Delays are often reported by passengers waiting to clear customs. clear sth through customs Someone from the embassy helped us to clear our baggage through customs. 6 [i/T] if a check clears, or a bank clears it, the bank allows the money to be used: How long will the check

your mind or head

clear the air to discuss a problem or difficult situation with someone in order to make it better: / think it's time

we

cleared the air, don't you?

clear the decks to get rid of everything that is not needed or deal with everything that needs to be done so that you can start doing something more important: I'm trying to clear the decks before I go on vacation. clear sb's name to prove that someone did not do something that they were accused of: The men say they have been falsely accused and are determined to clear their names. clear the table to remove all the dirty dishes etc, from the table after a meal clear your throat to make a noise in your throat before you speak, so that you can speak without any difficulty clear the way for sth to do what needs to be done so that something can happen without problems: The new law cleared the way for increased immigration.

way phrasal vb [i/T] to remove something that you have finished using or no longer want in order to make a place neat: A young woman cleared away their empty cups.

clear off phrasal vb

[i]

Br E informal

to leave a place

used for telling someone rudely to go away clear out phrasal vb 1 [i/T] to make a place neat by removing things that are not wanted: I'm going to clear out the cabinets tomorrow. Isn't it about time you cleared out some of your junk? 2 [i] informal to leave a place quickly and often permanently: +of / sometimes feel like clearing out of here altogether. 2a. informal used for telling someone rudely to leave a room or building: Just quickly

a.

clear out!

clear up phrasal vb 1 [T] to solve a problem or a mystery: Obviously the misunderstanding will have to be cleared up. The case was never cleared up. 2 if the weather clears up, the clouds or rain go away: It's supposed to clear up tonight. 3 [i/T] if an illness clears up or if something clears it up, you stop being affected by it: Most colds clear up after only a few days. a lotion to clear up acne 4 [l/T] mainly Br E to make a place neat by removing things that you have finished using or no longer want clear up after phrasal vb [T] mainly Br E [clear up after sb] to make a place neat after someone else has made [

it messy clear3 /khr/ adv

I

]

*

/khr/ completely away from something, or out of the way: Stan grabbed her hands and pulled her clear. + of Stand clear of the closing doors. clear to / across / down etc. all the way to /across/ down, etc.: The explosion blew them clear across the room. keep / stay / steer clear (of) to avoid someone or something unpleasant or dangerous: No one mentioned the divorce, so Lisa decided to steer clear of that subject. 4

take to clear? [i/T] if

filled

clear a

+ PHRASES

pay back money owed

1 [T] to remove people or things from a place where they are not wanted: Millions of acres of tropical forest have been cleared. clear sth of sth The ground should clear sth from sth Julia began first be cleared of weeds. clear a space for sb/ to clear the dishes from the table. sth He cleared a space on his desk for a cup of coffee. 1a. if a place clears, the people in it leave it: The room

7

with extremely small pieces of a substance 15 [i] if your skin clears, it starts to become smooth and healthy 16 [i] if someone's face clears, they stop looking annoyed, upset, or confused: She frowned for a moment, being

then her brow cleared.

be (as) clear as a bell to be very easy to hear be (as) clear as day to be very easy to see or understand or impossible to doubt: / remember it as clear as day. be (as) clear as mud humorous to be very difficult to understand: His explanation was as clear as mud. a clear head the ability not to become confused: keep a clear head Diane refused another glass of wine. She wanted

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

clearance sale

246

charges, or costs have been paid: a clear $50/ $100/ $1,000 etc. That should leave us with a left after taxes,

clear clears, or if

it is

cleared,

it stops being confused, tired, or affected by something such as alcohol: clear sth of sth Clear your mind of all

negative thoughts.

8 [T] informal to earn a particular amount of money after paying taxes, charges, or costs: He clears about $500 a week. 9

[T] to pay back all of the money that you owe to the person you borrowed it from: clear a debt Try to clear your existing debts first. 10 [t] to go over, under, or past an object without touching it: One horse failed to clear the gate and was injured. clear sth by meters /inches etc. The aircraft cleared the houses by only a few feet. 11 [t] to deal successfully with a problem: clear an obstacle The company has cleared the main obstacle to concluding the sale. clear a hurdle The first hurdle to clear is persuading investors of the merits of the product. 12 [T] to do all the work that you have to do: clear a backlog Extra staff have had to be brought in to clear the

backlog.

13 [i] if something such as smoke clears, it starts to disappear: They waited while the mist cleared a little. 14 [i] if a liquid clears, it becomes transparent after

/klir/ noun in the clear 1 no longer believed to be guilty of something bad or illegal: They've arrested someone else for the robbery, so Dylan's in the clear. 2 no longer in a difficult or dangerous situation: Further tests showed that Sarah was in the clear. clearance /'klirans/ noun 1

official

permission

2 between two objects 3 clearance sale

4 of check 5 removal of

sth

1 [u] official permission to do something: +from The UN was awaiting clearance from local authorities before clearance to do sth We've just sending a medical team. received clearance to land. 1a. [u] security clearance 2 [C/u] an amount of space between two things that keeps them from touching each other: Adjust the door to ensure equal clearance between door and frame. 3 [C] a clearance sale 4 [u] the process by which a bank accepts a check you have written and pays the money to the person, store, etc. that you gave the check to 5 [C/U] the process of removing things that are not wanted or used: a policy of encouraging slum clearance

clearance

.sale noun [c] an occasion when a store very low prices in order to get rid of

sells things at

"

clear-cut all

of them, usually because

it

is

going to stop doing

business

clear-cut

1

ad] definite and easy to understand, recognize, or make a decision about: The situation wasn't as clear-cut as he'd have liked.

,clear-'cut an area

2

verb

[i/t]

AmE to cut down

clear-headed adj able to think in a way clearing /'klirirj/ noun [c] an area

all

the trees in

sensible

and calm

in a forest

where

there are no trees or bushes 'clearing .bank noun [c] BrEa. bank in the U.K. that does business with other banks through a clearing house clearing-house /'klinn.haus/ noun [C] 1 an organization that collects and provides information on a particular subject 2 a central office that carries out the business that banks do with one another

clearly

/'klirli/

adv

•*•

used for showing that what you are saying is true and that most people will realize this: obviously: Both companies clearly like to do things their own way. Clearly we wouldn't want to upset anyone. 2 in a way that people can easily see, hear, or under1

stand: His contract clearly states that he cannot leave The signs were clearly visible to passing before next year. motorists. 2a. in a way that is sensible and not confused: You can't think clearly on four hours' sleep.

clear-sighted adj able to judge situations quickly and accurately and make sensible decisions cleat

/klit/ noun [c] 1 a piece of metal or hard plastic attached to the bottom of a shoe in order to prevent it from slipping on the ground 1a. cleats [plural] a

AmE

pair of shoes with these pieces 2 a metal object that you tie a rope around in order to fasten something in place, especially on a ship

cleav»age

click

247

/'klivid3/ noun [c] 1 the space

between a

clere*sto*ry

noun [C] technical the upper part of the wall of a church, where there is a series of /'klir.slori/

windows

*

clergy

/'kl3rd3i/ noun [plural] the people who lead religious services, especially Christian priests. A man who leads religious services is sometimes called a clergyman and a woman who leads religious services is sometimes called a clergy woman: Over 50 clergy

marched to the White House to register their protest. The Pope may consult certain sections of the clergy, but he alone decides.

cleric /'klenk/ noun cleri'cal /'klenkl/ 1

[C]

adj

formal a

member

of the clergy

*

connected with the ordinary work that people do in

offices: administrative and clerical staff* routine clerical work a clerical error (=a mistake made by someone working in an office) He blamed the mix-up on a clerical

error.

2 relating to priests: clerical garments clerk 1 /kbrk/ noun [C] •* 1 AmE someone whose job is to serve people in a store. BrE shop assistant Am E someone whose job is to welcome guests to a 2 hotel and provide them with information and other services. Br E receptionist 3 someone whose job is to take care of the documents in

an

office, court, etc.

clerk 2 /kbrk/ verb

Am E

[I] to work as a clerk in a hotel, store, or a judge's or lawyer's office

clev-er/'klevar/adj * 1 good at achieving what you want, especially by using unusual or slightly dishonest methods: With a clever lawyer, she could easily be acquitted, la. good at doing or using something: +with You'd have to be very clever with words to get people to listen. 1b. mainly BrE good at learning or understanding things: intelligent: a char-

ming and

clever

man

2 mainly Br E used about an unusual but

break something

effective and intelligent idea or action: // was a clever idea to use the boat for the party. Using the Cherokee name was a clever marketing ploy. 2a. used about a tool, machine,

'cleave ,to phrasal vb [T] 1 to stay very close to someone, or to stay close together 1a. to stick firmly to something 2 to keep believing an idea or following a tradition

or invention that is unusual but good and effective: This is a very clever piece of software. 3 BrE spoken used for saying that what someone has done is stupid: "I left the door unlocked all night. " "That

woman's breasts 2 formal a division between two groups of people or things

cleave /kliv/ verb into

[T] literary

two parts with a

to cut or

lot of force

cleav-er

/'klivar/ noun [c] a knife with a large heavy blade used for cutting large pieces of meat

clef /kief/ noun [c] a symbol written at the beginning of a line of music to show the pitch of the notes 1 cleft /kleft/ noun [c] a narrow space in the surface of something, for example in a rock or in someone's chin 2 cleft /kleft/ adj divided by a narrow space cleft 'palate noun [c] a medical condition in which there is a narrow space inside someone's mouth at the top, so that

it is

difficult for

them

flowers

/'klemansi/ noun

formal a decision not to punish someone severely, made by someone in a position of authority: grant sb clemency Three hundred people have been granted clemency for their crimes, if they [u]

accept deportation.

clenvent /'klemant/

adj

formal 1 clement weather

is

pleasant because it is neither very hot nor very cold 2 forgiving someone who has done something wrong although you have the power to punish them severely Opposite INCLEMENT

—

cle-men-tine /'kleman.tam; fruit similar to a small

'kleman.tin/ noun [c] a

orange

clench /klentJV verb

1 [i/t] if you clench a part of your body such as your hand or your mouth, or if it clenches, you close it tightly, especially because you are angry

or upset: He clenched his fists in frustration. / could see the muscles in his jaw clench. 2 [T] to hold something very firmly, especially because you are frightened, worried, or angry

clenched/klentjt/adj closed tightly together: clenched teeth /fists "Why won't you listen?" she demanded through clenched

teeth.

clever.

make

yourself

look

better

than

— cleverly adv, cleverness noun [U]

someone

else

cli*che is

/kli'Jei, 'klijei/ noun [C] a phrase or idea that boring because people use it a lot and it is no longer

original

— cli-ched adj

click 1 /klik/ verb* 1 make short sound 2 use computer mouse 3 understand suddenly

to speak clearly

clem-a-tis /'klemstis; kb'meitis/ noun [c/u] a plant that grows up walls, fences, etc. and has large flat

clenven-cy

was

4BrE informal saying annoying or offensive things to

4 like sb immediately 5 happen easily

1 [I] to make a short high sound like the sound when you press a switch: The cameras continued clicking as they drove away. click open /shut He pressed a button and the doors clicked open. 1a. [T] to make an object make this short sound: The policeman clicked the handThe young soldier clicked his cuffs around his wrists. heels and saluted. click sth on /off She clicked off the bedside light. 1b. [T] if you click your tongue, you make a short sound with your tongue, usually to show that you are annoyed or do not approve of something 1c. [T] BrE if you click your fingers, you make a short sound by rubbing your middle finger against your thumb so that it hits the inside of your hand 2 [I/T] computing to make a computer do something by pressing a button on the mouse: Click "save" and close the document. +on To send the message, simply click on

the "send" button. [I] informal if something clicks, you suddenly understand or realize it 4 [I] informal if two people click, they realize immediately that they like each other and understand each other 5 [I] if something clicks in a performance, sports event, etc., everything happens easily and in the best possible

3

way

click

anything with a single

click.

click-a-ble /'klikobl/ adj computing if something on a computer screen is clickable, you make it work by clicking on it with the mouse click-and- mortar adj [only before noun] business used for describing a business that operates in traditional

ways and by using the Internet 'click rate noun [C] computing the number of times a web site is visited in a particular period of time client /'klaiont/ noun [c] 1 someone who pays for the services of a professional person such as a doctor or lawyer: She advises clients on their investments. 1a. someone who uses a service that provides help or advice: Sometimes a social worker has to act against a client's wishes. 2 computing a computer, program, or piece of equipment that takes and uses information from a server cli-en-tele /.klaisn'tel/ noun [singular] the customers of a store, hotel, restaurant, etc. considered as a group client- server ad] computing used for referring to a network (=group of computers) in which each computer is either a client or a server. Clients are the individual computers that run programs, or the equipment connected to them such as printers, and servers are the powerful computers that supply the information that makes them work. cliff /klif/ noun [C] ** the steep side of an area of high land: They pushed the car over the edge of the cliff, a. [only

•*•

before noun] relating to a cliff: the cliff edge /face I top

cli-mac-tic /klai'maektik/ ad] a climactic event, moment, etc. is the most exciting or important one in a series /'klaimat/ noun ** 1 [U] the climate of a country or region is the type of weather it has: a hot/cold/mild/warm climate Mexico is renowned for its hot climate and spicy food. 1a. [C] an area that has a particular type of weather: Many Can-

climate

adians spend their vacations in warmer climates. 2 [C] the general situation or attitudes that people have at a particular time: economic /political /moral/ intellectual climate We are unable to increase wages in the current economic climate. + of The election is being organized in a climate offear and mistrust.

climate .change noun

[u] the changes that are thought be affecting the world's weather so that it is becoming warmer: global warming climat-ic /klai'maetik/ adj relating to the climate of a country or region climax /'klai rnaeks/ noun [c] • 1 the most exciting or important moment in a story, event, or situation, usually near the end: +of/to the climax to this season's divisional playoffs come to /reach a climax The festival reached a climax with a dazzling performance from Pavarotti.

to

1

2 an orgasm cli-max 2 /'klai.maeks/ or situation climaxes,

it

1

[i/t]

if

1

1 move on hands and feet 2 walk to top of 3 become higher

5 move higher 6 achieve higher level 7 when plants grow up + PHRASES

get into/out of sth

sth

1 [l/T] to use your hands and feet to move up, over, down, or across something: He climbed onto the roof to

TV antenna. We escaped

by climbing through a

stop people from climbing over the fence. climb a ladder/tree/wall He climbed the ladder to get onto the roof. la. to use your hands and feet to move up cliffs or mountains as a sport: She was

window.

Times

7 [I] up it

bestseller

if

to

list.

a plant climbs up or over something,

The barbed wire

is to

it

grows

climbing the walls informal very annoyed and impabecause something unpleasant has been happening for a long time tient, especially

Words

frequently used with climb

adverbs

rapidly, steadily, steeply

laboriously,

stiffly,

wearily

phrasal vb [i] BrE to admit you were wrong, especially after expressing an opinion or argument very

down

firmly

climb 2 /klaim/

noun

[C usually singular]

*

a gradual movement to a higher position by someone who is walking or climbing: + up The trip also includes a climb up the dormant volcano. la. a gradual movement to a higher position by an aircraft or vehicle: The plane began a steep climb to 27,000 feet. 1b. a distance that you have to climb to get somewhere: The summit is only a short climb from here. 2 an increase in temperature, or in the price or climb level of something: We left before the temperature began its daily climb to 95 degrees. 3 the process of moving to a higher level in your job or social position: her climb from relative obscurity to 1

international stardom

climb-down

noun [c] BrE a change of attitude in which someone admits they were wrong climber / 'klaimar/ noun [c] 1 someone who takes part in the activity of climbing: an experienced mountain climber 2 a tall plant that grows by attaching itself to walls, fences, etc.

climb-ing /'klaimin/ noun

[u]

the activity of climbing

enjoyment and exercise BrE a jungle gym often humorous a place with a particular type of weather clinch 1 /klmtJV verb 1 [T] to manage to win or achieve something by doing one final thing that makes it certain: clinch a victory/game/deal Tim Johnson scored the goals that clinched the victory. 2 [l] if two people clinch, they hold each other tightly, usually in a fight clinch it (for sb) informal to make you decide to do something that you were already thinking about clinch 2 /klintjV noun [C] the position of two people who are holding each other tightly clinch-er /'klintjar/ noun [C] informal something that settles an argument, makes someone decide something, or helps someone achieve something

mountains and rocks

a story, event, reaches the most exciting or

verb

important moment 2 [i] to have an orgasm climb /klaim/verb **•

check the

woman

climb Mount Everest. go climbing If you go climbing you need the right boots. 2 [I/T] to walk to the top of something high: We left the road and climbed the hill toward the woods. 2a. to walk to the top of some steps or stairs: They had to climb ten flights of stairs because the elevator was broken. 3 [i] if a temperature, price, or the level of something climbs, it becomes higher: Temperatures climbed into the 90s. Their profits climbed from $20 million to $50 million last year. climb steadily Unemployment has climbed steadily over the past year. 4 [i] to get into or out of something, especially by stepping to a higher or lower position: Sara yawned a± she climbed wearily into bed. 5 [I] if an aircraft climbs, it moves up to a higher position in the air: The plane climbed to an altitude of 60,000 feet. 5a. if a road or path climbs, it leads upward gradually to a higher place 6 [l/T] to move to a higher level in your job or social position: people who climb to the top of their profession climb the career /social ladder He began working at eighteen, determined to climb the career ladder. 6a. to achieve a high position in a list or competition: + to The book climbed steadily to number one on the New York the third

climb

cliff hang-er / 'klif.hasrpr/ noun [c] informal 1 an exciting end to part of a book or television show that makes you want to read or watch the next part 2 a situation in which it is not clear what will happen next

4

clincher

248

click 2 /klik/ noun [C] • 1 a short sound like the sound when you press a switch: The door closed behind him with a click. 2 computing the action of making a computer do something by pressing a button on the mouse: You can order

for

climbing .frame noun clime /klaim/ noun [C]

[c]

cline /klain/ noun [c] technical a gradual change that happens across a range of similar things cling /klin/ (past tense and past participle clung /kUn/) verb

[l]** 1 to hold onto something or someone tightly with your hands or arms, for example because you are afraid: Crossing the bridge, she felt dizzy and clung to the rails. + to Some children were sobbing and clinging to their + together The two monkeys clung tightly mothers. together. 1a. to stay very close to someone, usually because you want them to protect you: He still clings to mother even at the age often. 2 [+to] to keep believing that something is right or real, even though other people do not: Members of the sect have clung to a faith that has been outlawed since the 17th his

century.

3

try very hard to keep something: The Prime Minister is still clinging to power. 4 [+to] to stick to or fit very tightly on something: Gareth 's dripping clothes clung to his body. [+to] to

noun [u] BrE plastic wrap or clinging /'klinirj/ adj informal with another person all the time in a 1 way that is annoying 2 fitting in a way that shows the shape of your body clin-ic /'klmik/ noun [c] ** 1 a place where people go to receive a particular type of medical treatment or advice: prenatal/family planning/ diabetic clinic Ask for advice at your local family planning clinic. 1a. a place where medical treatment is provided at a low cost: a clinic for the homeless 2 Am E a group of doctors who work together in one

cling-film

/'klirj.film/

clingy

/'klini/ wanting to be

building: practice

3 an

Clock

249

dine

occasion

when an

expert teaches a class on their

subject: a coaching clinic

**

clinical

/'klmikl/ adj 1 [only before noun] involving working with people who are sick, rather than in a laboratory: clinical trials Clinical trials of the anti-cancer drug have produced encouraging results. clinical practice Undergraduate training is divided between study and clinical practice. 1a. relating to an illness: clinical signs/symptoms They may be unaware that they have any clinical symptoms. 2 not showing any excitement or emotion: He told us the story in a cold and clinical manner. 3 done in a perfect way or exactly according to the rules, but not in a way that is original or interesting: The Yankee's win was clinical rather than spectacular. clirH'cally/'klinikli/adv:He was eventually diagnosed as clinically depressed.

—

cli-ni-cian /kh'nijn/ noun [c] medical a doctor who works directly with people who are sick clink 1 /khnk/ verb [i/t] to make the short high sound of glass or metal objects hitting each other, or to cause

2

clip /klip/ noun

[C]

•

a small object that holds something in position: hair Use cable clips to secure loose wires. a short part of a movie, television program, or news story that is shown separately: +from a news clip from a 1940s news reel + of They showed a clip of Robin Williams being interviewed. 3 a container for bullets that is loaded into the gun, so that the gun can be loaded and fired quickly 4 a piece of jewelry with two parts that press tightly together so that you can attach it to your clothes 1

clips

2

at a fast/good clip informal quickly E informal $90, 80 cents, $90, 80 cents, etc. a clip etc. each: These sunglasses cost $65 a clip.

Am

Words

frequently used with clip

nouns

film,

movie, music, news, video

2

'clip ,art noun [U] computing pictures and designs that you can copy and put into your own documents

clip-board /'khp.bord/ noun

[c]

1

a small board that

you can attach papers to, so that you can write on them easily while you are moving around 2 computing the part of a computer program where you can store information that you are going to copy to another document clip-clop noun [singular] the sound that a horse's hooves

make when

the horse

is

walking—

clip-clop verb

[I]

'clip joint noun [c] informal old-fashioned a store, restaurant, or nightclub that is too expensive

clip-on

fastening to something

[only before noun]

adj

using a clip a clip-on :

tie

clipped

/klipt/ adj 1 cut short and into a neat shape: clipped hair 2 mainly literary speaking clearly and quickly, in a way that seems unfriendly

clip'per /'klipar/ noun [c] a large fast sailing ship that was used in the past clip-pers /'kliparz/ noun [plural] an object used for cutting things to make them neat, consisting of two blades that you press or push together: nail clippers clip-ping /'klipin/ noun [C] 1 an article or picture that you have cut from a newspaper or magazine: cutting 2 [usually plural] a small piece that you remove when you cut something to make it neat clique /klik/ noun [c] a small group of people who seem unfriendly to other people

cliqu-ey

/'kliki/ adj informal

behaving like a clique

clit-o-ris /'klitans/ noun [C] a woman's sexual organ just above her vagina that gives a lot of sexual pleasure

when it is touched cloak 1 /klook/ noun * 1 [C] a long thick loose coat without sleeves, that fastens around your neck 2 [singular] mainly literary something that covers or

objects to make this sound clink 2 /klirjk/ noun 1 [c usually singular] a short high sound that glass or metal objects make when they hit

cloak 2 /klook/ verb

each other 2 the clink informal prison 1 clip /klip/ verb •

cloak-and-dagger adj involving mystery or secrets cloak-room / 'klook ,rum/ noun [C] 1 a coatroom in a

1

fasten using sth small

2 press 3 cut

into position

4

hit

accidentally

5 reduce by small amount + PHRASES

to fasten one thing to another using a small object: collected up the papers and clipped them together. Clip the microphone to your shirt. 1a. [I] to be fastened to 1

[T]

He

something using a small object: + to /onto a safety harness that clips onto your belt 2 [l/T] to be pressed or to press something into position so that it makes a quick loud sound: Clip the cap over the camera lens. The lid just clips back on. 3 [T] to cut off small parts of something in order to make it neat: / asked him to clip the hedge. a device for clipping your nails 3a. to remove something by cutting: a story clipped from the newspaper 4 [T] to hit something accidentally while passing it: The plane lost control, clipping power cables as it fell. 5 [T] to reduce a score or quantity by a small amount: She clipped 7 seconds off her personal best for the 10,000 meters.

wings to make someone have power than before clip sb's

less

freedom or

hides something else [T]

mainly

literary to

cover or hide

something with something else

restaurant, theater, etc.

clob-ber

/'klabar/

2 BrEa

verb

[T]

rest room

informal

1

to

defeat

someone easily 2 to hit someone very hard 3 to badly affect someone or something, especially in a way that involves losing

cloche

money

[C] 1 a woman's hat shaped like a on her head 2 a transparent plastic or glass cover used for protecting plants from cold

/klaJV noun

bell that fits tightly

weather 1

clock /klak/ noun

**

an object that shows the [C] time. The object like a clock you wear on your wrist is called a watch. Clocks either have a background called a face with hands that point to the hours and minutes, or they are digital clocks that show the time as a set of numbers. You say a clock is slow when it shows a time that is earlier than the correct time. You say it is fast when it shows a time that is later than the correct time: The only sound was the clock ticking. the kitchen/ church/bedside clock I glanced at the kitchen clock. *the clock strikes one/five/eleven (o'clock) The church clock struck 10 o'clock. set/adjust a clock (^change it to show the correct time) We need to set all the clocks back one hour.

clock

possible

around the clock

all day and all night: Rescuers worked the clock to free people trapped in the wreckage. is ticking used for saying that someone must something quickly because there will soon be no

around

the clock

do

more time left on the clock 1 amount of time

the amount of time on the clock is the since something started. The amount of

time left on the clock or still on the clock is the amount of time before something finishes. 2 informal used for saying how many miles a vehicle's odometer or speedometer shows: a car with over 82,000 miles on the clock run the clock down or run out the clock or kill the clock in the final part of a sports game, to prevent the opposite team from getting the ball so that they are unable to score: All Miami has to do is run out the clock to be guaranteed a spot in the playoffs. turn/set/put the clock back 1 to change the time on a clock to an earlier time 2 to return to a time in the past: If we could turn the clock back, would you actually change anything? turn/set/put the clock forward 1 to change the time on a clock to a later time 2 to think about a time in the future, and imagine that it is that time watch the clock to keep looking to see what time it is because you are bored or want something to end clock 2 /klak/ verb [T] 1 to travel at a particular speed in a race: the skier who clocked the fastest time in practice runs 1a. to measure or record the speed at which a person or vehicle is traveling: He was charged with dangerous driving after being clocked at 112 mph. 2 infor-

mal

to hit

close

250

against the clock 1 trying very hard to finish something before a particular time: The entire department is working against the clock to meet the deadline. 2 if you run, swim, etc. against the clock, you are running, swimming, etc. for a particular distance as fast as

someone 3 Br E informal

to notice

someone

in or clock on phrasal vb [I] in a factory, to pass a special card through a piece of equipment to record that you have arrived at work clock off or .clock out phrasal vb [l] in a factory, to pass a special card through a piece of equipment to record that you are leaving work: The day shift was clocking

clock

off

clock up phrasal vb [t] to reach a particular number or amount: Dawson has clocked up 34 years as a police officer. .clock 'radio noun [c] a piece of electrical equipment that consists of a clock

and a radio combined

clock-watch-ing

/ klak wat Jin/ noun [u] the practice of not concentrating on your work because you wish it was time to stop clock-watclver noun [C]

—

clock-wise

/'klak waiz/ adj, adv moving in a circle in the same direction as the hands on a clock —opposite counterclockwise

clock-work /'klakwark/

noun

[u]

a set of springs

inside a toy or other object that make it work when you turn a handle or key a. [only before noun] operated by a set of springs that work when you turn a handle or key like clockwork happening or working correctly, with no problems or delays (as) regular as clockwork very regularly

clod /klad/ noun

[C]

1

a lump of dirt 2 informal a

stupid person

clod-hop-per /'klad.hapar/ noun

[c]

informal 1 clod-

hoppers [plural] humorous large heavy shoes 2 old-fashioned someone who often breaks things or knocks things over 1

clog /klag/

verb 1 [i/t] to block something such as a pipe, tube, or passage, or to become blocked, so that nothing can get through: The drain's clogged again. be clogged with sth The streams are clogged with ice in winter. 2 [T] to slow down progress or an activity: Unfounded lawsuits are clogging the court system.

clog 2 /klag/ noun

[C usually plural] a shoe with a wooden sole (=bottom part), especially a shoe that does not cover your heel / .kbizs'nei; .klwazs'nei/ noun [u] a way of decorating objects using shapes made of colored enamel with thin pieces of metal separating them

cloi-son-ne

1

clois-ter /'kbistar/ noun [c] 1 [often plural] a covered path around an open area in the center of a large building such as a cathedral or monastery 2 literary a MONASTERY Or CONVENT clois-ter2 /'kbistar/ verb [T] mainly literary to make someone spend time in a quiet or private place away from other people clois-tered /'kbistsrd/ adj kept away from the noise, activity, or unpleasant responsibilities of ordinary life: The Countess lived a cloistered existence. clone 1 /kloon/ noun [c] • 1 science an exact copy of an animal or plant created in a laboratory from the animal's or plant's dna 2 informal someone or something that looks or behaves exactly like someone or something else 3 computing a computer designed to work in the same way and use the same software as a more expensive or well-known computer clone 2 /kloon/ verb [T] science • to create an animal or plant in a laboratory that is an exact copy of another using the original animal's or plant's dna clop /klap/ noun [singular] the sound that a horse's hooves (=feet) make when they hit the ground— clop verb[l] 1

close /klooz/verb 1

•••

shut

2 when business stops 3 stop use of road etc. 4 end/finish 5 reduce distance

6

stop business relations

7

finish

business deal

8 put fingers around sth 9 have value at end of day 10 join edges of wound 11 connect electrically

+ PHRASES

you close something or it closes, it moves to cover an open area: Close the door quietly behind you. Did the fridge door close completely? / was just closing my eyes to go to sleep when the phone rang. Her mouth closed after a moment and she said nothing. 1a. [T] to move together the parts of something that was spread to its full size: Nick closed his book and put it down. 1

[i/T] if

Closing the umbrella, she ran for the car. [i/T] to stop doing business at regular times or temporarily: We close the office at noon Fridays. Snow +for We will close for our forced both airports to close. annual inventory next week. + on The Blue Cafe closes on Mondays. 2a. close or close down [i/T] to stop doing business or operating permanently: The company plans to close 10 coal mines. Small stores are closing because of

2

competition from the large chains. 3 [T] to stop people or vehicles from entering or leaving a place, using a road, etc.: They have closed their border with Albania. close sth to sth There is a proposal to close the park to traffic. close sth for sth The bridge will have to be closed for repairs. 4 [l/T] if something such as a discussion, activity, or event closes, or you close it, it ends: Can we close this

matter and move on? Her latest Broadway show closed + with The letter closes with an appeal for money. close sth by doing sth He closed the close a case meeting by thanking everyone for coming. (=end an investigation) The police are closing the case because of a lack of evidence. 4a. close or close down [l/T] computing if a computer program closes, or you close it, it stops operating and disappears from your computer screen 4b. [i] if something such as an offer closes, it stops being available 5 close or close up [l/T] to reduce the distance or difference between people or things: +on Williams was leading but the other runners were closing on him fast. close the gap between Closing the gap between rich and poor would help to improve the health of the nation. 6 [T] business to stop having an account with a bank, store, etc.: We closed our bank account and opened a new one online. 7 [T] business to successfully complete the arrangements for a business deed: He had to lower the price to after only 3 performances.

close the sale.

8

[l/T] [+around/over] to put or have your fingers, hands, or arms around someone or something: Her hand

closed tightly over his. 9 [I] [+at/up/down] business to

have a particular value end of a day's buying and selling on a stock EXCHANGE

at the

1

"

close

close

251

10 close or close up [i/t] medical if you close a wound (^injury or cut in your skin) or it closes, the edges join and the skin becomes healthy again [T] science to make a connection in an electric circuit 1 close the book on sth 1 to end something unpleasant that has been continuing for a long time 2 to stop working on something because you do not believe that

you

will achieve

your aim

close your ears to sth 1 to ignore what someone is telling you or asking you: Don't close your ears to criticism. 2 to not listen to a noise or sound close your eyes to sth to ignore something bad that is happening when you should be doing something to stop it: The government cannot close its eyes to this disease. close your mind to sth to refuse to consider something: / tried to close my mind to what was happening. close ranks 1 to join with a group to support and protect yourselves against someone outside your group who is criticizing or attacking you: Her male colleagues closed ranks against her. 2 if soldiers close ranks, they stand nearer together in order to defend themselves better against an attack [l/T] same as close 2a: Their .close down phrasal vb 1 Restaurants are intention is to close down the factory. closing down all over the country. 2 [l/T] same as close 4a: Close down all programs that are running before you install the software. 3 [i] Br E to stop broadcasting at the end of a day's television or radio programs .close in phrasal vb [i] 1 to move nearer to someone, especially in order to surround them: Enemy troops began closing in at dawn. 4+011 The police finally closed in on Connors and captured him. 2 if the weather closes in, it becomes unpleasant 3 literary if night or darkness closes in, it becomes night or gets darker 4 literary if the days close in, there are fewer hours of light each day because Fall is starting .close off phrasal vb [t] to prevent people from entering a place, using a road, etc. The police have closed off the 1

1

:

road to traffic. close out phrasal vb [T] price in order to get rid of

AmE to

to close

it:

sell a product at a low The manufacturers decided

out last year's model.

up phrasal vb 1 [l/T] to lock the doors of a building or business: As the storm approached, everyone began

.close

closing up their businesses. All the stores had closed up for the night. 2 [l/T] to move people or things closer together: The runners had closed up and were moving in a tight little pack. 3 [l/T] same as close" 10: The cut has closed up without a scar. 4 [1] to refuse to talk about your true feelings or thoughts: Why do you close up every time I mention your father?

Am

up shop E to stop an activity or close a business, either for a short time or permanently close

close 2 /kloos/

adj

**•

away away

1

only short distance

10 almost equal

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

only short time

11

likely to

happen soon

careful similar but different

connected by feelings related to you directly involved with sb a

nearly correct

lot

in

amount

won by small amount 12 when danger is avoided 13 14 15 16 17 +

cut close to skin

guarded carefully

warm not willing to spend quiet about yourself

PHRASES

1 only a short distance away, or separated by only a short distance: We can walk to the mall - it's very close. +to The hotel is close to the historical district. + together He had a cruel face with eyes that were too close together. close proximity The neighborhood is in close proximity to a huge shopping center. at close quarters /range (=from a very short distance away) He had observed President Roosevelt at close quarters and absorbed many of his techniques. close work (=done only a short distance from your eyes) I only need my glasses for close work such as sewing. 2 only a short time away, or separated by only a short time: +to You can't go to the party; it's too close to your exams. + together The two festivals are very close together

in

3

May.

likely to happen soon or to do something soon: Everyone believes that a peace deal is close. close to tears/ collapse /death By the end of the race he was close to

collapse.

+to doing sth We're closer

to

signing a contract

after today's meeting.

4

careful and involving attention to every detail: I'll close take a closer look at your homework tomorrow. scrutiny/ examination /inspection Fowler's research has come under close scrutiny. keep a close eye /watch on The local police kept a close eye on his activities. 5 similar to someone or something else but not exactly the same: That's not exactly the shade of blue, but it's +to The sensation is close to the feeling offloating. close. bear a close resemblance to sb/sth She bears a close the closest (thing) to sth resemblance to her mother. That's the closest thing to an apology you're going to get

from Drew.

6

connected by shared interests and shared feelings such as love and respect: My brother and I are very close. Jamal and I have been close friends since we were six. +to She's close to both her parents. 6a. used about

relationships: close family ties a close personal relationship 7 related to you directly, for example by being your parent, child, brother, or sister: He has no close relatives. 8 directly involved with someone and communicating with them a lot, especially as part of your job: a close +to Sources close to the CEO say he business associate is ready to make a deal. 8a. used about activities or relationships: We've always worked in close cooperation in close contact/touch (with sb) We don't with the FBI. share an office any more, but we still keep in close contact. 9 spoken nearly correct: "I'd say you were about 35." "You 're close! I'm 37. 10 [+to] if something is close to a particular amount, number, level, etc., it is almost that amount, number, level, etc.: Unemployment on the island is close to 12 percent.

"

close :

next congressional election will be a close contest in Ohio. a close second/third/fourth etc. Irvine won the race, with Schumacher a close second. 11a. too close to call if the result of a competition or election is too close to call, it is not clear who the winner is until the competition has ended or all the votes have been counted 1 2 spoken used for saying that you have just succeeded in avoiding a dangerous or unpleasant situation: That was close! We would've been in trouble if you hadn't swerved. 12a. a close call mainly spoken a dangerous or unpleasant situation that you have just succeeded in

avoiding

13a

close haircut or shave is very short and almost to the level of the skin 14 [only before noun] protected, watched, or guarded in a very careful and strict way: a close secret The boys are being kept under close supervision for the rest of the semester.

15 warm and uncomfortable because to be enough fresh air not willing to spend your

there does not

seem

16

money

or give any to

anyone 1

close-run

252

won or settled by only a few points, votes, etc. The game was close, but Denver finally won in overtime. The 1 1

7 not

willing to share information about yourself or

your emotions close, but no cigar spoken used for telling someone that they have failed, although their attempt, guess, etc. was almost successful: "Are you a nurse?" "Close, but no cigar. I'm a doctor. close to home 1 involving someone directly: This problem is particularly close to home for many parents. 2 a remark or joke that is close to home makes you embarrassed or upset because it is closely related to your personal problems too close for comfort nearer to you or more likely to affect you than you would like: Local people feel that the nuclear power plant is too close for comfort, —closeness noun [u]: Given the closeness of the school, you should be able to walk there. Joe was jealous of the closeness between his mother and his younger brother. -» BONE HEART 1

,

close 3 /klous/ adv

••*

only a short distance away: She moved closer, trying hear what Jack was saying. +to He clutched his bag close to his chest. Mark was standing dangerously close + behind Mary went first, with Jill to the edge of the cliff. + together They lay close together on the close behind. beach. draw/hold sb close (=pull/hold them against your body) He drew me close and hugged me tightly. close by/close at hand We didn't need to worry because help was close at hand. 2 only a short time away: As the summer grew closer, we started to think about leaving. 1

to

close to sth almost a particular amount, number, level, etc.: Inflation is now running at close to 4%. close up/up close at, to, or from only a short distance away: / didn 't see his face close up. come close (to sth) to be similar to or almost as good as something or someone: He's not as good as Amis, but he comes close. come close to (doing) sth to nearly do something: / came close to giving up several times. -> CARD 1

close 4 /klooz/ noun

[singular]

*

the end of something

such as a period of time, event, or

activity: +of

toward

at the close of business/ the close of the 18th century trading Stocks were unchanged at $1.45 at the close of business today. draw/come to a close The event occurred

when the Stone Age was drawing to a close. bring/draw/call sth to a close / will do anything to help bring this matter to a close. It's time to call this meeting to a close.

at the time

close 5 /kloos/ noun

[C] BrE 1 the area around a cathedral including the buildings belonging to it 2 a street consisting of private houses at the end of which the road stops 2a. used in street names: Appian Close close-cropped /.kloos 'krapt/ adj cut very short:

close-cropped hair /grass /fields

closed /kloozd/ 1

adj

••

covering passage/hole

2 not doing business 3 not allowed to everyone 4 not considering ideas

5 with

fixed number of sth 6 forming complete circle

+ PHRASES

1 if a door, window, lid, etc. is closed, it is covering an open area, passage, or hole: closed curtains All the doors are closed and locked. tightly closed/closed tight Keep your eyes tightly closed. 2 not operating or doing business, especially for the night or weekend: All the stores were closed. +to This

part of the museum is closed to the public. 3 held in private, with no reporters or members of the public allowed: Cases of this type are tried in a closed military court. in closed session The meeting was held in closed session.

4

not willing to consider the ideas, opinions, or beliefs of other people or groups: a closed society You can't approach these kind of situations with a closed mind. 5 with a fixed or limited number of parts, members, or answers: a closed question The law is not a closed set of rules

and principles.

6 forming

a complete circle: a closed loop of wire

behind closed doors in a place where other people cannot see or know what is happening a closed book (to sb) Br E someone or something that you do not know or understand anything about closed-cap-tioned /.kloozd 'kspjsnd/ adj a closedcaptioned television program has the words being spoken written at the bottom of the screen for people who do not hear well closed-circuit television or closed-circuit T'V noun [C/U] a system that allows someone to watch on a television screen what is happening in different parts of a building, town, etc.

closed-door members

adj held in private, with of the public allowed in

close-down

/'klooz.daon/ noun

no reporters or

[C usually singular]

a

which a company or organization stops its and closes its offices, factories, etc., either permanently or temporarily 'closed .season noun [c] AmE the period of the year situation in activities

when

it is

illegal for

people to

kill

animals or catch

fish

for pleasure

closed 'shop noun [C] a business where all the workers must be members of a particular labor union close-fist-ed /,klous fistsd/ adj informal not willing to spend your money or give any to anyone: stingy close-fit-ting /,klous 'fitirj / adj showing the shape of your body

close-grained/ kloos 'gremd/adj is

smooth and hard because

its

close-grained

fibers are

wood

very close

together 'nit/ adj consisting of people who lot of activities together and take care of one another: a close-knit family / community / team

close-knit /.kloos do a

close-ly /'klousli/ adv

••*

1 in a way that is very similar to something or has an obvious or strong connection with it: The Northern Ireland economy is closely linked to that of the rest of the United Kingdom. closely resemble sth Soldiers will train under conditions that more closely resemble real combat. 2 in a way that involves careful attention to every detail: Inspectors will examine the accounts very closely. 2a. in a very careful and strict way: The movement of

information across the border was closely regulated. 3 in a way that involves sharing ideas, thoughts, or feelings: We are all working closely with each other.

4 with very little time or distance between one thing and another: closely followed by She left the room, closely followed by her husband. close-mind-ed /,kloos 'maindsd/ adj not willing to try new things or consider other opinions close-mouthed

/.kloos'maoGd/ adj not saying anything about a subject because you want to keep it secret / 'klooz.aut/ noun [C] Am E a sale of goods at very low prices because a store wants to get rid of them close-run /, klous 'rAn/ adj Br £ won or settled by only a few points, votes, etc.

close-out

close season

to

[c]

•

1 a small room or space built into a wall for storing things such as clothes or sheets 2 an old word for a small private room

come out of the closet informal 1 to admit publicly that you are gay 2 to admit publicly that you have a particular belief that you previously kept secret -> SKELETON 2

/'klazat/ adj [only before noun] keeping your beliefs or activities secret: I've always been a closet science-fiction fan. 3

/'klazat/ verb [T] mainly journalism to shut yourself or someone in a room in order to be alone or have a private discussion: Senior researchers closeted themselves in a hotel room.

clos-et

/ klazatad/ adj a gay person who is closeted has not admitted publicly that they are gay close-up /'kloos ,Ap/ noun [c/u] a photograph of someone or something taken from a position very near in close-up them: / took a close-up of the baby's face. The photograph showed Burton's face in close-up. close vow-el /.kloos 'vaosl/ noun [c] linguistics a vowel sound made with your tongue moved near the top of your mouth closing 1 / 'kloozirj / adj [only before noun] happening near or at the end of something: the closing weeks of the election campaign the chairman's closing remarks clos-ing 2 /'kloozirj/ noun [c] AmE a final meeting between someone who is selling a house or piece of property and the person who is buying it closing argument noun [c] AmE a statement that each lawyer makes at the end of a trial in which they tell a jury or the judge why they believe their client should win closing date noun [c] 1 the date by which you must apply for. ask for, or provide something: +for The closing

clos-et-ed

is March 17. 2 AmE the date on which someone who is selling a house or piece of property and the person who is buying it meet for a

date for applications

CLOSING

'closing time noun [c/u] the time when a store, restaurant, bar, etc. closes at the end of each day clo-sure /'kloo3ar/ noun •• 1 [C/U] the process of making a business or institution stop operating permanently: an increase in hospital closures + of The closure of the center would be a terrible loss to the community, la. the process of temporarily preventing people from using a place, for example a

road or bridge

2

the feeling that an unpleasant experience has settled: bring/achieve closure The investigation should bring some closure to the relatives of those

clothes .basket noun [c] mainly Br E a laundry basket clothes hanger noun [C] a frame for hanging clothes with a hook on the top: hanger [c] a frame with pieces of plastic rope used for hanging wet clothes clothes-horse /'kloo5z,hors/ noun [c] 1 informal someone who always wears fashionable clothes and owns a lot of them 2 a frame of plastic or wooden bars on which you hang wet clothes so that they can dry inside your house clothes-line /'kloodz.lam/ noun [c] a rope on which you hang wet clothes so that they can dry, usually picture -» line outside your house clothes-pin /'kloodz.pm/ noun [c] a wooden or plastic object used for fastening wet clothes onto a

clothes hoist noun

—

AmE

clothesline

cloth-ing /'klooSnj/ noun [u] ** clothes basic necessities like food and clothing a

in general: piece /item/ the clothing industry a. clothes of a particular type: outdoor / protective/ waterproof clothing

article of clothing

clo-ture /'klootjar/ noun

[u] technical the process of stopping a debate in the U.S. Senate by forcing the members to vote immediately on the bill being discussed 1

cloud /klaod/ noun

•••

[C/u] a white or gray mass of very small drops of water in the sky: A few white clouds drifted across the sky. There's more cloud than yesterday. 2 [C] a large amount of smoke, dust, steam, etc. in the air: a dust cloud +of a huge cloud of black smoke 2a. any large mass in the sky that looks like a cloud: 1

A

thick cloud offlies buzzed around us. 3 [C] something unpleasant that spoils an activity, event, or situation: a cloud of anxiety /misery /uncertainty be /cast a cloud over sth Violent protests cast a cloud over the president's visit. a cloud on the horizon (=something that is likely to spoil a situation) The only cloud on the horizon is the possibility of a hostile takeover.

every cloud has a silver lining used for saying that something good usually comes out of a bad situation on cloud nine informal old-fashioned extremely happy under a cloud with your reputation damaged because you may have done something wrong

Words

[U] the

frequently used with cloud

adjectives

died.

verbs

of writing, activity, or event

cloth /kla0/ noun [C/U] material that is made by 1

weaving

fibers together: linen /cotton

a piece of cloth used for a particular purpose such as cleaning or covering a table the cloth mainly literary Christian priests and ministers considered as a group -> man of the cloth

clothe /kloud/ verb [T] 1 to provide someone with clothes: We asked for money to feed and clothe the children. 2 formal to put clothes on someone: Mary is old enough and

clothe herself.

adj 1 dressed in a particular way: conservatively clothed businessmen + in A figure appeared clothed in black. fully clothed (=without having removed any clothes) They fell asleep fully clothed. half/ partially clothed partially clothed body was found under

A

1 become darker 2 stop being transparent 3 make sb confused 4 make sth more confusing

etc.

[C]

clothed /kloodd/

lift,

1

scud,

1

cloud 2 /klaod/ verb •

•*

used for making clothes, curtains,

billow, drift, gather,

spread, thicken

cloth

feed

dark, dense, gray, heavy, low,

storm

end of something such as a discussion, piece

clot 1 /klat/ verb [i/T] if blood or another liquid clots or something clots it, it becomes thick and stops flowing clot 2 /klat/ noun [c] a lump consisting of blood or another liquid that has become thick

to

Carmen wears

on the floor.

put on clothes I'm going to take off clothes Why don't you take those wet clothes off? a. clothes worn for a particular activity or event, a particular time of year, or by a particular type of person: school/ work /sports clothes evening clothes (=formal clothes) maternity clothes (=clothes for pregnant women) clothes.

[u]

who have

2

[+in/with] literary covered with

put on some clean

ended or been

3

2

something clothes /kloodz/ noun [plural] •••the things that you wear such as shirts, dresses, pants, etc.: There was a the bridge.

pile of dirty clothes heaped the most beautiful clothes.

each other

1 clos-et /'klazat/ noun

clos-et

cloud

253

close sea-son /kloos ,sizn/ noun [c] BrE 1 the closed season 2 the off-season in a sport close-set /kloos 'set/ adj close-set eyes are very near

5

spoil activity/event

6 (make)

look

unhappy

etc.

+ PHRASES

1 cloud or cloud over [i] to become darker because gray clouds are forming in the sky [l/T] if something transparent or shiny clouds, or something clouds it, it becomes difficult to see through or into: Steam clouded the mirror. 2a. if something clouds a clear liquid or it clouds, it becomes no longer clear: The solution clouds if you shake it. 3 [T] to affect your thinking in a way that makes you likely to make a bad decision or forget something: cloud sb's judgment Make sure that personal motivation is not clouding your judgment. 4 [T] to make something more complicated or confusing: cloud the issue Unanswered questions have further

2

clouded the

5

[T]

issue.

to spoil

an

activity, event, or situation:

Her

polit-

"

cloudburst

clouded over in confusion at his curt tone.

cloud-burst which a

lot

/'klaod,b3rst/ noun of rain falls

[C]

a short period in

cloud-cuckoo-, land noun

sb is (living) in cloudcuckoo-land informal used for saying that someone is silly if they believe that there are no problems in a situation

cloud-less / 'klaodbs/ adj a cloudless sky has no clouds in

it

cloud-y

/'klaodi/ adj

1

full

of clouds: a cool cloudy

morning 2 a cloudy liquid is not clear 3 confused: His judgment can sometimes be a little cloudy. clout 1 /klaot/ noun informal 1 [u] the authority to

make decisions or the power to influence events: It is a system in which individual voters have more clout. political /financial less political clout

/economic clout The government has than the opposition on

this issue.

2

[C]

a hard hit with your hand [T] informal to hit someone or something hard with your hand clove /kloov/ noun [C] 1 a brown dried flower bud used as a spice for flavoring food 2 a small section of the bulb of a garlic plant used for flavoring food

clout 2 /klaot/ verb

clo-ven hoof /.klouvn 'huf/ noun [C] the foot of an animal such as a cow or a sheep that has two separate

in clover informal enjoying a pleasant comfortable life, usually because you have a lot of money clo-verleaf /'klouvar.lif/ noun [C] 1 a place where two major highways are connected by a series of curving roads 2 the leaf of a clover plant

AmE

clown

1

/klaun/ noun [C] 1 a performer in a emeus who wears funny clothes and makes people laugh by doing silly things 2 someone who often makes people laugh by doing or saying funny things 3 someone who is silly, stupid, or annoying: I'll deal with this clown some

an organization that you join in order to buy something such as books or records that are sent to you by post [C]

6

[C] a playing card with a pattern like three black on a black stem on it 6a. clubs [plural] the suit (=group) of playing cards that have a pattern like three black balls on a black stem on them. The other suits are diamonds, hearts, and spades: the king of clubs

balls

—picture -» ci6 7 [C] an object used for hitting the ball in

golf:

golf

club

8

[C] a thick heavy stick used as a weapon welcome to/join the club spoken used for telling someone you understand an unpleasant situation the> are in, because you are in the same situation club 2 /kUb/ verb [T] to hit someone with a heavy object club together phrasal vb [i] if people club together, each of them gives some money so all the money collected can be used to buy something

club-bing /'kUbin/ noun

[u] the activity of going out in the evenings to dance and drink in clubs: We go clubbing every weekend. club-ber noun [C]

—

club .class noun [u] BrE business class club-foot / 'klAb,fot/ (plural clubfeet) noun

[C] a foot that to one side since birth a. [U] a medical condition in which someone's foot is twisted to one side club'foot«ed adj

has been twisted

—

club'house /'kUb.haos/ noun

[c]

1

a building used

meeting or relaxing in by members of a sports club, especially a golf club 2 E a room used by a sports team for changing their clothes and storing their equipfor

Am

/klaon/ verb

[I]

things in order to

clown or clown around make people laugh

to

do

clown-ish

/ 'klaoniJV adj like a clown in behavior or appearance cloy /kbi/ verb [i] to make you feel sick or annoyed by being too sweet or too pleasant: The smell of her cheap cloying /'kburj/ adj: the perfume soon began to cloy.

—

movie's cloying sentimentality

cloze test

/'klouz ,test/ noun [C] a test in which students write missing words in the spaces provided in a piece of writing to show that they understand it 1

club /kUb/ noun

•••

1 society for activity

2 place for entertainment 3 sports players and staff 4 place to relax 5 for buying at low price [C]

6 7

for hitting ball in golf

8

stick

suit of playing

cards

used as weapon

+ PHRASES

an organization for people who have a

common

interest in a particular activity or subject: a sailing club join a club I've joined the chess club. member of a club

Have you thought about becoming a member of our model belong to a club We both belong to the local tennis club. la. the place where the members of a club meet: We go to the club at least once a week. 1b. the people who belong to a club: The whole club is invited to their wedding. 2 [C] a place you go to in the evening for entertainment: A new comedy club has opened downtown. This is an exclusive club for members only. 2a. a place you go to in the evening to dance and drink: nightclub 3 [C] a team of sports players and the staff who work with them: The Waterville baseball club. a soccer club 4 [C] an organization that provides a place where its members, especially men, can go and eat, relax, or stay: a gentleman's club airplane club?

club 'sandwich noun

[c] a thick sandwich that consists of three slices of bread with two layers of meat or cheese in between club 'soda noun Am E [u] a clear drink made by adding a gas to water a. [C] a glass of club soda

cluck 1 /kUk/

verb 1 [i] if a chicken clucks, it makes usual short low sound 2 [i] to make a short loud sound with your tongue 2a. [i/t] to show that you are annoyed or do not approve of something, especially by making a short loud sound with your tongue 3 [i] to give someone or something a lot of attention, especially attention they do not want or need: She was clucking its

around him, adjusting

other time.

clown 2

1

5

ment: LOCKER ROOM

parts

clo-ver /'kloovar/ noun [u] a small plant with leaves that have three round parts

silly

clump

254

was clouded by allegations of misconduct. 6 [i/T] if an emotion clouds your eyes, your eyes show the emotion cloud over phrasal vb [l] 1 same as cloud 2 i: It's beginning to cloud over - we should go back now. 2 if your face or eyes cloud over, they show a negative emotion: Her face ical future

his pillows.

cluck 2 /kUk/ noun

[C] 1 a short low sound that a chicken makes 2 a short loud sound that you make with your tongue to show that you are annoyed or do not approve of something 3 informal someone who is

silly

or stupid

1

clue /klu/ noun

[C]

••

1 an object or fact that someone discovers that helps them solve a crime or mystery: search for/look for/find

a clue Detectives were brought in to help search for clues. +to/as to /about Police still have no clues as to the identity of the killer. 1a. a piece of information that helps explain a situation or provide a solution to a problem: +to/as to /about His expressionless face gave These writings her no clue as to what he was thinking. provide clues to the crisis in Dickens' private life. 2 a word or phrase provided to help you find an answer in a crossword 2a. a word or phrase that helps you to guess another word or phrase: "Know who I saw in town

today?" "Give me a clue. not have a clue informal 1 to not know or understand something: "Do you know where St. Paul Street is?" "I'm sorry, I don 't have a clue. " 2 to be extremely stupid or extremely bad at doing something: They don't have a clue about how to take care of children. clue 2 /klu/ verb clue in phrasal vb [T] informal [clue sb in] to provide someone with information about someone or something clued up /,klud 'Ap/ or clued 'in adj informal knowing about a particular subject clue-less /'klubs/ adj informal stupid or knowing nothing clump 1 /kUmp/ noun 1 [c] a group of trees or plants growing very close together 1a. mainly literary a group of people or things very close together 1b. a mass of a substance: a clump of hair /earth 2 [singular] the sound of

heavy steps

clump 2

[I]

/klAmp/ verb 1 [i/T] same as clump together walk with heavy steps: He clumped down the

to

narrow

stairs.

phrasal vb [l/T] to form a solid mass: a chemical that will cause bacteria and dirt to clump together if people or things clump together or are clumped a. together, they get very close to each other in a group

clump together

clunvsy/'klAmzi/adj • 1 a clumsy person moves in a way that is not careful or graceful, and breaks things or hits them 2 expressed without enough skill or thought, and often

way

in a

that

is

likely to upset people: His choice of

words was clumsy. a clumsy object is too large and heavy to be useful clunvsMy adv, clunvsi-ness noun [u] clung the past tense and past participle of cling clunk /kUnk/ noun [singular] a low sound made when one hard heavy object hits another —clunk verb [i/T] clunk-er /'klAnkar/ noun [C] AmE informal 1 an old vehicle or machine that is in very bad condition 2 something that is completely unsuccessful: Some of

3

—

his movies are real clunkers.

clunk»y / 'klAnki/ ad] informal 1 large, solid, and heavy in a way that is not attractive: clunky furniture/ shoes 2 not modern or advanced enough to be useful: clunkysoftware

clus-ter /'kUstar/ noun [c] • 1 a small group of people or things that are very close to one another: People stood in clusters around the 1

noticeboards. la. technical a lot of stars that are close to each other 2 technical a series of events of the same type, for example cases of a disease, that all happen in the same

place or around the

same time

2

clus-ter

/'klAStsr/ verb [i/t] to form a small close group: She spotted Luke in a group clustered around the entrance.

bomb

cluster

noun

[c]

a

bomb dropped from an

craft that contains a lot of smaller

out over a large area

clutch

when

it

bombs

that

it

air-

sends

explodes

•*

1

[T] to hold someone or some/klAtJV verb thing firmly, for example because you are afraid or in pain, or do not want to lose them: Women clutched small children as they left. a. [i] [+at] to try to take hold of someone or something because you are afraid or in pain, or to stop yourself from falling: An officer stumbled

and

clutched at the handrail.

clutch 2

/klAtjV noun

*

1 in vehicle

2

firm hold on sb/sth

4 group of people/things 5 set of eggs/chickens

a piece of equipment in a vehicle that you press with your foot when you change gear —picture -» cs 2 [singular] a firm hold that you have on someone or something, usually because you are afraid or in pain, or you do not want to lose them 3 clutches [plural] power or control that someone has over you that you want to escape from: They fled the [C]

country to escape the clutches of the secret police. 4 [C] a small group of people or things: This is the best of the recent clutch of political biographies. 5 [C] a set of eggs that a chicken produces at one time, or the chickens that come from those eggs

clut-ter are too

1

/

noun [u] the mess created things in a place

'klAtsr/

many

when there

2

clut-ter /'kUtar/ or clutter 'up verb

[T often passive]

many things in a place so that it looks messy: His bedroom was cluttered with books and papers, a. to put too many facts, pictures, etc. in something so that to put too

it

becomes hard

cm.

to

understand

abbrev centimeter

CNN

en 'en/ Cable News Network: a U.S. organization that broadcasts news on television 24 hours a day to countries all over the world C-note/'si ,nout/noun [C] Am E informal a one hundred /,si

dollar bill 1

Co. /koo/ abbrev Company: the Ford Motor Co. Morgan

&

Co.

after

cohabiting couples (=people living girls together) together without being married) 2 sharing a job or responsibility: used with some nouns, verbs, and adjectives: her co-star (=another main actor taking part with my codriver (=someone who drives so her in the film) I can rest) abbrev care of: used in an address on a letter or package that you are sending to someone at another person's house: Mr. J. Mason, c/o Mrs. M. Smith, 100

that

c/o

Road

Larkhill

coach 1

[u]

1

/kootJV noun

*•

Am E a less expensive type of seat on an airplane

or a train: Only We flew coach to

soft

drinks are complimentary in coach.

New

Orleans.

[C] someone who trains a sports player or team: Sampras has a new coach. a baseball coach 2a. someone

2

who

teaches a special skill, especially one connected with performing such as singing or acting: An acting coach was brought in for the less experienced actors. 3 [C] an old-fashioned vehicle that is pulled by horses 3a. Br E a comfortable bus for long trips 3b. Br E the car of a train

coach 2 /kootJV verb

[t]

•

to train a sports player or team: Mr. Jones coaches the football team. I'd like to coach basketball. 1

2

to teach someone a special skill, especially one connected with performing in public: a school where they coach children in singing and dancing 2a. to teach someone a school subject, especially in order to help them prepare for an examination: My father coached me in math. 3 to tell someone what to say or do in a particular situation: Danielson had been coached by her lawyers, and

said very

little.

coach-ing

/'koutjin/ noun [u] 1 the process of training a person or team in the skills needed to play a particular sport well 2 the process of giving a student extra private teaching in a particular subject, especially in order to help them with an examination that they are going to take

co-ag-u-late /koo'aegja.leit/ verb [i] if a liquid coagulates, it becomes thick and hard: Blood slowly coagulated

coal /kool/ noun

cut.

••• [u] a hard black substance that

is dug from the ground and burned as fuel to provide coal dust heat: Put some more coal on the fire. a piece/ lump of coal a. [u] used for talking about the industry of digging coal out of the ground: Is there a future for coal? the coal industry b. [C] a piece of coal, especially when it is burning: Nina stirred the coals with the poker.

rake/haul sb over the coals

to

speak angrily to

someone because they have done something wrong co-a-lesce / .kooa'les/ verb [i/t] formal to come together and form a group or a single unit coal-field / kool.fild/ noun [c] an area where there are layers of coal under the ground that are appropriate for MINING

coalition

/.kooa'hjn/ noun

••

a temporary union of different political parties that agree to form a government together: a coalition government 1a. a temporary union of different groups who agree to work together to achieve a shared goal: a broad coalition of independent pro-democracy groups 2 [u] the process by which different political parties or groups agree to work together 1

[C]

coal mine noun

[c]

a place where coal

is

dug up from

under the ground

coal miner [c] mine coal mining noun [u] noun

CO abbrev Colorado Stanley

someone's name for referring to the other people who are usually connected with that person: John arid Co. are coming later. Co. 2 abbrev County: Co. Antrim CO. /,si 'oo/ noun [C] Commanding Officer: an officer in charge of a military unit CO- /koo/ prefix 1 together: used with some nouns, verbs, and adjectives: coeducation (=educating boys and

and Co. spoken used

round the edges of the

3 power sb has over you 1

coal mining

255

clump

of the

ground

someone who

digs coal in a coal

the industry of digging coal out

coarse coarse 1

feeling

gray cloth

•

coax /kooks/ verb

rough and hard: a jacket made from coarse the coarse outer leaves of the cabbage coarse sand

2 consisting of large or thick pieces: 3 rude and offensive: They objected

to his

coarse lan-

guage.

coarse-ly

/

karsli/ adv in large or thick pieces: coarsely

chopped celery

coars-en

/'knrsn/ verb 1

[i/t]

to

become rough and

make something become rough and hard: the coarsened skin on his hands 2 [i/t] to become larger and thicker or to make something become larger and thicker 3 [T] to make someone or something less polite or less hard or

to

sensitive:

cock-and-bull story

256

/kors/ adj

The years spent

in the

army had coarsened

his

manners.

coarse-ness

/'karsnas/ noun [u] coarse language or

behavior

to gently persuade someone to do something: After dinner Lily was coaxed into singing several songs. It took some time, but we were finally able [T] 1

to coax him out of quitting. 1a. if you coax something out of someone, you gently persuade them to tell or give you something: She could coax answers to very personal questions out of people. 2 to make something such as a machine or piece of equipment do what you want it to do by being skillful, gentle, and patient coax-ing noun [u]: With a little coaxing, he finally agreed to give back the money. - coax-ing-ly adv

—

coaxial cable

/koo.aeksial 'keibl/ noun [c] a type of very strong wire used for sending large amounts of information at high speeds, for example to cable televisions or computers

cob /kub/

noun

[C] 1

a corn cob

•••

coast /koost/ noun

[C] an area of land beside an ocean: the east coast of the United States on the coast It was a nice day on the coast.

the coast is clear it is safe to do something because there is no one to see or catch you 2

coast /koost/

verb

[i]

1

to continue to

move

in a car

or on a bicycle after you have switched off the engine or stopped pedaling with your legs 2 to achieve success very easily or with very little effort: Scotland coasted to a 31-12 win over Argentina.

coast-al /'koostl/ ad] [usually before noun] •• on land beside an ocean: coastal areas I towns I roads a. in the ocean near to land: coastal waters

coast-er / 'koostar/ noun

[c] 1

a small

flat

object that

you put under a cup to protect the table 2 AmE something that coasts, especially a small vehicle 3 a ship that sails along the coast from one port to another carrying goods

a strong horse with

co-balt /'koo.balt/ noun

[u] 1 cobalt or cobalt blue a blue-green color 2 a hard silver-white metal used in alloys (=combinations of metals) and for making things blue co-balt adj

—

1

cob-ble cob-ble 2

/'kabl/ noun

[c]

a cobblestone

/'kabl/ verb cobble together phrasal vb [T] informal to make something quickly and without a lot of care, using whatever is available: He cobbled together a meal from leftovers in the refrigerator.

cob-bled

/'kabld/ adj covered with cobblestones (=round stones) cob-bler /'kablar/ noun [c] 1 a sweet food consisting of fruit covered with a soft thick layer of pastry that is

baked in an oven 2 old-fashioned someone whose job

cobble-stones

/kabl.stoonz/

coast-line

cob-web / 'kab.web/ noun

koost.lam/ noun [c] the land along a coast, especially when seen from the ocean or the air: the rugged Maine coastline /

coast-to- coast

adj from one coast of a country to another: a coast-to-coast bicycle ride coast to coast

—

adv 1

coat /koot/ noun

[C]

•••

a piece of clothing with long sleeves that you wear over your other clothes when you go outside. A short coat is also called a jacket and a long coat is also called an overcoat: a woman wearing a fur coat Put your coat on - we're going out. 1a. a jacket that men wear over a shirt as part of a suit 1b. a piece of thick cloth that is put on a dog's back to keep it warm outside in winter 2 a layer of something such as paint that you put onto a surface: All the door needs is a new coat of paint. 3 the fur or hair on an animal's skin: Mountain goats have long shaggy coats. 1

coat 2 /koot/

verb [T] to cover something with a layer of a substance: The wind had coated everything with a layer of sand. truffles coated in white chocolate

coat .check noun

[c]

AmE

a room in a restaurant, can pay to leave

club, museum, or theater where people their coats and bags: cloakroom

coat hanger noun

[c]

a frame used for hanging clothes

coat-ing /'kootin/ noun

a thin layer that covers something: a thin coating of dust on his desk coat of arms noun [c] a special design that a family, organization, or place uses as its own sign and is usually found on a shield coat-room / koot.rum/ noun [c] Am E a coat check coat-stand /'koot.staend/ noun [c] a piece of furniture consisting of a tall pole with hooks at the top for hanging [c]

coats and hats on coat-tails /'koot,teilz/ noun [plural] the two long pieces that form the bottom part of the back of a man's formal

jacket sb's coattails using someone advantage for yourself

else's success to get

an

[plural]

small

make

the

a poisonous African or Asian snake that spreads out the skin on its neck when it is [c]

angry [C]

a net that a spider makes

out of thin sticky strings

blow/clear away the cobwebs

to make you feel more and think more clearly coca /'kooka/ noun [C/U] a South American bush whose leaves are used for making cocaine co-caine /koo'kem, 'kou,kem/ noun [u] * a powerful illegal drug that is very addictive (=it is difficult to stop taking it) and is usually sold in the form of a white powder that people breathe in through their noses.

lively

Cocaine

is

also called coke.

coc-cyx

/'kuksiks/ noun [c] medical the small bone at the bottom of your spine (=the row of bones down your back) —picture -» skeleton

cock /kak/ 1

noun [C] 1 mainly BrE a rooster 1a. an adult male bird of any kind: a cock pheasant 2 impolite

a man's penis

cock of the walk/roost/rock informal a man who thinks he is stronger, more intelligent, or more successful than the rest of his group -» snook

cock 2 /kak/

verb [t] 1 to raise or turn a part of your body: She cocked her head to listen. He stood looking amused, with one eyebrow cocked. 2 to make a gun ready to fire 3 to wear or move your hat so that one side of it

on with a hook on top

noun

stones with round tops used in the past to surface of a road

co-bra / 'koobra/ noun

a military organization in the U.S. that watches for ships in danger and works to prevent illegal activities in the ocean

is

to repair shoes

Coast Guard, the

on

2

short legs

1

slopes

downward

cock an /your ear to listen very carefully cock up phrasal vb [T] BrE impolite to spoil something by doing it wrongly cock-ade /ka'keid/ noun [C] a decoration worn on a hat, often as part of a uniform

cock-a-doo-dle-doo

/.kaka.dudl'du/ noun [c] the loud sound that a cock (=male chicken) makes /.kaka'liki/ noun [u] a type of Scottish cock-a-leek-ie soup made from chicken with leeks and other vegetables

Am

E informal silly / 'kaka.meimi/ adj or impossible to understand: a cockamamie idea/story

cock-a-ma-mie

cock-and-bull story noun silly

and

difficult to believe

[c]

a story that

is

very

cockatoo /'kuka.tu/ noun [C] a large light-colored Australian bird with a crest of feathers on its head. A cockatoo is a type of parrot.

cock-crow /'kak,kroo/ noun

[u] literary

the very early

morning when it begins to get light cock-er-el /'kakral/ noun [C] a young cock (=male chicken)

cock-er spaniel

/

long ears that hang

,kakar 'spaenjsl/ noun [c] a dog with down and long soft hair

cock-eyed /,kak'aid/adj informal a cock-eyed proposal crooked —cock-eyed adv

tical:

1

2 not

silly

and not pracor level:

straight

cock-fight

/'kak,fait/ noun [C] an organized fight between two male chickens with sharp metal spurs on

their feet. Cockfights are illegal in

— cock-fight-ing noun [U] cock-le/'kakl/ noun

many

countries.

a small European shellfish (=a

[C]

sea animal with a hard shell)

warm

the cockles (of sb's heart) old-fashioned to feel pleased and happy

make

someone

cockleshell

/'kakljel/ noun cockle 2 a small light boat

cock-ney

or

codeine

257

cock-a-too

[c]

1

Cock-ney / 'kakni/ noun

the shell of a 1

[c]

someone

born in the east end (=eastern central part) of London, especially a working-class person 2 [u] a type of informal English that cockneys speak —cock-ney adj: a

'coconut ,milk noun in a coconut,

co-coon

cocks-comb / 'kaks.koom/ noun

[c] the thin red piece of flesh that grows on top of a male chicken's head

cock-sure

/kak'Jor, 'kakjor/ adj informal very conan annoying way cock-tail /'kak.teil/ noun [c] 1 a drink, usually with a lot of alcohol in it, made by mixing different drinks together 2 a combination of substances, especially ones that are harmful when used together: The smoke contains a cocktail of toxic chemicals. 2a. a combination of things, for example emotions, especially one with an unpleasant or dangerous result: a disturbing cocktail of sex and violence 'cocktail dress noun [c] a short dress that is approfident in

priate for a formal party

'cocktail lounge noun [C] a bar, often in a hotel or club, where you can buy alcoholic drinks cocktail party noun [C] a formal party in the early evening at which alcoholic drinks and small things to eat are served

'cocktail .shaker noun different drinks to

make

[c] a container for mixing cocktails

'cocktail stick noun [c] BrE a very small pointed stick that you can push through small pieces of food cock- up noun [C] Br E impolite a bad mistake or something that has been done very badly cock-y /'kaki/ adj informal very confident in an annoying

way

cocoa

/'koukoo/ noun * 1 [U] a brown powder made from cocoa beans that is used for making chocolate or chocolate-flavored foods and drinks 2 [C/U] a hot chocolate-flavored drink made from milk, cocoa, and sugar, or a cup of this drink

'cocoa bean noun [c] the seed of the cacao tree that is crushed to make cocoa 'cocoa butter noun [u] a type of fat made from cocoa beans and used in making chocolate, cosmetics, and soap

co-co-nut /'kooka.nAt/ noun [c] a large nut that has white flesh and a hard brown shell covered with fibers like

rough hair

a.

[u]

the white flesh of a coconut:

chicken curry with coconut —picture -> cio

used in drinks and in Asian and Caribbean

/ka'kun/ noun

co-coon 2

/ka'kun/ verb [T] 1 to keep someone safe by preventing them from learning to deal with problems: You cannot remain forever cocoonedfrom the outside world. 2 to cover or surround someone or something cod /kad/ (plural cod) noun [c] a fish that lives in the North Atlantic Ocean a. [u] this fish eaten as food C.O.D. /,si oo 'di/ abbrev cash on delivery: a system by which you pay for goods that you have ordered when they are delivered to you co-da /'kooda/ noun [c] 1 the final section of a long piece of music 2 the final part of a piece of writing or a speech that acts as a summary 3 something that happens at the end of a series of events cod-die /'kadi/ verb [t] 1 to treat someone in a way that gives them too much protection from harm or difficult experiences 2 to cook an egg with hot water that does not boil code 1 /kood/ noun

•*•

1 for

2 3

where the

/'kak.rootJV noun [c] an insect similar to a large beetle that lives in places where food is kept —picture -» ci3

1

[c] 1 a cover that the young larvae of some insects make around themselves when they start changing into their adult form 2 something that keeps you safe, but may stop you from learning to deal with problems: the cocoon of his parents' love 2a. literary a cover that keeps someone safe or warm

cock-pit

cock-roach

the sweet thin liquid contained

cooking

cockney accent /'kak.pit/ noun [C] 1 the part of an airplane pilot sits 1a. the part of a racing car where the driver sits 1b. the part of a boat where the controls are 2 a place where cockfights are held 2a. mainly journalism a place where there is fighting

[u]

secret messages

set of rules

4 computer instructions 5 complicated system

set of letters/numbers

[C/U] a system of words, numbers, or signs used for sending secret messages. To put a message into code is to encode it, and to translate it back from code is to decode it: crack/break a code (=discover how it works) It took months before they were able to crack the enemy's code. in code The message was written in code. 2 [C] a set of rules about how something should be 1

done or how people should behave: Even criminals have their own code of honor. penal /criminal code (=the set of laws about crimes and punishment) The death penalty is no longer allowed under France's penal code. code of conduct/ practice Managers are expected to comply with the company's code of conduct. 3 [C] a set of numbers or letters that gives information about something, for example by showing what it is or when it was made: The shirt comes in eight colors, each Write the order code in this identified by a two-letter code. box. 3a. the first part of a telephone number that shows where someone lives. The area code tells you the town or district, and the international code is used when calling from another country. 3b. a set of numbers that allows you to open a lock or door or turn off an alarm punch in/key in/enter a code She punched in a five-digit :

security code. [C/U] computing a set of instructions that

4

a computer can understand 5 [singular] a complicated system of rules, relationships,

or instructions: the genetic code

Words

frequently used with

code

breach, break, comply with, contravene, keep to

verbs

2

code 2 /kood/ verb *• 1 [T] to mark something with a code that gives information about it: Each item was coded for point of origin. 1a. to mark something with a code instead of a name, so that people do not know what it is: They coded each sample and sent them to the lab for analysis. 2 [T] to put a message in code so that it is secret 3 [i/T] computing to write instructions for a computer cod-ed /'koodad/ adj 1 marked with letters or

numbers that give information: All the tickets are coded. la. marked with numbers or letters instead of a name: The admissions committee only sees coded applications. 2 expressed in an indirect way: Her speech was a coded attack on the former leader. 3 written using a secret system of words or signs: He had been sending coded messages

to the

co-deine

enemy.

/'koo.din/ noun [u] a drug made from opium, used for reducing pain and controlling coughing

— code name 258 coiffured 'code name noun [C] a name for someone or something coffee shop noun [c] • that you use when you want to keep their real name 1 Am E an informal restaurant that serves drinks and secret

code

'red interjection used when a situation becomes an emergency codg-er / kad33r/ noun [c] an insulting word for an old

man cod-i-cil / 'kadisil/ noun [C] legal an addition that makes changes to a will (=a legal document saying who gets your money and property when you die)

cod-i-fy / 'koodi.fai/ verb [T] to make something part of an organized system, especially an official system of laws

coffee,

'coffee .table noun room

cod-piece

/'kad.pis/ noun [c] a piece of material covering a man's sexual organs, worn in the 15th and 16th centuries

AmE

1

/'koo.ed/ adj sexes: a coed dormitory 2

co-ed /'koo.ed/ noun

woman student at men and women

including students of both

AmE

[C] informal old-fashioned a a college or university that has both

with a

lot of

cof

[c] technical in

math-

ematics, a number written before a variable (=quantity that can change) that shows how much the variable is to be multiplied by

co-erce /koo'3rs/

verb [t] to make someone do something by using force or threats: He claims he was coerced into admitting his guilt.

co-er-cion /kou'3rJn/ noun [u] the use of force or threats to make someone do something co-er-cive /koo'3rsiv/ adj using force or threats to make someone do something co-ex-ist /.koorg'zist/ verb

[I] formal to live or exist at same time or in the same place: These communities have peacefully coexisted for centuries. + with It is possible

the

for local wildlife

to coexist

with industry.

co-ex-is-tence / .koorg'zistsns/ noun [u] formal a situation in which people live together or things exist together at the same time or in the same place C of E / ,si av 'i/ abbrev Church of England

*••

coffee

/'kafi/ noun [u] a hot, slightly bitter drink

1 made by pouring hot water over brown powder consisting of coffee beans that have been ground (=crushed into very small pieces). Coffee served without milk is called black coffee: Would you like a cup of coffee? Do you take sugar in your coffee? 1a. [U] the crushed beans that you use to make coffee: We need some more coffee. 1b. [only before noun] flavored with coffee, or used for storing, making, or drinking coffee: coffee cake/ ice cream coffee cups 1c. [C] a cup of

coffee:

Two

2

[U]

-»

WAKE UP

brown

color

cof -fee-house

cof-fee-hous-es (plural /'kafi.haus/ /'kafi.hauzaz/) noun [C] a coffee bar, especially one that existed in the past

cof -fee klatch or cof -fee klatsch /kafikketJV noun [C] a social occasion where people have conversations about unimportant things

money

ma chine

noun [c] 1 a machine that you put into in order to get a hot drink 2 a machine for

making coffee at home or in a cafe 'coffee .maker noun [c] a machine at home —picture -> C2 cof -fee-pot / 'kafi.pat/ noun

/

'kafin/ noun [C] buried -» nail

** a long box in which a dead

1

is

cog /kag/

noun [C] 1 a wheel in a machine that fits into the edge of another wheel or part and makes it turn 2 a person considered as a minor part of a large organization

co-gen-cy /'koc^snsi/ noun

^IHmB ;'

/

8

)

Mk£>\ f

, f

>r

'Bt

[u]

formal the cogent quality of something such as an argument co-gent /'koud3ant/ adj formal a cogent argument is reasonable and sensible co-gent-ly adv

—

cog-i-tate

/'kad3i,teit/

verb

[i]

formal to think about something carefully and for a long time cog cognac /'kanjak/ noun [C/u] a type of brandy made in France, or a glass of this brandy cog-nate 1 /'kag.neit/ noun [c] linguistics words from different languages are cognates when they have the

same

origin

cog-nate 2

/'kag .neit/ adj 1 linguistics cognate words or languages have the same origin 2 formal related to each other in some way

cognisance

/'kagmzsns; kag'naizsns/ a BrE spelcognizance cog-ni-ti ve / 'kagnativ/ adj technical a cognitive science or process is one that is connected with recognizing and understanding things cog-ni-zance /'kagnizans; kag'naizsns/ noun [u] formal the process by which you recognize or understand something ling of

to consider something before you take action or make a decision— cog-ni-zant adj cog-no-scen-ti /.kagna'Jenti/ noun [plural] mainly lit-

take cognizance of sth

erary people

who

are experts in a particular subject

co- ha b- it /.koo'haebit/ verb

[i]

formal

if

two people

cohabit, they live together and have a sexual relaco-hab-i-ta-tion tionship without being married /koo.haebi'teijn/ noun [u]

—

co-here /kou'hir/ verb [i] formal if ideas or arguments cohere, they make good sense when they are considered together

or purpose as other people in a group

'coffee ,bar noun [c] a small cafe where you can have hot drinks and snacks (=simple foods) 'coffee bean noun [c] a brown seed that is roasted and crushed to make coffee 'coffee break noun [c] a short period of time when you stop working to eat or drink something

'coffee

a large expensive book

co-her-ence/kou'hirsns/nounM 1 the state of being coherent 2 the feeling that you have the same beliefs

coffees, please.

a light

[C]

it

especially in the past

in,

fin

person

I

co-ed-u-ca-tion-al adj

college

pictures in

cof-fer /'kufar/ noun 1 coffers [plural] the supply of money that an organization has available to spend 2 [C] a large strong box used for keeping valuable

co-ed-u-ca-tion/.kou.edsa'keijri/ noun [u] the system of educating students of both sexes in the same class or

co-ef-fi-cient /.koua'fijnt/ noun

a small low table in a living

[c]

coffee table .book noun

things

'oil noun [u] a yellow oil made from the liver of cod. It is taken as a medicine because it contains a lOt Of VITAMINS.

cod-liver

co-ed

inexpensive meals a place, usually in a hotel or department store, where other drinks, and light meals are served

2

[c]

or serving coffee —picture -» pot

for

making

coffee

a container for making

co-her-ent /koo'hirant/

adj

a coherent statement

is

1

1a. speaking in a

way

that

* reasonable and sensible sensible and that people

is

can understand

2 in which all the different parts fit together in a sensible or pleasing way: The writer presents this complex co-her-ent-ly adv character as a coherent whole.

—

[u] a situation in which people or things combine well to form a unit co-he-sive /kou'hisiv/ adj combining well to form a strong well-organized unit

co-he-sion /kou'hi3n/ noun

co-hort /'kou.hort/ noun

[C]

a friend or supporter,

someone you do not like coif fed /kwaft/ adj often humorous especially of

coiffed hair has been carefully arranged in a special style coif-fure /kwa'fjur/ noun [C] formal a person's hairstyle, usually a special one coif-fured /kwa'fjord/ ad] often humorous coiffured hair has been carefully arranged in a special style

:

cold-blooded

coil 1 coil /koil/ noun [C] • 1 a length of something that forms rings or curls: a coil of rope 1a. something that has a long curved shape: a coil of black smoke 2 a piece of curved wire that produces heat or light when electricity passes through it 3 a part of a vehicle's engine that supplies electricity

tO the SPARK PLUGS

4

a curved piece of plastic that is put inside a woman's uterus as a contraceptive (=to prevent her from becoming pregnant) 2

coke /kook/

noun 1 Coke [C/U] trademark a type of sweet brown fezy drink (=with gas in it), or a glass of 2 [u] informal the drug cocaine 3 (u) a solid black substance similar to coal that people burn to produce heat Col. abbrev 1 Colonel 2 Colorado co-la /'koola/ noun [C/u] a sweet brown fizzy drink (=with gas in it), or a glass of this drink col-an-der / 'kAbndar/ noun [c] a bowl with small holes in that you put food into to remove any liquid this drink

1

cold /koold/

to wind something long and thin into a shape like a series of rings: Heavy gold chains were coiled around her long neck. a. [l/T] used about

coil

verb

/ kr>il/

[T]

something that moves in a curve: A column of smoke was up into the air. b. [i] used about a feeling that is becoming so strong you may soon be unable to coiling slowly

control it: He felt the fear coiling inside his stomach. coiled adj: a tightly coiled spring

—

1

coin /koin/ noun

** [C]

with special designs on

money made from paper

round piece of metal used as money. A piece of

a

it,

is

flat

called a bill. a. [u]

money

form of coins

in the

flip/toss a coin to throw a coin in the air to decide between two choices, depending on which side of the

coin is on top when it lands the other side of the coin a different aspect of a situation two sides of the same coin two different aspects of the

same

situation

coin 2 /kom/

verb [T] 1 to use a word or phrase that no one has used before 2 to make coins from metal

be coining

it (in)

Br E informal

to

be earning a

lot of

money

coin-age

/'kDinid3/ noun 1 [u] the coins used in a particular country or a particular period in history 2 [C] a word or phrase that has recently been used for the first time

co-incide /.koom'said/

a cold winter

bitterly cold that day.

morning 1b. used about people and places: / was cold, hungry, and thirsty. freezing cold Their house is always freezing cold. 1c. used about food that has been cooked but is not eaten hot: a selection of cold meats 2 not seeming friendly or sympathetic: Her father was a cold and distant man. She received a rather cold response. 3 cold colors are colors such as white, blue, and gray that make you think of things that are cold 4 spoken used especially in children's games to tell someone that they are not close to finding or guessing something opposite warm colander

—

how people feel about emotional matters when they think about them later in a calmer way leave sb cold to not make someone at all interested or in the cold light of day used for saying

excited

verb

[i]

to do or say something that spoils someone's plans or enthusiasm sb's trail/scent has gone cold it is difficult to find someone because it is a long time since they were seen

— cold'lyadv

-> BLOOD, FOOT

co-in-ci-dence /koo'msidans/ noun • 1 [C/U] a situation in which separate things happen by chance at the same time or in the same way: + that It

Other ways of saying that the weather

chilly cold

co-in-ciden-tal /koo.msi'dentl/ ad) happening or existing by chance and not because of being planned: An official said the timing of the President's visit was coincidental.

coin-ci-den-tal-ly /koo.msi'dentli/ adv used for saying that something happens by chance: Coincidentally, she lives next

door

to

my

technical relating to the act of [u] technical

the act of having

sex [plural]

confident or brave attitude

impolite 1

make you

shiver

and

feel

chilly, so

freezing cold/freezing extremely cold, especially when it is cold enough to turn rivers and pools of water to ice: a freezing cold day Shut the door, it's out there! bitter very cold and unpleasant, especially when there are strong cold winds: a bitter winter night

cold 2 /kould/ noun

**

a minor illness that blocks your nose and makes you cough: catch a cold / must have caught a cold on my camping trip. a heavy /bad cold Don't go to work if you have a particularly heavy cold. 2 [u] cold air or a cold environment: Plants need pro1

[C]

extreme cold. keep the cold out.

tection against to

the cold Heavy curtains help

leave sb out in the cold to deliberately not include someone in an activity or group

Words

frequently used with cold

adjectives

bad, heavy, nasty, stinking,

1

cold 3 /koold/ adv

1 if you do something cold, you do it without preparing for it 2 suddenly and immediately: Something made her stop cold in the middle of her sentence. out cold completely unconscious

cold-blooded /koold 'bUdad/

testicles

adj

1

deliberately

and showing no emotion 2 cold-blooded animals have a body temperature that changes to suit their environment cruel

cO'jO'nes/ka'hooniz/noun

to

streaming

[u] thick rough fibers from the shell of a coconut, used for making ropes and covering floors

co-i-tus /'kooitas/ noun

cold

frosty very cold, but often bright and clear, with layers of ice forming on the ground, the trees, etc.: to steam in the frosty air. a fine

mother.

coir /koir/ noun

adj

is

Her breath turned frosty morning

moment.

coin-ci-dent /koo'msidant/ adj formal 1 happening at the same time 2 agreeing with one another

enough

uncomfortable: The evenings there can be you'll need to take a sweater.

was rather a coincidence

that she appeared at that exact by coincidence By coincidence, his teaching contract finished at about the same time his first book was published. pure/sheer coincidence It might have been planned or it might have been pure coincidence. no coincidence It is no coincidence that coastal communities have often been deeply religious. 2 [singular/ u] formal a situation in which ideas or opinions are the same: + of They have a substantial coincidence of business interests.

1

cool slightly cold, but often in a pleasant and comfortable way, especially during hot weather: a cool evening breeze It's nice and cool in the shade.

*•

1 to happen at the same time as something else: The arrivals of the boat and the train are supposed to coincide. + with The statement was timed to coincide with the General's return to Algiers. 2 if ideas or opinions coincide, they agree with one another: +with Our views on this issue coincide closely with those of the British government.

2 a

•••

pour/throw cold water on sth

to coin a phrase spoken used when you realize that something you have said is a very well-known phrase or expression

co-i-tal /'kooitl/ having sex

adj

with a low temperature, or a temperature that is lower than normal The water was too cold for a shower. la. used about the weather: It was 1

cold call

260

cold call noun

an unexpected telephone call or visit by someone trying to sell something cold- call verb [l/T],

[C]

cold calling noun [u] noun [u] something that makes a difsituation slightly better but not much better cream noun [u] a cream used for cleaning the

comfort

,cold ficult

cold

skin and making

cold cuts noun

it

soft: moisturizer

[plural]

thin pieces of different types of

cooked meat that you eat cold cold frame noun [c] a large box with glass sides that you keep young plants in before you plant them outside cold-heart-ed /koold hartod/ ad) with no sympathy for other people cold-heart-ed-ly adv cold shoulder noun get/be given the cold shoulder informal to be treated in an unfriendly way by someone

—

you know cold-shoulder verb [t] to be unfriendly toward someone you know cold snap noun [c] a sudden short period of very cold weather

cold ,sore noun

[c] a sore area near your caused by an infection

lips that is

cold spell noun [c] a period of cold weather ,cold storage noun [u] a place that is kept very

cold,

where you put food to keep it fresh put sth into cold storage to decide not to do or use something until later cold store noun [c] a cold room for storing food in a store or restaurant

cold 'sweat noun that causes

you

to

a nervous or worried feeling sweat although you feel cold

[singular]

1

cold turkey noun [u] informal the pains that someone feels when they stop taking drugs that they are addicted to

informal if you stop doing something such as smoking or taking drugs cold turkey, you stop it suddenly and completely cold war noun [C/u] unfriendly relations between countries who are not at war with each other a. the Cold War the unfriendly relations that existed between the Soviet Union and the West from the end of World

War II to the 1980s cole-slaw /'koul.sb/ noun

medical

adj

a colicky baby suffers from colic

/ksu'laitis; ka'laitis/ noun [u] medical a painful condition that affects your colon (=the tube

that takes waste food out of your body) col-lab-o-rate /ks'kebsreit/ verb [i] • 1 to work with someone in order to produce something:

+ with

We have

been collaborating closely with teachers in devising the lesson plans. -fin /on She directed the film and collaborated with Goldman on the script. 2 to work secretly to help an enemy or opponent: + with He still denies that he collaborated with the Nazis.

collaboration

/ks.lasbs 'reijn/ noun

•*

the process of working with someone to produce something: in collaboration with a tale written in collaboration with Wilkie Collins 1a. [C] something that people produce by working together: The song is one of her recent collaborations with major recording artists. 2 [u] help that someone secretly gives to an enemy or [U]

opponent

collabo-rative

[

]

making collages co -la 'gen /'kabd3an/ noun [u] a type of protein that is often used in skin cream and in plastic surgery because it makes skin look younger I

or stop existing

fall

because

4 be folded/taken apart 5 (make) lose air inside 6 start laughing

sick/tired

a building or other structure collapses, it suddenly falls down: There were fears that the roof would 1

if

[i]

collapse.

2

[i] to suddenly fail or stop existing: The trial collapsed allegations that officers fabricated evidence. collapse under the strain /pressure The old system would

amid

have collapsed under the strain. 3 [I] to suddenly fall down and become very sick or unconscious: A man had collapsed. I ended up collapsing with exhaustion. 3a. to let your body fall onto a chair, bed, etc. because you are very tired: -t-in/into/onto He collapsed in an exhausted heap. 4 [i] an object that collapses can be folded or separated into parts, so that it takes up less space: The chairs collapse for easy storage. 4a. [T] to fold something or separate its parts, so that it takes up less space: Could you help me to collapse the table?

5

[l/T] to lose the air that is inside and become flat, or make this happen: His heart was failing and one of his lungs had collapsed. 6 [I] if you collapse into laughter, you start laughing in an uncontrolled way

collapse 2

••

/ka'laeps/ noun 1 [u] a situation in which something fails or stops existing: The same economic problems had led to the collapse of the military government. be on the point/ brink/ verge of collapse The justice system was described as being on the point of collapse.

2

[u]

falls

3

an occasion when a building or other structure

down

an occasion when someone falls down and becomes very sick or unconscious [singular] a sudden fall in the value or level of some[C/U]

thing: the collapse of the ruble in a state of collapse 1 badly damaged or broken 2 very weak and ill 3 used about something such as an organization or system that has nearly stopped operating or existing

col-laps-i-ble /ks'hepssbl/ smaller size: a collapsible col-lar /'kabr/ noun [c]

adj

able to be folded into a

bicycle

••

the part of a coat, shirt, or dress that goes around his collar turned up against the cold. a fur /lace /velvet collar la. a thin piece of leather or plastic that a dog or cat wears around its neck 1b. a priest's dog collar 1c. an object that you wear around your neck for medical reasons 2 a part of an object or machine that fits around something curved and protects it 3 an area around an animal's or bird's neck that is a 1

your neck: He had

different color from the rest of its body very informal an occasion when the police arrest someone 4a. someone arrested by the police

4

hot under the collar informal very annoyed or nervous 2 col«lar /'kabr/ verb [T] 1 often humorous to find someone and talk to them, usually about something that they are not pleased about 2 very informal to catch or arrest someone col-lar-bone / 'kabr ,boun/ noun front of your shoulder

col-late

[c]

the bone along the

— picture -> skeleton

/ka'.leit/ verb [t] 1

to put sheets of

paper into

the correct order before they are made into a document or book 2 formal to arrange information that you have collected in a sensible order 1

/ks'laebarstiv/ adj involving people

or groups working together to produce something col-lab-o-ra-tor /ka'laeba.reitar/ noun [c] 1 someone who secretly helps an enemy or opponent, for example by giving them information 2 someone you work with in order to produce something coMage /ka'la3/ noun [c] a picture made by sticking pieces of different materials together on a surface a. u the art of

down suddenly

fail

1

[u] a type of salad made from raw cabbage and carrots mixed with mayonnaise col-ic /'kahk/ noun [u] pain that a baby has in its

colitis

1 fall

2 3

4

cold turkey 2 adv

stomach col-ick-y /'kaliki/

•*

/ko'laeps/ verb

to

,

1

collation col-lapse 1

col-lat-er-al /ka'lstfajral/noun [u] legal property that you agree to give to a bank if you fail to pay back

money you have borrowed 2

col-lat-er-al /ka'keUaJrsl/ ad\ formal relating to something but less important than it col .lateral damage noun [u] ordinary citizens who are killed during a war. This word is used especially

by military officers. col-la-tion /ka'leifn/ noun formal 1 [u] the process of putting pages into the correct order 2 [u] the process of collecting information and then arranging or considering it together 3 [C] often humorous a simple meal, usually consisting of cold foods

colleague

*** someone who works

[C]

in the same organization or department as you: Friends and colleagues will remember him with affection. his Cabinet/party colleagues +at/in/from her colleagues at the university a. someone in your organization who has the same status or level of responsibility as you: She was liked both by colleagues and subordinates, b. [+at/in/ from] someone who does the same job as you in a different organization, department, or place: Local fire-

fighters will help colleagues in Eastern Europe by providing advice and equipment, c. [+at/in/from] someone from a different organization or department who you work or deal with: It's something that my colleagues at the embassy are extremely concerned with.

collect

1

/ka'lekt/verb

••*

to get things and keep them together for a particular reason: A lot of families collect newspapers for recycling. 1a. to get and keep objects because they are interesting or valuable / didn 't know she collected modern 1

[T]

:

He

stamps. 1b. to get information: The statistics are collected purely for administrative purposes. evidence collected by the police 2 [T] to get money from someone for a particular purpose: Someone came to collect the rent. 2a. [l/T] to collect money from different people, for example to buy a present or to help people who are suffering: They give up their spare time to collect for various charities. 2b. [T] to receive money officially, for example from the government or an insurance company: He's old enough to collect his retirement. The victim collected $250,000 in compensation. 3 [I] if a crowd of people collects, it forms: gather 3a. [i] if a substance collects somewhere, it gradually goes there: With flat roofs, you often find that rain collects in the corners. 3b. [T] if a surface collects a substance, the substance gradually covers the surface 4 [T] to go and get a person or thing. The more common way of saying this is "to pick up" something or someone: Trash is collected on Thursdays. Both sides returned to collect their dead. art.

collects

coMect 2 phone

collegial

261

colleague / 'ka.lig / noun

Am E

/ks'lekt/ adv call sb collect call that is paid for by the person

to

who

make

a receives

the call. Br E reverse the charges col lect call noun [C] Am E a phone call that the person you are calling agrees to pay for. Br E reverse-charge call

col-lect-ed /ka'lektsd/ adj able to control your nervous or confused feelings: She tried to stay calm and collected. sb's collected works/poems/letters etc all of someone's work/poetry etc published together collectible 1 /ka'lektabl/ noun [c] an object that is valuable because people want to own it

collectible 2

/ks'lektabl/ adj 1 valuable because people want to own it: Some of his pictures are quite now. 2 able to be collected or obtained: Your hire car is collectible on arrival.

collectible

collection

•••

/ks'lekjsn/ noun 1 [C] a group of things: a vast/extensive collection a book borrowed from John 's vast collection 1a. interesting or valuable objects that someone collects: a stamp collection +of a collection of baseball cards 1b. works of art that are kept together, for example in a museum: The gallery houses one of the finest collections of impressionist art. 1c. clothes or other products that become available at a particular time of year: Dior will launch its spring collection next week. Id. poems, stories, or other pieces of writing that are together in a book: a collection of short stories

2

[C/u] the process of collecting things for a particular purpose, or an instance of this: the garbage collection Your new glasses are awaiting collection. +of the collection and analysis of information 3 [C/u] the activity of collecting money for a particular purpose, or the money that is collected: a house-tohouse /door-to-door collection The house-to-house collection raised £255.41. 3a. the activity of collecting money that people must pay: tax collection 4 [C] a group of people: +of a motley collection of protesters and student groups

collection agency noun

[c]

AmE

a

makes people pay what they owe others

company

that

collection ,box noun is

[c]

a container for

money

that

given to a charity

collection plate noun collecting money

[c]

1

col-lec-tive /ka'lektiv/adj

a dish used in church for

••

1 involving all the members of a group: ministers who share a collective responsibility 2 owned by the government and run by a group of

workers 2 col-lec-tive /ka'lektiv/ noun [c] a farm or business owned by the government and run by a group of workers col-lec-tive bargaining /ka.lektiv 'barganin/noun [u] discussions between employers and labor unions about pay and working conditions collec-tive-ly /ks'lektivli/adv • together, as a group: People refer to these different medical conditions collectively as heart disease. the right to join unions and bargain collectively

collective 'noun noun

[c] linguistics a noun that refers to a group of people and is followed by a singular or plural verb, for example "team" or "family"

collective unconscious noun [u] the part of the mind that some people believe contains ideas, images, and memories that all people have because they were born with them col-lec-tiv-ism /ka'lekti vizsm/ noun system in which the government owns and controls all institutions col-lec-tiv-ist

1

/ka'lektivist/

adj

[u] all

a political businesses

relating

to

col-

lectivism

col-lec-tiv-ist

2

/ka'lektivist/ noun [c] a supporter of

collectivism

col-lec-tor /ks'lektar/ noun

someone who

1

[c]

**

collects things for fun

:

an avid stamp

collector

2 someone whose

job

is

to collect

something from

people: the ticket collector

collector's item noun [c] a rare or valuable that collectors want to own col-leen /kci'lin/ noun [c] Irish a young girl

object

*••

college

/'kalid3/ noun [C/u] in the U.S., a place that gives students degrees. school of this type can also be called a university if it is large enough to give degrees in more than one subject: a college professor la. [singular] all the students and teachers in a college: The whole college was talking about it. 1b. [C] one of the parts that some universities are divided into: the University of Mexico's College of Arts and Sciences 1c. [C/u] in the U.K., a place that gives students qualifications below the level of a university degree, often in the skills they need to do a particular job: be at college (=be studying at college) She's at secretarial college. go to college Paul's going to college in September. I've just started a college course. 1d. [C/u] in the U.K.. a place that gives students degrees in a particular subject: art /agricultural college the Royal College of Music 2 [C] used in the names of some organizations whose members belong to a particular profession, especially a medical profession: the American College of Surgeons 3 College used in the names of some British private schools Eton College 1

A

:

Differences between American and British English: college In the U.S., a college refers to a place where people study for their bachelor's degree (=first degree), whether the institution is a college, which offers only bachelor's degrees, or a university, which offers both bachelor's degrees and advanced degrees. When British speakers use the word college, they usually mean a place where students over 18 are trained in a particular subject or skill, earning a qualification that is not usually an academic degree. Students in the U.K. who are studying for an academic degree go to a

university.

col-le-gi-al

/

ko

'

1 i

ci

5 o i

I

/

adj very formal 1

sharing ideas

and responsibilities with the people you work with, a friendly

way 2

in

consisting of several colleges or parts

collegiate /lo'lid33t/ adj 1 relating to colleges or intended for students at college: a collegiate dictionary collegiate sports 2 consisting of several colleges or parts: the collegiate system at some overseas universities 3 very formal working in a collegial way

•

collide

/ka'laid/ verb [I] 1 if people or things collide, they crash into each other: The two trains collided about a mile outside of the city. + with The truck collided with a row of parked cars. 2 to find it impossible to agree about something: It was the first time she had collided with Gordon 's mother over babysitting. 2a. if ideas or beliefs collide, they are very different and do not work together: +with His religious beliefs often collided with the realities of his life. 2b. to meet or come together with something that is very different: They lived in different worlds, which had now

collided.

coMie

/'kali/ noun [C] a dog with long hair, kept as a pet or used as a sheepdog

coMier /'kaljar/

noun [c] old-fashioned a miner cohlier-y /'kaljari/ noun [C] a coal mine and the buildings around it collision /ks'h^n/ noun [c/u] * 1 an accident in which a person or vehicle that is moving crashes into something: + between There was a collision between the French and German boats. in collision

with Their car was in collision with an ambulance.

a head-on collision (=in which the front of one vehicle crashes into the front of another) The stolen car was involved in a head-on collision with a truck. 2 a very serious argument: a head-on collision (=a situation in which agreement is impossible) an attempt to avoid a head-on collision between the different branches of the party 2a. a very great difference between ideas or beliefs which means that they do not work together 2b. an occasion when two very different things meet or come together: The affair is described as a collision between personality and principle.

on a

collision course 1

likely to hit

it

2

moving toward something and

likely to have an argument because of beliefs or opinions

having very different

collision

damage waiver

noun [c/u] legal insur-

ance that you can buy when you rent a car so that you do not pay if the car is damaged

collocate

1

/'kab.keit/ verb [i] linguistics collocate are often used together 2

col-lo-cate /'kabkat/ noun [c] is often used with another word

words that

linguistics a

word

that

collo-ca-tion /,kab'keifn/ noun linguistics 1 [u] the fact that a word collocates with other words 2 [C] a COLLOCATE

* used in informal conversation rather than in writing or formal language coMo*qui*aMy adv

coMo'qui'al/ks'loukwial/adj

—

col-lo-qui-al-ism /ks'loukwbjizsm/ noun

[c]

a col-

word or expression colloquium /ks'lookwbm/ noun loquial

[C] formal a large meeting to discuss something, usually an academic

coMo-quy

/'kabkwi/ noun versation or meeting

[C]

very formal a

con-

collude

/ka'lud/ verb [I] formal to work secretly with someone to do something dishonest: He was accused of colluding with his brother in the deal.

collu-sion /ka'lu3n/ noun ities of people who work

formal the secret activtogether to do something

[u]

dishonest /ks'lusrv/ adj formal involving collusion

Colo, abbrev Colorado co-logne /ka'loun/ noun

[c/u] a liquid with a pleasant smell that you put on your skin. It is usually less expensive than perfume.

co-Ion /'koulan/ noun

[C]

•

the symbol used in writing, for example before an explanation or list. A colon is a punctuation mark. 2 medical the lower part of your bowel (=the tube that takes waste out of your body) 1

colomel

co-lo-nia /ko'loonja/ noun [C] Am E a poor community in the U.S. near the border between the U.S. and Mexico, mostly consisting of immigrant families (=people who were not born in the U.S.)

co-lonial /ksioonbl/ 1

:

•

/'k3rnl/ noun [c] an officer of high rank in the army, the marines, or the U.S. Air Force

adj

••

relating to a system or period in which one country rules another: years of colonial rule the colonial period/ era 1a. relating to the period when the part of North America that became the U.S. was ruled by Britain 2 colonial buildings and furniture are made in a style that was common in North America in the 18th century 1

—picture -» ci 2 co-lo-ni-al /ka'lounbl/ noun [c] someone who lives in a country that is controlled by their own country colonialism /ka'loonb.lizam/ noun [u] a situation in which one country rules another 1 co-lo-ni-alist /ks'lounblist/ ad) based on or supporting colonialism 2 co-lo-ni-al-ist /ksioonblist/ noun [c] someone who supports colonialism co-lon-ic /ks'lanik/ adj medical relating to your colon co Ionic irrigation noun [u] a treatment in which someone's colon is washed, which some people believe is good for health col-o-nist /'kabnist/ noun [c] one of the people who establish a colony or go to live in it colonize /'kab.naiz/ verb [T] to take control of another country by going to live there or sending people to live there col*o*ni*za*tion /.kabni'zeijn/ noun [u] col-on-nade /,kab'neid/ noun [C] a row of stone COLUMNS

—

col'O-ny /'kabni/ noun

[C]

**

1 a country that is being controlled by another country: a former British colony 1a. one of the parts of North America that was ruled by Britain before becoming the U.S. 2 a group of people of a particular type who live in a particular place: a leper colony a colony of artists, writers, and craftsmen 2a. a group of animals or birds of the same type that live in the same area

col-or 1 /'kAbr/ noun

*••

[C/U] red, blue, black, yellow, etc.: Pink is my favorite a light brown color in color His hair is reddish in color. change color Many fruits change color as they become ripe. 1a. [U] the quality of being red, blue, 1

color.

yellow, etc. rather than black or white or transparent: Potted plants add color to a room. in color Are the pictures in black and white or in color? splash of color A green scarf gave her outfit a splash of color. 1b. [C] something such as clothing or paint that is a particular color: I prefer wearing dark colors. Mix the colors with your paintbrush. 1c. [C/u] the color of someone's skin as a sign of their race: people of all races and colors Id. [C/U] the color of someone's face when it shows how they are feeling: Suddenly, the color drained from his cheeks. She giggled nervously as color flooded her face. 1e. [C/U] a chemical that you put on your hair to make it change color: Before you spend money on color or

a perm, talk

2

subject

coMu-sive

color

262

collegiate

to

your hairdresser.

or excitement: add/give/bring color to add color to academic writing LOCAL COLOR 3 colors [plural] the official colors of a particular country, team, political party, etc.: school /team colors The cheerleaders were wearing the high school colors, green and white. national /state colors Australia's national colors 3a. the flag of a particular country or state: flying their colors high [U] interest

sth examples chosen to

-»

the color of sb's money informal proof that someone going to pay you

is

in color blue, green, yellow, etc. rather than black and white: Are the pictures in color? with flying colors informal if you do something with flying colors, you do it extremely well -» FLYING OFF-COLOR, TRUE 1

1

,

Talking or writing about colors

general shade one

of the different types of a particular color, especially when describing how dark or light it is: a deep shade of red subtle shades of blue and green

color

-ish

column

263

tone one of the different types of a particular color: a delicate pink tone eye shadow in tones of green and brown used with colors to make adjectives describing

things that look a

little like

that color: reddish hair

dark colors dark used for describing colors that look more like black than like white: dark green pants / think the color on the walls

deep used

much

is

for describing

too dark.

dark colors, especially when

they look attractive: beautiful deep blue eyes rich used for describing dark colors that look beautiful rich brown velvet

and expensive:

somber dark

in a way that seems appropriate for a serious occasion or use: The men were wearing somber and black ties.

suits

bright colors bright strong and noticeable: bright yellow paint vibrant bright in a way that looks exciting: curtains in vibrant shades of red colorful brightly colored, or having a colors: wonderfully colorful saris

loud bright in a way He tends to wear silk gaudy very brightly

you think shows bad

that

lot

you think looks

shirts

and loud

of bright

silly

or ugly:

ties.

colored, especially in a way that taste: Look at those gaudy purple

color-coded

adj

make

using colors to

different things

easy to recognize 1

col-ored /'kAbrd/

adj

*

green, blue, etc. rather than transparent or black or white: colored glass pieces of brightly colored a woman wearing a colored paper 1

[usually before noun] red,

brightly colored dress

2 colored hair has been treated with a chemical to make it change color 3 offensive someone who is colored is a black person. Older white people sometimes use this word thinking it is polite, but black people consider it offensive. colored 2 /'kAbrd/ noun [c] offensive an offensive word for a black person -colored /kAbrd/ suffix used with some adjectives and nouns to make adjectives describing what color something is: a dark-colored skirt a building made of tancolored stone

col-or-fast /'kAbr,faest/ adj colorfast cloth or clothes do not lose their color when you wash them col«or«ful/'kAbrfl/adj • 1 something that is colorful has bright colors or a lot of different colors: a colorful carpet interesting, exciting, and sometimes funny, colorful characters 3 colorful language is rude or uses offensive words 4 involving exciting, but slightly shocking or illegal

2

He had a colorful past. colorfully dressed dancers activities:

— cohonfuMy

adv:

col-oHng /'kAbnn/

bright yellows

noun * someone's hair and skin: She has the brother. 1a. the colors of an object, animal, or plant: a project on the protective coloring of

pale colors

2

pale like white with a small amount of a color mixed in: pale gray feathers

additives

sunglasses!

garish very brightly colored, especially in a way that you think does not look attractive: garish reds and

1

[U] the color of

same coloring as her butterflies

light pale instead of dark: Light colors north-facing rooms. a light blue shirt

work

best in

pastel pale in a soft and attractive way: used also as a noun referring to a pastel color or something of such a color: summer dresses in pastel shades She often

wears pastels.

for describing something that is pale because it has been washed a lot or because it has been affected by light or the sun: faded blue jeans The paintwork was faded in places. 2

col«or /'kAbr/ verb ** 1 [T] to add color to something

to make it a different color: / think I'll color my hair. Rivers and lakes are often colored green by algae. 1a. [l/T] if you color, or if

something colors your cheeks, you go red because you are embarrassed: She looked away from him, coloring 1b. color or color in [T] to use pens, pencils, or crayons to add color to a picture: I'll draw a shape and you can color it. color sth blue/green/red etc Color the boy 's eyes blue. 2 [T] to affect someone's decision or opinion about something: Don't allow the opinions of your friends to color your judgment. early experiences that colored her attitude to work 2a. if a feeling colors the way someone sounds, it shows in how they speak or in what they say: the tinge of regret that colored her tone

slightly.

'in

in the

col*or

phrasal vb

animals 3

[T]

same as color2

lb:

I'm going

to color

next.

/'kAbr/

a color photograph, magazine, etc. consists of different colors rather than just black and white 2 a color television shows color pictures, not black and white ones adj

1

col-or-ant /'kAbrant/ noun [c] a substance used for giving something a different color col«or«a«tion /.kAb'reiJn/ noun [u] formal the colors of something, or the pattern made by its colors

color-blind adj between some 2 someone who

unable to recognize a difference especially red and green color-blind does not treat people from different races differently 2a. used about things such as laws and systems: color-blind social policies

— color

1

3

gas 2 not interesting, exciting, or original: a

colorless

Am

E a set of laws or customs in some places that prevent black people from going to the same places and doing the same things as white people

'color line noun

color

[singular]

scheme noun

[c]

the combination of colors that

someone uses together, for example to decorate a room co-los-sal /ka'lasl/ adj extremely great or large: It was a colossal waste of money. colossal animal

CO'IOS'SUS /ks'lasas/ noun

a colossal achievement [c] literary

a

someone or some-

very large or impressive spelling of color coloured /'kAbrd/ the Br E spelling of colored 1 Coloured /'kAbrd/ adj South African offensive a Coloured person has one parent or grandparent who is white and one who is not Col*oured 2 /'kAbrd/ noun [c] South African offensive someone who has one parent or grandparent who is white and one who is not col-our-f ul / 'kAbrfl/ the Br E spelling of colorful col-our-ing /'kAbnn/the Br E spelling of coloring colour-less /'kAbrbs/ the Br E spelling of colorless colt /koult/ noun [C] a young male horse colt-ish / 'kooltiJV adj tall and thin, and tending to move thing that

is

col-our / 'kAbr / the Br E

1

1

fast

col-um-bine /'kabm.bam/ noun flower

grown

[c]

a purple or blue

in gardens

Columbus Day /ka'lAinbas

,dei/the second Monday in October, when people in the U.S. celebrate the discovery of America in 1492 by Christopher Columbus

column / 'kabm/ noun 1 tall

is

[U]

colorings in cheese

col-or-less /'kAbrbs/ adj 1 something that is colorless has no color: a colorless, odorless, and poisonous

colors,

blindness noun

and

the activity of adding color to a picture using pencils, pens, etc.: a coloring book [u]

description

pastel pink

faded used

.color

[C/U] a substance that you add to change the color of something, especially food: food coloring the use of

1

thick post

2 3

sth rising into the air

a

tall

of

[C]

*•* 4 5

in

newspaper/magazine

line of

people/vehicles

writing/numbers

thick post used for supporting a roof or dec-

columnist

famous person 2 something that rises up into the line: a column of steam and ash

air in a straight

3

a series of short lines of writing or numbers arranged one below the other on a page: the left-hand column a column of text 4 a regular newspaper or magazine article on a particular subject, or by a particular reporter: He writes a weekly column for USA Today. an obituary I correspondence/political column 5 a long line of people or vehicles moving together: a column of soldiers col-um-nist /'katamnist/ noun [C] a reporter who writes a regular series of articles for a particular newspaper or magazine

com

abbrev commercial organization: used in Internet addresses

co-ma /'kooma/

noun [c] a state in which someone is unconscious for a long time because they have

been seriously injured or are extremely sick: She was in a coma for a week. co-ma-tose /'kooma.toos/ adj 1 medical unconscious or in a coma 2 humorous in a very deep sleep comb 1 /koum/ noun * 1 [C] an object that you pull through your hair to make it neat, with a row of thin pointed parts called teeth la. [singular] Br E the process of making your hair neat with a comb: He gave his hair a quick comb. 2 [C] the piece of red flesh on the top of the head of some birds, especially male chickens 3 [C] a HONEYCOMB column

comb 2 /koum/ verb to

1

make your

[T]

*

hair neat with a comb: / didn't even

have time to comb my hair. 2 to search a place thoroughly: Dozens of officers combed the area with search dogs.

comb

out phrasal vb

[T]

to use a

comb

to

make your

hair

smooth or straight

comb through

phrasal vb [T] [comb through sth] to search carefully among things: Researchers have been combing through data files trying to detect problems. 1

corn-bat /'kam.baet/ noun 1

[U] fighting

in

combat

•

during a war: fears of escalating combat

soldiers killed in combat.

1a. [C/U] a fight,

an organized fight, between two people: unarmed combat (^without weapons) 1b. [only before noun] relating to fighting in a war: combat force /troops/ aircraft a combat mission/ zone 1c. [only before noun] especially

used about clothes worn in the military, especially in a battle

2

[singular] attempts to stop something bad or to solve a difficult problem: These enzymes are important in the combat against bacteria.

combat 2 /'kam.baet;

kam'baet/ verb [t] * do something to try to stop something bad from happening or a bad situation from becoming worse: the need for effective action to combat global warming measures to combat crime 2 very formal to fight an enemy or opponent 1

to

Words nouns

come

264

orating a building: marble columns la. a tall thick post built in a public place to honor an important event or

frequently used with

combat

'combat pay

extra money that people in the military receive in their salary if they are involved in a war

1

[C]

and graphics

/kam'baetiv/

with, or oppose

someone

adj

ready to

+ of a combination of text, illustration,

an unusual combination of circumstances

1a. [U] the process of putting, using, or mixing things together: in combination (with sb/sth) Never take this medicine in combination with alcohol, lb. [only before noun] using several types of treatment or drugs: combination chemotherapy 2 [C] a series of numbers or letters used for operating a combination lock: I've forgotten the combination.

combi nation Jock

noun [c] a lock that you open using a series of numbers or letters in a particular order combine /ksm 'bam /verb 1 [I/T] if you combine things or they combine, you use, do, or put them together: This product is the result of combining many different technologies. an attempt to combine the advantages of two systems combine sth with sth Combine the excitement of a week in Florida with a few days at Disneyworld. combined with sth High tides combined with strong winds caused severe flooding. combine sth and sth a high standard achieved by combining advanced techniques and specialist knowledge 1a. [I/T] if you combine substances or they combine, you mix them together to form a single substance: Combine all the ingredients in a bowl. + with The minerals in hard water combine with soap to leave a film on your dishes. 1b. [I/T] if two or more organizations or groups combine, or if someone combines them, they join together: Profits are up since the two companies combined last year. + with Our company has combined with a fiberoptics manufacturer in Virginia. 2 [I] to use a combine harvester corn-bine 2 /'kam.bam/ noun [c] 1 a combine harvester 2 a group of companies or organizations that work together, especially in business

•*•

1

com-bined /kam'baind/ adj

argue

**

combining form

/kam'bamin .form/ noun [C] linform of a word that has its own meaning but used only in combination with other words to make new words, for example -footed in "a four-footed ani-

guistics a is

mal"

com-bo /'kamboo/ noun

[C] informal 1 a small group who perform together, especially jazz musicians 2 a combination of people or things: a chicken combo meal with fries and coleslaw combustible /kam'bAStsbl/ adj 1 formal able to burn easily: combustible materials 2 likely to suddenly become dangerous or violent: Nationalism and religion

of musicians

are a highly combustible mix.

com-bus-tion /kam'bAStJan/ noun

[u]

formal the

process of burning -» internal-combustion engine

come lk\val (past tense came/keim/; past participle come) verb *** 1

move/travel

2 reach

(to

here)

particular state

start doing sth

4 reach particular 5 be received

fight,

[only before noun]

done by people or groups working together: joint: Crime figures are dropping, because of the combined effort by residents and the police. 2 formed by adding things together: What is your combined family income?* a combined total of 24,000 troops corn-bine har-vest-er /,kambam 'harvastsr/ noun [C] a large machine used on a farm for cutting grain crops and then removing and cleaning the seeds 1

3

a reaction to fighting in a war

com-bat-ive

mili-

something that combines several things: a striking

color combination

1

convbat-ant/'kambatnt; ksm'baetnt/ noun [C] formal a person, group, or country that takes part in a war 'combat fa tigue noun [u] a mental illness caused by

[u]

convbats/'kam,baets/noun [plural] clothes with a tary style that are worn by ordinary people com-bi-na-tion /.kumbi'neijn/ noun ***

1

crime, discrimination, disease, fraud, inflation, poverty, racism, terrorism, unemployment, violence

noun

point

6 happen 7 exist or be produced

8 be somewhere in order 9 reach sexual excitement + PHRASES

move or travel to the place where you are: + across /along /down /into etc. A tall woman in black was coming across the lawn. We have people coming to come here /home /nearer /downstairs dinner tonight. come and do etc. Billy, I want you to come here at once! come to do sth Someone sth Come and tell me all about 1

[I]

to

it.

come

Have you come a long way?* They've come miles from the next village.

where you about 10

are:

state: come to a decision/ We came to the conclusion that she come to an end/stop/halt/ must come to standstill All good things must come to an end. power /prominence When the Freedom Party came to

2

[I]

[+to] to

reach a particular

conclusion /view

etc.

be telling the truth.

power they continued

3

[I]

[+into]

to

these policies. start doing something:

come

into

existence /operation /effect etc. The new changes will come into view/sight (=to into effect next month. start to be seen) As we turned the corner, the top of the

come

Eiffel Tower came into view. 4 [I] to reach a particular point or level: come as high/ low/far etc. as sth The road comes as far as the post office and then turns into a dirt track. come up /down to sth The water came up to my shoulders. 5 [l] if something such as a letter or message comes, you receive it: The news could not have come at a better

time.

6

[l] to happen: Police investigated him for three years before the breakthrough came. come as a shock/surprise/ relief/disappointment/reminder etc. (=be a shock etc.) It came as no surprise that she left the company. This news

has come as a disappointment to local business leaders. coming soon Coming soon, the new smash-hit comedy starring Julia Roberts. come in twos/threes etc. (=two/ three etc. of them happen at the same time) Instances of bad luck are supposed to come in threes. 7 [I] to be sold or produced: +in The long-sleeved dress comes in yellow and blue. + with All new cars come with one year's free insurance. 8 [I] to be in a particular position in a series or list or at the end of a race: come before/after sb/sth July comes

come first/ second /third etc. She came before August. a national poetry competition. My children always come first (=are the most important thing for me). 9 [i] impolite to have an orgasm (=reach the state of

first in

greatest sexual excitement)

as nice/big etc. as they come used for emphasizing how nice/big etc. someone or something is: Her husband is kind, helpful, and as handsome as they come. the best/worst is yet to come the best or worst thing has not happened yet come again? informal used for asking someone to repeat what they said come and go 1 to arrive at a place and then leave it: The woman in the apartment downstairs has people coming and going at all hours. 2 to be present or happen for a limited time and then stop: Over the centuries we have

many civilizations come and go. come as to wear unusual clothes that make you look like a particular kind of person for a costume party He

seen

:

had come as Napoleon.

come clean

informal to admit the truth, usually about something bad that you have done

come, come/come now old-fashioned 1 used for telling someone not to be upset or nervous 2 used for telling someone that you do not believe or accept what they are saying come into contact (with) to be in a place where you meet someone or experience something: I'd rather not come into contact with any of her friends. Could she have come into contact with the disease at school? come a long way to improve a lot or make a lot of progress: Computers have come a long way since the huge mainframes of the 1950s. come naturally/easily/easy (to sb) to be easy for

someone

to do, without them needing to try hard to do sth 1 to finally reach a state in which something happens or you do something: She had come to regard him as one of her few real friends. the man who had come to symbolize the Franco-American alliance 2 to do something by chance: I'm just explaining to them how we come to be in Nantucket. come to hand to be available easily and immediately: Use whatever tools come to hand.

come

come

265

supposed to come this morning to fix the computer. come running/flying/rushing/crashing etc. somewhere come by All the glasses came crashing onto the floor. train/car/airplane etc. We flew into Chicago and came the rest of the way by train. 1a. [l] to go somewhere with someone: I'm leaving now - are you coming? + with We're all going into town and we thought you 'd like to come with us. 1b. [t] to move or travel a particular distance to is

come

something such as a machine comes to life, it begins to work 2 to seem real and natural: a style of writing that will make your characters come to life on the page 3 to start to become exciting or lively: The game really came to life in the second half. 4 to start to to life 1

if

be alive to mind if someone or something comes to mind, you think of them come to pass literary to happen come to think of/ about it spoken used for adding something that you have just remembered about a subject that you are talking about: / love getting her letters. Come had one for a while. to think of it, I haven come true if something that you have hoped for or expected comes true, it really happens come undone/untied/unstuck etc. to become undone/ untied/unstuck etc. Fix your shoes - the laces have come

come

't

:

undone.

come what may formal

despite anything that

may

happen

come the sth (with me) BrE informal used for someone angrily not to pretend that they have particular feelings or are in a particular situation, because you do not believe them: Don 't come the innocent with me! get what's coming to you informal to experience something bad, which you deserve have it coming (to you) informal to deserve something bad that happens to you here comes sb used for telling other people that someone is moving toward you: Here comes Dad, and he doesn 't look very happy. how come? informal used for asking why or how something happened: How come you never listen to anything I say? not come cheap informal to cost a lot of money: Houses don't

telling

don 't come cheap. you're coming or going informal to very confused, usually because you have too many things to deal with take sth as it comes to not worry about something before it happens and deal with it calmly when it does happen: We're just taking each day as it comes. like this

not

know whether

feel

come in the future: days/weeks/months etc. to come We were to remain enemies for years to come. come about phrasal vb [l] 1 to happen, especially by to

chance: + through The increase in production has come about through the use of technology. it comes about that / don't know how it came about that we stopped loving each other. 2 technical if a ship comes about, it changes direction

come across

phrasal vb 1 [T] [come across sb/sth] to meet someone or find something by chance: / came across a word I'd never seen before. Have you ever come across such a horrible person in all your life? 2 come across or come over [l] if someone or something comes across or comes over in a particular way, you have a particular opinion of them when you meet them or see them: A lot depends on how well you come across in the interview. come across as (being) sth She comes across as very selfconfident. 3 come across or come over [l] if something such as a feeling or idea comes across or comes over when you speak, you make it very clear to people come across with phrasal vb [T] BrE informal [come

across with

sth] to

provide something that

is

needed or

wanted

come

after phrasal vb [t] [come after sb] to try to find or catch someone, usually in order to punish or harm

them

come along

phrasal vb[l] 1 to arrive or become available: decided to give the money to the first stranger who came along. He told me to work hard and take every opportunity that comes along. 2 to go somewhere with someone: I've never seen a baseball game - do you mind if I come along? 2a. to go somewhere so that you can be with someone who went there earlier: Ray had some work to finish and decided to come along later. 3 [usually progressive] to make progress or get better in quality, skill, or health: The

He

building work was coming along nicely.

be coming along

with sth How Kathleen coming along with her swimming? come apart phrasal vb [i] if an object comes apart, it 's

separates into pieces, either because it has been made that way or because it is very old or in very bad condition

come seams

completely or come to an end 2 to start behaving in a very strange way because you cannot deal with what is happening to you come a round phrasal vb [l] 1 come around or come round if a regular event comes around, it happens again: Before we knew it, Christmas had come around again. 2 come around or come to to become conscious again after being unconscious: When I came around, I was lying on the back seat of a car. 3 come around or come round to go to a place where someone is, especially their house, in order to visit them: Why don't you come around after work? 4 come around or come round to change your opinion or decision because someone has persuaded you to agree with them / expect he '11 come around eventually. + to We knew she would come around to our way of thinking. come at phrasal vb [T] 1 come at or come for [come at/for sb] to move toward someone in order to threaten them or attack them physically: A stranger came at him with a knife. 2 [come at sb] if things such as questions or pieces of information come at you, they are directed at you in order to influence or affect you 3 [come at sth] to examine or deal with something such as a problem in a particular way: Try coming at it from a different angle. come a way phrasal vb [i] 1 if one thing comes away from another that it was attached to, it becomes separated from it by accident: Another block of stone came away from the wall. 2 to leave in a particular state or condition: We came away with the feeling that they didn't really approve at the

1 to fail

:

of us.

come back

phrasal vb [l] 1 to return to a place: We knew we'd come back to Cape Cod every summer. 2 to start to be remembered again: +to I can't think of her name right now, but I'm sure it'll come back to me. 3 to become fashionable again 4 to react or reply, especially by expressing your opinion in a strong clear way: Jane came back with a strong response. 5 to become successful or effective after being in a bad situation, especially in a sports event: They came back from behind to win 3-2. come back to phrasal vb [T] [come back to sth] to deal again with something that you were dealing with earlier: Can we come back to my original question? come be fore phrasal vb [T] [come before sb/sth] 1 to be more important than someone or something else: In these situations, your family comes before everything else. 2 to be considered, discussed, or judged by someone in authority: The case comes before the Magistrates again in

June.

come between

phrasal vb

[T] 1

[come between sb (and

sb)]

to cause a disagreement or argument between people: He didn't want this to come between them. 2 [come between

sb and sth] to prevent you from doing or getting something: She was determined that nothing would come between her and the manager's job. come ,by phrasal vb [T] [come by sth] to get something, especially something that is hard to get: How did you come by such a beautiful house? be hard to come by At that time, teaching jobs abroad were hard to come by. come 'by phrasal vb [l/T] to go to the place where someone is for a short visit: I'll come by this afternoon and we can talk.

come down

phrasal vb [l] 1 to move down to the ground or to a lower level: He was sitting in a tree and refused to come down. la. if rain, snow, etc. comes down, it falls to the ground, especially in large amounts lb. if an aircraft comes down, it lands or crashes 1c. if a building or part of it comes down, it is destroyed and falls to the ground

2

become

price, etc.: The national debt has come down significantly in the last eight years. 2a. to agree to ask for or pay a lower price: They are not willing to come down in price. 3 to travel to a place that is farther south or is smaller or less important

to

less

in

amount,

than the place you are leaving:

level,

My parents

are coming down for the weekend. opposite come up 4 to make a decision that supports or opposes someone or something: Everything depends on which side the judge comes down on. come down in favor of/ against The zoning board came down in favor of demolishing the entire block. 5 to continue to exist from a long time ago: the version of the story that has come down to us 6 to be long or deep enough to reach a particular lower point or level: +to/ as far as The jacket came down almost to his knees. 7 informal to start to feel normal again after a powerful

—

illegal

come

266

come apart

drug has stopped affecting you

come down

in sb's estimation/opinion to become less respected by someone than you were before, because of

something you have done come down in the world to become less rich, powerful, successful, etc. than you were previously come down on phrasal vb [T] [come down on sb] to criticize or punish someone severely: She came down pretty hard on the children for making a mess. come down to phrasal vb [T] 1 [come down to sth] to be the most important aspect of a situation or problem: In the end, it all comes down to money. 2 [come down to sb] to become someone's property because the previous owner has died come down with phrasal vb [t] [come down with sth] to become sick with a particular disease, usually one that not serious for phrasal vb [T] 1 [come for sb/sth] to come to a place so that you can take someone or something away with you: The taxi will come for us at around 8 o'clock. I've just come for the book your brother borrowed from me. 1a. [come for sb] to come to a place in order to arrest someone: The police came for him in the middle of the night. 2 [come for sb] same as come at i come forward phrasal vb [i] to offer help or information: The National Blood Service is anxious for more donors to come forward. + with Police said that several people had come forward with information about the attack. come from phrasal vb [T] 1 [come from sb/sth] to be obtained from, produced by, or found in a particular place or thing: The serum comes from a tropical plant. Opposition may also come from hardliners within his own party. * I can't tell where the noise is coming from, can you? 1a. [come from sth] to have something as an origin: The word comes from an African language. 2 [come from sth] to have been born in a particular place: My parents came from Italy. 2a. to have your home in a particular place: We come from Texas. 2b. to belong to a particular type of family or social group: His wife comes from a pretty rich family. They all come from similar backgrounds. 3 [come from sth] to be the result of something: His air confidence came from his firm belief that he was the best of candidate for the job. come from doing sth It's the kind of accident that comes from being careless. is

come

coming from sb used for emphasizing that what someone is saying is surprising, annoying, or funny: Coming from him, that's praise indeed! where sb is coming from informal the ideas, intentions, or feelings that make someone say a particular thing or behave in a particular way in phrasal vb [I] 1 to enter a room, building, or other place: Come in and sit down. 2 to arrive somewhere: What time does his train come in? 3 if something such as a message comes in, it is received by someone: Reports are coming in of a major air accident. 3a. if money comes in, it is earned or received by someone: We've got absolutely no money coming in at the moment. 4 to join a conversation or discussion by saying something: I'd like to come in here and make a suggestion. 5 to join other people who are involved in something such as a business project: +on If your friend wants to come in on the deal, he 11 need to put a lot of money on the table. + with I'm looking for people to come in with me on a new restaurant venture. 6 when the tide comes in, the sea moves higher up the beach opposite go out 7 to become fashionable at a particular time 8 if something such as a law or practice comes in, it starts to be used or done 9 to finish a race in a particular position: come in first/ second /third etc. My horse came in third.

come

—

come

in useful/handy to be useful for a particular situation: A big sheet of plastic always comes in handy when you're camping. in what someone or something is needed for: We'll need new information systems, and that's where Steve comes in. .come in for phrasal vb [T] [come in for sth] to receive something such as criticism: Fast food has come in for

where sb/sth comes

further criticism in a report published today. into phrasal vb [T] [come into sth] 1 to be an aspect of a situation: The argument was over artistic freedom money never came into it. 2 if you come into something, it becomes yours when someone dies

come

come come

into your

come

267

own

show how

effective or useful you can be: In the wintry conditions the Norwegian team really came into their own. 'come of phrasal vb [T] [come of sth] to be the result of to

something: I wrote to over twenty companies asking for work, but nothing came of my efforts. that's what comes of (doing) sth Don't complain about being tired - that's what comes of watching TV until three in the morning. come off phrasal vb 1 [i/T] [come off sth] if something such as dirt or paint comes off something, it is removed by washing or rubbing: The chewing gum wouldn't come off. 1a. to stop being attached to something: I pulled at One of the legs has the drawer, and the handle came off. come off the table. 2 [i/T] [come off sth] to fall off something that you are riding: She'd come off her new bike and hurt her knee. 3 [i] to succeed: What if their plan doesn't come off?* The party didn't quite come off as we had hoped. 4 [l] to achieve a particular result in an activity, especially a competition or fight: come off well/badly/best/worst He came off quite badly in the exchange of insults. 5 [l] to leave a sports field and be replaced by another member of your team 6 [T] [come off sth] to stop taking something such as a medicine or drug

come

off it spoken 1 used for telling someone to stop doing or saying something 2 used for telling someone that you do not believe them or that what they are saying is stupid come on phrasal vb [i] 1 to start working by being switched on: I saw a light come on in an upstairs window. 1a. to start to be broadcast: We all had to be quiet when the news came on. 1b. to start to appear in a television or radio program: Then the president comes on and tells everyone to spend more money. 1c. if an illness comes on, it starts to affect you: I can feel another headache coming on. 2 to arrive on a stage: When he came on, the audience finally began to show some interest. 2a. to arrive on a sports field in order to replace another member of your team: He came on as a substitute. come on for sb (=replace them) Miller came on for his injured teammate with only two minutes left in the game.

come on spoken 1 used for telling someone to hurry: Come on! We're going to be late. 2 used for encouraging someone to do something such as make a greater effort or stop being sad: Come on! It's not the end of the world. 3 used for telling someone that you do not believe what they are saying 4 used for trying to make someone fight you

come on strong

informal to show very clearly that you are determined to do something, especially to start a sexual relationship with someone 'come on phrasal vb [T] [come on sb/sth] to meet someone or find something by chance: We came on an injured animal lying at the side of the road. come on to phrasal vb [T] 1 [come on to sb] informal to behave toward someone in a way that shows you would like to have a sexual relationship with them 2 come on to or come to [come on to/to sth] to start to deal with a new subject in a discussion: We'll come on to the politics of the situation in a moment. .come out phrasal vb [i] 1 if something such as a book or a movie comes out, it becomes available to buy or see: We've recorded a new album, and it's coming out in the spring, la. to become easy to notice: These differences don't come out until you put the two groups in a room together. 1b. if the sun, moon, or stars come out, they start to be able to be seen in the sky 1c. if a flower

comes out, it opens 2 if something comes out, it becomes known: He said it'll all come out in court. it comes out that It eventually came out that she was already married. 3 to be spoken, heard, or understood in a particular way: I didn 't mean it to come out as a criticism. come out

wrong She had only meant to defend herself, but it had come out all wrong. 4 if a photograph comes out, the (all)

chemical process that produces it is successful 4a. to have a particular appearance in a photograph: The color of her eyes hasn t really come out. 5 to have a particular result or end in a particular way: It's impossible at this stage to judge how the vote will come out. come out (all) right in the end I'm sure it will all come out all right in the end. 5a. [+at] to be a particular number or amount that is the result of a calculation or measurement: The total comes out at well over $10,000. 6 to be removed from

something such as clothing or cloth by washing or rubbing 6a. to stop being attached somewhere: Another of her baby teeth came out yesterday. 7 to state a decision or opinion officially or publicly: come out in favor of/ against (doing) sth The commission has come out against the takeover. 7a. to say something in an open, honest, or public way that often makes someone feel surprised, embarrassed, or offended: come (right) out and say sth We were all thinking he'd made a mistake, but nobody would come out and say it. 7b. to tell people that you are gay: +to Coming out to her parents was the hardest part. old-fashioned if a young woman comes out, she formally becomes part of society by going to a special party or other social event for the first time 9 Br E to stop working as a protest: strike: come out on strike It seemed clear that the workers would come out on strike. come out in phrasal vb [T] Br E [come out in sth] to become covered in spots because you are sick or your body reacts to a food or medicine: She can eat shellfish without coming out in spots. come out of phrasal vb [T] [come out of sth] to be the result of something: I hope some good will come out of all this.

8

't

come out of yourself to stop being shy and become more confident and relaxed with other people

come out with

phrasal vb [T] [come out with sth] to say something suddenly, usually something that surprises or shocks people: You never know what the children are going to come out with. .come over phrasal vb 1 [i] to visit someone in the place where they are, especially their house: Why don't you come over for dinner? + to Come over to my place and we'll

discuss it. 1a. to travel to a place, especially a long way across water in order to live in a new country: Her great-grandparents came over from Ireland in the nineteenth century. 2 [i] same as come across 2 3 [i] same as come across 3 4 [T] [come over sb] if a feeling comes over you, it suddenly affects you in a strong way: A wave of anger came over him. 5 [linking verb] Br E informal to react in a particular way: I came over all emotional when I saw him.

not

know what has come over sb to be why someone is behaving in such

unable

to

a strange way: He's not normally so rude - 1 don 't know what's come over him. come over to phrasal vb [t] [come overto sb/sth] to change your position or opinion and start supporting someone you were arguing or fighting with: The president announced that there would be an amnesty for all who now came over to him. come round phrasal vb [l] Br E same as come around come through phrasal vb 1 [t] [come through sth] to be still alive, working, or making progress after a difficult or dangerous experience: It's been a very upsetting time if something such but we've come through it together. 2 as a signal or a message comes through, you receive it 2a. if a document that you are expecting comes through, it is sent to you: The job offer still hasn't come through. 3 [1] if a feeling or quality that someone or something has comes through, it can be clearly understood or seen 4 [1] to do something that you have agreed or promised to do: The team came through when it mattered. come to phrasal vb [T] 1 [come to sb] if something comes to you, you think of it or remember it: The idea came to me while we were on vacation. Her name will come to me it comes to sb that It came to her that it was in a minute. foolish to expect him to help. 2 [come to sth] to reach a particular state or point, especially one that is bad or unpleasant If it comes to war, NA TOforces will be stronger in the air. 2a. used for emphasizing how bad a situation is and how shocked or upset you are about it: sth has explain

[

I

]

:

come

to this So,

has our relationship come

people with nothing to say

to

each other.

to this?

what

Two

sth is

coming to You wonder what the world is coming to when young children are dying of hunger. 3 [come to sth] to reach a particular total when everything is added together: With salaries and overtime the bill came to $752,000. 4 [come to sth] same as come on to 2 5 [come to sb] to become someone's property, especially because the previous owner has died 6 [come to sth] to finally achieve a particular level of success: come to nothing/ something /not much etc. His teachers all agreed that he wouldn come to anything much. 't

m

come when

comfortable

268

comes

to (doing) sth when the subject being discussed is a particular thing: When it comes to vacations. I prefer the beach to the mountains. When it comes to writing letters, she's hopeless. come to phrasal vb [lj same as come around 2 come together phrasal vb [l] to finally start to work together successfully come under phrasal vb [t] 1 [come under sth] to be forced to experience something unpleasant: The department it

had come under

criticism for poor performance. come under scrutiny/ suspicion Airport security will now come under increased scrutiny. come under pressure President Bush has come under pressure to step up the sanctions. 2 [come under sb/sth] to be the responsibility of a particular person or institution: Issues relating to pay come under the personnel department. 3 [come under sth] to belong to a particular group or class: Bread and pasta come under carbohydrates. come up phrasal vb [i] 1 if a problem comes up, it happens and needs to be dealt with immediately: I'm going to have to cancel our lunch - something's come up. 1a. to be mentioned and need to be considered: A number of

make them laugh a. sometimes used about someone who says or does something that you do not think is funny: Who's the comedian who took my drink? co-me-di-enne /ka.midi'en/ noun [c) old-fashioned a female comedian

come-down

/'kAm.daon/ noun [C usually singular] 1 a situation in which you suddenly have less status or fewer advantages than you had previously: The accommodations were something of a comedown from the comparative luxury of the hotel. 2 an unpleasant physical and mental feeling someone gets when an illegal drug stops affecting

becomes available 4 if the sun, moon, or stars up, they start to appear in the sky 4a. if a plant comes up, it starts to appear above the ground 5 to travel to a place that is farther north or is larger or more important than the place you are leaving: My mother's coming up from Florida for the wedding. opposite come down 6 if food that you have eaten comes up, your stomach forces it out through your mouth 7 to be judged in a court of law: His case comes up next week. 8 to be tall, deep, or long enough to reach a particular higher point or level: +to/as far as The grass in the garden came up to her knees. 9 if your ticket or name comes up in a lottery or similar game, it is chosen as a winner up,

it

come

—

come up in the world to become richer, more powerful, or more successful than before coming (right) up used for saying that you will bring what someone has asked for very soon come up against phrasal vb [T] [come up against sth] to have to deal with something difficult or unpleasant: In the first week, we came up against a pretty tricky problem. come up for phrasal vb [T] [come up for sth] to reach the time when something should happen: The contract comes up for review next month.

come up to

phrasal vb [T] [come up to sth] 1 to get nearer to a particular time or stage in a processes we come up to the end of the first half, the score is Knicks 53, Miami 48. 2 to be as good as you want, need, or expect something to be: It's hard for others to come up to the very high

standards she

sets for herself.

come up with

phrasal vb [T] [come up with sth] 1 to think of something such as an idea or a plan: Is that the best you can come up with? 2 to produce or provide something that people want: We're in big trouble if we don't come up with the money by 6 o'clock. come upon phrasal vb [T] mainly literary [come upon sb/ sth] to meet someone or find something by chance come with phrasal vb [T] [come with sth] to exist or develop as a result of something: the kind of skill that comes with years of practice

come 2 /kAm/ noun [u] impolite a man's semen come 3 /k,\m/ preposition informal at a particular in the future or when a particular event happens: summer, all the building work should be finished.

come-back

/'kAm,baek/ noun

[c]

comedy of

comedian is to

From

the

of the play

come-hither

The Comedy of Errors by

before

[only

ad)

noun]

old-fashioned

intended to attract someone sexually come-ly /'kAmli/ adj old-fashioned a comely

woman

or

girl is attractive

come- on

noun [C] informal 1 something that a business offers at a low price to encourage you to buy more 2 something you say or do to let someone know you are interested in them sexually

conver

/'kAmar/ noun [C] 1 someone be successful at a particular activity

who is likely to 2 [usually plural]

someone who arrives somewhere or takes part thing: The first comers will receive a free

com-et /'kamat/ has a

of gas

tail

noun

[C]

in some-

gift.

a bright object in space that

and dust

comeuppance /.kAm'Apans/ noun

[u]

informal pun-

ishment that someone deserves for having done something wrong or unfair

convfort

••

1

/'kAmfart/ noun a physically relaxed state, without pain or other unpleasant feelings: The airline is attempting to improve passenger comfort. in comfort There is plenty of room to 1

[u]

lie

down and

2

[U]

sleep in comfort.

a feeling of being less sad or worried about something than you were previously: My mother was always there to offer comfort. take comfort from sth / take comfort from the fact that his friends are there to help him. a source of comfort (to sb) She is a source of great comfort. be no/some/small etc. comfort (to sb) I know it's no comfort, but these things take time. 2a. [C usually singular] someone or something that makes you feel better when you are sad or worried: It was a comfort to think that there was no rent to pay. be a comfort to sb Her children have been a great comfort to her. 2b. [only before noun] used for making yourself feel better when you are sad or worried: a comfort blanket 3 [U] a pleasant way of life in which you have everything you need: Now he can live in comfort for the rest of his

life.

4 comforts

things that

[plural]

and more pleasant:

make your

the comforts of domestic

life

easier

life

-» CLOSE 2

frequently used with

verbs

Come

/kamidian/ noun [C] someone whose job entertain people by telling jokes and stories to

name

William Shakespeare.

Words

1 a period when someone or something becomes successful or popular again: make/stage a comeback He's hoping to make his political comeback in the next election. Seventies styles have been making a comeback. 2 a quick clever reply to a comment or criticism 3 BrEa. way of making someone accept responsibility for something bad they have done to you

errors noun [c usually singular] a situation and problems that it is funny

so full of silly mistakes

time

•

••

noun [u] a type of enter to make people laugh: The new channel will bring you the best in drama, music, and comedy, a. [C] a funny movie, play or television program: a fast-moving comedy about the antics of a group of roommates b. [only before noun] relating to comedy: a comedy series /show /club

tainment intended

interesting points came up at today's meeting. 1b. [only progressive] to be about to happen soon: We've got a busy period coming up in a couple of weeks. 2 to move toward

someone, usually because you want to talk to them: + to Strangers come up to him in the street and say how much they enjoy his books. 3 if something such as a job comes

them

com-e-dy /'kamadi/

comfort

bring, derive, draw, find, offer,

seek, take

com«fort 2

/'kAmfart/ verb [T] * to make someone feel less sad, worried, or disappointed: He went upstairs to

comfort the baby.

comfort-a-ble 1 feeling

/'kAmfartabl/

pleasant

2 pleasant to use/wear 3 not worried about sth 1

adj

•••

4 having enough money 5 situation: pleasant 6 won/winning easily

feeling physically relaxed, without pain or other Sit quietly in a comfortable position.

unpleasant feelings:

commence

comfortably off yourself comfortable Make yourself comfortable be back in a minute, —opposite uncomfortable 1a. not suffering much pain despite being sick or

make and I'll injured

2 a comfortable

piece of furniture feels pleasant to

sit

lie on: The bed looked warm and comfortable. —opposite uncomfortable 2a. a comfortable room or building is pleasant to spend time in, for example because it has nice furniture or is not too hot or too

or

cold 2b. pleasant to wear, hold, or use: loose comfortable clothes

3

[never before noun] if

you are comfortable with some-

thing, you accept or like it: + with Is everyone comfortable with the arrangement? + about Lots of people don't feel comfortable about public speaking. 4 rich enough to pay for everything you need 5 a comfortable situation or way of life is pleasant and

does not cause you any problems

6

—

forVa-bly/'kAmfartabli/adv

.comfortably

enough

'off adj rich

to

pay for every-

thing you need [C] 1 Am E a bed cover is filled with something such as feathers. BrE duvet 2 someone or something that comforts you 3 old-fashioned a wool scarf 'comfort .food noun [C] food that you enjoy very much and often eat when you are feeling sad

convf ort«er / 'kAmfsrtar/ noun that

'comfort zone noun

[C]

a situation, place, or tem-

perature that you feel relaxed in

convf y / 'kAmfi/ adj informal comfortable com-ic /'kamik/ adj • funny: The play had 1

moments,

[only before noun]

a.

noun

[C]

comic

relating to comedy: a comic

contains stories told in a series of drawings

com-i-cal /'kamikl/ adj something that is comical makes you laugh because it is so strange or silly — convi*caMy / 'kamikli/ adv .comic 'opera noun [c/u] an opera that tells a humorous story and contains some spoken parts

.comic relief noun [u] something that is intended make you laugh in a generally serious movie, play,

to

or

situation

.strip noun

[c] a series of drawings that tell a funny story /'kAmin/ adj [only before noun] ** happening soon or next: Unemployment is likely to rise in the coming year. the coming elections conving 2 /'kAmin/ noun [singular] * the coming of the time when someone or something arrives or happens, especially something new: the coming of spring-* second coming

story, especially a

conving

1

.coming of 'age

noun [singular] 1 the age at which someone is legally considered an adult 2 the point at which something is considered to have developed completely: the country's coming of age as an industrial and financial power comings and 'goings noun [plural] activity consisting of people arriving and leaving many times: The landlady was keeping an eye on his comings and goings. convma /'kama/ noun [c] • the symbol used in writing and printing between parts of a sentence or things in a list. A comma is a punctuation mark. ,

convmand

1

/ka'maend/ noun

***

an official order: Are you refusing to obey my commands? 1a. an instruction that you give to a computer 1

[C]

make it do something: the log-on command [u] control of a group of people, especially in the military: in command Franco was in overall command of to

2

the military. be under sb's command The battleship is under the command of Captain Blake. 2a. control of something such as a situation or your feelings: take

command the

game.

The home team soon took command of command of yourself /your emotions etc. He

(of sth) in

command

of himself. 3 [C] a section of the armed forces that does a particular job and has its own leader 3a. a group of officers who control a section of an army, navy, or air force in

your command if you have something such as a skill your command, you are able to use it well: You will to use all the tact at your command. command of sth knowledge of a particular subject, at at

need

especially the ability to speak a foreign language: She has an excellent command of Russian.

convmand 2 /ks'maend/ verb •* 1

4 have (high) 5 have view

be leader/in charge

2 order sb to do sth 3 have/get respect

price/value

1 [T] to be the leader of a group of people, especially in the military a pla toon commanded by Lt. John F. Williams 1a. to be in charge of an activity that involves a group of people, especially in the military: Lovell commanded the Apollo 13 mission to the moon. 2 [i/t] to officially order someone to do something: command sb to do sth He commanded his men to retreat. command that The King commanded that she be executed. 3 [T] to have something such as people's respect or attention: He commands the respect of everyone who works for him. 4 [t] formal to have a particular price or value, especially a high one: Ivory still commands a very high price. 5 [t] formal if a place commands a view, you can see that view from it

comman-dant / 'kaman.dsent;

.kamsn'dant/ noun

[c]

command e'conomy

noun [c] an economic system in which the government controls business and the supply of goods in a country compare market economy convman-deer /.kaman'dir/ verb [t] 1 to officially take someone's property for military use 2 to take something that belongs to someone else convman-der /ka'maendsr/ noun [c] an officer who is in charge of a military group or operation a. an officer of high rank in the U.S. Navy or the U.S. Coast Guard b. an officer of high rank in the British navy in 'chief noun [c] someone in charge of the whole of the military of a country /ka'maendin/ adj 1 powerful and impressive: his commanding voice /presence 2 allowing you to see all around you: a hill with a commanding view of the valley below 3 making it likely that you will win something such as a race or election easily: a

—

*

someone whose job is to entertain people by teUing jokes and stories to make them laugh: comedian 2 comic or comic book a magazine for children that 1

'comic

man

a military officer of high rank who controls a particular institution or group of people

actor

convic 2 /'kamik/

image of a

:

won: a comfortable victory 6a. making winning comThey have a very comfortable lead.

easily

likely:

tries to project the

**

commander

commanding

commanding

lead

commanding who

officer noun [c] an officer of any rank controls a particular military group or operation

com'mand

.line noun [c] computing a way of using to give a computer instructions, instead of using a mouse or computer language

words or letters

convmand*ment /ka'maendmsnt/ noun

[c]

according

one of the ten rules of behavior called the that God gave people to obey convman-do /ks'maendoo/ noun [c] a soldier trained to attack in areas controlled by an enemy performance noun [c] a special performance of a show, play, or movie given for a king, to the Bible,

Ten Commandments

command

queen, or president

/ka'mema.reit/ verb [T] * to show you remember an important person or event by having a special ceremony, or creating a special object: A huge bronze statue commemorating the poet stands in the main square.

convmem-o-rate that

com»menvo«ra*tion

/ka.mems'reifn/ noun [C/u] something intended to honor and remember an important person or event: in commemoration of She wrote a poem in commemoration of the battle.

convmenvo-ra-tive /ka'memsretiv/ adj produced for an important event to help you remember it: a commemorative stamp a. done in order to honor and remember an important person or event: a commemorative service

convmence /ka'mens/ verb

[i/t]

formal

••

to begin,

or begin something: The lawyers are preparing for the

^

commencement com-mence-ment

commissioner

270

which commences in 30 days. In 1993 the company commenced drilling on the property. trial,

/ka'mensmont/

formal the beginning of something 2

noun [C]

1

[C/U]

Am E a gradu-

3 making money by broadcasting advertisements instead of being given money by the government: Unlike commercial stations. Public Television gets most of support from grants and donations.

com-mer-cial

ation ceremony

corn-mend /ko'mend/

verb

[t]

formal

1

to

praise

2

/ka'rmrfl/ noun

[c]

••

TV

tisement on television or radio: a shampoo / dog food commercial

its

an adver-

commercial

a

someone or something formally or publicly: His photograph was highly commended in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. 2 to tell someone that a person

commercial 'break

is good, useful, or suitable: recommend: I the book to anyone who wants to know what is really happening in that part of the world. 3 an old word meaning "to give something to someone to take care

com-mer-cial-ism /ka'marjlizam/ noun [u] the activities or attitudes of people who think that making a

or thing

commend

of commend

itself (to sb) if

you, you think

it is

something commends

itself to

good, useful, or suitable

com-mend-a-ble /ka'mendabl/

adj

formal deserving

praise or admiration: Your commitment to the cause com-mend-a-bly adv highly commendable.

—

is

com-men-da-tion

/.kaman'deijn/ noun 1 [u]formal official or public praise 2 [C] an official prize given to someone who has done something very good or brave commen-su-rate /ka'menjarst/ adj formal intended to be suitable for the quality, status, or value of something or someone: a pay increase commensurate with job performance com-ment /'ka.ment/ noun ••• [c/u] a written or spoken remark giving an opinion: I've had enough of your sarcastic comments. on /about We would welcome your comments on our work. make a comment Did she make any comment about Eddie? pass comment No one passed comment on her new hairstyle, a. [u] written or spoken discussion of something, especially on television, radio, or in a newspaper: a page of news and 1

+

comment be a sad comment on sth to show a bad aspect of something: That most young prisoners re-offend is a sad comment on our penal system. no comment spoken used for saying that you are not willing to answer a question, especially a question asked by a reporter

*••

com-ment 2

/'ka.ment/ verb [i/t] to make a written or spoken remark, especially giving an opinion: The spokesman declined to comment. + on I'm not in a position to comment on the matter. + that Researchers who read the report commented that it has many errors. com-men-tar-y /'kaman.teri/ noun * 1 [C] a spoken description of an event or sports competition that is given as the event is happening, espe-

on radio or television [C/U] a discussion of something

cially

2

theory: political commentary seventh-century English life

such as an event or a commentary on aspects of

be a sad/appalling/interesting etc commentary (on sth) to show how sad/appalling/interesting something really is

commentary mentators

,box noun [c] the place where the coma sports game

sit at

*•

com-men-ta-tor

/'kaman.teitsr/ noun [C] 1 someone whose job is to give a description of an event or sports competition on television or radio as it happens: a television sports commentator 2 someone whose job is to write about a particular subject or discuss it on television or radio: a successful lawyer and legal commentator

**

com-merce

the activity of /'ka,m3rs/ noun [u] buying and selling goods and services: trade: the needs of industry and commerce com-mer-cial /ks'msrfl/adj 1 [usually before noun] relating to business: a commercial transaction This land is zoned for residential or commercial use. 1a. [only before noun] producing goods or services to sell: commercial whaling 1b. [only before noun] produced in order to be sold: One of their first commercial products was an electronic typewriter. 2 [usually before noun] relating to making a profit: The movie's commercial success made her a star. The decision was made on a purely commercial basis. 2a. paying more attention to making profits than to quality: Their music has become so commercial. 1

*•*

noun

a short interruption in a television or radio program when advertisements are [c]

broadcast

profit is more important than anything else com-mer-cial-ize /ka'msrfl.aiz/ verb [T] to develop something so that you can sell it and make a profit

— com-mer-ciaM-za-tion/ka.msrfall'zeiJ'n/noun [u]

com-mer-cial-ized

/ka'msrfl.aizd/ adj changed from something enjoyable or important into something that exists to

make

a profit: the increasingly commercialized

world of soccer

com-mer-cial-ly

/k3'm3rj"(3)li/ adv 1 in a way that related to profit: a commercially successful publication commercially viable (=able to make a profit) Forestry has to be commercially viable. 2 in order to be sold: a crop grown commercially commercially available/ obtainable (^available to buy) infections that cannot be treated with commercially available drugs mercial 'traveler noun [c] old-fashioned a sales representative who goes from place to place com-mie or Com-mie /'kami/ noun [c] informal an is

com

insulting

word

for a

com-mis-er-ate

communist

/ka'mizs.reit/ verb

[i]

to express

sym-

who is unhappy about something com-mis-er-a-tion /ksmizs'reijn/ noun [u] sympathy for someone who is unhappy about something a. compathy to someone

miserations [plural] spoken used for expressing sympathy towards someone

com-mis-sar-y /'kami.seri/ noun [c] AmE 1 a supermarket for members of the military 2 a restaurant in a large organization, especially in a movie or television STUDIO

com-mis-sion 1

1

/ka'mifn/ noun

money paid/earned

•**

4 being

2 official group of people 3 request for art etc.

a military officer

5 act of committing crime + PHRASES

1 [C/U] an extra amount of money that you have to to a bank or other organization when they provide a service for you 1a. an extra amount of money that you earn in your job every time you sell a product or get a new customer 2 commission or Commission [C] a group of people that is officially put in charge of something or asked to find out about something 3 [C] a request for someone such as an artist or writer to produce a piece of work for someone in exchange for

pay

payment

4

[C] the position of being an officer in the military [U] formal the act of committing a crime: the commission of an offense

5

out of commission

1 not being used or not able to be used: Five of their rescue vehicles were out of commission for repairs. 2 informal not able to do anything because you are ill or injured

com-mis-sion 2 /ks'mijn/verb

[T]

••

someone such as an artist or musician to produce a piece of work in exchange for payment: She's 1

to ask

been commissioned to write a symphony, la. to officially ask someone to do some work for you: He commissioned a series of portraits of his family. We have commissioned

a full survey of the property.

2

make someone an

[usually passive] to

officer in the

military

com-mis-sion-aire someone whose job

is

/kamija'ner/ noun [c] BrE to stand at the entrance to a hotel

or other public building and welcome people

com-mis-sion-er /k3'mij(3)nsr/ noun [c] ** 1 a member of a commission: the Federal Trade Commissioners

2 commissioner

or

Commissioner an important

offi-

commit

***

[T] to do something illegal or morally wrong: commit crime/an offense The study aims to find out what makes commit murder/ a robbery etc. people commit crimes. commit adultery He had conspiracy to commit murder adultery. commit suicide Reports admitted to committing suggest that the singer committed suicide. 2 [T] to make someone agree or promise to do something: commit sb to (doing) sth The agreement commits them to a minimum number of performances per year. 2a. [I] to promise to do something: commit to (doing) sth He would have to commit to spending several thousand dollars. I do not want to commit to any particular date. 3 [t] to say that you will use available things or people for a particular purpose: commit sth to sth They'll have to commit more money to the project if they want it to

1

succeed.

4

[T] to say officially that someone must go to prison 5 [I] to decide to have a permanent relationship with someone: He's not ready to commit.

someone

is

mentally ill and should go to a hospital to be treated 7 [J] formal to give someone or something to someone else to take care of

commit sth

to

memory to

study something carefully so

you can remember it exactly commit sth to paper/writing/orma/ to write something that

on paper

commit yourself

1 to agree to do something importTake a little time to think before committing yourself. commit yourself to (doing) sth I have committed myself to the job for at least the coming year. 2 to decide to have a permanent relationship with someone: +to It was the first time in his life that he had committed himself to a woman. 3 to give a definite opinion or make a definite decision: She won't commit herself either way. com-mit-ment /ka'mitmsnt/ noun •**

ant:

1 a

promise to do sth

2 strong belief 3 enthusiasm

in

sth

4 duty/responsibility 5 use of money etc.

1 [C/U] a promise to do something: +to I want to honor my father's commitment to the people who have been farming here. honor/fulfill/meet a commitment He's a man who believes in honoring his commitments. make a commitment (to do sth) We've made a commitment to help,

and we

2

/ka'moodiss/ adj formal very large, space inside convmod'i'ty /ka'madati/ noun [c] ** 1 something that can be bought and sold, especially basic food products or fuel 2 something that is useful or necessary: Time is our most valuable commodity. com-mo-dore /'kams.dor/ noun [c] an officer of high with a

a

that

Foreign Relations committee a. [only before noun] relating to a committee: committee meetings [c] a seat with a container below it, used as a toilet a. Am E old-fashioned a toilet b. old-fashioned a piece of furniture consisting of a set

corn-mode /ks'mood/ noun

commO'di-ous

ill

[T usually passive] to officially state

currency

chosen to do a particular job, for example to study something and suggest what action to take: the Senate

of drawers

5 in relationships 6 state sb is mentally 7 put sb/sth in sb's care + PHRASES

dosth illegal/wrong 2 (make sb) agree to sth 3 say sth/sb will be used 4 send sbto prison 1

6

common

271

a government, especially someone who is in charge of a particular department 2a. commissioner or police commissioner a police officer in charge of a particular police force 2b. Am E someone whose job is to manage a sport: The National Hockey League commissioner convmit /ka'mit/ verb cial in

will.

a strong belief that something is good and you should support it: + to The government has failed to demonstrate its commitment to the environment. 3 [u] enthusiasm for something and a determination to work hard at it: I am delighted with the level of commitment you have all shown. lack of commitment Her laziness and lack of commitment are appalling. 4 [C] a duty or responsibility that you have accepted: I [singular/u]

that

lot of

rank in the British navy /'kaman/adj

com-mon 1

1

frequent/frequently

2 used/done 3 ordinary

etc by group

*** 4 reaching usual standard 5 of low social class + PHRASES

1 happening frequently or existing in large amounts or numbers: Mergers and takeovers have become increasingly in recent years. The most common criticism was that he was always late. a common occurrence Today smog is a common occurrence in many major cities. it is common for sb/sth to do sth It was common for children to play in the street. 1a. [only before noun] used in the names of birds and animals that are more common than related birds and animals 2 used, done, or shared by two or more people: Member states also agreed to pursue a common trade policy. a group of people descended from a common ancestor common language She was Swiss and I am from Vietnam, so French was our common language. + to questions and

common

issues that are common to all our clients 3 [only before noun] ordinary, with no special status or rank: a common soldier /criminal the common man This is true both for the philosopher and the common man. the common people In the fifteenth century the common people could neither read nor write. 4 reaching the standard that you normally expect from most ordinary people: common courtesy It would only be

common

courtesy to return their hospitality.

common

decency Why didn 'tyou have the common decency to inform your uncle of where you were going? 5 mainly Br E old-fashioned an insulting way of describing someone from a low social class: .fife's such a common little man. 5a. mainly Br E used about people's behavior or appearance: Her language was indescribably common.

by common consent with the agreement of everyone involved: It was, by common consent, our finest performance. the common good the benefit of everyone common practice something that is done a lot and is considered normal: It is common practice to offer guests some refreshment. find/make common cause with sb to work together with someone you would normally oppose in order to achieve something conrvmon 2 /'kamsn/ noun [c] a large piece of open land in a town or city where anyone can walk, play sports, etc.: They went for a walk on the common. Boston

Common

can't do this job right now because of other commitments. financial commitments He may have a large income, but he also has huge financial commitments. family/work/

have sth in common (with sb) to have the same interests or opinions as someone else: We have such a lot in common. I don't think they have much in common with

teaching etc. commitments He couldn't join the class because of work commitments. 5 [u] the use of money, people, or time for a particular

their neighbors. have sth in common (with sth) to have the same features as something else: This area obviously has much in common with other inner-city areas. in common with in the same way as someone or something else: Today the City Council, in common with the Mayor's Office, denounced the actions of the protesters. -» HOUSE OF COMMONS

purpose

convmit-tal

/ka'mitl/ noun [c/u] the process by which a court officially sends someone to prison or for a trial in a higher court a. the process by which a court officially sends someone who is mentally ill to a hospital

com-mit-ted

/ka'mitad/ adj * loyal to a belief, organization, or group, and willing to work hard for it: a committed member of the team

convmit'tee/ka'miti/noun

who

***

[C] a group of people represent a larger group or organization and are

.common cold

noun

you sneeze and cough.

[c]

a minor illness that makes cold is usually just

A common

called a cold.

common in

currency

more than one

noun [c/u] a state or country

money system used

1

common denominator common denominator

[c]

technical

1

a

number

that can be divided exactly by all the denominators (=numbers written below the line) in a particular group of fractions 2 a feature that everyone or everything in a particular group has: The common denominator in all his novels is the use of the supernatural.

com-mon-er

kamanor/ noun

/

[c]

someone who does

fraction noun [c] technical a fraction written as one number above a line and another number below the line, instead of as numbers separated by a DECIMAL POINT: VULGAR FRACTION

common ground noun [u] something that people can when they

disagree about other

common knowledge noun [u] something that everyone knows:

common knowledge

It's

smoking and

that

cancer are linked.

common

.land noun

[u]

BrE

land that everyone has

a right to use

common

law

1

noun [u] the system of law that has developed from customs and judges' decisions instead of from laws made by politicians. The set of laws made

by politicians

is

common law

called statute law.

2

adj 1 according to common law: a offense 2 involved in a relationship that has continued long enough to be considered a marriage, even though it is not official: a common law husband

common law

wife

commonly /'kamsnli/ adv *• 1 usually or frequently: the method most commonly used by researchers people: nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas

2 by most ordinary

common noun

noun

a

noun

not the name of a particular person or thing. For example, "dog" and "paper" are common nouns, but "Mary" and "New York" are proper nouns.

commonplace

1

[C] linguistics

that

is

/'kamsn.pleis/adj not unusual: It is to use the Internet at home.

now commonplace for people

com-mon-place 2

/'kaman.pleis/

noun

[c]

formal

1 something that often happens or is often done and therefore not unusual 2 a statement or idea that expressed very often

is

is

common room

noun [c] a room in a building or institution where people can go to relax or take part in various activities

AmE

convmons

/'kamanz/ noun [u] a large room in a university or college where you eat your meals with a lot of other students

Convmons, the / kamanz/ the house of commons common sense noun [u] • the ability to use good judgment and make sensible decisions: Lets use a

common ing

little

sense here. a. [only before noun] using or involvsense: a common-sense approach to the

common

problem

convmon-wealth/'kaman wel6/noun

1

[c]

a group

of countries that have the same political or economic interests 2 [singular] used as a part of the official name of the states of Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia in the U.S.: the Commonwealth of Virginia 3 [C] apart of the U.S. that is not a state and has its own government, for example Puerto Rico or the Northern Mariana Islands

Commonwealth Games,

the an international sports competition held every four years in which all the countries of the Commonwealth of Nations compete

Commonwealth of

Nations, the an

organization

of countries that used to be under the political control of the U.K. It is also known as the Commonwealth or

the British

Commonwealth.

com-mo-tion

/ks'moujri/ noun [c/u] noise and confused activity: There was a terrible commotion in the room opposite.

com-mu-nal/ka'mjunl/adj • 1 owned or used by everyone in a group, especially a group of people who live in the same building: a communal

2

kitchen garden stairway relating to a particular community

adv

com-mune who

1

/'ku.mjun/ noun [c] 1 a group of people live together and share work, food, income, and

possessions 2 the smallest unit of local government in France, Belgium, and some other European countries 2 /ko'mjun/ verb [i] literary to communicate with someone or something without using words

commune

because you

— corrvmu-nahly

them

feel especially close to

communicable

not belong to a royal or noble family

common

agree about, especially things

communist

272

noun

/ko'mjunikabl/

adj

medical a

1

communicable disease can be passed from one person to another 2 formal able to be communicated to someone else

com-municant

/ko'mjunikant/

someone who receives communion ceremony

noun

[c]

in a Christian

formal church

com-municate /ka'mjuni.keit/ verb •• to express thoughts, feelings, or information to else, for example, by speaking or writing: How do whales communicate? communicate sth to sb The information was verbally communicated to officials in July 1981. + with They communicate with each other via e-mail. communicate to sb that Can you somehow communicate to him that we're not interested? 1a. [l/T] to make someone 1

[i/T]

someone

understand an emotion or idea without expressing it in words: She has an amazing ability to communicate enthusiasm. communicate sth to sb He could communicate a feeling of intense excitement to his audiences, lb. [i] to let someone know what you are feeling or thinking, so that you have a good relationship: She says that they no longer seem to communicate. 2 [i] if one room communicates with another or if two rooms communicate, you can get into one room from the other: The two rooms communicate via a hidden doorway. 3 [T usually passive] medical to pass a disease from one person or animal to another

•••

commu-ni-cation

/kanrjuni'keijn/ noun the process of giving information or of making emotions or ideas known to someone: There was a breakdown in communication. nonverbal communication (= without speaking) One of the most powerful forms of nonverbal communication is body language. communication skills a workshop to improve teachers' communication skills 1a. the process of speaking or writing to someone to exchange information or ideas: + with She has no communication with her family. in communication The two groups are in regular communication. 2 communications [plural] a system for sending infor1

[u]

mation:

satellite

communications

communications

system/network a highly advanced radio communications system 2a. a transportation system for taking people or goods from one place to another: Commerce and industryrequire good communications. 3 [C] formal a message such as a letter, phone call, or e-mail: We did not receive that communication.

communications

satellite noun [c] a piece of equipment sent into space that travels around the Earth and passes television, radio, and telephone signals from one place to another communi-cative /ka'mjum.keitiv; ka'mjumkativ/

•

adj

1

2

willing to tell things to other people relating to the ability to communicate

convmun-ion/kamjunian/

noun

•

1 Communion or Holy Communion [u] a Christian ceremony in which people eat bread and drink wine in order to remember the last supper of Jesus Christ: take/ receive communion (=eat the bread and drink the wine) 't take communion. [C] a group of people or churches with the religious beliefs: the Presbyterian communion

/ attended the service but didn

2

same

3

[u] formal communication with someone or something without using words /ka.mjuni'kei; ka'mjuni.kei/ noun [C] an official statement, especially to newspapers, radio, or television

com-mu-ni-que

com-mu-nism or Commu-nism /'kamja.nizam/ noun [u] • a political and economic system in which individual people cannot own property or industries in which there are no important social class div-

and

isions

com-munist [C]

1

Convmu-nist

/'kamjanist/ noun a. somebelongs to a political party that supports com-

or

•• someone who believes in communism

one who

munism

communist communist 2 ** relating to

Com-mu-nist

communism

/'kamjsnist/ adj or involving people who

are communists

community /ka'mjunati/ noun *** people

1

company

273

or

living in

area

4

feeling part of group

2 expressed adv,

clearly using few

com«pact*ness noun

2 corn-pact /kom'paekt/

convpact-ly

words

[u]

verb

[i/T] to

make something

smaller or firmer by pressing it, or to become smaller or firmer like this: Years of heavy use have compacted the The snow compacts and forms a solid layer.

soil.

2 society in general 3 animals living in area

5 European Union + PHRASES

1 [C] the people who live in an area: / wanted to work somewhere where I could serve the community. small close-knit/ rural communities that rely on agriculture tightly knit community (=where everyone knows each other) Rock Creek is a close-knit community of several hundred people. the wider community (=the community of which a small group is a part) links between the university and the wider community 1a. [only before noun] relating to a community or to the people in it: community The group visited various community projects in affairs the city. 1b. a group of people in a larger society who are the same in some way: areas where there are large Jewish communities 1c. a group of people who live together in the same place, often people who keep themselves separate from society: a community of monks 2 the community society in general: Patients who have received this treatment do well when they return to the community. 3 [C] a group of animals that live in the same place 4 [u] the feeling that you belong to a group and that this is a good thing: People feel sad about the loss of community. sense of community One of the major goals is to develop a sense of community. 5 the Community BrE old-fashioned the European

union

the international community all of the countries of the world, considered as a group: She urged the international community to continue to put pressure on the government. community 'care noun [u] mainly BrE help for people living in their homes who need help in taking care of themselves com'munity .center noun [c] a building used by members of a community for meetings and social events com'munity .chest noun [c usually singular] Am E oldfashioned money that people and businesses in a community give to local organizations that help people com'munity college noun [c] * 1 in the U.S., a college that offers students a two-year course of study and does not provide them a place to live. Community colleges are often partly paid for by the government, —compare junior college 2 in the U.K., a secondary school that the local community can use for classes in the evening community of 'interest noun [c] a situation in which different people or groups are fighting against the

same problem

com'munity property

noun [u] legal the idea that property owned by either a husband or wife is considered to be owned equally by both

com'munity

.service noun [u] 1 work that someone does as a punishment, instead of going to prison 2 work without payment that someone does to help their local

community

corn-mute

1

/ks'mjut/ verb 1 [I] to travel regularly to and from work: / commute by train. 2 [T] legal to change a punishment to one that is less severe

corn-mute 2

/ks'mjut/ noun [c usually singular] the trip to and from work every day com-mut-er /ks'mjutsr/ noun [C] * someone who travels regularly to and from work: a train packed with commuters a. [only before noun] consisting of commuters or used by commuters: commuter traffic a commuter train

comp

AmE

/kamp/ noun [C] informal 1 something that is given away free, such as a ticket to the theater or a sports event 2 BrE a competition 3 BrE a comprehensive SCHOOL -» COMP TIME

compact

1

/kam'paskt; 'kam.pskt/adj • smaller than most things of the same kind: a compact car /camera 1a. small but arranged in a way that uses space very effectively: a compact apartment above the garage 1b. small and with only small spaces between parts: a compact bundle/ mass 1c. a compact person is physically small but looks strong 1

corn-pact 3 / 'kum.paekt/ noun [C] 1 Am E a small car 2 a small flat container for face powder, with a mirror inside

make

3 formal an

agreement, often one that people

secretly

.compact

'disc noun [C] a cd 'disc .player noun [c] a cd player companion /kam'psnjsn/ noun [c] 1 someone who is with you: a traveling companion 1a. a friend who you spend a lot of time with: The dog soon became my constant companion. 1b. someone who is paid to live or travel with another person 2 one of a pair or group of things that are related or can be used together: Have you seen the companion to this

compact

**

the television series American Inventors and its companion series American Discoverers 3 used in the titles of books for showing that they are about a particular subject: the Feminist Companion to

glove?

English Literature

com-pan-ion-a-ble /kam'paenjsnsbl/ and with the

adj

1

friendly

good companion 2 a comenjoyable because you like the

qualities of a

panionable occasion people you are with

is

com-pan-ion-ship /kam'paenjanjip/ noun [u] the relationship you have with a good friend who spends a of time with you

lot

com-pa-ny /'kAmpani/

noun

***

1 [C] an organization that provides services or makes or sells goods for money: Max works for a large oil company. He joined the company in 1982. a local/ multinational company and Company (=used in

company names) Johnson and Company 1a. [only before noun] connected with a company or with the people in It's company policy. We can't all be company

a company: directors.

2 [C] a group of actors, singers, or dancers who perform together: the Royal Shakespeare Company a dance/ theater company 2a. a group of soldiers that is usually divided into two or more smaller groups called platoons 2b. the people who work on a particular ship: the ship's

company

3 [u] people you are with: mixed company (=a group that includes men and women) Some of the jokes weren't really suitable for mixed company. polite company (=people toward whom you should behave politely) behavior that is not acceptable in polite company bad company (=friends that other people do not approve of) Things started to go wrong when he got into bad company. 3a a guest or guests She 's not coming - she has company. 3b. the activity of being with other people: / thought you might be glad of some company tonight. She doesn't .

:

company at the moment. the company of sb She's always liked the company of powerful people. sb's company We usually enjoy his company. really feel like

and company informal used

after

someone's name for

referring to the people they are connected with or usually spend time with: We need another table for Bruce

Reed and company. the company sb keeps the people that someone spends time with: We didn't like the company she was keeping. good company someone who people enjoy spending time with in company Br E with other people in company with formal together with someone or something else: Germany, in company with France, refused to lift the ban. in good company doing the same thing someone else has done, especially someone who is important or respected. This expression is used especially for telling

someone not to worry about something bad they have done. join company with to become involved in something that someone else is doing: Nurses' unions have joined company with the teachers in protesting at the policy. keep sb company to spend time with someone so that they will not feel lonely: Would you like me to stay and keep you company?

1

company

car

marriage 2 to stop traveling or spending time together to different places 3 to disagree with someone about a particular subject: This is where I part company

and go

with the professor.

present company excepted humorous used for saying that a statement does not apply to yourself or to the people you are talking to two's company, three's a crowd used for saying that two people, especially people having a romantic relationship, would prefer to be alone rather than with other people Talking or writing about

companies

her own catering business. He sold the business that his father and grandfather had built up.

cooperative a company that is owned and run by all the people who work for it: an organic food cooperative corporation a large company that employs a lot of people: Some of the Hollywood studios were bought by big Japanese corporations. multinational a large company that operates in many different countries: The fund invests mainly in U.S. multinationals. an advertising agency with several multinational clients, including Coca-Cola is

owned by a

company: Electronics giant Panasonic

is

larger

a subsidiary

members

of the

conglomerate a large company made up of several smaller companies and often having a wide range of business activities: one of the world's largest media conglomerates, with interests in television, magazines,

and

2.5 percent of the country's land is registered organic: that compares very favorably with the average. sth doesn't compare (with sth) (=it is not as good) It's a good uni-

but its architecture doesn't compare with that of the older institutions. [T] to say that one thing or person is similar tc another: compare sth to sth His poems have been compared to those of the English Romantics. versity,

to discuss

has also experienced

it

something with someone who

or thought about

it

You often need to link two points, ideas, or situations by comparing them, and indicating that the second is similar to or different from the first, for example in order to support, develop, or contradict what you have just said.

Here are

some common ways

of linking them.

general ways of introducing comparisons by analogy, compare. ., in/by comparison .

when A and B

are similar The Court has almost unlimited power. to the position of the Secretary of State.

exactly/precisely the likewise, similarly in

same way,

Compare

just as.

.

.,

.company

'car noun [c] a car belonging to your employer that you use while you work for them corn-pa- ra-ble /'kamp(3)r3bl/ adj *• 1 fairly similar to another thing, so it is reasonable to compare them: The two of them are in comparable finan+ to /with The salary is comparable with cial situations.

No

comparable studies exist. com-pa-ra-bly /'kamp(3)r3bli/ adv in a similar way, or to a similar degree com-par-a-tive /kam'perativ/adj •* 1 judged in comparison to something such as a previous situation or state: relative: We sailed into the comparative shelter of the harbor. We expected to win with comparative ease. 2 involving the comparison of two or more things: a comparative analysis of a large number of studies 3 the comparative form of an adjective or adverb is the form that shows that something has more of a quality than it previously had or than it has compared to something else. For example, "newer" is the comparative form of the adjective "new" and "more actively" is the comparative form of the adverb "actively." 1

2

2

com-par-a-tive /kam'perstiv/ noun

[c] the form of an adjective or adverb that shows that something has of a quality than it previously had or than it has compared to something else: The comparative of "good"

more is

"better."

when B

contradicts

far from trary

A or

shows that

it is

wrong

it,

in (actual) fact, in reality,

on the con-

Other ways of making a comparison The following adjectives express ideas of similarity: analogous, comparable, corresponding, equivalent, identical, parallel, same, similar. The following adjectives express ideas of contrast and difference: alternative, contrary, contrasting,

*

as

compared

to something else or to a previous situation or state: relatively: comparatively large number of students were absent. The technology is still comparatively new.

A

corn-pare /kam'per/ verb *** 1 [t] to consider how things or people are different and how they are similar: compare sth with /to sth Just 1

compare the one that has been cleaned with

the others.

con-

verse, different, dissimilar, opposite, reverse.

corn-pare 2 /kam'per/ noun beyond/without compare literary used for emphasizing the very good qualities of a person or thing

mainly

corn-pared /kam'perd/

adj [+to/with] used for talking about the ways in which two things are different, or about the ways in which something has changed: The Ohio branch produced 2000 units per month, compared with a national average of 2400 units per month. Profits were good compared with last year. Compared to some of

was polite. as compared to/ with 25% of school-age children smoke, as compared to 21 % of adults. the things she's said, this

com-par-i-son /kam'penssn/ noun *** 1 C / U the process of considering how things or people are different and how they are similar: make /draw a [

]

It is very difficult to make comparisons across + between /with Direct comparison between the two languages is not possible. + of We have made a systematic comparison of the techniques used by the different players. 1a. [C] a document, statement, etc. in which things are compared: The comparison will show how far + between/ politicians' views reflect those of the citizens. with /of Table 2 provides a comparison with last year's

comparison

com-par-a-ti ve-ly /ksm'perativli/ adv

like,

Bonuses should not be excluded from the scheme; on the contrary, they should be made an integral part of it.

1

— compare superlative

this

alternatively, as distinct from, as opposed to, conversely, in/by contrast, however, on the other hand, unlike, whereas, whilst/while

the Internet

that of a junior doctor. 2 equal to something else in quality or importance:

compare notes

when A and B are different The interior deserts have greater extremes of temperature that the west coast deserts. Similarly, the amount of rainfall varies considerably. The United States operates rigorous controls on mergers that promote new monopolies. In contrast, the U.K. takes a more neutral view of monopoly.

of Matsushita. pic a large British company that public can invest money in

compared to the results of previous studies. compare and contrast (=show how things are similar and how they are different) The research aims to compare and contrast policies in British, American, and Japanese firms. 1a. [i] [+with] used for saying how good or bad one thing is in relation to another: How does Mexico 's performance compare with that of other Latin countries? compare favorably/unfavorably/well About results are then

Academic writing

firm a company, especially one providing professional or financial services: a large New York law firm a firm of architects/ management consultants

subsidiary a company that

The

2

business a company that makes or sells goods or provides a service, especially one owned and run by one person or a small group of people: She left to start

books,

comparison

274

keep company with sb to spend time with someone part company 1 to end a relationship, for example a

schools.

results.

compartment [C/u] the process of finding things that are similar between two or more things or people: make /draw a comparison He drew comparisons between the problems faced by the university and those confronting his own + between /with /of The comparison with his institution.

work is probably unfair. [C/U] linguistics in grammar, changes in the form of an adjective or adverb to show that something has more of a quality, such as the change from "good" to "better" and "best" bear/stand comparison (with) formal 1 to be as good as someone or something: Their performance bears comparison with any hospital in Texas. 2 to be similar: The language of the playground bears little comparison with

3

the language of books.

by comparison (with) used for talking about the ways in which two things are different: Their lives were exciting and glamorous; ours seemed dull by comparison. By comparison with the joyless

the adults were a

lively teenagers,

lot.

in comparison used for talking about the ways in which two things are different: Smaller towns have less money to spend, so their systems are very modest in comparison. + with In comparison with the male, the female is stronger and more energetic. +to Why are things cheaper in comparison to last year? invite comparison withformal to be similar to someone or something: His powerful performances inevitably invite comparison with those of de Niro. there's no comparison used for saying that one thing is much better than the other: / never loved her the way I love you: there's no comparison.

noun [c] * one of the separate parts of a container or place stored: the freezer compartment of a refrigerator She found a secret compartment behind a drawer in the desk. 2 one of the separate spaces into which a railroad passenger car or airplane is divided: a first-class compartment

com-part-ment /kam'partmant/ 1

where things are

com-part-men-tal-ize 1

competing

275

2

/.kampcirt'mentl.aiz/ verb [T] to separate something into different types or groups to keep things separate in your mind

2 corn-pass /'kAmpas/ noun •

1 [C] a piece of equipment used for finding your way, with a needle that always points north 2 [C] a piece of equipment used for drawing circles, consisting of two thin parts joined in the shape of the

letter V 3 [U] formal a limit or range com-pas-sion /kom'psjn/ noun [u] a feeling of sympathy and caring for someone who is in a bad situation:

Both women shared a compassion for victims of war. They had acted out of compassion.

com-pas-sion-ate /kam'pEeJnat/ and caring about someone who is

adj

in a

understanding bad situation

to

do sth

I feel

com-

com-pel-ling

/kam'pelirj/ adj 1 interesting or exciting enough to keep your attention completely: a com2 able to persuade someone to do pelling story something or persuade them that something is true: There was compelling evidence in her defense.

com-pervdi-um /kam'pendiam/

noun

[C]

formal a

collection of information on a particular subject, especially in a short book: a compendium of herbal medicine

detailed

com-pen-sate / 'kampan

**

seit/ verb 1 [i] to change or remove the bad result of something: + for This payment more than compensates for what we've lost. la. to behave in a way that is intended to reduce the effects of a personal fault: Lack of confidence is often compensated for by an aggressive manner. 2 [I/T] to pay someone money because they have suffered an injury or loss: compensate sb for sth They were unlikely to be compensated for the damage to the house. 2a. [T] very formal to pay someone for the work they do (

com-pen-sa-tion /.kampan'seijn/ noun

••

1 [C/U] something that changes or removes the bad result of something: +of Not needing a car is one of the compensations of living in the city. +for He uses speed as compensation for his lack of strength. 1a. behavior that is intended to reduce the effects of a personal fault 2 [u] money that someone receives because something bad has happened to them: pay sb compensation Victims of the world's largest industrial accident were paid $470 million compensation. +for She was awarded $350,000 compensation for her injuries. 2a. very formal money that someone receives for the work they do

com-pen-sa-to-ry

/kam'pensa.tori/ adj formal 1 intended to change or remove the bad result of something 2 paid as compensation to someone who has suffered injury or loss 1

com-pere /'kam.per/ noun [c] Br E an emcee com-pere 2 /'kam.per/ verb [i/t] Br E to emcee a show com-pete /kam'pit/ verb *** to try to be more [l]

successful than other companies or people in business: We have to compete in a commercial environment. + with/ against We're too small to compete with a company like that. a. to try to win a competition: + in Her dream was + with/against You will be to compete in the Olympics. +for competing against the best athletes in the world. Ten teams will compete for the trophy, b. to try to get something that other people also want to have: +for Several men were competing for her attention.

sb/sth cannot compete (with sb/sth) someone or something can never be as good or successful as someone or something else: Companies as small as ours just can't compete at that level.

com-pe-tence

com-pas-sion-ate-ly adv

compassionate leave

appear as a witness. feel compelled pelled to write to thank you.

time away from work that you are allowed to have because someone in your family is sick or has died compatibility /kam.pasta'bilati/ noun [u] 1 the fact that different ideas or systems can exist together: + with Christianity's compatibility with science 2 computing the fact that different pieces of computer equipment and software can be used together 3 the fact that two people are likely to have a good relationship because they are similar com-pat-i-ble /kam'paetabl/ adj * 1 ideas or systems that are compatible can exist together: + with The proposed new regulation is not compatible with our existing policy. 2 computing if one piece of computer equipment or software is compatible with another, they can be used

noun

[u]

together

3

likely to have a good relationship because of being similar: -t-with You find yourself married to someone with whom you're not compatible.

com-pa-tri-ot /kam'peitriat/ noun [C] someone who is from the same country as someone else corn-pel /kam'pel/ verb [T] ** to force someone to do something, or to get something from someone using force: compel sb to do sth The order compelled him to

/'kampitans/ noun 1 [u] the ability to do something in a satisfactory or effective way: He demonstrated thorough competence in dealing with the issues. 1a. [u] formal a person's range of skills or knowledge 1b. [C] a particular skill 2 [u] legal the fact of being allowed to have your case judged by a court 2a. the fact of being allowed to be a witness in a court case

com-pe-tent /'kampitant/

adj

*

1 capable of doing something in a satisfactory or effectcompetent to do sth 7s he ive way: a competent worker really competent to run the switchboard? + at She is very competent at communicating. 2 good enough for the purpose but not especially good: a competent piece of work 3 legal allowed to have a case judged in court 3a. allowed to appear as a witness in a court case

— com-pe-tent- ly adv com-pet-ing 1 all

/kam'pitin/

adj [only before noun]

•

competing arguments, claims, theories, etc. cannot be true or cannot all be dealt with in an equal way:

We have

to

choose between the competing priorities of

industry, health,

and

2 competing teams

education.

or organizations are

all

trying to

win a competition: Four of the competing nations are from South America.

competition /.kumpa'tijri/ noun 1 [u] the activities of companies that are trying to be more successful than others: Competition has intensified fierce /stiff competition They were in recent months. + between /among intense faced with fierce competition. between competition the financial institutions + from Competition from cheaper imports is making life tough for manufacturers. 1a. the activities of people who are trying to get something that other people also want: +f or The competition for jobs is fiercer than ever. + between/ among It's normal for there to be competition between brothers and sisters. 1b. the efforts of people who are trying to win prizes: +for Competition for the title will be

fierce.

2

an organized event in which people try prizes by being better than other people: enter [C]

petition

He

to win a com-

entered a competition in the local newspaper.

win /lose a competition They should have a good chance of winning the competition. competition to do sth a competition to find a

complete

276

•••

com-peti-tion

name for

the

new project

3 the competition

the person, company, or thing that someone is competing with: Let's look at what the competition is doing and do it better.

in competition with in a situation in which you are trying to get something that other people also want: We must emphasize that we are not in competition with you. no competition not nearly as good or successful as someone or something else: He's a great person, but no competition for Chris.

com-pet-i-tive /ksm'petativ/

adj

**

a competitive activity is one in which companies or teams are competing against each other: a competitive edge /advantage The weakness of the pound should give highly/fiercely commanufacturers a competitive edge. petitive Many firms are struggling to survive in a highly competitive marketplace. *He quit playing competitive football at the age of 24. 2 always trying to be more successful than other people: highly/fiercely competitive She has a reputation for being a fiercely competitive player. 3 competitive prices are lower than many others: We offer a wide range of goods at very competitive prices. 3a. offering goods or services at lower prices than other companies: Many airlines now offer substantial discounts convpet«i«tive«ly adv, in an effort to remain competitive. 1

about?

com-pet-i-tive-ness noun [U]

bidding for the contract. 2 someone who takes part in a sports competition: Over 30,000 competitors will run in the New York marathon.

com-pi-la-tion /.kampi'leijn/ noun

1 [c] a set of things such as songs or stories produced by different people: The CD is a compilation of disco hits from the 70s. 2 [u] the process of compiling a book using different pieces of information or facts: the compilation of a dic-

tionary

corn-pile /ksm'pail/ verb [t] •• 1 to make something such as a list or book by bringing together information from many different places: The database was compiled from statistics published by the Tourist Board.

2 computing to use a computer program

change a set of instructions in a programming language into a form that can be used directly by a computer convpil'er/kam'paibr/noun [C] 1 someone who compiles something such as a list, report, or book 2 computing a computer program that changes a set of instructions in a programming language into a form that can be used directly by a computer com-pla-cen-cy /ksm'pleisnsi/ noun [u] a complacent attitude or way of behaving com-pla-cent /kam'pleisnt/ adj too confident and relaxed because you think you can deal with something easily, even though this may not be true: These results are good, but we cannot afford to be complacent. to

— com-pla-cent-ly adv

•••

[i/T] to say that you are not satisfied with something: "It's far too hot," she she never had + (that) She complained that complained. any time to herself. + about What are you complaining

corn-plain /kam'plem/ verb

to

com-plain-ant /kom'pleinont/ noun [c] legal in a court of law, the person who has asked the court to judge their case

corn-plaint /kam'plemt/ noun 1

[C/u)

written

a

or

•**

spoken statement in which satisfied with something:

someone says they are not

make/file/lodge a complaint / intend to make a complaint. + about Customers lodged a formal complaint about the way they were treated. + against An alarming number of complaints have been filed against him. +that The county has received complaints that the building is not safe. investigate a complaint All complaints are thoroughly investigated. uphold a complaint (=say it is reasonable) The Commission upheld the complaint under Article 13. grounds/ cause for complaint If they had a more caring attitude, we'd have less cause for complaint. 1a. [C] something that someone complains about: The main complaint

2

[C]

was the noise. an illness or other medical problem: minor com-

a liver complaint /kam'pleizns/ noun [u] very formal a way of behaving in which you try to please other people com-plect-ed /kam'plektad/ adj someone who is dark or fair complected has dark or fair skin. Some people think this word should not be used and complexioned should be used instead. plaints like headaches

complaisance

AmE

com-ple-ment 1

to

/'kampta.ment/ verb [T] • combine well with something, often something 1

that has different qualities: The plants are chosen to complement each other. a simple sweater that was perfectly complemented by elegant jewelry 2 to add another thing to something: This project is intended to complement, not replace, federal programs.

com-ple-ment 2 /'kampbmant/ added 2 sth that combines well 3 number sth has/needs 1 sth that is

—

com-pet-i-tor /ksm'petitar/ noun [C] •* 1 a company that sells the same goods or services as another company: All our major competitors are also

He threatened

complain to the boss. com plain of phrasal vb [t] [complain of sth] 1 formal to say that something bad has happened: Refugees had complained of being robbed and beaten by officials. 2 to say that you have a pain or are sick: She had been complaining of headaches. + to

4 5

noun

[c]

•

in

grammar

in

mathematics

1 something that is added to something else: +to Her youthful energy will be a welcome complement to the strength and experience of the team. 2 something that combines well with something else: + to Our sauces are the perfect complement to any meal. 3 the number of people or things that something has: + of the department with the largest complement of employfull complement (=the largest number possible or ees necessary) We already have our full complement of workers. 4 linguistics in grammar, a word or phrase after a verb that tells you about the subject. For example, in "He was cold," "he" is the subject, "was" is the verb, and "cold" is the complement. In "He was a nice man," the complement is "a nice man." 5 technical in mathematics, an angle that is added to another angle to form an angle of 90 degrees

com-ple-men-ta-ry /,kampb'ment(3)ri/adj

*

things that are complementary combine well together or look attractive together, often because they have different qualities

complementary

medicine noun [u] medical medical treatment using methods that are not used by most doctors, treating the causes of a disease rather than the symptoms. In western societies, acupuncture and hypnosis are types of complementary medicine.

complete

1

***

/kam'plit/ adj including all the parts, details, or features: The library is fortunate to have an almost complete set of these publications. The system needs a complete overhaul. Our family just wouldn't feel complete without our dog. 2 [never before noun] if something such as a job or process is complete, it is finished: When the chart is complete, stick it on the wall. *A similar project for northern Montana is almost complete. 1

[only before noun] used for emphasizing that someone or something has a particular quality: He's a complete There had been She's the complete opposite of me. idiot.

3

complete and

utter

complete (=used for adding more emphasis) It was a

and utter waste of time. complete with with the things mentioned: a comcomplete

prehensive collection complete with detailed biographies of come complete with All our machines come the artists complete with our three-year service guarantee. the complete works all of a writer's work, published in one set or in one book: the Complete Works of William [J]

formal

to finish something: The work was completed in March. She will have completed her training by the spring. la. to finish something by adding the parts that are missing: Complete this sentence. to write information in the spaces

A more

usual word

on an

is fill in:

official

You need

to

complete both of these forms.

/kam'plitad/ adj • containing all the necessary parts, answers, or information: Please put your completed form in the box provided. com-plete-ly /kam'plitli/ adv 1 if something is done completely, every part of it is

complet-ed

•••

done

2 used for emphasis: Doctors said the operation was completely successful. Ellen's suggestion took us completely by surprise.

com-ple-tion /ksm'plifn/ noun

**

the process of finishing an activity or job: Forms our clients for completion. + of After completion of his medical training, Stein went to work in on/upon completion of sth Each student is given Africa. a certificate on successful completion of the course. 1a. the time when an activity or job is finished: nearing completion Restoration work on the church is nearing completion. The completion date for the tunnel is December 1

[u]

will be sent to

2005.

2

[C/U]

Br E the closing of a house

complex

sale

•••

1

/kam'pleks; 'kam.pleks/ adj 1 with many details or small parts, which makes something difficult to understand or deal with: the complex web of relationships between the two families This was a complex and difficult task. the increasing use of complex machinery and sophisticated farming methods highly complex These rules are highly complex. 2 [only before noun] linguistics a complex sentence contains one main clause and one or more subordinate CLAUSES

com-plex 2 /'kampleks/

noun

[c]

•*

a group of buildings together, or a building that has several parts: I just moved into a new apartment complex. 2 an emotional problem caused by unreasonable fears or worries: She grew up with an inferiority complex. have/develop a complex about sth I used to have a complex about being in crowds. give sb a complex If you keep telling her she's clumsy, you'll give her a complex. [+of] 3 formal a large number of things together, especially when they are difficult or confusing: the complex of delicate wiring 1

com-plex-ion /kam'plekfsn/ noun

•

[C]

whether

complex-ioned

/kam'plekfand/ ad) someone who is complexioned has dark or light skin /kam'pleksati/ noun •• [u] the complicated nature of something: + of Difficulties were caused by the complexity of the legislation, a. complexities [plural] features of something that make it confusing or dark or

fair

complexity

difficult to deal with: the complexities of the legal system

coirvpli-ance/kanVplaians/ noun

•

[u] formal 1 the practice of obeying a law, rule, or request: + with strategies to force compliance with air quality standards in

compliance with All building work must be carried out

compliance with safety regulations. 2 the behavior of someone who is too willing to do what other people want or too willing to accept their opinions in

convpli-cate /'kampli.keit/ 1 to make something more

verb

[T]

••

with or understand: Let's not complicate matters by introducing any more restrictions. 2 to make a medical condition more dangerous or difficult to deal

•*

adj difficult to do, deal with, or understand, especially because of involving a lot of different processes or

1

aspects: The situation seems to be getting more and more complicated. a complicated voting system 2 made up of many different but connected parts: a series of complicated designs opposite SIMPLE

—

com-pli-ca-tion /.kampli'keijn/ noun •* 1 [C usually plural] something that makes a medical condition more dangerous or difficult to treat: Some people develop complications after an operation. 2 [C/U] something that makes a process or activity more difficult to deal with ad] involved in or knowing about something bad that happens: The government itself may have been complicit in the violence. com-plic-i-ty /kam'plisati/ noun [u] the fact that someone is involved in or knows about something bad

com-plic-it /ksm'plisit/

that

happens

com-pli-ment /'kamplimsnt/ noun 1

[c]

*

something nice that you say to praise someone: It is a compliment to be compared to her. pay/ give sb a compliment He kept paying me compliments on my cooking. take sth as a compliment (^consider it to be a compliment, even if it was not intended to be) Mom says I'm stubborn, but I'll take that as a compliment. 1a. something that shows you approve of someone or respect them: pay sb the compliment oiHepaid me the compliment of inviting^ me to sing at his wedding, —opposite insult 2 compliments [plural] old-fashioned used for greeting someone, or giving them your good wishes compliments to sb used for praising someone: Compliments to the chef, that lobster was delicious! fish for compliments to try to make someone give you a compliment, without asking them directly return the compliment to do something for someone in return for something that they did for you with sb's compliments or with the compliments of sb used for showing that you do not have to pay for 1

something: Please accept this wine with the compliments of the management. with compliments used for showing that you do not have to pay for something someone has sent you

com-pli-ment 2 /'kampli.ment/

verb [T] to say something nice to or about someone: Her parents never praised or complimented her. compliment sb on sth Everybody complimented her on the way she handled the emergency.

com-pli-men-ta-ry

/,kampli'ment(3)ri/

1

adj

if

complimentary, you do not have to pay complimentary bottle of champagne. 2 saying nice things about someone or something: Mrs. Stevens was very complimentary about your work. corn-ply /kam'plai/ verb [i] ** to obey a rule or law, or to do what someone asks you to do: Ifyou don comply you could face a penalty of $100. +with You are legally obliged to comply fully with any investigations.

something

for

the appearance of the skin on someone's face, and it is pale, dark, smooth, etc.: an oily complexion 2 [singular] the typical features of something such as an organization, process, or activity: change the complexion of sth The influx of foreign players has changed the whole complexion of British soccer. 1

plaiont/ adj 1 designed to follow a particular law, system, or set of instructions: All our software is Year 2000 compliant. 2 too willing to do what other people want or too willing to accept their opinions

com-pli-cat-ed /'kampli.keitsd/

*••

1

document.

com-pli-ant /ksm

difficult to treat

Shakespeare

convplete 2 /k3m'plit/ verb

2

component

277

a complete breakdown of trust and confidence.

it:

is

free: All guests will receive a

't

Words

frequently used with

nouns

demand,

comply

legislation, order,

regulation, request, requirement, rule

convpo-nent/kam'poonant/ noun

[C]

*•

1 one of the different parts that a machine or piece of equipment consists of: car components 2 an individual quality or feature of something: Try

breaking the problem down into

its

separate components.

Words frequently used with component adjectives

essential, key, major, principal, vital

2

comport verb comport formal to behave in a particular way

yourself very

compose /ksm'pooz/ verb •• 1

[i/T]

thing, especially thinking carefully about it: He sat down letter of resignation. 2 [J] formal to arrange the parts of something such as a photograph or a painting in order to get a particular

and composed a

effect

of

[J] formal to form something: make up: be composed Muscle is composed of two different types of protein.

compose your thoughts to think carefully about something before you decide what to say or do compose yourself to make yourself calm after being very angry, upset, or nervous

corn-posed /kampoozd/ adj calm and relaxed com-pos-er /kam'poozar/ noun [c] ** someone who writes music, especially classical music

com-pos-ite /kam'pazit/ 1

adj [only before noun]

• made

up of two or more separate parts com-pos-ite 2 /kampuzit/ noun [c] 1 something that is made up of separate parts or qualities 2 a picture of someone's face that the police make using descriptions given by people who saw the person com-po-si-tion /.kampa'zijn/ noun •* 1 [u] the way something is formed from separate parts or people: Households differ widely in their size and composition.

the chemical composition of stars

2 [C] something such as a piece of music, a piece of writing, or a painting 2a. [u] the skill or process of producing music, writing, or paintings

— com-po-si-tion-al adj

com-pos-i-tor /kam'pazitar/ noun job

is to

it is

[c]

someone whose

arrange writing and pictures on a page before

/.kampas 'mentis/

adj

humorous

able to think clearly 1

corn-post /'kampoost/ noun ing plants and vegetables that its quality

corn-post 2 /'kampoost/

is

[u]

a mixture of decay-

added to soil to improve

verb

to

make decaying

composure

/k3m'pou33r/ noun [u] the feeling of being calm, confident, and relaxed: The interruption gave regain his composure.

com-pote /'kampout/

noun [c/u] a sweet food made

noun *• science a chemical substance that consists of two 1

corn-pound /'kampaund/ [C]

or more elements: Name the parts of this chemical comWater is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen. pound. 1a. [C/u] something that consists of two or more substances mixed together: an old herbal compound used for treating headaches 2 [C] a combination of things: John and Steve working together? That's a lethal compound. 3 [C] an enclosed area where a particular group of people live or where people such as soldiers and prisoners can exercise 4 [C] linguistics a combination of two or more words that is used as a single word. The three different types of compound are noun compounds (for example "bus stop"), adjective compounds (for example "selfcentered"), and verb compounds (for example "windsurf').

corn-pound 2 /kampaund/

adj

[only

before

noun]

1 made up of two or more parts: a compound leaf 2 a compound noun, adjective, or verb is a combination of two or more words corn-pound 3 /ksm'paond/ verb [T] • 1 to pay interest both on an amount of money as well

as on the interest that has been added to it 2 to make a problem or difficult situation worse: Their problems are compounded by the fact that Mary's just lost

her job.

3 to mix two or more substances together in order to make a new substance or product be compounded of sth formal to be made up of two or more things

interest noun [u] interest that is based both on an amount of money that someone has borrowed or saved and on the interest that has been added to it

com-pre-hend /.kamprohend/ verb [i/T] formal to understand something: How could you possibly comprehend the difficulties of my situation? fully comprehend We fully comprehend people's anxieties. +that Laura gasped, hardly able to comprehend that her brother's life

was

in danger.

com-pre-hen-si-ble /.kampra'hensabl/

adj able to be understood: a clear comprehensible document This type of computer jargon is barely comprehensible to most people.

com-pre-hen-sion /.kampra'henjsn/ noun • 1 [u] the ability to understand something: The students stared at me without comprehension. We have no comprehension of the traumas these children have suffered. beyond (sb's) comprehension ^impossible for sb to understand) Such acts of cruelty are beyond the comprehension of most people. 2 [C/u] a test of how well students understand a language, in which they read a piece of writing, or listen to someone speaking, and then answer questions: listening /reading comprehension

com-pre-hen-sive /.kamprs'hensiv/ adj *• 1 including many details or aspects of something: We a comprehensive range of goods and services. a comprehensive guide to courses in U.S. universities a comprehensive policy review 2 comprehensive insurance is insurance that pays for losses of a number of different types 3 BrE complete and easily achieved: a comprehensive offer

defeat/ win/ victory 4 relating to a system of education in the U.K. in which students with different levels of ability are all taught in the same school com-pre-hen-sive-ly adv

compre hensive

.school noun [c] a U.K. school for students of different levels of ability between the ages of 11 and 18. A comprehensive school is often simply called a comprehensive, —compare grammar school verb [T] 1 to press or squeeze something so that it fits into a smaller space 2 to make a process or activity last for a shorter period of time than usual 3 to write something in fewer words 3a. computing to reduce the size of a computer file so that it can be stored using less space

corn-press 2 /'kampres/ noun

[c]

a piece of cloth that

you press onto an injured part of your body

from a mixture of fruit cooked with sugar 1

a broken bone that cuts through the surface of the skin [c]

corn-press 1 /ksm'pres/ [T]

plants and vegetables into compost

to

fracture noun

—

printed

com-pos men-tis

him time

compound compound

to write a piece of music: The song was specially their wedding, la. [J] formal to write some-

composed for

3

compromise

278

corn-port /ksm'pnrt/

to

make

it

less painful

com-pres-sion /kam'prejn/ noun

the process of pressing or squeezing something so that it is smaller

com-pres-sor /kam'presar/ noun

[u]

[c]

a machine that

compresses air or gas

conn-prise /ksm'praiz/ verb [T]/orma/ * to consist of two or more things: be comprised of The course is comprised of two essays plus three assignments, a. to form something: People aged 65 and over now comprise nearly 20% of the population.

com-pro-mise

1

/'kampra.maiz/ noun [C/u] ** a way an argument in which

of solving a problem or ending

both people or groups accept that they cannot have everything they want: + between This deal is the ideal compromise between your needs and their demands. reach/arrive at/come to a compromise Both sides have agreed to meet, in the hope of reaching a compromise. make a compromise Neither of them is willing to make compromises, a. [only before noun] involving a compromise: a compromise solution/ agreement/ settlement com-pro-mise 2 /'kampra.maiz/ verb * 1 [I] to solve a problem or end an argument by accepting that you cannot have everything that you want: Her +on We refusal to compromise infuriated her colleagues. simply cannot compromise on the question of human rights. 2 [T] to risk harming or losing something important: We will not compromise the safety of our workers. 3 [T] to behave in a way that is not honest by not doing the things that you previously believed in or tried to achieve: Traditional supporters are accusing the party of

compromising

its

principles.

compromise yourself/ your position

to

do something

"

compromising

/kom'pjutirj/ noun [u] • the activity or using computers or programming computers com-rade /'kamncd/ noun [C] 1 mainly literary a friend, especially someone you have worked with 2 Comrade used for talking to or about a member of a Socialist Party by other members of a Socialist Party

com-put-ing

make people think they cannot trust you Words frequently used with compromise

to

nouns

independence,

skill of

2

neutrality,

reputation, safety, security beliefs, ideals, principles,

3

standards

com-rade-ship

com-pro-mis-ing

/'kampra.maizirj/ adj likely to damage your good reputation time off work that is given time noun [u] to you instead of money because you have worked extra

AmE

comp hours

comp-trol-ler /kan'troobr/ noun [c] formal someone whose job is to take care of the financial aspects of an organization

com-pul-sion /kam'pAlJan/ noun

a very strong feeling of wanting to do something, especially a feeling that you cannot control: He felt a sudden compulsion to tell her the truth. 2 [u] a legal or other obligation to do something: under compulsion You are not under any compulsion to make a statement to the police. 1

[c]

com-puhsive

/kam'pAlsiv/ adj impossible to control and therefore sometimes harmful: a compulsive eating disorder His compulsive need to succeed made him unpopular with the rest of the staff, a. used about people who have a habit they cannot control: a compulsive

gambler /liar

— convpul'sive-ly adv

adj ** something that compulsory must be done because of a rule or law: A is no longer compulsory, —opposite optional com-punc'tion /kam'pAnkJan/ noun [u usually in negatives] formal a feeling that you should not do something because it is wrong corrvpu»ta»tion /.kampjs'teijri/ noun very formal

com-pul-so-ry /kam'pAlsari/ is

school outfit

[C/U] the process of calculating a number or a. [C] a number that you have calculated

amount

com«pu'ta«tion'al/,kampJ3'teij3nl/adj 1 relating to the ability to calculate numbers or amounts: computational skills 2 involving the use of computers: computational linguistics culate a

/kam'pjut/ verb

number

or

[i/t]

very formal

*

to cal-

amount

***

comput-er

/kam'pjutar/ noun [C] a machine that stores programs and information in electronic form and can be used for a variety of processes, for example writing, calculating, and communicating on the Internet: All our computers are linked to a main network. on/ by computer Ticket reservations are all done on computer. a. [only before noun] relating to computers: The job requires basic computer skills. computer systems /software

a computer program /programmer /game —picture -»

computer aided di'zam/ noun

computer

[U]

design

C3

/ksmpjutareidid

cad

'dating noun

the business of finding sexual partners for people using a computer database

computer game

noun

[u]

[c]

a

game

that

is

played on a

computer

computer made using

/'kcimraedj'ip/ noun [u] friendship, especially between people who work together or fight together in a war 1

con /kan/

'graphics noun

[plural]

pictures that are

a computer

comput-erise

/kam'pjuta.raiz/ a

BrE

spelling

of

com*put*er*ize /kam'pjuta.raiz/

verb puters to do a particular job or kind of

[T]

to

use com-

work com-put-er-ized /kam'pjuta.raizd/ adj stored on computer: computerized dental records a computerized database a. done using a computer: computerized selling

computer-literate adj able computer 'modeling noun

use a computer the use of computer images to help you solve technical problems computer program noun [c] a set of instructions stored inside a computer that allows the user to do a particular thing, for example produce a document or play a game. Someone who writes computer programs is called a computer programmer. computer 'science noun [u] the study of how computers work and what they can be used for to

[u]

[c]

**

a big con.

2

very informal a prisoner 2

con /kan/

informal to make someone believe not true, especially in order to get into believing he was She was conned out of her life savings. abbrev Conservative verb

something that

[T]

is

money from them: He conned them sick.

Con.

'con artist or 'con

who

lies in

order to

man

make

noun [c] informal someone people give him money

con«cat-e-na-tion /kan.ksta'neifn/ noun formal a series of related events /'kan,keiv; kan'keiv/ concave mirror opposite convex

con-cave

—

adj

[C]

very

curved inward: a

•*

conceal

/kan'sil/ verb [T]/orma/ something so that it cannot be found: The letters had been concealed under a mattress, la. to cover something so that it is hidden: A long velvet curtain concealed a small doorway. to hide

2 to prevent feelings: hide:

someone from seeing or knowing your He looked at her with barely concealed admiration. 2a. to not tell someone about something, especially because you are ashamed of it or worried about it: hide: Why did you decide to conceal your true identity? conceal sth from sb Concealing evidence from the police is a serious offense.

concede /kan'sid/ verb •* 1 [T] to admit that something is true: -t-that Myers was forced to concede that competition had badly affected profits. "All right, " Matt conceded, "I probably made a mistake. 2 [i/T] to stop trying to win a war, competition, or argument because you realize that you cannot win it: Holyfield had to concede in the ninth round due to a head injury. concede defeat Despite the result, he refuses to concede defeat. 3 [T] to give something that you own or control to someone so that they own or control it: Fox will have to concede some of its broadcasting rights for sporting events. 3a. to be defeated by someone in a game or war and give them something that you previously had 4 [T] if you concede a goal, point, or game, the person or team you are playing scores a goal or point or wins a game

con-ceit /kan'sit/ noun 1 [u] a conceited attitude or way of behaving 2 [C/u linguistics a clever and unusual idea or way of comparing things, especially in poetry con -ceiled /kan'sitad/ adj someone who is conceited behaves in a way that shows they think they are very intelligent, skillful, or attractive. This word shows that you do not like people like this. — coivceit-etHy adv con-cei v-a-ble /kan 'sivabl / adj possible, or possible to ]

imagine: The book covers every conceivable aspect of the +that It's conceivable that she's been delayed

subject.

How

—

—

corvceiva-bly adv: opposite inconceivable can we conceivably negotiate with terrorists?

at work.

computerize

noun

informal a dishonest plan or method for making someone give you money: The insurance scheme was just 1

1

compulsive reading/viewing a book or television program that is very interesting and exciting

compute

concentrate

279

con-ceive

/kan'siv/ verb

••

1 [T often passive] to think of something such as a new idea, plan, or design: The facilities had been conceived with families in mind. The exhibit was originally conceived as a tribute to Scott's family. 2 [T usually in negatives or questions] to imagine something or think of doing something: I find the whole scenario

+ of How can they even conceive of cutting to conceive. back on welfare? [I] to become pregnant 3a. [T always passive] a baby is conceived when its mother becomes pregnant

hard

3

con-cen-trate

1

/'kansana.treit/ verb

•**

to give all your attention to the thing you are doing: / was sleeping badly and finding it hard to concentrate. + on Stop talking and concentrate on your work. 1

[l]

^

concentrate

concerned

most of your attention to one aim or +on Luke wants to concentrate on his movie

Many

1a. [i/T] to give

voice concern

activity:

proposed changes in the law. cause concern/be a cause for concern Her doctor said her condition was causing concern. growing/widespread concern There is growing concern about the safety of cell phones. a matter of concern (=something that makes people feel worried) The issue of alcohol-related crime is becoming a matter of great concern. 1a. [C] something that worries you: Landfill sites raise some important environmental concerns. main/ major concern Eighteen percent of people said unemployment was their main concern. raise /express /voice concerns Many doctors have raised concerns about the

concentrate your efforts /attention on sth You should concentrate your efforts on passing these exams. 2 [T usually passive] if something is concentrated in an career.

area, that is where it mainly exists: The violence was concentrated mostly in the north. The population is concentrated along the river banks.

concentrate sb's mind to make someone think clearly about what is important

con«cen«trate 2

/'kansan.treit/ noun [C/u] a substance that has had water removed from it: tomato concentrate con«cen«trat«ed/'kans3n,treit3d/adj 1 concentrated liquids or substances have been made stronger by having water removed: concentrated fruit juice 2 [only before noun] directed completely at one thing, person, or place: The presidential palace has been hit again by-

concentrated artillery fire.

•••

con-centration

/.kansan'treijn/ noun process of giving all your attention to something: It took all his concentration to stay awake. lose concentration She lost concentration for a moment and slipped. a lapse of concentration (=a short period when you do not concentrate) He had a little lapse of concentration and lost the game. 2 [C/u] a large number of people or things in one area or a large amount of something in particular: large concentrations of Christians in this part of the city 3 [C/U] the amount of a substance that is present in something: An investigation found high concentrations of cancer-causing chemicals on the property. 1

[U] the

concentration

camp

noun

[c]

drug. 2 [C/u] something that you think is important: My only concern is to find my daughter. main /primary /major concern Our primary concern is to give our clients a professional service. 3 [u] a feeling that you care about someone and want them to be happy and well: +for He showed a complete lack of concern for the children's welfare. genuine concern "Are you alright?" she said with genuine concern. 4 [singular always in negatives] if something is not your concern, you are not responsible for it and do not need to become involved in it: His private life is no concern of ours. 4a. if something is your concern, you are responsible for it and have to deal with it: If those children are skipping school then that is the parents' concern. 5 [C] a business: a large concern employing 600 people

of concern to sb if something is of concern to you, you think it is important and you feel worried about it: of major/ great concern It's an issue of major concern to employers.

a place like a prison

where ordinary people are kept during a war and where they have to live in very unpleasant conditions con-cen-tric /kan'sentnk/ adj concentric circles all have the same center corvcept /'kan.sept/ noun [c] ••• an idea of something that exists: Some students failed to grasp even the

people have voiced concern over the

Words

frequently used with

adjectives

concern

central, chief, main, major,

2

overriding, primary, principal

concern 2 /kan'ssrn/ verb

[t]

*•*

1 [never passive] to worry someone: It concerns me that these people are not getting the support they need. We

simplest mathematical concepts. +of It's important that children learn to understand the concept of sharing. basic /key concepts The first year introduces the basic concepts of management, a. an idea for something new: a new concept in fast food The company launched its discount airline concept in 1989.

want to know about the issues that concern you, the voters. 2 [never passive] to be about a particular subject: The story concerns a man who was a friend of mine. 3 [never progressive] to involve or affect someone: past doesn 't concern you. These changes concern everyone who has school-age children.

have no concept of sth

concern yourself to pay attention to something because it is important or because it worries you: + with I'm too

something it:

is

like

to be unable to imagine what because you have never experienced

People have no concept of what

it is

like to live in real

poverty.

concept album

noun [c] a record or CD of popular all the songs are about the same subject a single story

music on which or

tell

con-cep-tion/ksn'sepjan/ noun *• 1 [C] a belief about what something

My

busy

to concern myself with such trivial matters. + about There's nothing in the doctor's report to concern yourself about. to it may concern formal used for beginning a very formal letter that is not written to a particular

whom

person is like:

+of His

con«cerned/k3n's3rnd/adj

conception of the world is a very strange one. The report challenges traditional conceptions of the role of women in

1

society.

2 involved/affected 3 feeling care for sb

[singular] the time when someone creates a new idea or thing: She was with the band from its conception. 3 [u] the moment when a woman becomes pregnant after sex

2

have no conception of sth to be unable to understand something because you have no experience of it conceptu-al /kan'septjusl/ adj relating to ideas and /ksn'septjus.laiz/a Br E spelling of

conceptualize

con-cep-tu-al-ize /ksn'septjua.laiz/ verb [J] formal to form an idea about what something is like or how it should work

con-cern

1

/kan'ssrn/ noun

1 feeling of

2

sth

worry

you think important

3 feeling you care for sb

••* 4 5

a responsibility a business

+ PHRASES

1 [u] a feeling of worry about something, especially one that a lot of people have about an important issue: + about/ over/ at Many people expressed concern over moves to restore the

death penalty.

There's a lot ofpublic concern

about modern farming methods. concern that the country

••* 4 giving your 5 about

attention

+ PHRASES

formal worried about something: Concerned parents held a meeting to discuss the issue. + about The police said they were very concerned about the boy's safety. + that She was concerned that her address might be broadcast over 1

the radio. [never before noun] involved in

2

something or affected / suggest you have a quick word with the person concerned. It was a difficult time for all concerned (=for everyone who was involved). +with This is a company that is directly concerned with the defense indus-

by something:

principles: conceptual art

conceptualise

worried

+that There

is

some

may slide into civil war. express/

try.

3 caring about what happens to someone: + about/ think about you. +for He was truly concerned for her happiness. 4 [never before noun] giving your attention to something because you think it is important: + with He's more concerned with what people think about him than anything else. concerned to do sth The government is chiefly concerned to regain control of the economy. 5 [never before noun] [-t-with] dealing with a particular subject: The report is concerned with the relationship between politics and the law. she's genuinely concerned

as/so far as I'm concerned used when you are giving your opinion about something, especially when this

concerning

conclusion

281

be different from other people's opinions: As far as That's I'm concerned, the issue is over and done with. fine, as far as we're concerned. as far as sth is concerned or where sth is concerned used for saying which person or thing you are talking about: / make the decisions as far as finance is concerned. Where spelling is concerned, he's never been a strong

may

student.

preposition formal *• about a particular subject: a newspaper article concerning the problems of overcrowded cities

con-cerrving /kan's3rnin/

Concerning is not used after a verb. It usually follows a noun such as "information," "question," "discussion," or "advice."

visitors to a place

by someone who

AmE

a stand where can buy food and drinks, operated

con'cession .stand noun is

[c]

not directly employed in the place

itself

con-ces-sive clause

/kan'sesiv

,kbz/ noun

[c] lin-

guistics a part of a sentence that usually begins

with

"although," "though," or "while" and contains a fact or idea that seems to oppose the information in the rest of the sentence

conch

/kank; kantjV noun [c] the large curved shell of an ocean creature that is also called a conch /kan'sjer3/ noun [C] 1 someone whose job is to help people staying in a hotel by dealing with problems and giving them information 2 someone,

concierge

whose job is to take care of a large building containing apartments and to watch people entering and leaving the building especially in France,

**

an event at which an /'kansart/ noun [C] orchestra, band, or musician plays or sings in front of an audience: a pop/ rock concert a concert pianist (=who performs in concerts)

con-cert

in concert performing music or songs in a concert in concert (with sb) very formal if two or more people do something in concert, they do it together

con-cert-ed /kan's3rtad/

adj involving a lot of people or organizations working together in a determined way: He called for concerted action against terrorism. We need to make a concerted effort to protect the peacekeepers.

'concert hall noun

a large building where people

[c]

con-cil-i-ate

/kan'sili.eit/ verb [i/t] formal to do something in order to end an argument or make someone

feel less angry con-cil-i-a-tion /kan.sili'eijn/ noun [u] a process that is intended to end an argument between two groups of

people

argument and make people

con-cise

con-cer-ti-na /.kansar'tina/ noun [C] a musical instrument similar to an accordion that you play by pressing buttons on each side and pushing the two sides together a. used about things with parts that can be squeezed or pressed together like the sides of a concertina

con-cer-ti-naed /.kansar'tinad/

consisting adj small folds or other parts pushed together

con-cert-mas-ter

/ 'kansart ,maestar/ noun [C] the most important violin player in an orchestra

of

AmE

con-cer-to

/kan'tjertoo; kan'tj3rtoo/ (plural concerti) noun [C] a piece of music for a musical instrument and an orchestra

con-ces-sion /kan'sejn/ noun

••

noun

adj

feel less

/kan'sais/ adj way that is easy to understand: clear con-cise-iy adv, con-cise-ness

words, but in a concise

go to listen to concerts

trying to end an angry expressed using only a few

con-cil-i-a-to-ry /kan'silia.tari/

instructions

—

[U]

con-clave

/'kan.kleiv/ noun [C] formal a meeting of a group of people who discuss something secretly a. a secret meeting of cardinals (=senior priests) in the Catholic Church, in which they elect a new pope

con-elude /kan'klud/ verb

*•*

something is true after looking at all the evidence you have: +that The report concluded that a world recession was unlikely. 2 [T] formal to officially arrange something: An agreement was concluded under which Thailand would help to 1

[T]

to decide that

develop tourism in Laos. 3 [l]/orma/ to end, especially

doing something: +with The

by someone saying or

article concludes with the

names and addresses of organizations

1 sth

you allow/agree to

2 right given to sb 3 things sold at stand

4 admitting you won't win 5 reduction in taxes etc.

something you give or allow to someone in order reach an agreement: make a concession You have to make concessions in a relationship. + on The company has already made several concessions on pay. * + toHe said there could be no concessions to the terrorists. 1a. [+to] something that you choose to do because it is sensible or convenient for the situation you are in: His only concession to the formality of the occasion was to wear a tie. 2 [C] a right that is given to a person or group, for example to sell something or do a particular activity: Russia has recently sold timber concessions to Japanese and Korean companies. 2a. a small store or business inside a building owned by a larger business 1

[C]

to

be prepared to

-» CONCESSION STAND

AmE

3 concessions [plural] things that are sold at a CONCESSION STAND 4 [u] the fact of admitting that you will not win something such as an argument or game 5 [C] a reduction in the rate of something such as taxes for some groups of people: tax concessions 5a. mainly BrE a reduction in the price of something for some groups of people such as students

Words verbs

frequently used with

concession

gain, grant, obtain, offer, secure,

that can help. conclude by doing sth / conclude by inviting everyone to look at our work displayed at the back of the room. 3a. [T] formal to end something, especially by doing or saying something: conclude sth with sth The author concludes conthe chapter with a brief summary of her research. clude sth by doing sth He concluded the discussion by thanking everyone for attending. 3b. [T] used for reporting the last thing that someone says: "We must end this injustice now, " Robert concluded. 3c. [T] formal to finish something, especially something that has taken a long time: They agreed to conclude negotiations as soon as possible.

Words

con-clud-ing

such as children or disabled people: concessionary fares/ travel

2

/kan'kludirj/ ad]

[only before noun]

hap-

pening or done at the end of a process, activity, or event: concluding remarks / observations / points a. the concluding part of something is its final part: These points will be discussed again in the concluding chapter. con-clu-sion /kan'klu3n/ noun *•* 1 [C] something you decide is true after thinking about it carefully and looking at all the evidence: reach/ draw a conclusion Hubble reached the conclusion that the universe was expanding.* logical conclusion The situation becomes more complicated if his argument is taken to logical conclusion.

coming himself.

con-ces-sion-aire /kan.seja'ner/ noun [c] a person or company that has the legal right to sell things at a place owned by someone else con-ces-sion-ar-y /kan'sejn,eri/ adj cheaper than the usual price or rate, offered to some groups of people

conclude

agreement, contract, deal, pact, treaty

its 1

frequently used with

nouns

to the

come

to a

conclusion Rachel was

conclusion that Lenny was only interested in

+ that Her conclusion was that the situation would

never improve. 2 [singular] formal the end of something: The team has enjoyed a highly successful conclusion to the season. bring sth to a conclusion The sooner the war is brought to a satisfactory conclusion the better. 3 [singular] the process of deciding or agreeing something: The successful conclusion of the deal was announced at a press conference.

^

conclusive

possible.

jump/leap to conclusions to make a decision about something too quickly without knowing all the facts: He saw the two of them together and jumped to the wrong conclusion.

con-clu-sive /kan'klusiv/

adj

*

conclusive evidence,

proof, or information proves that something is true: There is no conclusive evidence to suggest that Mrs. Warner was murdered. The results of this experiment seem pretty conclusive, con-clu-sive-ly adv: opposite inconclusive Her innocence was proved conclusively.

—

—

con-coct /ksn'kakt/

verb [t] 1 to invent a false explanation or false information, especially for a dishonest purpose 2 to produce something unusual by mixing things in a new way, especially a drink or meal

con-coc-tion /kan'kakjan/ noun [c] 1 an unusual drink or meal that is made by mixing things in a new way la. something that is made or produced by putting several things or features together: The hat was a fantastic concoction, all feathers and ribbons. 2 a story that is intended to make people believe something that is not true

con-com-i-tant /kan'kamitant/ adj formal happening at the same time as something else con-cord / kankord/ noun [u] 1 formal friendship and peace between people or countries 2 linguistics the way in

which words are used together

correctly, according

grammar con-cor-dance /kan'kordns/ noun to the rules of

1

[u]

formal the

two things have similar features or qualities an alphabetical list of the words used in a book or piece of writing, often showing examples of how each word is used in a sentence con-course /'kan.kDrs/ noun [c] a large area in an fact that

2

[C]

airport or train station, or in front of a public building,

where people can walk

con-crete 1

1

•*

/'kan,krit/adj

based on facts and information: Do you have any

concrete evidence to support these allegations? Let me give you a concrete example of what I mean. la. practical: Some fairly concrete proposals were put forward during the meeting. 2 made of concrete: ugly concrete high-rise buildings

con-crete 2

/'kan.krit; kan'krit/ noun [u] * a hard substance used in building made by mixing cement, sand, small stones, and water: The floors were made of

concrete.

be set in concrete to be fixed and impossible to change: The rules are not set in concrete. /kan'krit; 'kan.krit/ verb [T] concrete or concrete over to cover the surface of the ground or a wall with concrete concrete jungle noun [C] an unpleasant part of a city

con-crete 3

where there are a

lot of

ugly buildings close together

'concrete mixer noun

[c] a machine that mixes cement, sand, small stones, and water to make concrete

'concrete noun noun

[C] linguistics a noun that refers an object that you can see or touch rather than to an idea or feeling

to

con-cu-bine past who had

/'karjkjs.bam/ noun [c] a woman in the a sexual relationship with an important

man but was not married con-cur /kan'k3r/ verb

to

him

[I]

formal

someone or something: We ommendations of

happen

at the

condition

282

a foregone conclusion something that seems certain to happen. It soon became clear that a victory for Sampras was not a foregone conclusion. in conclusion or by way of conclusion used in writing or formal speech for showing that the next thing you say will be the last thing you say: In conclusion, I would like to thank everyone who helped to make this event

1

to

agree with

strongly concur with the rec-

this report.

2

if

events concur, they

same time

con-cur-rence /kan'kArsns/ noun [singular/ U] formal 1 agreement between people 2 a situation in which two or more things happen at the same time con-cur-rent /kan'kArant/ adj formal happening or done at the same time con -cussed /kan'kAst/ adj feeling sick or becoming unconscious for a short time because of a head injury

con-cus-sion /ksn'kAjn/ noun

a head injury that makes someone feel sick or become unconscious for a short time [u]

condemn /kan'dem/ verb [t] •• to say publicly that you think someone or something Politicians have condemned the attacks. sth The mayor condemned the proposal as "very damaging. condemn sb for (doing) sth He 1

is

bad or wrong:

condemn sb/sth as

"

was widely condemned for his behavior after the match. strongly /roundly condemn The statement was roundly condemned by members of the teacher's union. 2 [often passive] to give a punishment to someone who has committed a crime: Both men have been condemned to life imprisonment. Fifty rebels were condemned to death. 3 to order something such as a building or machine to be destroyed because

4

it is

not safe

something condemns you to an unpleasant situit forces you to experience it: The late goal condemned the MetroStars to their first defeat since March. condemnation / .kandem'neijn/ noun [c/u] a public if

ation,

statement in which someone criticizes someone or something severely: their condemnation of the attack

condemnatory

/kan'demna.tori/

adj

expressing

severe criticism

condemned

/kan'demd/

adj

1

a

condemned

pris-

waiting to be killed for their crime 2 a conis in very bad condition and is going to be destroyed

oner

is

demned building

con-den-sa-tion /.kanden'seijn/ noun [u] 1 the water on windows or walls that forms when steam or warm air changes into liquid 2 the process in which a gas changes into a liquid

con-dense

/kan'dens/ verb 1 [i/t] if gas or steam condenses, or if something condenses it, it changes into a liquid 2 [T] to make a piece of writing shorter by removing some parts 2a. to make anything shorter or smaller: A month-long training course had been condensed into two weeks.

condensed milk

/kan.denst 'milk/ noun [u] thick sweet milk that is sold in cans con-dens-er /kan'denssr/ noun [c] 1 a piece of equipment used for changing gases into liquids 2 a piece of equipment in a car engine that stores electricity con-de-scend /.kanda'send/ verb [i] to behave in a way that shows that you think you are more important or more intelligent than other people: +to Try not to condescend to the children. condescend to do sth We waited 20 minutes before she finally condescended to appear. condescending /.kanda'sendiq/ adj showing that you think you are more important or more intelligent con-de-scend-ing-ly adv than other people con-de-scen-sion /.kanda'senjn/noun [u]/orma/the behavior of someone that shows they think they are more important or more intelligent than other people con-di-ment /'kandimant/ noun [c] formal something such as salt, pepper, or a sauce that you put on food at the table to

make

it

taste better

1

con-di-tion /kan'dijn/ noun

•••

physical state of something: The survey will assess the condition of thousands of bridges. in good/ bad/terrible etc. condition The house is in fairly good condition. 1a. the physical state of a person or animal, especially how healthy they are: She's in excellent physical condition, lb. used for talking about how sick a person in a hospital is: His condition deteriorated overnight and he died the following day. in a serious/critical condition A hospital spokesperson said the victim was in a 1

[singular/u] the

serious condition.

2 conditions

the situation or environment in exists: Demand will remain a change in economic conditions. +for the necessary conditions for the formation of sand dunes under difficult /appalling conditions The rescue was create carried out under extremely difficult conditions. the conditions (for sth) The teacher creates the conditions that will allow the children to learn. 2a. the environment in which people must live and work: He dedicated his living /working life to improving prison conditions. conditions The project aims to provide better living conin terrible/appalditions and health care for the elderly. ling conditions Many of the refugees are living in appalling [plural]

which something happens or low unless there

is

condition

lay down /impose conditions financial conditions. The company is going to challenge the conditions imposed by the export controls. terms and conditions Make sure you read the terms and conditions carefully before signing strict

the contract. [C] an illness or health problem that lasts a long time and affects the way you live: heart/ liver/ lung condition David has a severe heart condition. medical condition Do both of the children suffer from the same medical condition?

4

no condition to do sth too sick, upset, or drunk do something: He was certainly in no condition to in

to

be

driving a car.

on condition (that) used for saying that one thing will happen only if another thing also happens: They spoke on condition that their names would not be used in the article.

out of condition not healthy or

fit

con-di-tion 2 /kan'dijn/ verb [t] 1 to make your hair or skin feel softer and more healthy by putting a substance on it 2 [usually passive] if someone is conditioned by their experiences or by another person, they are influenced by them so that they think or behave in a particular way: Consumers have been conditioned to expect cheap gas. 3 [usually passive] formal to control or influence something: Her responses to the questions were conditioned by political considerations.

*

conditional

/kan'dijnsl/adj 1 something that is conditional will only happen if something else happens: Conditional planning approval was granted. + on /upon The job offer is conditional on passing a medical examination. 2 linguistics a conditional clause usually begins with "if" or "unless" and says what must happen or exist in order for the information in the main part of the sentence to be true con-di-tion-al-ly adv: Our school's participation in the competition has been conditionally approved.

—

con-di-tion-al, the /kan'dijnal/ noun linguistics the verb form used for saying that something must happen or exist in order for something else to be true conditional 'discharge noun [c] a judgment given by a court of law in which someone who has committed a crime will not be punished if they obey particular conditions and rules conditioner /kan'dijnsr/ noun [c/u] a liquid that you put on your hair after washing it to make it smoother and softer conditioning /kan'dijnin/ noun [u] the influence of things such as culture and education, that make people behave or react in particular ways: social conditioning con-do /'kandoo/ noun [C] AmE informal * a condominium

con-do-lence

confederacy

283

conditions without clean water. 2b. the weather, especially when it is bad: The storm brought freezing conditions across much of the state. in wet/windy conditions Both teams played well in difficult windy conditions. 2c. [singular]/orma/ life and the situations that people have to deal with, especially when this is difficult: The reforms actually worsened the condition of people in rural communities.* the human condition philosophers exploring the human condition 3 [C] something that must be true or be done before another thing can happen, especially as part of an agreement, law, or contract: It is a condition of his release meet/ satisfy conthat he stays away from his ex-wife. ditions In order to qualify for the loan you have to meet

/kan'dootans/

noun

dolences the things that you say

when someone has

just died:

We

to

offer

[plural]

con-

show sympathy

our condolences

to

David and his family on their tragic loss. a letter/message/book of condolence a letter that you write or a book that you write in to show that you are sorry that someone has died condom /'kandam/ noun [C] a thin rubber tube that a man covers his penis with during sex, in order to prevent a woman from becoming pregnant or to protect against sexual diseases

con-domin-i-um /.kanda'mmiam/

noun

[C]

AmE •

a building that contains several apartments, each of which is owned by the people who live there a. an apartment in this building b. go condominium if a

building goes condominium, it changes from having rented apartments to having owned apartments con-done /ksn'doon/ verb [t usually negative] to approve of behavior that most people think is wrong: The company does not condone discrimination of any kind. con-dor /'kan.dor/ noun [c] a large black and white bird that lives in South America and eats dead animals con-du-cive /kan'dusiv/ adj [+to] creating a situation that helps something to happen: Teachers need to create a classroom atmosphere that is conducive to learning.

***

1

con-duct /ksn'dAkt/ verb

do something in an organized way: The rental agreement doesn allow you to conduct business Gonzalez has conducted an impressive from your home. conduct a survey / investigation/ electoral campaign. interview /experiment The interview was conducted by [T often passive] to

1

't

telephone. [T] formal to take someone somewhere [T] if something conducts heat or electricity, heat or electricity can move through it 4 [I/T] to stand in front of an orchestra or group of

2 3

singers and direct the

way they

conduct yourselfformal

to

play or sing

behave

He has conducted himself with

in a particular

way:

dignity.

con-duct 2 /'kan.dAkt/ noun [u] formal *• 1 the way someone behaves, especially in

relation to particular rules or accepted ways of behaving: Two players were ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct. 2 the way in which a process or activity is managed: Many observers criticized the conduct of the trial.

Words

frequently used with

adjectives

conduct

criminal, disorderly, improper, offensive, violent

con-duct-ed tour /kan.dAktad

'tur/

1

noun

[c]

a guided

TOUR

con-duc-tor /kan'dAktar/ noun [C] * 1 someone who directs the musicians or other musical group 2 someone on a train, bus,

etc.

who

of

an orchestra

checks passengers'

and collects money a substance that allows heat or electricity to pass through it: Metals are good conductors of electricity. con-duC'tress/kan'dAktras/noun [c] mainly Br E oldfashioned a woman on a bus or train who checks pastickets

3

sengers' tickets

and

collects

money

con-duit

/'kan,duit; 'kandit/ noun [C] 1 a pipe or passage that water flows through to go from one place another 2 a plastic tube that covers and protects to wires 3 formal a person, place, or system that is used for passing goods or information from one group of

people to another

cone /koun/

noun

[c]

*

an object with a circular base that rises to a point. Something in the shape of a cone is conical: a large 1

building shaped like a cone a tower with a cone-shaped roof —picture -» shape 2 a cone shape that you put ice cream in and eat: an ice cream cone 3 BrE a plastic object shaped like a cone that is put in the road to prevent traffic from driving or stopping somewhere: a traffic cone picture -» C6 4 the fruit of a pine tree: a pine cone

—

Co-ney ls-land

/'kouni ,aitand/ a famous amusement park in Brooklyn, New York /'kan.fasb/ noun [C] informal an informal private discussion to decide something con-fec-tion /kan'fekjan/ noun [C] formal 1 any sweet food, especially a cake 2 something that is made of different parts that look attractive together con-fec-tion-er /ksn'fekfanar/ noun [C] someone

con-fab

whose job is to make or sell candy and chocolates confectioner's .sugar noun [u] AmE sugar that

it

is like a powder and is used for making candy and decorating cakes con-fec-tion-er-y /kan'fekfanari/ noun 1 [c] a store that sells sweet foods such as cakes and pies 2 [u] sweet foods such as cakes

con-fed-er-a-cy

/k3n'fed(3)rasi/ noun [c] a group of people, states, or political parties that are united

^

Confederacy /kon'iedarosi/ in the American Civil War, the group of southern states that fought the

northern Union.

The northern

states.

con-fed-er-ate

1

confident

284

Con-f ed-er-a-cy, the

states

were called the

/kon Tcd(o)r3t/ noun

(c) 1 one of a states, or political parties who have united for a particular purpose, especially a political one 2 someone who works with you to achieve something, often something secret or illegal 3 a citizen of the Confederacy or a soldier in their army

group of people,

con-f ederate 2 /kan'fcdOJrat/

adj

formal

1

united

in order to achieve a particular purpose, especially a one 2 connected with the Confederacy during the American Civil War: the Confederate States/flag/ currency

political

con-fed-er-ate 3

/kan'feda.reit/ verb [i] to unite with other people, states, or political parties

con-f ed-er-a-tion

/kan.feda'reijn/ noun [c] a group of people or organizations that are united /kan'f3r/ verb * 1 [i] to discuss something with other people in order to reach a decision: + with He asked for some time to confer

con-fer

with his lawyers. [T]formal to give something such as authority, a legal an honor to someone: The university conferred an honorary doctorate on her. A share confers certain rights on the person who holds it.

confession

/kon'fejn/ noun • 1 [C/U] a spoken or written statement in which you admit that you have committed a crime: Higgs later made a full confession to the police. 2 [C/U] a statement about yourself that you would not normally make because you are embarrassed about it: His speech was seen as a confession of weakness. make a confession / have a confession to make - I forgot your

present.

3

[C/U] a statement that you make to a priest in which you say what bad things you have done and ask to be forgiven

4

[C] an official statement about what religious beliefs you have: a confession offaith con-fes-sion-al 1 /kan'fefnal/ noun [c] a small room in a Roman Catholic church where a person goes to tell a priest about the bad things they have done confessional 2 /kan'fejnal/ ad] admitting to bad or embarrassing things that you have done: a confessional letter

con-fes-sor /kan'fesar/ noun [c] a priest who listens to someone admit to the bad things that they have done con-f et-ti /kan'feti/ noun [u] small pieces of colored

2

paper that people throw in the air at a celebration,

right, or

especially a

conference

1

***

/'kanf(a)r3ns/ noun [c] a large meeting, often lasting a few days, where people who are interested in a particular subject come together to discuss ideas: the annual conference of the Police Federation + on an international conference on the control of illegal drugs attend a conference Many Americans are attending the conference. party/ peace/ sales conference the 1991 Middle East peace conference in Madrid la. a meeting where a small number of people have formal discussions: The President arrived for a conference with local officials. in conference I'm afraid you can't see him now: he's in conference. 1b. [only before noun] used for conferences: a conference table/ hall/ room/ 1

center

verbs

address, attend, convene, go hold, host, organize

to,

1

conference 2

/'kanf(3)rans/ verb [i] informal to have a conference or be in a conference conference call noun [c] a telephone call in which three or more people use special equipment that allows each of them to hear and speak with the others

con-f er-enc-ing /'kanf(3)r3nsin/ noun

[u]

video-

conferencing

con-f ess /kan'fes/ verb [i/t] •• 1 to admit that you have committed a crime: After three hours of interrogation, he confessed everything. confess he confessed to the police. confess to (doing) sth Simpson has confessed to taking the money. + (that) He later confessed that he had been involved in

to sb Eventually

the attack. 1a. to admit that you have done something wrong: He confessed to Sarah that he had been seeing another woman. 2 to admit something about yourself that you would not normally tell people because you are embarrassed about it or they could be disappointed by it: 7 had to confess my ignorance when they asked me to operate the

+ (that) He confessed he did not understand financial matters at all. confess to doing sth Nick confessed to being a secret opera fan. confess to sb that Years later Luke confessed to friends that he really fancied me. 3 to tell a priest about the bad things you have done, and ask to be forgiven for them truck.

I

must confess spoken used when you are admitting a

feeling or opinion that you would not normally tell people about: I must confess I was slightly annoyed by his attitude.

con-f essed

/kan'fest/ adj [only before noun] admitting that you have done something or that you are a particular type of person: a confessed workaholic/ romantic/

murderer /thief

like confetti.

con-f i-dant someone you

/'kanfi.dsent; 'kanfi.dant/ noun trust and can discuss your secrets private feelings with

[c]

and

confidante woman you

/'kanfi.daent; 'kanfi.dant/ noun [c] a trust and can discuss your secrets and

private feelings with [I/T] * to tell someone a secret or discuss your private feelings with them: confide sth He confided his doubts to me. +that She confided to friends that she was scared of her mother. + in I hope you know that you can always confide in me.

con-fide /kan'faid/ verb to sb

con-fi-dence /'kanfidans/ noun

•••

the belief that you are able to do things well: give sb confidence Motherhood gave her confidence. gain/lose confidence The more he fails, the more he loses confidence in his abilities. lack the confidence to do sth He would lack the confidence to find a job elsewhere. + in You should have more confidence in your own abilities. have confidence He's a nice boy, but he doesn't have much con1

2 a group of teams that play against each other Words frequently used with conference

wedding

like confetti used for saying that things are being given to a lot of people: University degrees are being handed out

[U]

fidence. 2 [u] the belief that

someone or something is good and you can trust them: +in Public confidence in the all-time an low. have confidence I have

that

police is at

complete confidence in our chairman. inspire confidence their record does not inspire lose confidence Many businesses have lost confidence. confidence in the government's ability to handle the economy. restore confidence We must work to restore

As has already been suggested,

local confidence in the school. [u] if you have confidence that

3

something

is

true,

you

feel certain that it is true: with confidence I can say with confidence that all our targets have now been met. have confidence in I have complete confidence in these statistics. + that He expressed his confidence that the project would be a success. 4 [c] a secret that you tell someone

gain /get sb's confidence to make someone feel that they can trust you in confidence if you tell someone something in confidence, you tell them something secret or private and you trust them not to tell anyone else: in strict/the strictest confidence Any information given during the interview will be treated in the strictest confidence. take sb into your confidence to tell someone something secret or private

game noun [c] a trick in which someone persuades another person to trust them and then gets

'confidence

money from them con-f i-dent /'kanfidant/ ad] •• 1 someone who is confident believes ities

in their

own

abil-

and so does not feel nervous or frightened: a conmood /smile /manner + about I was starting to feel

fident

more confident about

the exam.

confident

in

/of your

confidential He

is

*

con-f idential

/,kanfi'denjl/ adj 1 ^qonfidential documents or information must be kept secret: strictly/ highly confidential The reports are treated as strictly confidential. 2 showing that what you are going to say must be kept secret: His confidential manner led me to expect important news.

con-f i-den-ti-al-i-ty situation in secret

/,kanfidenji'aebti/ noun

[u]

a

which important information must be kept

con-f i-den-tial-ly someone something

adv

/.kanfi'denfli/

if

you

tell

confidentially, you tell them secret, trusting that they will not tell anyone else

con-f id-ing /kan'faidin/ open way that shows you con-fig-u-ra-tion noun [C/U]

adj

in

giving information in an

trust

someone

/kan.figjs'reifn;

kan.figa'reifn/

* way

in which the different parts of something are put together: We sell computer systems in lots of different configurations. 2 the way that the different parts of something are arranged to make a particular shape 1

technical the

con-fig-ure

/kan'figjor; kan'figsr/ verb

[t]

technical to

arrange the parts of something, especially the software of a computer, so that it works in the way you want it to

confine 1

conformity

285

confident in his ability to do the job well. supremely confident a supremely confident young man quietly confident Hingis is looking quietly confident as she walks out on court. 2 certain that something will happen or be successful: + of We were confident of victory. +that We are confident confident in the that the show will open on Thursday. knowledge that You can go out, confident in the knowledge that your house is safe. ability

/kan'fam/ verb

[T]

[usually passive] to force

•

someone

3

to formally support something and allow it to happen: The parliament's decision still has to be confirmed in a referendum. 3a. to formally accept someone new in [T]

an important position: Nigel Hill was yesterday confirmed new chief executive. [T usually passive] to formally accept someone into the Christian Church or a Reform Jewish Church in a special ceremony

as the

4

con-fir-ma-tion /.kanfar'meijn/ noun

*

a statement saying that something is definitely true or accurate: The claims have received independent confirmation from a team of experts. + that There has been no official confirmation that the documents are genuine. 2 [u] a statement that something will definitely happen at the time or in the way that has been arranged: The hotel will send you written confirmation ofyour reservation. 3 [U] the process of formally supporting or accepting a decision 4 [C/U] a religious ceremony in which someone becomes a full member of a Christian Church or a 1

[U]

Reform Jewish Church

confirmed

/ksn'fsrmd/

adj 1

[only before noun]

always

living in a particular way, having a particular belief, or behaving in a particular way: He is a confirmed bachelor. a confirmed atheist 2 proved and therefore known to be true or accurate: There have been eight confirmed cases of the disease.

con-f is-cate

/'kanfi.skeit/ verb

[T]

to officially

remove

someone's possessions for legal reasons or as a punishment: Police confiscated their weapons. confis'ca'tion/.kanfi'skeiJCaJn/ noun [C/U] con-f la-gra-tion /.kanfb'greijn/ noun [c] formal 1 a very large fire that causes a lot of damage 2 a situation

—

in which there is a lot of violence or destruction con-f late /kan'fleit/ verb [J] formal to combine two or more things — con-fla-tion/kan'fleif^n/ noun [u] conflict /'kan.flikt/ noun [C/u] *•* 1

to stay in a place

and prevent them from leaving: Many prisoners are

con-

fined to their cells for long periods of time. la. to make someone stay in a place because they are too ill, weak, or disabled to leave: /// health kept him confined to his room. 2 to prevent something dangerous from spreading: They managed to confine the fire to the engine room.

3 [always passive] if something is confined to one area or group of people, it happens only in that area or affects only that group of people: Before 1914 divorce was largely confined to the upper classes. The risk of infection is confined to relatively small groups. 3a. formal to keep an activity within particular

limits: / shall attempt to confine the discussion to broad principles.

con-fined /kan'famd/ adj a confined space is so small that you cannot move around in it easily con-fine-ment /kon'fainmsnt/ noun 1 [u] a situation which someone is forced to stay in a place, especially a prison, and not allowed to leave 2 [C/u] old-fashioned the time during which a pregnant woman gives birth in

confines

/'kan.famz/ noun [plural] 1 the borders or edges of a place: They spent most of their time within the

confines of the school. 2 the limits of something such as an activity or way of life: You can't really discuss politics within the confines of a novel.

/kan'farm/ verb *** 1 [T] to prove that something is true: The study confirms the findings of earlier research. Please bring something with you that confirms your identity. +(that) The doctor may run a test to confirm that you are pregnant, la. to

con firm

angry disagreement between people or groups: / try to avoid conflict wherever possible. + between The issue provoked conflicts between the press and the police. be in conflict (with sb) She is in conflict with her employers over 1

sick pay. come into conflict (with sb) He and his ex-wife frequently came into conflict. +over The management team is keen to resolve the conflict over wages. 1a. mainly journalism fighting between countries or groups: diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Liberia the ArabIsraeli conflict

2

a situation in which it is difficult for two things to exist together or be true at the same time: + between There is a conflict between the two sides of his personality. 2a. a feeling of being nervous or unhappy because you want two different things at the same time: inner conflicts

conflict of interest(s) 1

a situation in which someone

cannot make fair decisions because they will be affected by the results 2 a situation in which something that is good for one person is bad for another person

conflict 2 /kanflikt/

verb [I] * if different ideas or opinions conflict, they cannot all be right or cannot all +with happen: Our views on childcare often conflict. His account conflicted with reports received from other

journalists.

con-flic-ted /.kan'fliktsd/ ad] unable to decide what your feelings or opinions are about something

con-flu-ence /'kanfluons/ noun [singular] formal 1 a place where two rivers join 2 a situation in which two or more things come together

*

make you feel sure that an idea or belief is right or true: confirm sb's suspicions Their strange behavior was enough to confirm my suspicions. confirm sb's fears When she saw the letter her worst fears were confirmed. confirm sb in their belief /view /determination etc. His words

con-form

confirmed me in my belief that our cause was right. 1 b. to say that something is definitely true because you know about it: We cannot confirm the number of jobs that will be lost. +that The principal confirmed that two pupils had been expelled. 2 [l/T] to tell someone, usually by writing or telephoning, that something will definitely happen at the time or in the way that has been arranged: You can make an appointment now, and then call nearer the time to confirm. The date of the meeting is still to be confirmed.

standard specifications. [+to] to be similar to an idea of what is usual or normal: He doesn't conform to the stereotype of a military man. con-form-ist /kon'formist/ adj behaving in a way that most people think is correct or suitable —con-form-ist noun [C] con-form-i-ty /kon'farmati/ noun [u] behavior that is acceptable because it is similar to the behavior of everyone else

/kan'form/ verb

[i]

to behave in a way that people think is correct or suitable: Part of her charm was her refusal to conform. 2 [+to/with] to obey something such as a rule or law: Products are always tested to make sure that they conform 1

to

3

^

confound con-found

/kon'faond/ verb

1

[T]

to

make someone

surprised or confused, especially by not behaving way they expect: She confounded her critics by winning the race. 2 if you are confounded by something, you cannot understand it: We were totally confounded by her reaction. 3 formal to prove that something is wrong: This new evidence confounds your theory. 4 old-fashioned to defeat someone or prevent them from being sucfeel

in the

confound it /him /her /them old-fashioned used for showing that you are annoyed confound-ed /kan'faondsd/ adj [only before noun) oldfashioned used for showing that you are annoyed: She's a confounded nuisance.

con-front /ksn'fr Ant/

verb

[T]

with a difficult situation: It takes courage to We need to confront these problems confront your fears. before it's too late. la. if a problem or difficult situation confronts you, you have to deal with it: the problems confronting the church be confronted with She was confronted with the biggest crisis of her political life. 2 [often passive] to go close to someone in a threatening way: The guard on duty was confronted by an armed man. 3 [usually passive] if you are confronted with infor-

given to you and you must say whether it is true: When confronted with the documents, Hunter admitted the charges against him. it is

•*

con-fron-tation

/.kanfrsn'teijn/ noun [c/u] a situation in which people or groups are arguing angrily or fighting: Tom and Sue were anxious to avoid any further confrontation. + with Thirteen people were injured following violent confrontations with the police.

con'fron-ta'tion-al/.kanfrsn'teij'nsl/adj behaving in a way that shows you want to have an argument or fight with someone

Con-fu-cius

/kan'fjujss/ Confucius says/Confucius he say informal a phrase people sometimes say as a joke before giving someone a piece of advice

Confucius was an ancient Chinese thinker saying wise things.

known

for

con'fuse/ksn'fjuz/ verb [T] ** 1 to make someone feel that they do not understand something: If you don't explain clearly, you'll just confuse Customers are confused by the range of prodthe reader. ucts for sale.

2

contused /kan'fjuzd/ adj ** unable to understand something or think clearly about it: She was starting to feel a bit confused. + about I'm still a little confused about what happened. totally/ utterly /thoroughly /hopelessly confused Polly stared at him, totally confused, la. used for describing someone whose memory or mental powers are starting to fail 2 complicated and not well organized or explained: Their ideas were a bit confused. The situation is still 1

fairly confused.

— con«fus«ed«ly/kan'fjuz3dli/adv

Metaphor Being confused

is like

being lost or in the

wrong place

or position.

You've lost me. What do you mean? / was completely I felt adrift and at sea- it was all so new to me. / seem to have alone, with no real sense of direction. / don 't know if I'm coming or lost my bearings. You 've got it going. I feel like a fish out of water. all

-»

names

are

confusingly

similar.

con-fu«sion/k3n'fju3n/noun •• 1 [U] a feeling that you do not understand something or cannot decide what to do: + about/over There seems to be some confusion about who actually won. + as to There was some confusion as to his real identity. cause/create/ lead to confusion These changes have just caused more confusion among teachers. in confusion She stared at him in confusion. [u] a situation in which things are messy, badly organized, or not clear: Inside the building was a scene of total confusion. in (all) the confusion In all the confusion, we lost sight of each other. confusion reigns Confusion reigned as officials finally tried to sort out who had won

the race. [singular/ u] a situation in which you mistake one person or thing for another: There was a confusion between the governor's proposal and the Senate's. Could there have been a confusion of identities? avoid confusion The wires are color-coded to avoid confusion. con*ga /'kanga/ noun [C] a Latin American dance performed in a line with each person's hands on the hips of the person in front of them con*ga verb [i] con game noun [c] a plan to steal people's money by

—

tricking

them

con-geal /ksn^il/ blood or

fat congeals,

— concealed adj

verb it

[i]

if

a substance such as

becomes thick and almost

backwards. KNOWLEDGE, MISTAKE, SITUATION

con-fus-ing /kan'fjuzin/

adj

•

if

something

is

con-

fusing, it is not easy to understand because it is complicated or not well organized or explained: Some of the questions he asked were very confusing:* She had left a very confusing message on my answering machine.

solid

con*gen*ial /kan^inial/ adj friendly and enjoying the company of others a. a congenial situation is pleasant, friendly, and enjoyable congen-i-tal /k3n'd3enitl/ adj a congenital medical condition is one that a person has had since they were born a. if someone has a congenital fault, they have always had it: He's a congenital liar.

con-ger eel

/.karjgsr

snake that lives in

noun [c] a sea animal like a parts of the Atlantic Ocean

'il/

warm

1 with so adj many vehicles or people that it is difficult to move about: Many of Europe' s major airports are heavily congested. 2 blocked with blood or another liquid: His nose was congested and his throat hurt.

con*gest«ed /ksn^estsd/

con-ges-tion /kan'd3estj3n/ noun

[u] 1

a situation in

which a place is crowded with people or vehicles 2 a condition in which a part of your body is blocked with blood or another liquid

con-glom-er-ate /kan'glamarat/ noun

make something more complicated

or difficult to understand: This latest piece of information only confuses the issue further. to confuse things /matters To confuse matters, each of the experts says something different. 3 to mistake one thing for a different thing: It's easy to confuse them because they're so alike. to

Their

3

*•

to deal

mation,

-con*fus*ing*ly adv:

2

cessful

1

congregate

286

in conformity withformal according to a particular set of rules

[c]

1

a large

business organization that was formed when several different businesses joined together 2 something made by combining things of different types

con-glom-er-a-tion /ksn.glama'reijn/ noun [c] lection of many different types of things con-grats /kan'graets/ interjection informal

a colcon-

gratulations

con-grat-u-late /kan'graetja.leit/ verb [T] • to tell someone you are pleased about their success, good luck, or happiness on a special occasion: The men were all congratulate sb on congratulating one another warmly. sth / congratulated him on his recent promotion.

congratulate yourself to be proud of yourself for being successful or lucky: +on / was congratulating myself on

my lucky escape when disaster struck. sb is to be congratulated for sth a formal way of saying that someone has done well: Your secretary is to be congratulated for his prompt actions. con-grat'U'la'tion/kan.graetjVleiJri/ noun • used for 1 congratulations [plural] mainly spoken telling someone you are pleased about their success, good luck, or happiness on a special occasion: "I've passed my driving test. " "Congratulations!" That's great news - give her my congratulations. + on Congratulations on your 50th wedding anniversary. 2 [u] formal an expression of pleasure to someone for their success, good luck, or happiness on a special occasion: We had thousands of letters of congratulation. con*grat*u*la*to*ry /kan'graetJab.tDri/ adj formal offering congratulations

con-gre-gate

/ 'kangra.geit/ verb [I] to gather together in a group: Tourists congregated along the river's edge.

congregation [C]

* a group of

people gathered together for a religious service a. the group of people who regularly worship at a particular

church a large meeting of con-gress members of a political group: His resignation came on the final day of the party congress. 1a. a formal meeting of representatives, for example from different nations or scientific organizations, to discuss ideas, make plans, or solve problems: an international conservation congress 2 a group of people who are chosen or elected to make laws in some countries: a new peace initiative approved by Mexico's congress Con-gress /'kangrss/ the group of people in the U.S. who are elected to make laws. It consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate: Congress has approved a bill to raise taxes. member of Congress He's been an effective member of Congress and a close ally of

/'kaggrss/ noun

[C]

1

the President.

Congres-sional Med-al of Honor, the

/ksn-

.grejnsl medl av 'ansr/ the most important military in the U.S., given to soldiers who have been

honor

extremely brave

congress-man

/'kangrasman/ (plural con*gress*men a man who is a member /'karjgrssman/) noun [C] of the U.S. Congress, especially the House of Representatives

**

con-gress-per-son

(plural con/'kangrss.parsn/ gress«peo«ple/'kangr3S,pipl/) noun [C] someone who is a especially the House of member of the U.S. Congress,

Representatives

congress-woman

con-junc-tion /koncbjAnkjon/ noun 1 [C] linguistics a word that is used to join words, phrases, clauses, and for example "and," "because," and sentences, "but" 2 [C/U] formal a combination of two or more things: The conjunction of computers and communications is perhaps the most important aspect of information technology. 3 [C] a situation in which events or conditions combine, usually influencing other events: a conjunction offavorable political and economic circumstances

in conjunction with combined with: This diet will only work in conjunction with regular exercise. con-junc-ti-vi-tis /ksn^Aijkti'vaitis/ noun [u] an illness in which the inside of your eyelid becomes red and swollen con- jure /'kAnd33i7 verb (i/t] to perform magic tricks to entertain people, especially tricks using quick hand

movements a name to conjure with the name of a person or organization that is very important or has a lot of influence conjure up phrasal vb (T] 1 to create or achieve something difficult or unexpected, as if by magic: They managed to conjure up a win to get into the playoffs. 2 to bring something such as a feeling or memory to your mind: a name that conjures up the romantic nature of the 1920s 3 to make something appear using magic powers: They found her at the bottom of the garden, conjuring up the spirits

(plural

con-

— con-gru-ence noun [U]

con-gru-ous /'kangruas/

conk

adj very

formal appropriate

/kank/ verb [T] informal to hit someone, espeon their head conk out phrasal vb [i] informal 1 to suddenly stop working 2 to go to sleep, especially suddenly conk 2 /kank/ noun [C] BrE informal a nose

con-man

1 join

[C] a type of tree that produces cones containing its seeds, has long thin leaves called needles, and stays green all year

co-nif-er-ous /koo'nifsras/

ad] a coniferous tree proa coniferous forest has only conifers

it 1

con-jec-ture /kan'd3ektj3r/ noun [u] the development of a theory or guess based on information that is not complete: purely conjecture (=a guess) The cause of the crash is purely conjecture at this point, a. [C] a theory or guess based on information that is not complete: If his conjecture was correct, the mixture should explode in a few

—

moments. conjectural adj con«jec«ture 2 /k3n'd3ektj3r/ verb that something

is

[\n] formal to decide true or likely based on the infor-

mation you have

con-join /k3n'd30in/ verb [i/t] very formal to join together or to make things join together con-joined twin /ksn^omd 'twin/ noun [C] medical one of two people who are physically joined

at birth.

The more usual word is Siamese twin. con-ju-gal /'kand33gl/ adj formal relating to marriage .conjugal 'rights noun [plural] the rights that each partner has in a marriage, especially the right each has to have sex with the other

.conjugal 'visit noun [C] a visit to a prisoner by their husband or wife during which they have time together in a private room, and may have sex con-ju-gate /'kand33,geit/ verb linguistics 1 [T] to state the different forms a verb can have, for example according to the number of people it refers to and

refers to the present, past, or future 2 [I] if a verb conjugates, it has different forms: Today we learn how the verb "to be" conjugates.

whether

it

con-ju-ga-tion /,kand33'geijn/ noun [C] linguistics 1 the way you conjugate a particular verb: the conjugation of the verb "to see" 2 a group of verbs that all conjugate using the same pattern

/'kanrnaen/

man who

con-nect

con-i-f er / 'kanifar/ noun

a.

a

to get their

/'kanikl/ adj in the shape of a cone

growing in

1

cially

[C]

in a particular situation

duces cones

of her ancestors.

con-jur-er or con-jur-or /'kAnd33r3r/ noun [C] someone who performs magic tricks as entertainment, especially tricks using quick hand movements. This is called conjuring.

/'kangras.woman/

gress«wom«en/'kangr3S,wimin/) noun [C] a woman who is a member of the U.S. Congress, especially of the House of Representatives con-gru-ent /'kangruant/ adj 1 very formal similar to or appropriate for something 2 technical congruent shapes are exactly the same size and shape

conical

connect

287

con'gre-ga-tion/.kaqgra'geijn/noun

(plural

coirmen /'kan.men/) noun

tricks other people, especially in order

money

/ks'nekt/ verb

*** 5 understand sb/sth 6 manage to hit sb/sth

things/places

2 allow communication 3 show a relationship 4 in changing vehicles

+ PHRASES

1 (l/T] to join two things together She carefully connected the two wires. The boxes are connected by lines that show connect sth to /with their mathematical relationships. sth It has speakers inside, which you can connect to your sound card. + to /with This cable connects to the back of the TV. la. to join two places, making it possible for people and things to move between them: ferry connects connect sth to /with sth the mainland and the island. The upper town is connected to the lower town by cable or connect car. 1b. connect up to join something to a supply of electricity, water, etc.: Check that your printer be is connected properly and that the power is turned on. connected to sth We aren't connected to the municipal water supply. 2 [l/T] to make it possible for someone to communicate using a telephone or computer network Please wait, we connect sb to /with sth The are trying to connect you. + to /with operator connected her to the police station. Your modem enables you to connect to the Internet. :

A

:

3 [T] to show a relationship between one person or thing and another: There was no evidence then to connect smoking and lung cancer. connect sb with sth The public connect sb to sth connects him with sports not politics. There is no evidence to connect him to the murder. 4 [I] if one train, airplane, bus, etc. connects with another one, it arrives in time for you to continue your trip on the other one: This train connects with the 9:05 train to Denver.

5 [i] to feel you understand someone or something and have the same ideas, opinions, and beliefs: ,4s soon as we met, we connected. +with Younger audiences didn't connect with the movie.

6

[I]

to

manage

punch didn

't

to hit someone or something: His first connect. + with Her foot connected with the

ball.

connect up

phrasal vb 1

[l/T]

same as connect

it>:

The

connected

conscience clause

plumber came and connected up

connect the dishwasher. sth up to sth I've connected the modem up to the phone line. 2 [i/t] to make it possible for someone to communicate using a computer network: + to I'm just trying to connect up to the e-mail server. 3 [T] to join several things or places together: a network of canals connecting up all the

major ports

con-nect-ed /ka'nektad/

adj

con-nive

/ko'naiv/ verb

1 to plan secretly, espedo something that is illegal or immoral: connive (with sb) to do sth The officials allegedly connived to take public funds for personal use. 2 to ignore behavior or an activity that is wrong, or do nothing to stop it, so that you seem to approve of it: +at Such crimes are common and are often connived at by the legal system.

cially to

— con-niv-ance noun

*

[singular/u]

joined to each other or to something else: connected underground tunnels The dishwasher isn t connected yet. 2 things such as ideas, events, or facts that are connected are related to each other: Were the two deaths connected?* + with /to a meeting to discuss issues connected with genetic engineering closely connected These three parts of the brain are closely connected. 2a. used about people who have a social, business, or family relationship: + with /to /by How are you connected with the business?* The ruling families are connected by marriage. 3 able to communicate using a telephone or computer network: The computers are connected remotely by tele-

con-niv-ing /ko'naivin/

phone

con-note

1

line.

•••

con-nec-tion /ka'nekjan/ noun 1

relationship

2 3

joining of

in

between

transportation

two things

:

in connection with formal relating to something: A Police raffle was being held in connection with the fair. want to talk to him in connection with his wife's disappearance. 1

/ka'nektiv/

adj

formal joining things

together

con-nec-tive /ks'nektiv/ noun

[c] linguistics

a con-

junction

connective tissue

noun [u] medical the parts of your body that connect or support organs and other parts of your body con-nec-tiv-i-ty/.kanek'tivati/noun u computing the ability of computers and other types of electronic equipment to connect successfully with other computers or programs con-nect-or /ksnektar/ noun [c] an object attached to the end of a wire, used for connecting two pieces of equipment con'nect .time noun [u] computing the amount of time that a computer is logged on (^connected) to another computer through a modem. Many Internet service providers charge their customers according to their [

]

connect time.

con-nex-ion /ka'nekjsn/ a Br E

spelling of

connection

con-nip-tion /ka'nipjan/ or con niption fit noun Am E informal someone who has or throws a conniption becomes very angry or upset about something and starts shouting

dishonest in a clever way, you want or in

harm someone con-nois-seur /kano's.sr/ noun [c] someone who knows a lot about a particular thing and enjoys it a lot: order to

She thought of herself as a wine connoisseur. connoisseur offine cuisine/ art Ijazz

+ of a

con-no-ta-tion

/.kano'teijn/ noun [c] an additional idea or emotion that a word suggests to you, that is not part of its usual meaning: the negative connotations of the word "feminist"

[T] formal 1 if a word conit suggests an additional idea or not part of its usual meaning: The adjectives used in the poem all connote death. 2 if particular behavior or a particular situation connotes something, it suggests it: Marriage conferred a higher status on women than spinsterhood, which connoted failure.

/ka'noot/ verb

emotion that

4 for TV/computer 5 useful people you know + PHRASES

2

adj

especially in order to get something

notes something,

1 [C] a relationship between things or events: + between 1 fail to see a connection between the two cases. + with /to His question had no direct connection with our discussion. make a connection (^realize that a relationship exists) / knew they had the same last name but I didn't make the connection. 1a. [often plural] a relationship between people or groups: China is trying to strengthen its trade connections. Prisoners are encouraged to maintain family connections. + with She was alleged to have connections with the secret police. 2 [C] a train, bus, or airplane that allows you to continue a trip after you arrive by a different train, bus, or airplane: miss your connection My train was late and I missed my connection. 2a. [usually plural] a road or railroad system that allows you to travel from one place to another: Chicago has excellent road and rail connections. 3 [u] the process of joining two things: The water board said there will be a connection charge of $50. +to The building is ready for connection to the power lines. 3a. [C] a place where two things join: The light keeps flickering there must be a loose connection. 4 [C] a means of communicating using a telephone or computer network a phone connection via satellite from Dubai a slow connection speed 5 connections [plural] people you know who are able to use their influence to help you: He used his party connections to get a government job.

con-nec-tive

[i]

is

con-nu-bi-al /ka'nubial/

adj

very formal relating to

marriage

con-quer

/

kanksr/ verb

*

to take control of land or people using soldiers: were easily conquered by the Persian armies. 1a. [T] to gain control of a situation or emotion by 1

[l/T]

The

tribes

making a

great physical or mental effort: conquer a fear/

an addiction /a disease

2

to succeed in climbing a tall mountain: The climbers later conquered six more peaks. 3 [T] mainly literary to earn the love, admiration, or respect of someone: His gentle nature had conquered their hearts. [T]

4

[I] literary to win a victory /'karjkarar/ noun [c] someone who has taken control of land or people by force con-quest /'kan.kwest/ noun • 1 [singular/u] the process of taking control of land or people during a war: the Spanish conquest of Peru la. [C] the land or people that a more powerful army or government has taken control of during a war: territories that were among Hitler's conquests of 1940 2 [U] the process of gaining control of something through great effort: our strategy for the conquest of the conquest of Mount Everest foreign markets 3 [C] often humorous someone you have persuaded to have sex with you con-quis-ta-dor /kan'kista.dor/ noun [c] a Spanish conqueror during the 16th century con-science /'kanfans/ noun [c/u] •* the ideas and feelings you have that tell you whether something you are doing is right or wrong: Each person must vote according to his or her own conscience. The decision must guilty conscience be a matter of individual conscience. (=a bad feeling because you have done something wrong) It's hard to imagine how people live with a guilty clear conscience (=the knowledge that you conscience. have done nothing wrong) We want to leave with a clear struggle/ conscience, knowing we did the job right. wrestle with your conscience After a night of wrestling with his conscience, he decided to go to the police, ease sb's conscience People give a few dollars to charity in

con-quer-or

order to ease their consciences, a. the ideas and principles of moral behavior that the members of a community or group share: Discrimination is a problem that's been troubling America 's social conscience for years.

in (all) good conscience/in all conscience formal used for talking about what you believe to be fair or right: I cannot in good conscience cast my vote against the defendant.

on your conscience causing you

conscience clause

to feel guilty

noun [c] the part of a law or contract that allows people who do not agree with it for moral or religious reasons not to obey it

conscience-stricken conscience- stricken

about some-

thing wrong you have done con-sci-en-tious / .kanfi'enfas/ adj working hard and

—

con-sci-ervtious-ly adv. concareful to do things well sci-en-tious-ness noun [U]

.conscientious objector noun [c] someone who refuses to take part in a war because they are morally opposed to all war and violence

conscious /'kan fas/ adj *• 1 [not usually before noun] noticing that something exists or is happening and realizing that it is important: + of Teachers are increasingly conscious of the importance of the Internet. He was suddenly conscious of everyone looking at +(that) We are conscious that some people may not him. wish to work at night. 2 [not usually before noun] awake and able to see, hear, and think: The patient was fully conscious throughout the

operation.

3

[usually before noun]

a conscious thought,

memory,

one that you realize you are having: She had no conscious memory of having met him before. 4 [usually before noun] done deliberately by someone who knows what the effect will be: I'm going to make a We don't usually conscious effort to be more cheerful. experience,

etc. is

make a conscious choice to fall in love with someone. -con-scious /'kanjas/ suffix used with some nouns and adverbs to make adjectives describing a person or organization that gives a lot of attention to a particular subject or thing: Our goal is to operate in an environmentally conscious manner. Health-conscious mothers are buying more organic baby food.

con-scious-ly /'kanfasli/adv

•

1 in a deliberate way: / wasn 't consciously trying to upset you. 2 in a way that makes you certain something exists or happens: He did not consciously remember stealing the

money.

con-scious-ness/'kanjasnas/ noun ** 1 u the state of being awake and able to hear, see, and think: He lay there, drifting in and out of consciousness. lose consciousness The pain was so bad that I lost [

]

regain /recover consciousness She fell into a coma and never regained consciousness. 2 [singular/ u] the knowledge or understanding that something exists or is important: + of We want to increase students' consciousness of health issues. 3 [singular/u] someone's mind and thoughts: The sound of the fighting receded from my consciousness. -» stream of consciousness 3a. [singular] the beliefs, opinions, and feelings of a group of people: Individual freedom is a powerful notion in the U.S. popular consciousness. political/ national/ public consciousness consciousness.

con-scious-ness-rais-ing /'kanjasnas .reizin/ noun [singular/u] the process of gaining more knowledge and understanding of moral, political, or social issues con-script /kan'sknpt/ verb [T] to make someone join 1

the military

con-script 2 /'kan.sknpt/ noun [c] someone who has been made to join the military con-scrip-tion /kan'sknpjan/ noun [u] the process of making people join the military con-se-crate /'kansa.kreit/ verb [T] 1 to perform a religious ceremony in order to make a place or a thing holy: consecrated ground 2 to perform a religious ceremony in order to make someone a priest, bishop, king, or

queen— con-se-cra-tion

the consecration of the bread

/.kansa'kreijn/ noun [C/u]:

and wine

con-sec-u-tive /kan'sekjativ/ adj following one after another in order and with nothing else in between: He's been late now on three consecutive days. her fifth consecutive defeat con-sec-u-tive-ly adv: We work for twelve days consecutively and then have three days off. con-sen-su-al /kan'senjual/ adj formal agreed to by all

—

the people involved: consensual sex

consensus

conservatism *•

289

adj feeling guilty

**

/kan'sensas/ noun [singular/u] agreement among all the people involved: We are still hopeful that further talks will result in a consensus. general consensus The general consensus is that we should all get some sleep. reach a consensus It will be difficult to reach any sort of consensus on this issue. by consensus All good decisions are made by consensus.

con-sent

1

permission to do /kan'sent/ noun [u] something: with /without sb's consent He entered the building without the owner's consent. + of You cannot go on school trips without the written consent of your parents. +to Both the husband's and wife's consent to the sale is required. give (your) consent The planning authority had withhold previously given consent to the development. (your) consent A patient has a right to withhold consent to the treatment. -» age of consent

by common/general consent formal used

for saying that nearly everyone agrees with the opinion given by mutual/common consent with the agreement of everyone involved: The contract was ended by mutual consent.

con-sent 2

/kan'sent/ verb

[i]

•

1 to give approval for something: + to The child's parents would not consent to the treatment. 2 to agree to do something: The defense must show that

the victim to

answer

had

consented.

consent

to

do sth He consented

their question.

con 'sent .form

noun [c] a document that someone signs to show that they will allow something to happen con-sent-ing a-dult /kan.sentnj a'dAlt/ noun [c]

someone who is legally old enough and is willing take part in an activity, especially a sexual activity

con-se-quence / 'kansakwans/ noun

[c]

to

••• a result

or effect of something: She said exactly what she felt, without fear of the consequences. + of The consequence of serious/ such policies will inevitably be higher taxes. disastrous/dire consequences Climate change could have economic /social/ disastrous consequences for farmers. health consequences Consider the long-term health consequences carefully before deciding.

accept/face the consequences to accept responsibility for

your actions, whatever happens

as a consequence/in consequence formal used for saying that one thing is the result of another: She has lived in France, and as a consequence speaks French fluently.

of no/little consequence formal not important in any way/not very important: Your views are of no consequence in this matter.

Words

frequently used with

adjectives

consequence

dire, disastrous, fatal, inevitable,

serious, tragic, unforeseen,

unfortunate

verbs

accept, consider, face, suffer, take

con-se-quent /'kansakwant/

adj

formal

•

as a result of something: factory closures sequent loss of local jobs

happening and the con-

con-se-quen-tial /.kansa'kwenjl/

adj formal 1 happening as an indirect result of something 2 important: the consequential impact of world events con-se-quent-ly /'kansakwantli/ adv *• as a result:

They've increased the service

number of staff and consequently

the

is better.

con-ser-van'cy/kan's3rvnsi/noun

[singular]Br£an organization that is in charge of protecting an area of land or water from damage 2 [C] a conservation area 1

con«senva'tion/,kansar'veijn/noun [u] ••• 1 the management of land and water in ways that prevent it from being damaged or destroyed: a wildlife +of groups calling for the conconservation project servation of the countryside nature conservation habitats of considerable interest in terms of nature conservation 2 the careful use of energy, water, and other resources, so that they are not wasted or lost: energy conservation

measures

3 BrE torical

the preservation of buildings or objects of his-

importance

.conservation .area noun protected from being

[c]

an area of land that

is

damaged

con-ser-va-tion-ist /.kansar'veifnist/ noun [c] • someone who works to protect the environment from

damage or destruction con-ser-va-tism /kan's3rva,tizam/ noun [u] 1 a tendency to dislike change 2 a political belief that it is better for society to change only gradually

conservative

••

1 not willing to accept much change, especially in the traditional values of society: The small farm communities are predominantly conservative. 2 conservative clothing or styles are traditional and

without decoration a conservative guess

3

usually less than the actual estimate, 2.5 million people die

is

amount: At a conservative each year from smoking.

— con-ser-va-tive-ly adv:

She

dresses very conservatively.

con-ser-va-tive 2 /ksn'ssrvstiv/ noun

[c]

someone who

not willing to accept much change, especially in the traditional values of society is

Con

servative .Party, the

1

one of the three main

political parties in the U.K. It supports right-wing ideas member of the Conservative Party is policies. often called a Tory. 2 a political organization in

A

and

Canada and some other countries that supports conservative ideas and policies

con«serv«a«tor /kan'sarvatar; 'kansar.veitar/ noun [c] someone whose job is to take care of works of art in a

museum

or art gallery

con-ser-va-to-ry /ksn'ssrvs.tsri/ noun [C] 1 a room with glass walls and a glass roof, built next to a house and used for relaxing in or for growing plants —picture -» ci 2 a school where students study to become professional musicians or actors

con-serve

given careful consideration to your claim for compensation. after serious/careful consideration (of sth) After serious consideration of all the issues, the school decided to expel the three students. for sb's consideration Here are a few questions for your consideration. under consideration (=being thought about) One of the possibilities under consideration

is

closing the street to motor vehicles.

1a. [C]

something that you must think about carefully before you make a decision or judgment: practical I ethical I political considerations For most people, the most important consideration in choosing a mortgage is the cost of repayments. 2 [U] a kind way of behaving that shows you care about other people's feelings and needs: She treats all her patients with consideration and respect. out of consideration for sb Reporters stayed away out of consideration for the family, show consideration for sb/sth Try showing a little more consideration for others.

3

[C] formal a payment for something someone has done for you in consideration of sth legal in exchange for something or as a payment for something take sth into consideration to think about a particular fact or detail and allow it to have some influence when you are making a decision: The candidate's experience must be taken into consideration.

Words

frequently used with consideration

1

/kan's3rv/ verb [T] 1 to prevent land, water, or other natural resources from being damaged or destroyed 2 to use very little of something such as electricity or water so that it is not wasted

con-serve 2 / 'kans3rv;

kan's3rv/ noun [C/u] large pieces of fruit in a thick syrup

con-sid-er /kan'sidar/ verb 1 think/talk

2 think 3 have

consist

290 1

con-ser-va-tive /kon's3rv3tiv/ad]

sth

true

particular opinion

careful, detailed, due, serious

sidered response. sb's considered opinion My considered opinion is that she should go to college first.

Considering can be used

+ PHRASES

1 [I/T] to think about something carefully before making a decision or developing an opinion: She paused and considered for a moment. an important factor to + whether He is conconsider when choosing a school

consider sidering whether to accept another job offer. doing sth He's considering buying a used car. + At one time 1 seriously considered leaving, la. [T] to formally discuss

something before making a decision about

it:

The com-

mittee met to consider issues relating to road maintenance. consider The jury went out to consider its verdict. sb/sth for sth Her manuscript is being considered for publication. 2 [i/T] to think that something may exist or be true: considerthe possibility Have you considered the possibility that he just doesn 't like you?* + that He did not even consider that she might have a different idea. 3 [T] to have a particular opinion about someone or something: consider sb/sth (to be) sth We all considered him a hero. Remarks like this are generally considered to They consider it inevitable that be unacceptable today. some jobs will be lost. Consider yourself lucky that I didn't mention it to the boss! 4 [T] to think about someone's feelings or reactions: / need to consider my family before I make my decision. 5 [T] formal to look at someone or something in a particular way: He considered me curiously.

1

con-sid-ered /ksn'sidsrd/ adj [only before noun] formal carefully thought about: We submitted a carefully con-

con-sider-ing /k3n'sid(3)nn/

4 think about feelings 5 view in particular way

about

may be

*••

adjectives

function

word

**

in the following ways:

as a preposition (followed by a noun): Considering her lack of experience, it is surprising she has achieved so much.

before words such as that, what, or how to form a conjunction. The word "that" is sometimes left out: Considering (that) he's 82, he does very well. He does very well, considering how old he is. in spoken English, as a sentence adverb at the end of a sentence (making a comment on the whole sentence or clause): He does very well, considering.

used for showing that your opinion about something is affected by a particular fact: They've made remarkable Conprogress, considering they only started last week. sidering the price we paid, it was a very disappointing meal. Robert played extremely well, considering how badly injured he was. / think these results are very satisfactory, considering.

con-sign /ksn'sam/

verb [T] formal 1 to put someone or something somewhere, especially because you do not want to deal with them: consign sb/sth to sth He consigned his work suits to the back of the closet. 2 to put someone in an unpleasant situation that usually lasts a long time: consign sb/sth to sth a dictator whose policies consigned his people to starvation 3 to give someone or something to someone else to take care of: We consign our children to the care of the teacher for the day.

con-sign-ment/ksn'sammsnt/noun

1

[c]

an amount

all

things considered used for saying that you have thought carefully about all aspects of something before expressing an opinion about it: Tricia played quite well,

of goods delivered: Another consignment of nuclear waste is due to arrive tomorrow, la. [u] the act of delivering

all things considered.

the act of giving to take care of

con-sid-er-a-ble/k3n'sid(3)r3bl/adj ** large in size, amount, or degree: a considerable amount of money a matter of considerable importance

to all

of us

con-sid-er-a-bly /k3n'sid(3)r3bli/ adv

*

a

lot: It

was

considerably colder in the mountains. Twenty-five dollars The was considerably more than he expected to pay. courses vary considerably in length, level, and objectives.

con-sid-er-ate /ksn'sidsrst/ adj thinking about the feelings and needs of other people: It was very considerate of you

to include

me.

con-sid-er-a-tion /kan.sids'reijn/ noun ••• 1 [U] careful thought before making a decision or judg-

ment about something:

give consideration to sth

We have

who has bought them 2 [u] formal someone or something to someone else

goods to someone

con-sist

/ksn'sist/ verb

***

con'sist in phrasal vb [T] formal [consist in sth] to have something as the most important aspect or the only aspect: True strength does not consist in mere muscle. consist in doing sth His job apparently consisted in sitting behind a little table outside the Minister's office. con'sist of phrasal vb [T] [consist of sth] to be made of particular parts or things: His breakfast consists of dry bread and a cup of tea. This year's team, coached by Jeff consist of Jackson, consisted entirely of college players. doing sth My role seemed to consist of standing and smiling at people.

consistency /kan'sistansi/ noun 1 [u] the ability to remain the same in behavior, attitudes, or qualities: + in There is no consistency in the way they deal with offenders, —opposite inconsistency 2 [C/u] the degree to which a substance is thick, smooth, or firm: Peanut butter has a thick creamy con-

sistency.

con-sis-tent /kan'sistant/

ad]

•*

1 not changing in behavior, attitudes, or qualities: Since joining the team last year, he has become our most consistent performer. +in / have been consistent in my approach over the years. be consistent in doing sth The government has been consistent in taking the side of large companies against those campaigning for public health

and

safety.

2 continuing or developing steadily in the same way: a consistent improvement 3 containing statements or ideas that are similar or have the same goal: the need for a unified and consistent policy + with These results are consistent with the findings con-sis-tent-ly adv: He has conof the previous study. sistently denied the charges.

—

— Opposite INCONSISTENT

con-so-la-tion /.kansa'leijri/ noun [c/u] something that makes you feel less unhappy or disappointed: It was some consolation to know that no one else had passed the

constipated

291

•

con-sis-ten-cy

bad something is: a conspicuous success /failure be conspicuous by your absence if you are conspicuous by your absence, people notice that you are not there con-spic-u-ous-ly adv, con-spic-u-ous-ness noun [u] conspicuous con sumption noun [u] the practice of buying expensive things to show people how rich you are con-spir-a-cy /kan'spirasi/ noun • 1 [C] a secret plan by a group of people to do something bad or illegal, especially in politics: + against a conspiracy against the party leadership conspiracy to do sth evidence of conspiracies to assassinate the president 2 [u] the legal offense of planning a serious crime: The charges against them include conspiracy to smuggle heroin.

conspiracy of silence between people

[c] the idea that a group of people secretly worked together to cause a particular event

con-spir-a-tor /kan'spiratar/ noun [c] someone who secretly makes a plan with another person or group to do something bad or illegal, especially in politics con-spir-a-to-ri-al /kan.spira'torial/ad] 1 relating to a secret plan by a group of people to do something bad or

test.

conso

lation prize noun [c] a small prize given to someone who has failed to win con-sole /kan'sool/ verb [T] to try to make someone feel better when they are unhappy or disappointed: Brenton was crying and she could do nothing to console him. Harry consoled himself with the thought that he had 1

at least solved part of the mystery. 2

con-sole /'kan.sool/ noun

[C] 1 a board with switches or buttons that controls a machine or a piece of electronic equipment 1a. a small piece of electronic equipment that you connect to a screen, used for playing video games: a games console 2 a piece of furniture designed to hold a television, radio, or other piece of

/kan'sali.deit/ verb • 1 [T] to combine several small things, especially companies or organizations, into one large unit 1a. [i] to become one large unit 2 [t] to make the power, position, or achievements you already have stronger or more effective so they are likely to continue: The president is trying to consolidate support for his proposal. The company is consolidating its hold on technology. con-sol-i-da-tion /kan.sali'deifn/ noun [C/U]

—

con-som-me /kanss'mei;

'kansa.mei/ noun [u] a type

made from meat

con-so-nance

juices

kansanans/ noun in consonance with very formal in agreement with con-so-nant 1 /'kansanant/ noun [C] * a speech sound made by stopping all or some of the air going out of your mouth a. a letter of the alphabet used as a symbol for a consonant. All the letters of the English alphabet are consonants except for "a," "e," "i," "o," and "u",

which are vowels.

con-so-nant 2 /'kansanant/

adj be consonant with sth something

con-sort 1 /kan 'sort /verb [i]/orma/[+with] to spend time with someone who is considered bad, such as a criminal or an enemy con-sort 2 / 'kan,sart/ noun [c] 1 the wife or husband of a king or queen 2 a small group of classical musicians, especially playing music written between the 14th and the 16th centuries 2a. the instruments played by these

musicians

con-sor-tium /kan'sorfam/

(plural

con-sor-tiums

or

con-

noun [c] a group of companies or people with similar interests or goals who have agreed to work together: a consortium of international oil companies sortia /kan'sorfa/)

conspic-u-ous

especially in politics: conspiratorial activities

that you share knowledge of a secret with someone: a conspiratorial look whisper smile — conspir-a-to-ri-al-ly adv con-spire /kan'spair/ verb [i] 1 to secretly plan with someone to do something bad or illegal: conspire (with sb) to do sth He is accused of conspiring with three others to sell cocaine. + against Anyone suspected of conspiring against the regime was ruthlessly dealt with. 2 if events conspire to produce a particular situation, they seem to be deliberately working together to cause problems for you: conspire to do sth Falling demand and high interest rates have conspired to produce a big drop in profits. + against It seemed that everything was conspiring against

con-sta-ble/'kAnstabl; 'kanstabl/ noun [c] officer in some parts of the U.S. whose rank

1 is

a police below a

sheriff 2 in the U.K., a police officer of the lowest rank: POLICE CONSTABLE /kan'staebja.leri/ noun [c] 1 Am E a group of constables who are employed in a particular

con-stab-u-lar-y

place 2 Br E the police of a particular place con-stan-cy / kanstansi/ noun [u] 1 literary loyalty to a person or belief 2 formal the quality of staying the

same

constant

•••

1

/'kanstant/ adj continuous or regular over a long period of time: a constant flow of traffic on the freeway His health has been a constant source of concern for us. The children need constant supervision. 1a. used for emphasizing that something is annoying because it is continuous: constant phone calls interruptions 2 continuing at the same rate, level, or amount over a particular period of time: Maintain a constant speed. 3 literary loyal to a person or belief con-stant 2 /kanstant/ noun [c] 1 formal something that always stays the same and never changes: Her friendship is the one constant in his life. 2 technical a number or amount in mathematics that is always the 1

/

very formal to agree with

illegal,

2 showing

her.

electronic equipment

consol-i-date

of clear soup

noun [c] an agreement keep secret facts that should be

to

known conspiracy theory noun publicly

/kan'spikjuas/ adj 1 very noticeable or easy to see, especially because of being unusual or different: She might have felt less conspicuous if there had been other women there too. —opposite inconspicuous 2 formal very great: used for emphasizing how good or

same con-stant-ly / 'kanstantli/adv

** always or regularly: The view across the valley presented a constantly changing panorama. We are constantly reminded of his success. con-stel-la-tion /kanstaleijn/ noun [c] 1 a group of stars in the sky named for the pattern they form 2 formal a group of people or things that are similar or related

con-ster-na-tion /kanstar'neijn/ noun [u]/orma/ a shocked or worried feeling, often caused when something unexpected happens: dismay: His comments caused consternation sternation She

among saw

to

environmentalists.

her consternation that

to sb's it

con-

was already

after eight.

con-sti-pat-ed

/

solid waste out of

kansti peitad/ adj not able to

your body easily

move

1

to

constipation

easily

con-stit-u-en-cy /kan'stitjuansi/ noun

[C]

*

1 a division of a country that elects a representative to a legislature 1a. the voters in a division of a country who elect a representative to a legislature

2 a group of people with similar attitudes or interests who are likely to support a particular idea or buy a

allowed to vote in elections

con-stit-u-ent 2 /kan'stitjuant/

adj

[only before noun]

forming part of something: constituent parts con-sti-tute /'kansti.tut/ verb formal ** 1 linking verb if something constitutes something

con-sti-tu-tion /,kansti'tujn/ noun *•* 1 constitution or Constitution [c] a set of basic laws or principles for a country that describe the rights and duties of its citizens and the way in which it is governed: The U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of the press. The U.K. does not have a written constitution. 1a. a set of basic rules and principles for an organization that control how it operates: Some members were proposing changes

to the club's constitution.

2

your general physical condition, and strength: She has always had a strong con-

[C usually singular]

stitution.

3 [C/U] the form or structure of way in which it is organized: We constitution of the council so that of the public.

it

something, or the plan to change the

includes

more members

con-sti-tu-tion-al /.kansti'tujnsl/ adj •• 1 allowed by the constitution of a country or organization: Whatever procedure we follow, it must be con1

1a. [usually before noun] relating to the constitution of a country or organization: constitutional opposite unconstitutional reform 2 [usually before noun] relating to your general physical condition, health, and strength

stitutional.

—

2

con-sti-tu-tion-al /.kansti'tujnal/ noun [c] old-fashioned a walk that you take regularly to stay healthy con-sti-tu-tion-al-ism /.kansti'tjufnal.izsm/ noun [U] support for a system of government that operates according to a constitution con-sti-tu-tion-al-i-ty /.kansti.tuJVnzetati/ noun [u] the quality of being allowed by the constitution of a particular country or organization con-sti-tu-tion-al-ly /.kansti'tjufnali/ adv 1 in a way that is allowed by the constitution of a particular country or organization: the constitutionally protected right of free speech 2 in a way that is related to your general physical condition, health, and strength: constitutionally infirm 2a. in a way that is related to your general character: He's constitutionally incapable of

keeping a

secret.

.constitutional 'monarchy noun [c] a country ruled by a king or queen whose powers are limited by a CONSTITUTION

con-strain /ksn'strem/ verb [J] formal one's freedom to do what they want:

to limit somerestrict: We are

1

constrained to answer.

con-strained /kan'stremd/ adj formal behaving way that is very controlled and not natural

1

[i/T] to

make something do

become this: His

throat constricted making it difficult for him to speak. 2 [T] to limit what someone is able or allowed to do: Fear con-stric-tion of crime constricts many people's lives. /kon'stnkjon/noun [C/U] 1

con-struct /kan'strAkt/

verb

[T]

•••

something large or complicated, such as a bridge or road: The tunnel was constructed in 1996. be constructed from/of/out of sth St Michael's was an older 1

to build

2 to create something such as an idea or system by making various things fit together: He could now conPolice have called in an expert to construct a psychological profile of the murderer. 3 technical to draw a shape in mathematics struct short sentences in Spanish.

con-struct 2

/'kan.strAkt/ noun [C] formal 1 a complicated idea created by making several simpler ideas fit together 2 an object built from various parts

con-struc-tion /kan'strAkJsn/ noun 1

process

2

building

3

in

in a

4

of building sth

••*

creation of idea, etc.

5 understanding

grammar

1 [U] the process of building something large or complicated, such as a bridge or road: + of The company will finance the construction of a new community sports center. under construction (=being built) The dam is still under construction. 1a. the work or business of building things, especially houses and other buildings: He works in construction. a construction company /worker lb. the way that something has been built: houses of brick con-

struction

2

[C] a building or other large structure: The cathedral a fantastic modern construction. [C/U] the way in which words are put together to form a sentence or phrase: difficult grammatical constructions 4 [u] formal the process of creating something such as an idea or system: Her novel explores the construction of gender roles. 5 [C] formal the meaning that you think a word, senis

3

tence, phrase, or action has: interpretation: put/ place a

construction on sth We both heard what he said, but she put quite a different construction on it. con'struction paper noun [u] Am E thick paper produced in a variety of colors and used especially by children con'struction ,site noun [C] a place where a building is being built or repaired con-struc-tive /kan'strAktiv/ adj * intended to be useful or helpful: constructive criticism /advice He has played a valuable and constructive role in the project. con-struc-tive-ly adv constructive engagement noun [u] a policy of having political and business relationships with a country, while at the same time supporting political and social change within that country con-struc-tor /ksn'strAktar/ noun [C] a company or person that builds things, especially racing cars con-strue /kan'stru/ verb [T] formal to understand the meaning of something in a particular way: interpret: construe sth as sth Please do not construe this as any

—

criticism of yourself.

con-sul /'kansl/ noun

always constrained by our budget. planning regulations that constrain development 2 [usually passive] to force someone to do something that they do not want to do: feel constrained to do sth She should have kept quiet, but felt

con-strict /kon'stnkt/ verb formal

building, almost entirely constructed of red brick. else,

considered to be that thing: This letter does not constitute an offer of employment. The invasion constitutes a clear violation of our sovereignty. 2 linking verb if several people or things constitute something, they combine to form it: make up: one of the countries that constitute the European Union 3 [T usually passive] to formally establish an organization, institution, government, etc. and give it the authority to operate is

health,

/kon'strcint/ noun • 1 [C often plural] something that limits your freedom to do what you want: limitation: The organization has to operate within the usual democratic constraints. financial /environmental/ budget constraints +on constraints on presidential power 2 [U] formal behavior that is very controlled and not natural, usually because you are embarrassed: inhibition

con-straint

smaller or narrower, or

particular product

con-stit-u-ent 1 /kon'stitjuont/ noun [C] 1 one of the parts that form something when they combine: The main constituents of wine are acid, tannin, alcohol, and sugar. 2 someone who lives in a constituency and is

it

consult

292

con-sti-pa-tion / kansti'peijn/ noun [u] a condition in which you cannot move solid waste out of your body

[C] 1

a government official sent

to live in another country and help their own country's citizens and business interests there 2 one of the two

elected leaders in charge of ancient adj, con-sul-ship noun [C/U]

con-su-late / 'kansabt/ noun ing in which a consul works con-suit /kan'sAlt/ verb •* 1

[T]

[C]

Rome — con«sul*ar

the government build-

to ask for information or advice from someone special knowledge about a particular subject:

who has

consultancy

the last train leaves.

/kan'sAltnsi/ noun [C] a company with expert knowledge about a particular subject that provides professional help and advice to other companies a. [U] the work of a consultancy company: They specialize in management consultancy.

con-sul-tan-cy

con-sult-ant /kan'sAltnt/ noun [C] ** 1 an expert or a professional person whose job give help consultant

specialist

make a decision: a consultation process /period +with We can go ahead only after consultation with management. in consultation with sb (=after discussion and agreedecision to send in troops will be in consultation with Congress. 1a. [C] a meeting in which people or groups have a discussion before decisions are made: + with The CEO has agreed to hold consultations with the staff over this matter. 2 [C] a meeting with an expert or a professional person to get advice or discuss a problem, especially a meeting with a doctor: +with She has a consultation with the psychologist at 3:00 p.m. today. 2a. [U] the process of getting advice from an expert or a professional person: Seven other specialists were available for consultation. 3 [u] the process of looking in a book or at a map or list in order to find information

ment with someone) Any

con-sul-ta-tive /kan'sAltativ/ adj providing advice, information, or help on a particular subject: a consultative committee

/kan'sAltin/ ad]

[only before noun]

pro-

viding professional help and advice about a particular subject: He was hired as consulting engineer on the project.

con-sult-ing

2

/kan'sAltin/ noun [u] the business of providing professional help and advice about a particular subject

con 'suiting room

BrE

a room where a doctor examines a patient and discusses their medical problems with them

noun

[c]

1

con-sum-a-ble /kan'sumabl/adj

business intended to

be bought, used, and then gotten rid goods

con-sum-a-ble 2 /kan'sumabl/ noun business something that you buy and you buy a new one

con-sume/kcm 'sum/ verb

[T]

of:

consumable

that are not true, etc.

AmE

consumer

price index, the noun a list of the prices of some basic goods and services published by the U.S. government to show how much prices in general have risen or fallen

Consumer Re ports

business a U.S. magazine that publishes reports about the quality and performance of

different products to help people choose

which one

to

consuming

/kan'sumin/ adj [only before noun] so important or interesting to you that you cannot think of anything else: Soccer is a consuming passion for lots of

con-sum-mate

1

/'kansamat; kan'sAmat/ adj formal showing great skill at doing something: She is a consummate politician. It was a demanding part that Collins played with consummate ease. consummate 2 /'kansa.meit/ verb [t] formal 1 to make a marriage legal by having sex for the first time 1a. to have sex for the first time in a relationship

2

to complete something, especially a business deal or agreement con-sum-ma-tion /.kansa'meijri/ noun [u] formal 1 the act of consummating a marriage or relationship 2 the time at which something is finally completed: the consummation of her whole life's work con-sump-tion /kan'sAmpJan/ noun [u] formal *• 1 the process of eating, drinking, or smoking something: fit/ unfit for human consumption Most of the meat was unfit for human consumption. 1a. the amount that someone eats, drinks, or smokes: Most people need to increase their daily consumption offruit and vegetables. 2 the use of something such as fuel or energy, or the amount that people use: The government is determined to reduce the U.S.'s total energy consumption. Many newer

cars have a much lower fuel consumption. 2a. the process of buying or using goods, or the amount that people buy or use: When national income rises, so does consumption. 3 an old word for the lung disease "tuberculosis"

for sb's consumption intended for someone to see, hear, read, or know about: This report was never intended for public consumption.

con-sump-tive /kan'sAmptiv/ for describing culosis"

adj an old word used someone with the lung disease "tuber-

1 content 2 cont. or contd. continued: used for showing that a piece of writing is being con-

cont. abbrev [C

usually plural]

use, after

which

**

1 to eat or drink something: Many people have dramatically reduced the amount of red meat they consume. 2 to use a supply of something such as time, energy,

or fuel: The new light bulbs consume less electricity. 3 to take all of your attention so that you cannot think of anything else: be consumed with /by sth I was consumed with curiosity about my new neighbor. 4 to destroy something completely, especially by burning it: In 1541 afire consumed most of the town and much of the castle.

noun [c] *** someone who buys and uses goods and services. The expression the consumer is often used for referring to consumers as a group: He has always shown a shrewd understanding of what consumers want. more choice for the consumer a. [only before noun] relating to consumers: consumer demand / spending / protection consumer groups ^organizations that protect consumers) The change has been criticized by consumer groups. consumer 'confidence noun [u] people's confidence in the economy, making them willing to spend money consumer 'durables noun [plural] BrE durable goods

con-sum-er /kan'sumar/

noun [plural] things you buy for personal or home use, such as food and clothing con-sunver-ism /knn'suma.nzam/ noun [u] 1 the belief that it is good for a country if people buy and use a lot of goods and services. This word shows you think this is a bad thing: policies that simply promote greed and uncontrolled consumerism 2 protection for people against unfair prices, bad products, advertising claims

kids.

con-sul-ta-tion /.kansl'teifn/ noun *• 1 [u] discussion between people or groups before they

1

consumer .goods

buy is to

and advice on a particular subject: a design

2 BrEa medical

con-sult-ing

contact

293

Before going on a diet, it is advisable to consult your doctor. consult sb about sth Mr. Bell said he had consulted his attorney about the matter. 2 [I/T] to discuss something with someone or get their permission before you make a decision: consult with sb We will be consulting with representatives from several consult sb about sth Why wasn't I different industries. consulted about this? in [T] to look a book or at a map or list in order to 3 find information: Consult the train schedule to see when

tinued 1

con-tact /'kantaekt/ noun communication 2 touching each other 1

•** 4

useful person you

5

electrical

machine

know part

3 contact lens 1 [C/u] communication between people, countries, or organizations either by talking or writing: + between There has been no direct contact between the two sides in the dispute. + with Jury members must avoid contact with have contact He is no the defendants and their families. longer allowed to have any contact with his children. be in (close /regular) contact The school and other care lose contact / organizations have been in close contact. get/ have lost contact with most of my college friends. keep/stay in contact Do you and Jo still keep in contact? come into contact In Paris she came into contact with other young writers. put sb in contact / asked her if she could put me in contact with a good piano teacher. make contact I've been calling him for weeks but I still haven't made contact. bring sb into contact Our work brings us into contact every day. la. [u] if you have contact with a new idea or way of life, you learn about it by communicating with other people: These people have had very little contact with the modern world. 2 [U] a situation in which people or things touch each

contact

contemporary

294

other: The disease

spread through sexual contact. on contact with The chemicals become activated on contact with soil. come into contact (with) Make sure the wires do not come into contact with water. 3 [C] informal a contact lens 4 [C] someone you know who can help you, for example by finding work for you or giving you information: She has a contact in the software industry. 5 [C] an electrical part in a machine that touches another part when you switch it on

Words

is

frequently used with contact

verbs

avoid, establish, have, lose, maintain, make

con-tact 2 / 'kan ,taekt / verb

[t] •**- to write to someone or talk to them on the telephone: Anyone with any information about the incident should contact the police. You can always contact me at my home number. His staff were unable to contact him by telephone.

con-tact 3 /'kan.tskt/ adj [only before noun] 1 a contact address or telephone number is one that people can use to write to you or talk to you: Please give your name, address, and an emergency contact number. 2 having an effect when one thing touches another: a contact explosive/ weedkiller

contact

,lens noun [c] a plastic lens that you wear in to help you see more clearly contagion /kan'teKhpn/ noun 1 [u] medical a situation in which a disease can be spread from one person to another through touch or through the air 1a. [C] a disease that can be spread from one person to another through touch or through the air 2 [singular] formal a situation in which feelings or ideas spread very quickly from one person or place to another con»ta«gious/k3n'teid33s/adj 1 a contagious disease spreads from one person to another through touch or through the air 1a. someone who is contagious has a contagious disease 2 a contagious feeling or idea spreads quickly from one person or place to another: His laughter was contagious. con-tain /kan'tem/ verb [T] 1 a container, envelope, room, etc. that contains something has something inside it: The envelope contained a few dried rose petals. There were four or five boxes con-

your eye

•••

taining toys and books. 1a. an area, border, wall, etc. that contains something surrounds something inside: Contained within the walls of the castle is the kitchen garden. 2 if a substance contains something, that thing is a part of it: Brown rice contains a lot of vitamins and minerals. 2a. to include something or have it as a part: The information you need is contained in this report. 3 to control or hide an emotion: / couldn't contain my excitement any longer. barely/ hardly contain sth Laura barely contained her fury. 3a. contain yourself to not show your emotions: She could hardly contain herself when she saw him arrive.

4

to prevent something harmful from spreading to other people or places: Firefighters are still battling to contain the blaze. Strong measures are urgently needed to contain the epidemic. 4a. to keep something within limits: Our main task is to contain expenditure within a

containers

— con-tam-i-na-tion /kan.taemi'neifn/ noun [u] con-tam-i-nat-ed

contd. abbrev continued con-tem-plate /'kantam.pleit/

[c]

••

something used for storing or holding things, for example a box, bottle, or bowl 2 a very large metal or wooden box designed to be loaded easily onto ships and trucks containment /kan'temmant/ noun [u] 1 a policy of controlling an unfriendly country's power or influence: 1

a policy of containment and isolation 2 the process of controlling a situation or substance that could become harmful or dangerous: nuclear waste containment con-tam-i-nant /kan'taemmant/ noun [C] technical a substance that makes something dirty, polluted, or poisonous

con-tam-i-nate

/kan'taemirieit/ verb [t] 1 to make dirty, polluted, or poisonous by adding a chemical, waste, or infection: Industrial sewage continues

something

contaminate our beaches. 2 to affect something or in a negative way: Children are becoming contaminated by the prevailing cynicism of the age. to

someone

made

**

verb 1 [T] to consider doing something in the future: I'm contemplate doing contemplating retirement next year. sth He refuses even to contemplate moving his family again. 1a. to consider the possibility of something happening: We're not even contemplating defeat. The alternative is too horrible to contemplate.

2

[l/T] to think very carefully about something for a long time: / haven't got time to sit around contemplating

the

con-tain-er /kan'teinar/ noun

/kan'taemi.neitad/ ad] formal

dirty, polluted, or poisonous by the addition of a chemical, waste, or infection: contaminated food/ water / blood

3

meaning of life.

[T]

mainly

look at something or someone stood contemplating his image in the

literary to

for a long time: mirror.

He

con-tem-pla-tion /.kantam'pleijn/ noun

[u]

1

the

process of thinking about something or looking at something for a long time 2 the religious activity of thinking about God coivtertvpla'tive/kan'templativ; 'kantam.pleitiv/adj spending a lot of time thinking very carefully about

something

con-tem-po-ra-ne-ous

/kan.tempa'remias/ adj formal happening or existing during the same period of time: There are several contemporaneous accounts of the meeting. +with His work is contemporaneous with the beginnings of the Pop Art movement, -con-tempo-rane-ous-ly adv coivtenvpo'rar'y 1 / kan 'temps ,reri/ adj •** 1 modern or relating to the present time: contemporary art /music /literature /dance contemporary urban society

contemporary 2

a particular event or person: Contemporary sources offer a very dif+with His work is contemporary ferent interpretation. with that of Thackeray.

cori'tenri'po'rar'y

2

noun

/kan'tempa.reri/

[c]

•

alive at the same time as a particular event or person: Most of his contemporaries regarded him as a

someone mere

eccentric.

noun [u] * a feeling that someone or something is unimportant respect: +\atlhave nothing but contempt for their ridiculous opinions. with contempt She regarded the tabloid press with absolute contempt. / will treat that hold sth/sb in remark with the contempt it deserves. contempt How could she marry a man whom she holds in such utter contempt? 1a. beneath contempt if someone or something is beneath contempt, they are so bad or so unimportant that they do not deserve any attention 2 legal CONTEMPT OF COURT 3 [+for] a failure to show appropriate respect for something that other people consider to be important: He showed a complete contempt for other people's feelings. their apparent contempt for international law 1

and deserves no

-» FAMILIARITY

con-tempt-i-ble /kan'temptabl/

adj very bad and deserving no respect: a contemptible liar con tempt of 'court noun [u] legal the crime of not doing what a judge in a court of law has ordered you to do: The reporter was found to be in contempt of court to reveal his sources.

con-temp-tu-ous /kan 'tempt Juas/

adj

showing that

at all: He gave a contemptuous laugh. +of She has always been openly con-temp-tu-ous-ly adv: contemptuous of authority. They glanced contemptuously at the other guests.

you do not respect someone or something

con-tend /kan 'tend/ verb * formal to claim that something is true: of the school system contend that not enough is placed on creativity. 2 [i] to compete against someone, for example for a victory or for power: Contending gangs fought for control of the area. +for The two teams contending for the championship are very evenly matched. 1

[T] [+that]

Critics

emphasis

contend with

to have to deal with problems or difficulties, especially in order to achieve something:

phrasal vb

[T]

They had

to contend with winds of over 40 miles an hour. enough to contend with bringing up three kids. con-tend-er /kan'tendar/ noun [C] someone who competes with other people for a prize or job: +for She's one

I've got

of three contenders for the vice-presidency.

con-tent

1

you have, although you would prefer

/'kan.tent/ noun

***

contents [plural] the things that are inside something such as a box, bottle, building, or room: The entire contents of the house were put up for auction. He emptied 1

out the contents of his pockets onto the table. 2 contents [plural] the things that are written in a book, magazine, letter, document, etc.: The contents of the document remain secret. 2a. a list at the beginning of a book or magazine, showing the parts into which the book or magazine is divided: / can't find it in the contents.

3

[U] the subject, ideas, or story that a piece of writing or a radio or television program deal with: The show's content is not suitable for young children. 3a. any material, such as writing, pictures, or music, that appears on a web site or cd-rom: Several start-ups were bankrupted by the high cost of producing original content. 4 [singular] the amount of a substance that something contains: a breakfast cereal with a high sugar content

to

have something

else: Initially, she contented herself with simply looking after her family. con«tent 4 /kan'tent/ noun [u] literary a feeling of hap-

piness and satisfaction

con-tent-ed /kan'tentad/ your

life:

where.

con-tempt /kan 'tempt/

for refusing

continental

295

same time as

alive or existing at the

/ can't

adj happy and satisfied with imagine a more contented family any-

— con«tent-ed«ly adv: The cat purred contentedly.

con-ten-tion /kan'tenjan/ noun formal

*

1 [C] an opinion or statement that something is true, especially one made during a discussion or argument: My main contention is that we should be educating children to be good citizens.

2

disagreement between people or groups: The subject remains a source of great contention in the family. [u]

in contention 1 competing for a prize or job, especially when you seem likely to succeed: We are still in contention for the first division title. 2 causing disagreement between people or groups: The matter of who will do what is no longer in contention. -» bone 1

con-ten-tious

/kan'tenjas/ adj 1 causing disagreement between people or groups: controversial: Sex education in schools remains a highly contentious issue. 2 enjoying arguing with other people: argumentative

con-tent-ment/kan'tentmant/noun [u] the happiness you feel when you have everything you want and you enjoy your life: He has found contentment and satisfaction in his work.

'content provider noun [c] business a web site that contains mostly news or information, or a business that provides the information for that

con-test

Web

site

**

1

/'kan.test/ noun [C] 1 a competition, especially one in which people's skill in a particular activity or sport is tested: a contest between the two top-rated tennis players in the world a singing /poetry contest 2 a situation in which two or more people or groups

are competing to gain power or an advantage: the contest for the lottery franchise She has now withdrawn from the presidential contest.

no contest mainly spoken used for emphasizing that it is obvious who will win in a situation where different people, companies, teams, etc. are competing

con-test 2

/kan'test/ verb

[T]

*

to state formally that you disagree with something it is wrong: dispute: His children are contesting the will. 2 to compete for a job or for success in a competition: He plans to contest the world heavyweight title again next year. 1

or think

con«tes«tant/kan'testant/noun[C] someone who takes part in a contest

***

con-text

/'kan.tekst/ noun [c/u] the general situation in which something happens, which helps explain it: These events are meaningless in context The decline in outside their historical context. the stock market, though dramatic, has to be seen in context. in the context of sth In the context of Russian history, recent events are not so surprising. 2 the words surrounding a particular word that help to give it its meaning: In this context, "development" means economic growth. 1

When I last saw her, she seemed quite content, a. satisfied and willing to accept a situation, and not wanting anything more or better: She is content to live quietly by herself. + with He seems to be content with a fairly minor

take/quote sth out of context to use only part of something that someone said, so that the original meaning is changed con-tex-tu-al-ize /kan'tekstjua.laiz/ verb [T] to consider an idea, event, activity, etc. together with everything relating to it in order to understand it better con-tig-u-ous /kan'tigjuas/ adj formal or technical next to each other or joining each other con-ti-nent /'kantinant/ noun [C] ** one of the very large areas of land on Earth that are usually divided into several countries: the North American continent the

role in the administration, b. not content with sth not satisfied with what you have or what you have done, but

Con-ti-nent, the /'kantinant/ noun BrE informal the

con-tent 2 and

/kan'tent/ adj [never before noun]

satisfied

with your

life:

**

happy

quite /perfectly content

wanting more: Not content with disrupting the meeting, he then proceeded to insult the chairman.

con-tent 3

/kan'tent/ verb [T]/orma/ to feel happy or satisfied

content yourself with sth

to

make someone

be willing to accept what

continent of Africa

part of Europe, especially Western Europe, that is on one continuous area of land, as opposed to the U.K. or Ireland, which are islands 1

con-ti-nen-tal /.kanti'nentl/ 1

relating to or belonging to

adj [only before

noun]**

any of the Earth's con-

^

13

continental

con-ti-nen-tal 2 /,kanti ncntl/ noun [C] BrE oldfashioned someone from Western Europe, not the U.K. or Ireland

continental breakfast noun

[c]

a breakfast con-

sisting of bread and butter, coffee or tea, PASTRIES Or CROISSANTS

and sometimes

continental drift noun [u] technical the very gradual movement of continents across the Earth's surface continental shelf noun [c] technical the part of the edge of a continent that slopes gradually out into the ocean and ends in a sudden steep slope in very deep water con-tin-gen-cy /kan'tmd3ansi/ noun [c] something that might happen in the future, especially something bad: We like to be prepared for all contingencies, a. something done in order to prepare for a possible bad event: + f or Most large businesses have cash reserves as a contingency for bad debts, b. [only before noun] used for describing plans or actions that help you prepare for possible bad events: contingency measures I plans I arrangements a contingency fund contingency fee noun [c] a payment for the services of a lawyer that you make only if the lawyer wins in court 1

con-tin-gent /kan'tind3ant/ noun

[c] 1 a group of from a particular place, forming part of a larger group: France has the largest peacekeeping contingent of any nation. 2 a group of

soldiers, police, vehicles, etc.

people representing a place, organization, etc. at a meeting or event: Let 's welcome the Portuguese contingent.

con-tin-gent 2 /kantmd3ant/ ati\ formal able to happen only in a particular situation or if something else happens first: conditional: + on /upon Acceptance in the course is contingent on your test scores.

con-tin-u-al /kan'tinjual/

adj

*

continuing without stopping: a continual process of growth and education 2 happening again and again, often in an annoying way: I've had enough of their continual arguing. con-tin-u-al-ly adv: Our database is being continually 1

—

updated.

con-tin-u-ance /kan'tinjuans/ noun formal 1 [u] the process of continuing 2 [C] AmE legal a delay that a judge in a court of law allows, especially to give a lawyer more time to obtain facts con-tin-u-a-tion /kan.tmju'eijn/ noun • 1 [C/U] a situation in which something continues without stopping: Let's drink to the continuation of our business partnership. 2 [C] a situation in which something begins again at the point at which it was interrupted: We look forward to a continuation of the talks next week. 3 [C] something that is joined to something else so that it forms part of it: The canals are a continuation of the St.

Lawrence River. verb

*••

1 [I/T] to keep doing something without stopping: Doctors advised him to continue the treatment for another continue doing sth He continued typing while six weeks. he spoke. + with She decided to continue with her studies for another two years. 1a. [I] to keep happening without stopping: The demonstrations continued until well into the evening. continue to do sth The rain continued to pour all afternoon.

to start doing

down

something again after you have

stopped: He looked up briefly, then continued reading his book. 2a. [i] to start speaking again after you have stopped: After a pause, he continued: "She's much better now, of course. " May I continue? 3 [i] to walk or travel farther in the same direction: + along/ The path continued for another fifty yards. down /toward etc. She pushed past me and continued

We

+ on

the road.

continued on toward York.

to be

continued used for saying that a story will begin again at a later date, starting from the point where it stopped ad] [only before noun] * provided, happening, or done regularly or for a long period: We thank our customers for their continued support. The index rose again due to continued buying by foreign

con-tin-ued /kan'tinjud/

investors.

con-tin-u-ing /kan'tmjuirj/

adj [only before noun]

hap-

pening for a period of time without interruption: The peace talks resumed despite continuing uncertainty about the political situation.

continuing education

noun [u] 1 classes for adults, often held in the evening, that give them the wide opportunity to study a variety of subjects 2 E classes in which professional people learn the latest developments, laws, etc. relating to their professions

Am

con-ti-nu-i-ty /kanti'nuati/ noun [u] •• 1 a situation in which something happens or exists for a long time without stopping or changing: The school was like a second family, providing continuity and stability. 2 technical the arrangement of scenes and events in a movie or television program so that it seems as if the action continues without interruption con-tin-u-ous/kan'tmjuas/adj •• 1 continuing without stopping or being interrupted: a continuous flow of water a continuous hum from the air conditioner

2

a continuous break or space

3

line, curve, etc.

continues without a

continuous form of a verb includes "be" and the present participle of a verb to show that an activity is in progress. For example in "He is running to catch the bus." "is running" is the continuous form linguistics the

—

con-tin-u-ous-ly adv: of "run.": progressive continuously for five days.

It

rained

con-tin-u-um / kan'tmjuam/ noun changes, features,

[c] a series of events, that all have a particular quality continuum that starts with minor can end with serious criminal activity

etc.

to different degrees: a

transgressions

and

con-tort

/kan'tort/ verb [i/t] if your face or body contorts or you contort it. it twists into shapes or positions that are not natural: A grimace ofpain contorted her face. + with His face contorted with pain.

con-tort-ed /kan'tartad/ adj

1 twisted into a shape or not natural: an acrobat's contorted body very complicated and difficult to understand: con-

position that

2

is

torted logic

con-tor-tion /kan'tarfn/ noun [C] 1 the process of twisting your face or body into a shape that is not natural, or the positions into which they have been twisted: facial contortions 2 a complicated process, especially one designed to give you an advantage: He apparently believes his own contortions of the truth.

con-tor-tion-ist /kan'tarjnist/ noun [c] someone who twists their body into unusual shapes or positions as a

way of entertaining people con-tour /'kan.tor/ noun [C]

1 [often plural] the shape of the outside edge of something: The sculpture reproduces the smooth contours of the human body. 2 contour or contour line a line on a map joining points that are the same height above or below sea level. The lines are

mountains, and valleys. adj 1 shaped to follow or fit the shape of something else: a contoured handgrip 2 curved or with gentle slopes rather than straight or flat: a wooden cabinet with contoured corners and edges con-tra-band /kantra.baend/ noun [u] goods that are brought into or taken out of a country illegally: contraband cigarettes and alcohol con-tra-cep-tion /.kantra'sepjan/ noun [u] methods for preventing a woman from becoming pregnant, or the use of such methods 1 con-tra-cep-tive / kantra'septiv/ noun [c] a drug, method, or object used for preventing a woman from becoming pregnant

used for showing

con-tin-ue /kan'tinju/

down 2 [T]

contraceptive

296

tinents: the continental ice mass the fauna and flora of continental North America 1a. forming a continent, and not including any islands off its coast: the continental United States 2 BrE relating to or belonging to Europe, especially Western Europe, not including the U.K. or Ireland: continental currencies cooking 2a. typical of the warmer countries in central and southern Europe: The cafe has a relaxed continental feel about it.

con-toured

hills,

/'kan.turd/

con-tra-cep-tive

2 /

designed to prevent a a contraceptive pill

kantra'septiv/ adj

[only before noun]

woman from becoming pregnant:

contract [C]

***

have said before:

1 a written legal agreement between two people or businesses that says what each must do for the other or give to the other: After six months she was offered an employment contract. A team led by Raytheon Aircraft Co. has won a contract to build aircraft to train Air Force + with Our contract with NBC expires next year. pilots. under a contract Under his contract he is not allowed to work for any other publisher. be in breach of contract (=have done something the contract says you must not do) The court found that the company was in breach of contract. be on a contract (=have a contract to work for someone) Are you on a permanent or a fixed-term contract? be under (a) contract to sb/sth (=have obligations as a result of a contract with them) She is still under contract be off contract He is now off contract and to Microsoft. subject to contract (=not yet agreed by free to move on. sign a it) The house has been sold subject to contract. contract He has signed a six-year contract with the Denver award sb a contract The contract for building Broncos. the hospital has been awarded to a Dutch company. 2 informal an agreement by which you pay someone to kill another person for you: a contract killer /killing take out a contract on sb She was accused of taking out a contract on her own husband.

Words frequently used with contract award, break, fulfill, honor, negotiate, renew, secure, sign, win

verbs

[i/T]

1

•*

con-tract 2 1

contrast

297

1

con-tract /'kan.tnekt/ noun

/kan'traekt; 'kan.traekt/ verb to agree to do something or make someone agree

to do something by a formal written agreement: contract to do sth They had contracted to supply the machinery by June. be contracted to do sth The firm was contracted to build 25 low-cost homes.

2

[I] if a substance such as metal contracts, it becomes smaller: The steel contracts as it cools. 2a. if a muscle contracts, it becomes tighter 3 [T] medical to become infected with a disease: She contracted pneumonia and died.

contract an alliance/orma/ to agree formally to form a close relationship with another country or organization: The Labour Party contracted an alliance with the Social Democrats. contract a marriage to agree formally to get married to someone: Her marriage was contracted when she was only five years old.

.contract out phrasal vb [T] to give work to another company using a written legal agreement instead of using your own company to do it: The firm contracts out most of the basic construction work.

contract bridge

/'kantraekt ,bnd3/ noun [u] a form of the card game bridge in which the highest bidder can score no more than the number of points that they said they would score at the start of play

contraction

/kan'traekfan/ noun * 1 [U] the process of becoming smaller: the contraction of cooling metal There is likely to be further contraction of the dot-com sector as more firms go bankrupt. 2 [C] medical a movement of a muscle in which it becomes tighter, especially the strong painful movement of the muscles of a woman's womb that help push a baby out during birth 3 [C] linguistics a word made by leaving out a letter or letters of a word or words. For example "can't" is a contraction of the word "cannot."

contractor

/'kan.traektar; kan'traektar/ noun [c] * a person or company whose job is to provide goods or do work for another person, organization, company, etc. at a particular price: a building contractor

contractual

/kan'traektfual/ adj agreed to or stated in a contract: contractual obligations

contradict

/.kantra'dikt/ verb

[t]

•

1 to say that the opposite of what someone has said is true: He didn't dare contradict his parents. 2 if one statement, piece of evidence, story, etc. contradicts another, they disagree and cannot both be true:

Her account of

the accident contradicts that of the other

driver.

contradict yourself to say the opposite of what you

In his confusion, he kept contradicting

himself.

con-tra-dic-tion /.kuntra'dikfan/ noun [C/u] •• a difference in two or more statements, ideas, stories, etc. that makes it impossible for both or all of them to be true: They appeared unaware of the contradictions in their + between He sees no contradiction between argument. in his religious beliefs and his membership of the party. direct contradiction to sth Their short-term priorities are in direct contradiction to their long-term goals opposite to them).

^completely

a contradiction in terms a statement consisting of words that mean opposite things: "Fair taxes," a contradiction in terms if ever there

was

one.

without fear of contradiction used for saying that you know no one will disagree with you: / think I can say, without fear of contradiction, that tonight has been a real success.

con-tra-dic-to-ry /.kantra'diktari/

adj contradictory statements, information, ideas, or beliefs disagree with each other and cannot both or all be true

con-tradis-tinc-tion

/.kantradi'stirjkfan/ noun [c] in contradistinction to sth formal used for showing differences between two things by comparing them

con-trail /'kan.treil/ noun [C] AmE a line of white steam left in the sky by an airplane flying very high contraindication /.kantra.mdi'keifn/ noun [c] medical a medical reason why someone should not use a particular drug or medical treatment con-tral-to /kan'traltoo/ noun [C] the lowest female singing voice, or a woman with this singing voice con-trap-tion /kan'traepjan/ noun [c] a machine or piece of equipment, especially one that looks strange or complicated

con-trar-i-an /kan'trerian/ noun [c] someone who tends to oppose ideas that most people accept con-trar-i-wise /kan'treri warz/ adv in the opposite

way con-trar-y

/'kan.treri/ adj

**

completely different or opposed to something else: a contrary view /opinion +to The introduction of such a tax would be contrary to our policy. 1a. contrary to sth used 1

emphasizing that something is true, even though it opposite to what other people say or believe: Contrary of retail sales fell in January. contrary to popular belief Contrary to popular belief, the animals do not often attack humans. 2 /kan'treri; 'kan.treri/ someone who is contrary enjoys disagreeing with people and doing the opposite of what is expected or asked

for is

to expectations, the level

* the opposite: Evidence suggests that the contrary is true. quite the contrary / don't disagree - quite the contrary - I think you're

con-trar-y, the /'kan.treri/ noun

absolutely right.

on the contrary used for emphasizing that something is true, even though it is the opposite of something that has been said: The risk of infection hasn't diminished - on the contrary, it has increased. to the contrary making you think that the opposite may be true: Despite all evidence to the contrary, he believed his plan would succeed. con-trast /'kan.traest/ noun 1 [C/U] a noticeable difference between people or things: + between the contrast between her life before the 1

••*

and now something that is different from something else in a very noticeable way: + to The little village was a total contrast to San Francisco. 3 [U] the differences in light or color that you can see accident

2

[c]

in a painting or photograph, or in a television picture by/in contrast used when you are comparing two things or people and saying that the second one is very different from the first: The technology sector is doing badly. Old economy stocks, by contrast, are performing well again. in contrast to sb/by contrast with sth In contrast to his predecessor, Bush has little appetite for foreign travel. in marked /sharp /stark /striking contrast to Johnny's

friendliness was in marked contrast to his brother's rude behavior. stand/be in contrast to to be very different from something else: Her views stand in stark contrast to those of her colleagues.

*

C

contrast

••

/ksn'tnest/ verb if one thing contrasts with another, the two things 1 are different from each other, often in a noticeable or interesting way: + with Her dark hair contrasted sharply with her pale silk gown. The poverty of the southern district contrasts markedly with the affluence of the northern suburbs. 2 [T] to compare two things in order to show how they are different: When you contrast their work records, Julie is clearly more qualified. contrast sb/sth with sb/sth He contrasted his party's record on unemployment with that of the last government. [

1

control

298

contrast 2 1

contrasting

/kan'tnestin/ adj different from each other in a noticeable or interesting way: contrasting styles /opinions /colors con*tra*vene /kantra'vin/ verb [J] formal to do something that is not allowed by a rule, law, or agreement

con-tra-ven-tion / .kantra'venjan/ noun

[u] formal the action of doing something that is not allowed by a rule, law, or agreement a. [C] something that is not allowed by a rule, law, or agreement

in contravention of sth in a way that is not allowed by a rule, law, or agreement: They have acted in contravention of the terms of the treaty. con-tre-temps /'kantra.ta/ noun [c] often humorous an argument that is not very serious: a little contretemps over a parking space

con-trib-u-to-ry

/kan'tribja.tori/ adj 1 [only before noun] partly responsible for a situation or event: a contributory factor 2 a contributory pension or insurance

arrangement is one that involves payments by workers as well as employers opposite noncontributory contributory negligence noun [u] legal the failure of a person who has been injured to take action to avoid or prevent an accident, so that they are considered

—

partly responsible for

— con-trite-ly adv, con-tri«tion /kan'tnjn/ noun [u]

contri-vance

/ksn'traivns/ noun 1 [c/U] a plan to someone in order to get something for yourself, or the use of such a plan 1a. a clever or complicated method of achieving a particular effect, especially in a story, that seems artificial 2 [C] a complicated machine or piece of equipment designed for a particular purpose trick

con-trive /kan'traiv/ verb formal

1

con-trol /kan'troul/ noun power to make decisions 2 power over machine etc. 3 law limiting sth 4 ability to stop problem 5 ability to remain calm 1

order to achieve something, especially when other people are also helping: + to Many local businesses offered to contribute to the school

cost of the lawsuit.

rebuilding fund. contribute sth to contribute $5,000 toward the will contribute 8,000 troops

to the

2

The U.K.

NATO operation.

/T] to be a part of a group or an activity and help it be successful: contribute sth to sth Davis didn't really have a contribute much to the game in the second half. lot/much/nothing to contribute He felt he had nothing to [

I

to

contribute to the discussion. 3 [ to be one of the things that help to make something happen: +to The scandal certainly contributed to their contributing factor (=one of defeat in the last election. the things that causes something) Speed is a contributing factor in many automobile accidents. 4 [i/T] to write stories or articles for a newspaper or magazine: contribute sth to sth She continued to contribute articles to sports magazines. I

]

con-tri-bu-tion /.kantn'bjujn/ noun [c] •** 1 something that you do that helps to achieve some-

make it successful: a valuable /outstanding contribution This program could not have been successful without Ken's valuable contribution. +to her major conmake a contribution Comtribution to the peace process munity police have made a very positive contribution to crime prevention. 2 an amount of money or something else of value that you give in order to achieve something or to help make it successful: +of Each of us was asked to make a + to /toward We asked parents for a contribution of $25. make a concontribution toward the cost of the trip. tribution His company made a very large contribution to the campaign fund. 2a. [usually plural] regular payments made by a person or organization in order to pay for insurance, pensions, etc.: The union successfully negotiated increased employer contributions to the health ben-

thing or to

efits

package.

3

a story or article that you have written for a newspaper or magazine

Words

frequently used with contribution

adjectives

great, huge, important, major, outstanding, positive, significant,

1

useful, valuable

con*trib*u*tor /ksn'tnbjatar/ noun [c] 1 someone who gives money, goods, or their time or effort in order to help to achieve something: +to a major contributor to the campaign 2 someone or something that is one of the causes of a situation, event, etc. 3 someone who writes a story or article that is published in a newspaper or magazine: +to a regular contributor to the magazine

1

[T] to

make some-

thing happen, especially by using clever or dishonest methods: They would have to contrive a meeting. 1a. [i] to succeed in doing something, especially something difficult: contrive to do sth We contrived to have an enjoyable vacation in spite of the rain. 2 [T] to invent or make something in a clever or unusual way con-trived /kan'traivd/ ad] false or artificial

con'trib'Ute/ksn'tnbjut; 'kantn.bjut/ verb •** 1 [I/T] to give money, goods, or your time and effort in

to/toward sth He promised

it

con-trite /kan trait; 'kan, trait/ adj very sorry or ashamed because you have done something bad

•** 6 switch on machine 7

in scientific

test

8 check rules are applied 9 computer key + PHRASES

the power to make decisions about something and decide what should happen: + of When Marie's father died, control of the business passed into her hands, gain/ lose control of sth Democrats are hoping to gain control of have the House of Representatives at the next election. control of /over sth Dr. Davies believes that children should have control over their own lives. beyond sb's control Decisions on financial matters are beyond my control. be /come under sb's control The island is now under French control. take control of sth When we took control of the company, it was losing money. 2 [u] the power to make something such as a vehicle, machine, or animal do what you want: lose control of sth The driver lost control of the vehicle on an icy road. regain control of sth He failed to regain control of the aircraft, and it crashed moments later. 3 [C/U] a law, agreement, or method that limits something: an international agreement on arms control wage and price controls + on new controls on the importing of tighter controls on vehicle emissions live animals 4 [u] the ability to stop something from increasing or becoming dangerous: The police were called in to help with crowd control. + of Control of inflation is the admin1

[U]

istration 's top priority. 5 [U] the ability to remain calm even when you are feeling upset or angry: lose control The defendant had lost control after telling the victim several times to leave him alone. keep control They sat in silence, struggling to keep control of their emotions. 6 [C] a button or switch that makes a machine do something: She adjusted the volume control slightly. 6a. controls [plural] the instruments used for operating a large vehicle, especially an aircraft: be at the controls We were reassured to know that an experienced pilot was now at the controls. 7 [C] a group of people or things that is compared with the people or things being used in a scientific test in order to show whether the test has an effect or not: Half of the control group suffered further heart attacks, compared with only 12% of those receiving the treatment. 8 [U] the process of checking to make certain that rules or standards are being applied: It took us two hours to get through passport control. 9 [U] the control key on a computer keyboard: Press "control" and "D" to delete a line.

in control someone who is in control has the power to make decisions and decide what should happen: Dr. Marion is the person in control of all medical decisions in The governing board is in control of the the hospital. school's budget.

control

Words

if

is

frequently used with control exercise, exert, gain, have, keep, lose, maintain, regain, retain,

verbs

1

seize, take

control 2 1

/kan'trool/ verb

have power

to

[T]

••• 4 keep at right level/limit 5 stop problem increasing 6 remain calm

decide

2 make sth do sth you want 3 make act in certain way

have the power to make decisions and decide what will happen to something: A rebel army was now controlling the northern half of the country. Most of the news media were controlled by the central government. a real estate company that controls assets worth $200 million 2 to make a machine, system, vehicle, etc. move or operate in the way that you want it to: The surgeon 1

to

controls the device remotely using a computer terminal. / hit a patch of ice and couldn 't control the car. The flow of water is controlled by a series of valves. 3 to make people behave in the way you want them to behave: New teachers often find it difficult to control their classes. The generals who seized power used terror to control the people. to keep something at the correct level: regulate: The temperature in the museum is carefully controlled. the parts of the brain that control our breathing 4a. to

4

prevent something from increasing too much or too quickly: Our two priorities are encouraging investment

and

controlling

tightly /strictly controlled

inflation.

Spending in the company was tightly controlled. 5 to prevent something harmful from spreading or becoming more dangerous: We must do more to control the spread of the virus. a new package of regulations, aimed at controlling pollution and minimizing waste 6 to remain calm and not show that you are angry or upset: Carol struggled to control her anger. / could hardly control my temper. control yourself If you can't learn to control yourself you'll have to leave.

control freak noun

[C] informal someone who wants to control every aspect of a situation and will not allow other people to share in making decisions

control ,key noun

[c] a key on a computer keyboard that is used in combination with other keys for doing particular operations. This key is usually marked

"Ctrl."

con'troMa-ble/kan'troutabl/adj capable of being controlled or kept within safe limits: controllable costs disease is controllable but not curable.

controlled

/kan'trould/

adj

The

•

1 calm and showing no emotion even though you are angry or upset: restrained: She gave a cool, controlled

smile, then

convenience store

299

something

out of control, people are not able to limit it or make it do what they want it to Nobody do: Forest fires can easily get out of control. We have to keep wants to see inflation get out of control. costs from spiraling out of control. under control if something is under control, people are able to limit it or make it do what they want it to do: It was several hours before firefighters could get the blaze under control. keep/have sth under control He sometimes has difficulty keeping his temper under control.

out of control

left.

2 organized

in a way that is likely to produce accurate a controlled experiment Bomb disposal experts have carried out a series of controlled explosions. 3 limited by a law: controlled exhaust emissions results:

-con-trolled /kan'troold/

suffix

make adjectives describing something: state-controlled radio to

used with some nouns

who

or what controls a voice-controlled entry

system

controlled 'substance noun [c] legal an controller /ksn'troubr/ noun [cj • someone whose job is part of an organization 1

to

illegal

drug

manage an organization or

2 controller or comptroller someone whose job is to manage an organization's money 3 a part of a machine that controls a particular process: a graphics controller

control-ling in-ter-est /kan

troolin

[C usually singular] business a situation in

mtrast/ noun

which someone

owns enough shares in a company to be able to make decisions about what the company does control room noun [c] a room that contains equipment used for operating machines or organizing an activity that involves a lot of people

control tower noun

[c] a tall building at an airport from which people control the movement of aircraft.

The people who do

this job are called air traffic con-

trollers.

**

con-tro-ver-sial

/,kantr3'v3rfl/ adj a controversial subject, opinion, or decision is one that people disagree about or do not approve of: controversial plans to build a new freeway a controversial issue/ topic /proposal /decision We tried to stay away from controversial topics at the dinner party, a. sometimes used about a person, especially a person in public life: The president's wife was a powerful and controversial

figure.

\3rsi/ noun [C/u] •• a disagreement, especially about a public policy or a moral issue that a lot of people have strong feelings about: The election ended in controversy, with allegations of widespread vote-rigging. + over/ about the recent controversy over the rates banks charge for exchanging currencies create /spark /stir /cause controversy The decision to allow more cars on the ferry was sure to spark controversy. con-tu-sion /ksn'tU3n/ noun [C/Ul medical a blue or purple mark on your skin where you have been hit:

con-tro-ver-sy /'kantra

BRUISE

co-nun-drum /ka'nAndram/

noun [C] 1 a difficult problem that seems to have no solution 2 a question asked as a trick that is answered by using words in a surprising way: riddle con-ur-ba-tion /.kanar'beijn/ noun [c] a large city area that develops when towns that are close to each other get bigger and join together con-va-lesce / .kanva'les/ verb [i] to spend time resting after an illness or operation in order to become healthier or stronger

con-va-les-cence

/.kanva'lesns/ noun [u] a period of

time spent convalescing

con-vales-cent / .kanva'lesnt/ adj

relating to a period of time spent resting and becoming healthier or stronger after an illness or operation

con-vec-tion /kan'vekjan/ noun [u] science the process by which heat moves within a liquid or gas con-vec-tor /ksn'vektar/ noun [c] a piece of electrical equipment used for heating a room by moving warm air

around

it

con-vene

/ksn'vin/ verb [i/t] to arrange a formal meeting, or to gather for a meeting

con-ven-er /ksn'vinar/ noun

[c]

someone who organ-

meetings of a committee con-ven-ience /kan'vinians/ noun izes the

•

a condition that makes it easier to do something to avoid wasting time or effort: Many people enjoy the pleasures and convenience of living downtown. Convenience and speed ofpreparation are important to people with busy lifestyles. Her hair was cut short for convenience rather than fashion. for sb's convenience A pre-paid envelope is enclosed for your convenience. 2 [C] something that you do to make things easier for yourself or that is intended to make things easier for you: The kitchen was equipped with a range of modern conveniences. The center offers every convenience for the busy executive. A second car was a convenience that we 1

[u]

and helps you

came

to

depend on.

at sb's convenience formal at a time that suits someone so that they do not have to make a special effort to do something: We can meet to discuss this further at your convenience. at sb's earliest convenience formal as soon as someone is able to do something: Please call me back at your earliest convenience.

convenience .food

noun [C/u) food that is quick and easy to prepare such as food that has already been cooked and only needs to be heated. Fast food is food that you can get quickly in a restaurant.

convenience store

noun [C] a small store that is open for long hours and sells a variety of goods, espe-

^

convenient

it's convenient, call me tomorrow before noon. la. easy to use or appropriate for a particular purpose: Traveling by subway is fast, convenient, and cheap, lb. a convenient place is one that is near the place where you are: The most convenient parking is at the parking lot off Church Street. 2 something that is convenient gives someone an advantage or opportunity, often in a way that is slightly dishonest: a convenient excuse How very convenient that Gayle was away precisely on the day we needed her.

•

con-ven-ient-ly

/kan'viniantli/ adv 1 in a way that is easy to use, find, deal with, etc.: The store is conveniently located just off Main Street. 2 in a way that gives you an advantage or opportunity and is often slightly dishonest: He conveniently ignored She conthe facts that did not support his position. veniently forgot to return the car keys.

con-vent

/'kanvsnt;

kanvent/ noun

[c]

a building

where a community of nuns (= women members religious organization) live and work

con-ven-tion /kan'venjan/ noun

of a

***

1 [C] a meeting that a lot of people belonging to a particular profession or organization go to in order to discuss things: Chicago was chosen as the site for an international crime convention. the convention of the National Organization for Women 2 [C/u] a way of behaving that is generally accepted as being normal and right: the rules and conventions of the House of Representatives She rebelled against convention and refused to marry. 2a. a way of writing, painting, etc. that is accepted as the usual or right way: the conventions of Greek architecture Her later novels abandon the narrative conventions of 19th-century fiction. 3 [C] a formal agreement between governments of different countries about how they should behave toward each other or toward the people in their country: The government's action may violate the European Convention

on

Human

Rights.

con-ven-tion-al /kan'venjnal/

adj

••*

of the usual, traditional, or accepted type, instead of being new and different: You can cook the meat either in a microwave or in a conventional oven. He wanted a conventional marriage with a wife and kids. the problems associated with conventional methods Her views are remarkably conof energy production ventional. 1a. someone who is conventional follows the usual and accepted opinions and ways of behaving, especially without questioning them 2 [usually before noun] conventional weapons are guns, bombs, etc. of the usual type, not nuclear weapons. conventional war is one that does not involve the use of nuclear weapons: the deployment of conventional armed forces in Europe 3 conventional medical treatments are the type of modern medical treatments based on drugs and operations used by most doctors in Europe, North America. etc. The expression conventional medicine is often used when comparing these methods with alternative 1

[usually

before noun]

A

medicine. conventional wisdom beliefs or opinions that most people accept as correct: The study challenges the conventional wisdom that exercise is good for you. con-ven-tion-al-ly adv

—

convent .school

noun [c] a school for girls where all the teachers are nuns (= women members of a religious organization)

con-verge

convert

300

and drink, cleaning materials, and newspapers or magazines con-ven-ient/ksn'viniant/adj •• 1 easy to do, or not causing problems or difficulties: If cially food

/kan'v3rd3/ verb ferent directions to reach the

[i]

1

to

come from

dif-

same point: + on Top diplomats were converging on Washington from all over the world. 2 to become the same or very similar: Our opinions seldom converged, —opposite diverge

con«ver«gence /k3n'v3rd33ns/ noun

a situation in which people or things gradually become the same or very similar: a convergence of views/ beliefs con-ver-sant /kanvsrsnt/ adj formal if you are conversant with something, you know about it and understand it [singular/u]

•••

con-versation

/,kunvor'sciJn/ noun 1 [C] a talk between two or more people, usually a private and informal one: Later in the evening, the con+ with /between a conversation turned to politics. versation with my neighbor/ between two friends have a conversation She had a long telephone conversation with her mother. 2 [U] informal talk between people: With so much loud music, conversation wasalmost impossible, topic/subject of conversation He's so boring - his only topic of conversation is football. snatches of conversation (=short parts of a conversation) / overheard a few snatches of conversation and realized we were in trouble. get into conversation (with sb) to start talking to someone you have never met before: She met Harry at the airport and they got into conversation. make conversation to talk to someone that you do not know well, in order to be polite, not because you really want to talk to them. This type of conversation is also called small talk: "Nice party, isn't it?" I said, trying to

make

conversation.

Metaphor A conversation

or discussion is like a trip, with the speakers going from one place to another.

go back to what you were saying earlier. we return to the previous point? / can t quite

Let's

Can see

The conversation took an where you're heading. unexpected turn /direction. I'm listening - Go on.' / was just coming We've covered a lot of ground. to that. We eventually arrived at a conclusion. It's an indirect way of saying she's refusing our offer. You're on the right /wrong track. We wandered The conversation drifted aimlessly. We off the topic. kept going around in circles.

con-ver-sa-tion-al

1 a con/ kanvar'seijnal/ adj versational style of writing or speaking is informal, like a private conversation: She spoke in a quiet conversational tone. 2 relating to conversations: con-

versational skills

— con-ver-sa-tion-aMy adv

con-ver-sa-tion-al-ist / kanvar'seijnalist/ noun [c] someone who enjoys conversations and always has interesting or funny things to say conversation piece noun [c] an interesting or unusual object that attracts attention and makes people start talking

con-verse

1

about

it

/ksn'v3rs/ verb

[I]

formal to have a con-

versation

con-verse

2

/'kan

\'3rs/ adj

formal opposite: a converse

belief

con-verse, the

/'kan,v3rs/ noun formal the opposite of a statement or situation /ksn'vsrsli; 'kanvsrsli/ adv * used for introducing part of a sentence that says something that is the opposite of the other part: Some wrong answers were marked right and, conversely, some right answers

con-verse-ly

had been

rejected.

con-ver-sion /kan'vs^n/ noun

••

1 [C/u] the process of changing from one system, method, or use to another: currency conversion + of the conversion of an office building into an apartment building + from the conversion from communism to capitalism 2 [C/U] a change in someone's beliefs, especially their

religious beliefs 3 [C] in the game of football, extra points scored after

making a touchdown con-vert 1 /ksn'vsrt/

**

verb 1 [I/T] to change from one system, use, or method to another, or to make something do this: You have to convert the temperature readings from Fahrenheit to Celsius. The subsidies are to enable farmers to convert to organic convert sth into sth They converted production methods. the old school into luxury apartments.

2

[I/T]

to

change your

beliefs, especially

your religious

or to persuade someone do this: +to At the age of 16, Greene converted to Catholicism. [t] to make a conversion in football 3 con-vert 2 /"kan.vart/ noun [c] someone who has changed their beliefs in an important way: +to Once a communist, he is now a convert to capitalism. beliefs,

I

converter

cook

301

con«vert«er / Ion 'V3rt3i7 noun

[c]

a piece of equipment

used for converting something from one form into another 1 con-vert'i-ble /kan'vartabl/ noun [c] a car with a roof that can be folded back or removed completely —picture

con-vinc-ing /ksnvinsinVadj

1 something that is convincing makes you believe that it is true or persuades you to do something: He will demand convincing evidence before he adopts a new theory. a convincing argument /explanation 1a. someone who

convincing seems to be telling the truth or behaving way: She was very convincing in the title role. a convincing win is one in which one team or player con«vincing«ly adv beats another easily con-viv'i-al /ksn'vivial/ adj friendly and making you is

-»C6 2 con-vert'i-ble /kan'vsrtsbl/ adj something that is convertible can be changed from one form, use, or system into another: a convertible sofa (=one that can be changed into a bed) a. a convertible currency is the money from one country that can be exchanged for the

money of another country corvvert'Or /kan'v3rt3r/ another

spelling of converter /ksn'veks; kan.veks/ adj a convex surface curves outward, rather than being flat or curving inward compare concave

con-vex

—

con-vey

/kan'vei/ verb

[t]

**

1 to communicate ideas or feelings indirectly: These results will enable us at least to convey a sense of progress.

*A good photograph can often convey far more than

words.

in a natural

2

—

feel welcome con*vo*ca*tion /.kanva'keijn/ noun [c] 1 a formal meeting of the senior members of a church 2 in some

universities, especially in the U.S., an official ceremony at which university students receive their degrees

con*vo*lut*ed /'kanvalutad/adj 1 very complicated, or more complicated than necessary: the novel's convoluted storyline 2 mainly literary a convoluted shape or surface has many twists and curves con-vo-lu'tion /.kanva'lujn/ noun [C] formal a complicated detail or shape

2

con-voy /'kan,voi/ noun

to another: transport 4 legal to make another person or organization the legal owner of a property

con-vulse

to give official information or a formal message to someone: Please convey my appreciation to your President. 3 formal to move someone or something from one place

conveyance

/ksn'veisns/ noun 1 [u] formal the process of moving people, animals, or goods from one place to another 2 [C] formal a vehicle 3 [C] legal a document that shows that the person who has just bought a property is now its legal owner

con»vey*or or con»vey-er /kan'veisr/ noun [c] 1 conveyor belt 2 someone or something that carries

a or

communicates something, especially news .belt noun [c] a machine with a flat wide belt used for moving objects from one place to another,

conveyor

especially in a factory a. used in a negative way to refer to situations in which people are treated as if they are products in a factory: students on the conveyor belt of higher education

con-vict /kan'vikt/ verb [T] ** to prove in a court of law that someone is guilty of a crime: Anderson faces up 1

24 years in prison if convicted. convict sb of sth Robinson was convicted of the murder of his mother and to

brother.

con«vict 2 / 'kan.vikt/ noun

[C]

someone who

is

in prison

because they have committed a crime adj proved to be guilty of a crime by a court of law: a convicted killer / murderer

con-vict-ed /ksn'viktad/ rapist

conviction

/kan'vikjan/ noun

••

a strong belief or opinion about something: She holds deep religious convictions. 2 [C/u] a decision by a court of law that someone is guilty of a crime: The conviction of three youths was later overturned by the Court of Appeals. previous conviction (=a crime that someone has been convicted of in the past) She has a previous conviction for driving while intoxi1

[C]

cated.

3

the feeling or appearance of being confident or very certain about something: The team's recent performances have lacked conviction. "Everything will be fine, " she said, though without much conviction. [U]

not carry conviction if someone's words, actions, etc. do not carry conviction, you do not believe that they are true or honest: Mel put on a smile, but it didn't carry

much

conviction.

convince

/kan'vms/ verb

[T]

••*

make someone

believe that something is true: convince sb of sth He failed to convince the jury of his innocence. convince sb (that) Maria had convinced herself that he didn't love her. You don't have to convince me you're the right person for the job. 2 to persuade someone to do something: convince sb to do sth They tried to convince him to buy a cheaper car. 1

to

*•

con -vi need

*

/kan'vmst/ adj certain that something is true: Despite all my father's arguments, I still wasn't convinced. + (that) lam not completely convinced he understood the gravity of the situation. + of Millions of Filipinos remain convinced of her innocence.

[C] a group of vehicles or ships traveling together, often with other vehicles or ships providing protection for them: an aid convoy bringing food to Sarajevo

/ksn'vAls/ verb 1 [T] mainly journalism to cause major problems or serious harm to someone or something: ethnic killings that have convulsed the region in recent weeks Problems in the Far Eastern economy convulsed the New York markets. 2 [T usually passive] if you are convulsed with a strong emotion, it makes your body move in an uncontrolled way: be convulsed with They were convulsed with laughter, and could hardly speak. 2a. [i/T] medical if someone convulses, or something convulses them, their body moves in an uncon-

trolled way convul-sion

/kan'vAljan/ noun [C usually plural] 1 violent movements of a person's body that they cannot control 2 mainly journalism sudden or extreme changes that cause major problems or serious harm con-vul'Sive /kan'vAlsiv/ adj 1 convulsive movements are violent and difficult to control 2 mainly journalism causing major problems or serious harm coo /ku/ verb 1 [I] to make the soft low sound that birds such as doves and pigeons make 2 [i/T] to speak in a soft and gentle way, especially when saying nice things coo noun [C] cook 1 /kuk/ verb *** [i/t] to prepare food and heat it so that it is ready to eat: Cook the apple slowly until it is When did you learn to cook?* cook sth for sb Joe's soft. cooking dinner for me tonight. cook sb sth He offered to cook me lunch, a. [i] when food cooks, it is heated so that it is ready to eat: The potatoes need to cook for about

—

20 minutes.

be cooking spoken to be happening or being planned, often secretly: Fll try and find out what's cooking. cook the books informal to change accounts and numbers dishonestly, usually in order to get money cook sb's goose informal to cause a lot of problems for someone or spoil their plans

cook up

phrasal vb [T] informal to invent a story, excuse, or plan: Between them they cooked up some story to tell their parents.

Other ways of saying

cook

boil to cook food in boiling water: Boil the potatoes for about 20 minutes.

simmer

to allow

something

the sauce to a boil, then turn gently.

very gently: Bring the heat and simmer

to boil

down

bake to cook food, especially bread or cakes, in an oven: / spent all afternoon baking cookies. roast to cook meat or vegetables in an oven with or oil: Roast the chicken in a hot oven. fry to cook food in hot

oil:

Do you want your

fat

eggs fried

or boiled?

Am E to cook food

under or over a very strong The British word is grill: Broil the pork chops about four inches from the heat for four minutes on broil heat.

each

side.

grill

Am E to cook food on metal bars over a fire: Dad's

going

to grill steaks

on the barbecue tonight.

*i

cook

cooling tower

302

cook 2 /kok/

noun

[C]

**

someone who prepares and

art class at the community college. 2b. spoken used for agreeing to something or saying that something would

cooks food, either as their job or for pleasure: Steve's a wonderful cook! They've got a housekeeper, a cook, and two gardeners.

be convenient: "We could go to a movie." "Cool." Any time after five would be cool. 3 calm and relaxed: a cool and calm atmosphere her cool handling of the situation 4 not friendly or enthusiastic: The senator got a cool reception. a cool ruthless manner +to The Bush administration officials have been cool to the idea. 5 [only before noun] informal used with an amount of money for emphasizing how large it is: He ended up with a cool $50,000.

too many cooks (spoil the broth) informal used for saying that something may be done badly if too many people try to do it together

cook-book

/'kok.bok/ noun

[c)

a book that contains and instructions for

recipes (=lists of the things you need

preparing and cooking food)

cooked

/kokt/ ad) cooked food has been heated and is ready to eat: Use different containers for cooked and uncooked beef a dish of lightly cooked vegetables

it cool informal to behave calmly and not show your emotions, so that people do not know what you are thinking or feeling: He decided to play it cool and not say anything about what he had seen. — cool-ness noun

play

—opposite raw

cook-er / 'kokar/ noun [C] Br E a stove cook-er-y /'kokari/ noun [u] mainly BrE

the skill or

[u]:

activity of cooking: cookery classes/ lessons

We

was a

'cookery book noun [c] BrE a cookbook cook-ie /'koki/ noun [C] ••

sat

and enjoyed

definite coolness

the coolness of the shade. between the two men.

There

-» COOL HEAD, COOLLY, CUCUMBER

cool 2 /kul/

a small sweet cake that is usually flat and in the shape of a circle: chocolate-chip cookies 2 computing a file containing information about the user of a computer that is connected to a network or to the Internet

verb

cool or cool

•• down

become

cooler, or

make

1

1

that's the way the cookie crumbles informal used for saying that you must accept a situation that you do not

something cooler: Allow the cake to cool completely. We opened the windows to cool the room. 2 [i] if a feeling such as love or anger cools, it becomes less strong: Later, when tempers had cooled, they sat down and talked. Her enthusiasm quickly cooled. cool your heels informal to have to wait for something, especially when this is annoying and boring cool it spoken used for telling someone to become less angry or excited: Cool it, Steve, and tell me what the problem is.

because you cannot change it tough/smart cookie informal someone who has a strong character or is intelligent, and deals well with problems and disappointments 'cookie .cutter noun [c] a tool used for cutting cookies into particular shapes before you bake them 'cookie-,cutter adj used for describing people, things, or ideas that are exactly the same as others and not at all original. This word shows that you do not respect like

these people, things, or ideas: cookie-cutter houses /cars

'cookie jar noun

[c] a container used for storing cookies be caught with your hand in the cookie jar Am E to be caught while you are doing something dishonest 'cookie .sheet noun [c] AmE a metal sheet used for baking cookies or other food on cook-ing /'kokirj/ noun [u] •• 1 the process of preparing and heating food so that it is ready to eat: / do my own cooking and food shopping. 2 food cooked in a particular way: authentic Italian 1

cooking

Words nouns

cook- off

[c]

[

AmE

cool.

a type of large green apple

keep your cool to remain calm in a difficult situation lose your cool to become angry or excited in a difficult

used in cooking a chili/BBQ etc. cook-off a

•**

cold (but pleasant)

2 fashionable/good 3 calm and relaxed

4 not friendly 5 large amount + PHRASES

of

money

rather cold, often in a pleasant way: Tomorrow it will and cool everywhere. The night air was still and beautifully cool. The water was wonderfully cool and Store the wine in a cool dry place. 1a. food refreshing. that is cool is no longer hot: When the cookies are cool, brush them with melted chocolate. 1b. cool clothes prevent you from feeling too hot: He put on a cool cotton shirt and a pair of shorts. 1c. cool colors, such as white and blue, give an idea of cold instead of heat: The place was painted in a cool glossy white. 2 informal impressive because of being fashionable or attractive: one of America's coolest young designers It's not considered cool to wear a helmet. 2a. used for emphasizing how good someone or something is: / met this Cara's taking a really cool really cool girl last night. 1

be cloudy

]

1 the cool the pleasant cool temperature of a place or time: We went for a walk in the cool of the evening. 2 [u] the quality of being extremely fashionable: sophistication: She was the embodiment of

situation

cool-ant /'kubnt/ noun

[C/u] a liquid used for preventing machines from getting too hot cool*box /'kul,baks/ noun [C] BrE a cooler for food cool-er /'kutar/ noun [c] 1 a container that can be carried easily and is used for keeping food cold 2 a machine used for keeping liquids cold: a water cooler

AmE

1

I

cool 3 /kul/ noun

is

noun cooking competition to decide who makes the best chili, BBQ SAUCE, etC. cook-out /'kok,aut/ noun [C] an informal meal eaten outside with food usually cooked over a fire or On a BARBECUE GRILL cook-ware /'kuk.wer/ noun [u] pans and other equipment used in cooking cool 1 /kul/ adj

2

down phrasal vb [l/T] 1 same as cool 2 i: We had to wait until the engine had cooled down before restarting the car. The rain had cooled everything down. 2 informal to become, or cause someone to become, less angry or excited: Just try to cool down and think rationally. ,cool off phrasal vb 1 [l/T] to become calm again: Let him I'm really busy, but cool off, you can talk about it later. to become when things cool off I'll come and see you. 2 very cooler after being hot: We went for a swim to cool [I] if sales, prices, etc. cool off, they ourselves off.3 decrease

/'kokirj/ adj [only before noun] relating to cooking or suitable for use in cooking: cooking facilities cooking chocolate

and

anger, ardor, enthusiasm, love,

,cool

vegetarian cooking

that tastes very sour

frequently used with cool

temper

cook-ing 2

'cooking apple noun

[i/t] to

AmE

,cool 'head noun [singular] the ability to stay calm and behave in a reasonable way in difficult situations: It's important in this job to keep a cool head. a. [C] someone who has this ability: Fortunately, cool heads prevailed, and the attack was called off. cool- headed adj always staying calm in difficult situ,

ations /'kuli/ noun [C] offensive an insulting word used in the past for a worker with no special skills in China, India, and other parts of Asia

coo-lie

cool-ing-off pe-ri-od /.kulin 'of .piriad/ noun [c] 1 a pause in an argument, especially one between a company's management and employees, that gives people time to think calmly about how to reach an agreement 2 a period of time in which you are allowed to change your mind about a contract or agreement that you have signed cooling tow-er /'kulin ,taur/ noun [c] a tall round structure where water used in an industrial process becomes less hot

coolly cool-ly

or angry: Kate handled the situation very coolly. 2 in an unfriendly way: His manner was coolly polite and impersonal.

coon

/kun/ noun [c] 1 informal a raccoon 2 offensive an offensive word for a black person in a coon's age informal in a very long time coon-skin /'kun.skm/ adj made from the fur of a raccoon a coonskin coat coop 1 /kup/ verb ,coop 'up phrasal vb [T usually passive] if a person or animal is cooped up in a place, they have to stay there without being able to move around much: I've been cooped up in this office all day. coop 2 /kup/ noun [C] a small building or large container where chickens or small animals are kept :

co-op

/'koo.ap/ noun

informal a cooperative

[C]

co-op-er-ate /koo'apa.reit/ verb [I] * 1 to work with other people to achieve a

result that is is sensible

good for everyone involved: If the proposal

and reasonable they should cooperate.

+ with Local people decided to cooperate with the authorities against the rebels. +in The company has agreed to cooperate in the development of this technology. 2 to do what someone asks you to do, especially by providing them with information: They threatened to harm him if he didn 't cooperate.

•*

cooperation

/koo.apa'reifn/ noun [u] a situation in which people or organizations together to achieve a result that will benefit 1

them:

A

working group

will be established to

work all

of

promote

cooperation. + between economic cooperation between the two countries + with Their duties involved close cooperation with the prince. 2 help that you give someone: assistance: We are grateful for the cooperation of the police.

cooperative

/koo'ap(a)rativ/adj * 1 cooperative people are willing to do what you ask them: Jean is cooperative and helpful in the classroom. opposite uncooperative 2 [only before noun] done by people or organizations working together: a cooperative research project involving 1

—

and

local businesses

universities

3

[only before noun] a cooperative business or other organization is owned by the people who work in it who also share the profits: cooperative stores providing

relatively cheap, good-quality foodstuffs 2

co-op-er-a-tive /koo'ap(a)rativ/ noun [C] a business or other organization owned by the people who work in it who also share the profits: agricultural /fishing cooperatives a housing cooperative

CO-opt /kou'apt/ plan and use

verb

someone's idea or were your own: The President co[T]

1

to take

as if it opted welfare reform from the Republicans. 2 to try to control someone or stop them from harming you by bringing them into your own group or organization: Democrats will need to co-opt six Republicans to achieve a it

majority.

coordinate

1

/kou'ordi.neit/ verb * 1 [T] to organize the different parts of a job or plan so that the people involved work together effectively: A senior embassy official is coordinating efforts to free the captives. 1a. to organize things into a system: It was her task to coordinate all the relevant information. 2 [T] to control the movements of different parts of your body so that they work well together: Children have to learn to coordinate eye and hand movements. 3 [l/T] to look attractive together, or to choose things to look attractive together: Choose a color that coordinates with the paintwork.

coordinate 2

/koo'ardmat/ noun

one of a set of numbers that give the exact position of something on a map or graph 2 coordinates [plural] women's clothes that are designed to be

[C]

1

worn together

co-or-di-nat-ing conjunction /kooprdmeitirj k3n'd3AnkJan/ noun [C] linguistics a word such as "and" or "but" that joins two parts of a sentence that are of equal importance— compare subordinating conjunction

coordination 1

copra

303 calmly, without getting excited

/'kulli/ adv 1

/kou.ordi'neijn/ noun [u] * the ability to control the movements of different

parts of your body so that they work well together: The brain controls the coordination of muscle movements. 2 the process of organizing people or things in order to make them work together effectively: He urged better in coordination between NATO and the United Nations. coordination with (=working together with) The operation involves using warplanes in coordination with

ground troops. co-or-di-na-tor /koo'ardi.neitar/ noun [c] someone whose job is to organize the various parts of an activity and make sure that all the people involved work well together: a campaign/ project coordinator

coot

/kut/ noun [C] a small black bird with a white beak that lives near water coo«ties /'kutiz/ noun [plural] Am E informal lice sb has cooties used for saying that you do not want to get close to someone. This phrase is used by children. Boys have cooties! cop 1 /kap/ noun [C] informal a police officer play good cop /bad cop informal if two people play good cop /bad cop with someone, one is friendly while the other behaves in a threatening way in order to make the person trust the "good cop" and tell them the information they want to

cop 2

/kap/ verb

know

AmE

informal to get or win something, especially when you were not expected to: Stone copped the Cy Young Award after winning 25 games for the Orioles. [T]

cop an attitude/pose Am E informal to say or do things that show you think you are better than other people cop a feel Am E informal to touch someone in a sexual

way when they

are not expecting this to happen

cop a plea Am E informal to admit that you are guilty of a crime in order to get a less severe punishment: He copped a plea

to

avoid facing a

life

sentence.

cop out phrasal vb [I] informal to avoid doing something that you should do because it is difficult cop to phrasal vb [T] AmE [cop to sth] to admit to something embarrassing or something you have done wrong cope /koup/ verb [I] *** to deal successfully with a There are refugees arriving all Considering best to cope. her injuries, she's coping remarkably well. +with a seminar on "coping with stress in the workplace" a. used about systems and machines: + with All our vehicles are fitted with electronic safety systems designed to cope with engine failure. difficult situation or job:

and we are doing our

the time

cop-i-er /'kapiar/ noun [c] a machine that makes exact copies of documents and pictures: photocopier, copy machine

— picture -> C3

co-pi-lot /'koo.pailat/ noun

[C]

a pilot

whose job

is to

share the responsibility for flying an aircraft with the

main pilot — co-pi-lot verb

[T]

cop-ing /'koopin/ ways

adj coping behavior or skills are that people have of dealing with difficult situ-

ations

co-pi-ous /'koupias/ amounts

cop- out noun

adj

formal large, or in large

informal something you say or do to avoid doing what you should do: Telling him you're ill sounds like a cop-out to me.

cop-per

[C]

1

**

/'kapar/ noun a red-brown metal used especially for making wire or pipes: a copper pipe /pan /kettle Her hair was the color of copper. 2 [C] old-fashioned a coin of low value made of copper or bronze 3 [C] informal old-fashioned a police officer 1

[U]

cop-per2 /'kapar/ adj red-brown in color .copper 'beech noun [c] a type of beech

tree that has

purple-brown leaves

cop-per-plate / 'kapar ,pleit/ noun

[u] a style of writing in which the letters are carefully formed in curved flowing shapes

cop-per-y /'kapari/ adj red-brown in color cop-pice /'kapis/ verb [T] to cut trees regularly to ground level in order to make them grow quickly cop-ra /'kapra/ noun [u] the dried white flesh of a coconut that is crushed to make oil

copse copse

a small group of trees growing close together, especially ones that are cut regularly [C]

'cop .shop noun [C] informal a police station cop-ter /'kuptar/ noun [C] informal a helicopter

copula /'kapjola/ noun [c] linguistics a linking verb copulate /'kupbleit/ verb technical to have sex (i]

cop«u«la«tion/,KapJ3'leiJ'n/noun[C/U] 1 /'kapi/ noun 1 [C] a document, computer file, etc. that is exactly like the original one: +of Please enclose a copy of your birth certificate. Keep back-up copies of all your Word files. make a copy (of sth) / made copies of the report for the meeting. 1a. something exactly like something else: The disease occurs if someone inherits two copies of an abnormal gene. lb. something that is deliberately made to look the same as something else: It's not a genuine Tudor table, but it's a good copy. 2 [C] a single newspaper, book, CD, piece of software, etc., that is one of many that are all exactly the same: Her first album sold 100,000 copies. + of Do you have a copy of yesterday's newspaper? 3 [U] writing that is ready to be published in a newspaper or magazine: Copy for our April issue must be submitted by March 20th. 3a. news, opinions, or information published in a newspaper or magazine: good/ great/ interesting etc. copy His controversial remarks

•*•

cop'V

always make good copy. -» HARD COPY cop«y 2 /'kapi/ verb ** 1 make copy of original 2 do sth like sb else 3 make sth look the same

4 take ideas/methods 5 write the same

—

4

5 [l/T] to look at someone else's work and write the same as they have, for example in order to cheat in an examination

copy down

phrasal vb [t] to write exactly

what someone

has written or said: We carefully copied down the chemical formula. .copy in phrasal vb [T] to send someone a copy of an email or letter that you are sending to another person: I'll e-mail her about it, and copy you in. .copy out phrasal vb [T] to write something again exactly as it has been written: We had to copy out sentences from a book. copy ,to phrasal vb [T] [copy sth to sb] to send a copy of a

message or to

letter to

someone: / accidentally copied the

e-

everyone in the company.

Other ways of saying copy photocopy to make an exact copy

of a

document using

a special machine: Make sure you photocopy your accounts before you send them off.

reproduce

make

a copy of a picture, sound, or piece of writing, especially using modern technology: Old photographs can be digitally reproduced and made to The system enables record companies look like new. to reproduce the performances of celebrated pianists

from

to

to

plagiarize to copy someone else's words or ideas and pretend that they are your own: His adviser is concerned that part of his thesis may be plagiarized. pirate to make an illegal copy of something such as a book, software, or a video: They're accused of pirating millions of dollars' worth of movies and CDs.

cop-y-cat

1

/'kopi.kaet/ adj similar to something else to be a copy of it: The movie encouraged

and considered

a string of copycat crimes.

cop-Y'Cat

2

/'kapi.kast/ noun [C] informal someone you think has copied exactly what someone else has done,

and seems

to

have no ideas of their own

'copy .editor noun any mistakes

[c] someone whose job is to correct in books, articles, etc. before they are

published

cop*y*ist /'kapiist/ noun

someone who produces

[C]

copies of things such as documents, music, or paintings

'copy ma .chine noun [c] AmE a copier cop-y-right /'kapi.rait/ noun [C/U] • the legal right to have control over the work of a writer, artist, musician, etc. If you own the copyright on something, it is 1

is

protected by copyright.

cop«y«right 2 / 'kapixait/ verb [T] to obtain or claim the copyright of the work of a writer, artist, musician, etc. cop-y-right 3 / 'kapi.rait/ adj controlled or protected by copyright

cop'y«writ«er job

is

/'kapi.raitar/ noun [c] someone to write the words for advertisements

coq au vin /,kok ou

'vae/

noun

[u]

whose

a French meal

made

from chicken cooked with red wine

co-quet-ry /'koukstri/ noun is

intended to attract

men

[u]

formal behavior that

sexually

co*quette /koo'ket/ noun [C] mainly literary who behaves in a coquettish way: flirt

a

woman

-

adj a coquettish woman behaves in a way that is intended to attract men sexuccquet'tisrHy adv ally: flirtatious cor-acle /'korskl/ noun [c] a small round boat made from animal skins coral 1 /'korsl/ noun 1 [c/U] a very small ocean creature that lives in large groups that look like plants, in places where the water is warm 2 [U] a hard substance formed from coral. It is often pink or red and was used

co-quet-tish /koo'ketij /

—

in the past to make jewelry. coral 2 / 'koral/ adj with a color between pink and orange

.coral 'reef noun [C] a hard natural structure under the ocean that is formed from coral cor anglais /,kor orj'glei/ noun [c] BrE an English horn cord /kord/ noun • 1 [C] an electrical wire that connects a machine to the main supply of electricity 2 [C/U] strong thick string: a length of cord* Tie it with a nylon cord. 2a. gold string that is used as decoration on uniforms or furniture 3 [C] a measured quantity of wood sold for firewood cut the cord 1 to cut the umbilical cord that joins a baby to its mother 2 to end your connection with someone, or stop depending on their support -» CORDS 1 /'kord3sl/ adj formal friendly: Relations cor-dibetween the two countries remained cordial. aM«ty/,kord3i'aebti/noun[U] 2 a sweet thick cordial /'kord33l/ noun [c/U] 1 alcoholic drink 2 Br E a sweet fruit-flavored drink that

cordial

—

AmE

you mix with water

the past.

imitate to copy someone else's voice, expressions, or movements, often in order to entertain people: At school, he used to teachers.

make

a copy of something and illegally pretend that it is the original thing: It is alleged that Keen forged his mother's signature on the will.

report

+ PHRASES

picture -» draw [T] to take someone else's ideas or methods and use them: Bush's slogan "compassionate conservatism" was copied by several European politicians.

century painting.

forge

your intellectual property, and other people must pay you to broadcast, publish, or perform it: The court case was brought to decide who holds the copyright. The news

1 [l/T] to make a copy of a piece of information by writing it somewhere: Just copy what's in the book. + from The students spent the whole class copying from the chalkboard, copy sth into sth He copied the number into his notebook. 1a. [T] to make a photocopy: / copied the letter and kept the original. 1b. [T] to make a copy of a piece of computer data, such as a piece of writing or a program: Use the mouse to highlight the text you want to copy. copy sth over/across/to/onto To install, first copy the setup file onto your hard drive. 1c. [T] to make a copy that is the same as the original thing: They were charged with illegally copying videotapes. Changes can occur when DNA is copied from one cell to another. 2 [l/T] to do something in the same way as someone else: Children learn by watching and copying. The instructor does exercises that you can copy while you watch. 3 [T] to deliberately make something that looks exactly like something else: She had painstakingly copied an 18th-

mail

cordially

304

/kuns/ noun

make everyone laugh by

imitating the

cor-dial-ly /'kDrd3ali/ adv 1 formal in a cordial way 1a. used in formal invitations: Parents and friends are cordially invited to the ceremony. 2 old-fashioned with very strong emotion

cordite cordite

explode, used in

cord-less

corner

305 /'kordait/ noun

[u)

a

chemical that can

EzS>

weapons

kordlos/ adj a cordless tool or piece of equipment works without being connected to the electricity supply: a cordless drill/ telephone

cordon

/

1

/kordn/ noun [C] a line of people, especially police officers or soldiers, that stops other people from going somewhere: The army had thrown a security cordon

around

/'kordn/ verb cordon off phrasal vb [T] 1 to form a cordon around an area: The police had cordoned off the area. 2 to stop people from entering an area by putting something such as a rope around it: A corner of the restaurant had been cordoned off.

cordon bleu

/ kordo bb/ adj relating to the highest standard of quality in cooking: a cordon bleu chef cords /kordz/ noun [plural] pants made of corduroy

cordu-roy /

kordoroi/ noun [u] 1 a thick cotton cloth with a ridged surface (=one covered with raised lines). It is used especially for making jackets or pants. 2 corduroys [plural] pants made of corduroy

core

/kor/ noun

[c]

**

1 the most important or most basic part of something: at + of These 2,500 words form the core of the language. the core of sth Financial instability lies at the core of the institute's problems. 1a. the members of a group who do the most work or support it most strongly: nucleus: + of Females comprise the core of the monkeys' social unit. 2 the part inside an object that is nearest its center: The ball has a core of hard rubber. 2a. the central part of a fruit such as an apple, containing the seeds 2b. the central part of a planet: the Earth s core 2c. the central part of a nuclear reactor

corn /korn/

*

/kor/ adj most important or most basic: We need on our core activities. +to The computer network core to our operations. core business (=a company's main business activity) Selling insurance is still our core business, a. used for describing the most important is

members

of a group: 2,000 students joined the core group of activists on the march, b. core values / beliefs the most important beliefs of a person or group c. core curriculum the most important and basic subjects that all

school students must study

/kor/ verb

[t] to

take the center out of a piece of

such as an apple cor-er /'koror/ noun [c] a small tool used for taking the center out of fruit such as apples co-re-spon-dent /koon'spandont/ noun [c] legal in a divorce case, someone accused of having sex with the husband or wife of the person who wants to get divorced 'core time noun [u] a period during working hours when workers must be at work even if they are on fruit

FLEXTIME

cor-gi /'korgi/ noun

[c]

a small dog with short legs and

pointed ears

co-ri-an-der /.kori'aendor/ noun [u] JBr£ciLANTRO Co-rin-thi-an /kormGion/ adj relating to a style of architecture that uses oration at the top

cork

1

/kork/ noun

tall

thin columns with a dec-

an object used

for blocking the hole in a bottle, especially a bottle of wine. Corks are made of cork or sometimes plastic. You use a corkscrew to remove them. 2 [u] a light substance forming the bark (=outer covering) of a tree called the cork oak

cork 2 bottle,

kork/ verb with a cork

1

[C]

[T] to

close something, especially a

cork-age

/ korkid,^/ noun [u] money that some resif you bring your own wine /korkt/ adj corked wine tastes unpleasant because the cork in the bottle has been damaged and has allowed bacteria into the wine

taurants charge you

corked

cork-screw

1

adj

Am E informal corny

the top of a corn plant, on

part at

which large yellow seeds

grow

corn-crake

/'korn.kreik/ noun [c] a European bird with brown feathers and a loud cry [c] a hot dog covered with cornmeal, usually served on a stick cor-ne-a /'kornio/ noun [c] medical the transparent layer that covers the outside of your eye cor-ne-al / korniol/ adj medical relating to the cornea corned beef / kornd bif/ noun [u] cooked beef that has been preserved in salt water cor-ner 1 /'kornar/ noun [c]

corn dog noun

AmE

•••

1

where two sides meet

2 turn/meeting of roads 3 end of mouth/eye 4 small (quiet) area

5 6

difficult situation in

boxing/wrestling

7

in

soccer, etc.

+ PHRASES

the part of something square or rectangular where two edges meet: Watch the baby, that table has sharp corners. at/ in the corner The date is displayed in the corner of the screen. / had to park in the far corner of the parking lot. right-hand /left-hand corner That's me, in the bottom right-hand corner of the picture, la. a place where two sides or walls meet, usually inside a room or a box: +of In a dark corner of the room stood a tall man. in the corner She sat in the corner reading. 2 a sharp turn in a road, where you cannot see what is coming: Slow down for the corner. 2a. a place where two roads or paths meet: on /at the corner / get my newspaper from the store on the corner. turn the corner (=go around it) As she turned the corner onto Bank Street, she saw us. street corner people begging on street corners 3 the end of your mouth or eye: + of .4 tear trickled from the corner of her eye. 4 a small area away from the center, especially one that is quiet, peaceful, or secret: Let's find a quiet corner and talk about it. +of Plant it in a sunny corner of your garden. the four corners of the earth/giobe/world etc. People came from the four corners of the earth to take part in these games. 5 a difficult situation that you cannot easily escape from: predicament: The government is in a corner on the back /force sb into a corner They had subject of taxes. me forced into a corner, and I had to admit the truth. tight corner (=difficult situation) We've gotten out of tighter corners than this.' 6 in boxing or wrestling, one of the corners of the square ring where the fighting happens 7 in soccer, field hockey, etc.. a kick that one team is allowed to take from a corner of the field, near the goal where they are trying to score 1

to focus

core 3

•••

tall

corn bread noun [u] bread made from corn corn-cob /'kom.kab/ noun [c] the long hard

She's a feminist to the core. 2 shaken/shocked/ thrilled to the core mainly Br E very surprised, upset, or excited

core

1

corn-ball /'korn.bol/

used for emphasizing that an aspect of someone's character is very strong and will not change:

by something

noun

Ma seeds on a cob

plant with large yellow (=thick piece of stem). BrE usually maize 1a. the seeds of a corn plant that are cooked as food or fed to animals 2 [C] a small piece of hard skin on your foot that is painful -» corn on the cob corkscrew

to the core 1

2

kork skru/ verb [i] to move in a spiral (-a curve that curls upward) cork-screw 3 / kork skru/ adj in a spiral shape, like a corkscrew cor-mo-rant /'kormoront/ noun [c] a large dark -colored bird with a long neck that lives near the ocean and eats fish

the hotel.

cordon 2

1

cork-screw2 /

/"kork skru/ noun [c] a tool used for pulling the corks out of wine bottles

around the corner 1 not far away: The kids go to school around the corner. 2 coming very soon: It feels like spring is just around the corner. cut corners to do something less carefully or thoroughly than you should because you are trying to save time or money out of the corner of your eye without looking at something directly: Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Tom. turn the /a corner to begin to be healthy, happy, or successful again after a difficult period: Has the economy

just

corner

corpus

306

finally turned the corner? turning a corner.

With this new job

I feel

I'm

coro-nar-y

1

/'kara.neri/ adj medical relating to heart: the risk of coronary heart disease

coro-nar-y attack:

He

2

/'kara.neri/ noun [c] medical suffered a massive coronary.

your

a heart

coronary thrombosis

noun [c/u] medical a heart attack in which the blood supply to the heart is blocked cor-o-na-tion /.kara'neijn/ noun [c] a ceremony at which someone officially becomes king or queen cor-o-ner /'karanar/ noun [c] someone whose job is to decide officially how a person died, especially if they died in a sudden or violent way: The coroner recorded a verdict of suicide.

cor-o-net /'karanat/ noun

Corp.

cor-po-ra a cor-po-ral 1

2

corner

/'karnar/ verb 1 [t] to force a person or animal into a place that they cannot move away from:

He cornered her and

tried to kiss her.

cornered The dogs had the cat cornered.

have sb/sth 1a. to find

someone and make them talk to you when they have been trying to avoid this: He cornered me and asked me why I was late. 1b. to put someone in a situation where they have to do something that you want: Cornered, he handed her the letter. 2 [i] if a car corners, it moves around a corner or curve in the road 3 [T] to get control of an area of business so that no one else can succeed in it, for example because you own all the supply of a particular product: Hamden had managed to corner the entire grain supply. corner the market (for/ in sth) Her company has cornered the market for frozen vegetarian 'karnar ,stoun/ noun [C]

1

AmE

corner store noun

[c] a small store that sells food and other products, often found on the corner of a

street

cornet

/'karnat/ noun

[c]

a musical instrument like a

small TRUMPET

corn-flakes / 'karn.fleiks/ noun [plural] a breakfast food made of small flat dried pieces of corn, eaten with milk corn-flour /'karn.flaur/ noun [u] BrE cornstarch corn-flow-er /'karn.flaor/ noun [c] a small wild plant with bright blue flowers /'karnis/ noun [C] technical a raised line of plaster, wood, or stone at the edge of a ceiling

cornice

Cornish

/ 'karniJV adj from or relating to Cornwall, an area in the extreme southwest of England

very formal relating to

corporal 'punishment noun

[u] the

ishment of someone by hitting them cor-po-rate /'karp(a)rat/ adj [only before

your

physical punnoun]

•••

relating to large companies, or to a particular large

1

company: Our corporate headquarters are in Madrid. a powerful group that represents corporate America (=big businesses in the U.S.) Some companies are introducing ethics into their corporate culture in a big way.

2 formal shared by

or including all the members of a group: collective: Is there a corporate identity shared by all

Asian countries? frequently used with corporate

nouns

the basic

part of something, on which everything depends: bedrock: +of Trust is the cornerstone of their marriage. 2 the stone at one of the bottom corners of a new building, often put there during a special ceremony

plural of corpus

cor-po-ral 2 / 'karp(a)ral/ adj body

Words /

a small crown

2 corporal

/'karp(a)ral/ noun [c] a noncommissioned officer of low rank in the military

meals.

cornerstone

[c]

abbrev 1 corporation

culture, identity, image, planning,

1

strategy, structure

corporate bond noun

[c] business a type of bond document given to someone who has lent money, to pay that money back) that is provided by a

(=official

promising

public company .corporate hospitality noun

[u] entertainment provided by companies for their customers, for example at major sports events, in order to get more business corporate 'raider noun [c] business a person or organization that tries to take control of a company by buying a large number of its shares corporate tax noun [u] corporation tax

corporate Welfare noun [u] AmE mainly journalism the use of government money or tax policy to support corporations instead of poor people: Critics claim that letting big companies raise private stock on public land

amounts

to

corporate welfare.

made

cor-po-ra-tion /.karpa'reifn/ noun [c] ••• 1 a large company or business organization: American

from corn ,corn on the 'cob noun [c/u] the top part of a corn plant, cooked and eaten as a vegetable —picture -> en

2 Br E the local government of a city corpo ration tax noun [u] a tax that companies pay

corn-meal

/'karnrnil/ noun [u] a type of flour

corn pone / karn ,poun/ noun

[u]

Am E a type of bread

made from corn

corn-row / 'korn ,rou/ verb [t] to arrange hair in a style consisting of many rows of small tight braids close to the head. These rows are called cornrows.

corn-starch /'karn, start J7 noun [u] AmE white flour made from corn that you use in cooking to make liquids thicker

corn syrup

noun

[u]

AmE a thick sweet brown sticky

liquid made from corn, used in cooking cor-nu-CO-pi-a /.karnja'koupia/ noun [singular] a large quantity and variety of something good

literary

corn-y

/'karni/ adj corny stories, jokes, songs, etc. have been used so much that they seem silly: / know it sounds corny, but it was love at first sight.

cor-ol-lar-y /'kara.leri/ noun [c] formal something that will also be true if a particular idea or statement is true, or something that will also exist if a particular situation exists

co-ro-na /ka'rouna/ noun [C] science 1 the circle of light around the Sun or the Moon, seen especially during an eclipse 2 the outer atmosphere of the Sun

tobacco corporations

on their

profits

cor-po-rat-ism /'karp(a)ra,tizam/ noun [u] business a political and economic system in which planning and policy are controlled by large groups such as businesses, labor unions, and central government

cor-po-re-al /kar'parial/ adj very formal relating physical world, and not to spiritual or emotional

to the states

/kar/ (plural corps /karz/) noun [C] • a part of an army that has particular responsibilities: Army's Corps of Engineers 1a. technical a part of an army that consists of at least two divisions (=large

corps 1

the U.S.

units)

2 a group of people who work together to do a parthe ticular job: contingent: members of the press corps diplomatic corps

corps de

bal-let

/

kar da bae'lei/ noun

[singular] all

the

of a group who perform in a ballet, especially who are not the main dancers corpse /karps/ noun [C] • the body of a dead person:

members

those

They found his corpse a week

cor-pu-lent

later,

washed up on

corpus / 'karpas/ (plural cor«po»ra / noun

[C]

1

the shore.

/'karpjalant/ adj mainly literary fat

karpara/ or cor-pus-es)

formal a collection of writing, for example

"

corpuscle

Cor-pus-cle/'korpAsl/noun cells in the

[C]

one of the white or red

blood

1

/ks'rsel/ verb [T] 1 to move horses, cows, etc. into a corral 2 mainly journalism to move people into a place and stop them from leaving it 2a. to organize a group of people and persuade them to do something: We were corralled into helping him.

corral

corral

2

an enclosed space where

/ka'rsl/ noun [C] horses, cows, etc. are kept temporarily

correct

••*

1

/ks'rekt/ adj 1 right according to the facts, with no mistakes: The first person to give the correct answer wins the contest. Make sure you use the correct address. 1a. right according to your opinion or judgment of a situation: If my calculations are correct, we should arrive in exactly 17 correct diagnosis 1b. right according to the minutes, established rules or ways of doing something: a gramopposite incorrect matically correct sentence 2 [not usually before noun] behaving in a way that is considered socially right or polite: My father was always correct'ly adv: She guessed my very formal and correct. age correctly. They refused, quite correctly, to give us this

a

—

—

information.

correct 2 /ka'rekt/ verb 1

[T]

to

right: /

show want

me

wrong, and make

is

to correct this false

if

it

impression that people

I'm wrong spoken used

when you

are

you are right, especially as a way of politely disagreeing with someone: Correct me if I'm

fairly sure that

wrong, but haven 't we already discussed that? I stand corrected spoken formal used when someone has told you that you are wrong, to show that you accept this

correction /ka'rekjan/ change that corrects 2 change that solves sth 3 when investments fall

noun

•

4 in calculations 5 punishment

1

1 [C] a change that makes something correct or accurate: spelling corrections make a correction I've made a few small corrections in your essay. issue /publish a correction The State Department was forced to issue a correction. 1a. [u] the action of changing something in order to make it correct or accurate: some factual errors that need correction 1b. U spoken used for telling people that you are correcting what you just said: The time is [

]

11:28. Correction, 11:38.

2

[U] the process of changing something in order to solve a problem or produce the right result: +of correction of sight problems by lenses or surgery automatic correction of the flight path 2a. [C] a change that solves a problem or produces the right result: minor corrections to the steering

3

correction fluid noun

[u] a white liquid used for covering the mistakes in a piece of writing .officer noun [c] someone whose job is to guard prisoners at a correctional facility 1 correc-tive /ko'rektiv/ adj formal 1 designed to solve or improve a physical problem: corrective shoes/ lenses /surgery 2 corrective action is intended to make

AmE

corrections

a bad situation better

corrective 2 /ka'rektiv/

noun

[c]

formal

1

something

that corrects a mistake or improves a bad situation 2 something that changes people's ideas or improves the general effect of something: +to This bleak film provides a corrective to Hollywood's usual sentimental treat-

ment of love.

correlate

1

/'kora.leit/

verb

[i/t]

formal

*

if

two

more things correlate or are correlated, they are connected in a way that is not caused by chance: + with or

This response to the question did not correlate significantly with age or gender. Quick reactions are correlated with high intelligence, a. [T] to examine two things and find out whether they are connected: correlate sth with sth Attempts will be made to correlate ourfindings with various

environmental factors.

correlate 2 / 'koralst/ noun

[c] formal

one of two things

that correlate with each other

cor-rela-tion

**

that something

have of me. la. to look at a piece of writing and make marks showing where the mistakes are: She sat correcting the students' homework. 2 [T] to deal with a technical or medical problem, in order to make something work in the way that it should: She had surgery to correct a defect in her left eye. We need to correct the imbalance in men and women's pay. 3 [T] to tell someone that what they have said is not right, true, or suitable: I started to correct him, then realized there was no point. correct yourself "I'm seventeen. No, " she corrected herself. "I'm eighteen now. 4 [i] [+for] technical to change calculations or measurements so that they become more accurate: To give an accurate figure, you will need to correct for inflation. correct

correspondence course

307

the writings of one person 2 linguistics a collection of written and spoken language stored on computer and used for language research and writing dictionaries all

mechanism

business a fall in values on the stock market following a period when values have risen very fast 4 [u] technical the process of changing calculations or measurements to make them more accurate: Correction for the difference in age did not affect the result. 5 [C/U] old-fashioned punishment for doing something wrong or illegal [C]

cor*rec*tion»al /ka'rekjanl/ adj relating to prisons and prisoners: correctional programs/ systems correctional fa.cility noun [C] Am E formal a prison

/.kora'leijn/ noun formal 1 [C/u] a connection or relationship between two or more things that is not caused by chance. A positive correlation means that two things are likely to exist together; a negative correlation means that they are not: + between the correlation between personal wealth and health a significant/strong /high correlation There is evidence of a strong correlation between drinking and violence. a direct/ close /clear correlation There is usually a direct correlation between an older person 's social status and their level of personal achievement. 2 [u] the process of making connections between two or more things

correlative

1

/ka'rebtiv/ adj 1 formal correlative rights or obligations are connected with or depend on each other 2 linguistics two words that are correlative are often used together but not usually used next to each other. For example, "either" and "or" are correlative conjunctions.

correlative 2

/ka'relativ/ noun [c] formal something connected with or depends on something else correspond /.kors'spand/ verb [i] ** 1 to be the same as something else, or very much like it: If their statements correspond, we'll have no trouble. +with The statistics do not correspond with our own experience. +to In 60% of the patients, all symptoms corresponded to what we expected. closely correspond This closely corresponds to the wording of the existing law. different country or 1a. used about something in a system that is very much like something in yours: roughly correspond (=not be exactly the same) His first job was as a Lecturer, which roughly corresponds to Asso-

that

is

ciate Professor here.

2 to be connected or related to something: +to In machine code, one instruction corresponds directly to one + with The timing of the gift operation of the computer. closely corresponded with Robert's return from Italy. 2a. used about objects that are put together or attached: + with These metal loops should be spaced to correspond with the curtain hooks. 3 formal if two people correspond, they regularly write letters to each other: + with He corresponded with leading European

scholars.

corre'Spon'dence/.kora'spandans/ noun 1

[singular/ U]

••

the process of writing and receiving

+with She kept up a thirty-year correspondence with Mary Hays. 1a. [U] the letters that someone sends receives: and the file where he kept his personal corletters:

respondence 2 [C] a strong connection between two things: + between There is a definite correspondence between infant mortality

and poverty.

.correspondence course

noun [c] an educational course that you take at home, receiving your work and sending it back by mail or by e-mail

1

correspondent correspondent' 1

cosmological /.kara'spandant/ noun

[C]

•*

a newspaper or television reporter, especially one CNN senior

who

deals with a particular subject or area: Washington correspondent Charles Bierbauer

2 someone who

regularly writes letters or e-mails to

another person

corre-spon-dent 2 /,kara'spundant/ adj /orma/ appropriate for a particular situation

cor-re-spond-ing

/,kara'spu.ndin/ adj [only before noun]

*• related to or connected with something: Investment in the subway will bring a corresponding improvement in services. corresponding increase /decrease /decline/ fall Rising prosperity has not been matched by any corresponding decrease in crime. 2 similar to or the same as something: equivalent: Nurses smoke as much as corresponding groups in the general population. Income from tourism is five percent higher than in the corresponding period last year. 1

cor-re-spond-incj'ly /.kara'spandinli/ adv used for saying that one thing is related to another, or is caused by another

corn-dor /'kan.dar/

noun

[c]

*

a long passage inside a building with doors on each side: a hotel/ hospital corridor* I walked down the corridor to her office. 1a. a passage on a train 2 a long narrow area of land that people or animals travel through:^ natural corridor at the foot of the Alps. wildlife corridors 2a. used about an area of land that belongs to one country but is surrounded by another: The supply corridor was closed by officials on Wednesday due to heavy shelling. 2b. used about the land near a major river, road, or railroad line: the Hudson River corridor 1

the corridors (of power) mainly journalism the places where people use their political influence and major political decisions are made: the lobbyists the corridors of power in Washington

who

inhabit

corroborate /ka'raba.reit/ verb [t] formal to support what someone says by giving information or evidence that agrees with them: bear out: Details of the killings were corroborated by official documents.

cor-rob-o-ra-tion /ka.raba'reifn/ noun [u] formal evidence or information that supports what someone has cor-rob-o-ra-tive /ka'rab(a)rativ/ adj formal corroborative evidence supports what someone has said cor-rob-o-ree /ka'rabari/ noun [c] Australian an aboriginal festival of singing and dancing

corrode

/ka'rood/ verb 1 [i/t] if metal or another substance corrodes, or if something corrodes it, it is gradually destroyed by a chemical reaction: Acid rain

poisons fish, destroys forests, and corrodes buildings. The metal structure is corroding badly and needs to be replaced.

2

[T] formal to make something weak by causing gradual damage: a society corroded by fear corro-sion /ka'roo^n/ noun [u] damage caused to metal or stone when it is corroded: corrosion-resistant

metals

/ka'rAptabl/ adj capable of being cor-

rupted

corruption

/ko'rApfon/ noun

[u]

••

1 dishonest or illegal behavior by officials or people in positions of power, especially when they accept money in exchange for doing things for someone: The bank was closed down amid allegations of corruption and fraud. the arrest of a number of officials on corruption charges 2 the process of corrupting someone or something: corruption of the morals of the young corruption of the

database

3

literary the

process of decay, especially in a dead

body

corsage

/kar'so^/ noun [c] a decoration made of flowers that a woman wears on a dress or suit

corsair

/'kar,ser/ noun [c]

an old word

for a "pirate"

corset

/'karsat/ noun [C] 1 a stiff piece of underwear to make their waists look thin, especially in the past 1a. a piece of clothing that looks like a corset 2 medical a piece of clothing designed to

worn by women

support your back

cor-set-ed /'karsatad/

cortege

or

adj

wearing a corset noun [c] a long line of

cortege /kar'te3/

people and cars taking part in a funeral

cortex

/'kar.teks/

(plural cor»ti«ces/'karti,siz/)

noun

[C]

medical the outer layer of your brain or another organ: the cerebral cortex

corti-sone artificial

/'karti.zoon/ noun [u] a drug that is an hormone, used to improve medical conditions

such as arthritis and allergies

corus-cat-ing

/'kara,skeitin/adj very formal 1 lively

and impressive: a coruscating performance 2 flashing with light

corvette

/kar'vet/ noun [c] a small used for protecting other ships

cos

fast ship that is

abbrev cosine

Co-sa Nos-tra, the /.kooza

'noostra/ the mafia

COSATU

/ka'satu/ Congress of South African Trade Unions: a large and powerful organization in South Africa that represents many different labor unions

cosh

1

/kaJV verb

BrE

[T]

informal to hit someone with

a cosh

cosh 2

said

/kajV noun

BrE

[C]

informal a

weapon shaped

like a short thick stick

under the cosh Br E informal experiencing difficulty or criticism: The home team was soon under the cosh. co-sign /'kou.sam/ verb [T] to sign a check, contract, formal agreement,

etc.

— co-sigrver noun [C]

together with another person

cO'Sine /'kou.sam/ noun [c] in a right triangle, the measurement of an acute angle that is equal to the length of the side between the angle and the right angle divided by the length of the hypotenuse

cos let-tuce

/'kas

,letas/

noun [C/u]

BrE

romaine

LETTUCE

cos*met*ic /kaz'metik/

adj

1

cosmetic changes only

appearance of something instead of its basic structure: superficial: Alterations to the original building have been largely cosmetic. 2 relating to the improvement of someone's appearance: Several nuts produce oils the cosmetic industry suitable for cosmetic use. affect the

cor-rO'Sive /ka'rousiv/

a corrosive substance contains chemicals that can cause damage 2 formal causing gradual damage to something such as a society, an institution, or a relationship adj

1

cor*ru»gat*ed

/'kara.geitad/ adj corrugated materials folds: a corrugated tin roof* corrugated cardboard

have been shaped into parallel

corrupt

1

/ka'rApt/ adj

*

illegal, or immoral things in order or power: corrupt politicians /officials/ judges 1a. used about societies or systems: a brutal, 1

corruptible

doing dishonest,

to gain

money

corrupt,

and

violent dictatorship

2 computing corrupt computer programs or files are damaged and do not operate correctly — coi-rupt'ly adv corrupt 2 /ka'rApt/ verb [T] 1 to encourage someone to start doing dishonest, illegal, or immoral things: In his view, the people have been corrupted by their desire for wealth. 2 to damage or spoil something: I feared that my taste might have become corrupted. 2a. computing if files are corrupted, they have mistakes in them that prevent them from operating

computer programs or correctly

— cos*met*i*caMy adv

cos-met-ics /kaz'metiks/ noun

[plural]

substances that

you use on your hair or skin to make yourself look more attractive: In China, sales of cosmetics increased by 16% in 1996 to $2.6 billion. cos met ic 'surgery noun [u] medical operations that improve someone's appearance cos*mic /'kazmik/ adj 1 relating to the planets, stars, space, and the universe in general: cosmic materials/ explosions 2 often humorous very big, important, or difficult to understand: He treated his approaching death as a sort of cosmic joke.

cosmic

radi'ation noun [u] a form of radiation that reaches the Earth from space .cosmic 'rays noun [plural] cosmic radiation cosmologi-cal /,kazma'lad3ikl/ adj relating to the study of the origin and nature of the universe

cosmologist

cos-mol-o-gy /kaz'matad^i/ noun

[u] the

3 (past tense and past participle costed) to calculate exactly how much something will cost: All your proposals must be costed before

study of the

cosmonaut

/'kazma.not/ noun

[C]

an astronaut

in

program cos-mo-pol-i-tan /.kazma'palitn/ the Russian space

1

adj showing the influence of many different countries and cultures: a cosmopolitan atmosphere a. used about a place where people from many different countries and cultures live: this great cosmopolitan city b. used about someone who has traveled a lot and knows about different societies and cultures: modern progressive people with a truly cosmopolitan outlook

cos*mo«poM«tan 2

/.kazms'palitn/ noun

[c]

cos-mos, the

wants something they something else for it

many

universe

business must spend to produce something or provide a service: At these prices, we are not even covering our manufacturing costs -* operating costs 4 costs [plural] legal money that someone involved in a court case must give in order to help pay for the lawyers and the court, usually after they have lost the case: He was ordered to pay a fine of $500 plus $250 costs. cost used for saying that it may not have been worth doing something because so much has been lost or damaged as a result: He got the job, but at a cost. at all costs or at any cost used for saying that something must be done, however difficult it is or however much damage it causes: She was determined to win at any cost. At all costs, we must avoid letting the press hear about at a cost or at

what

if you sell something at cost, you sell it for the same amount that you spent when you made it or

at cost

bought

it

your cost mainly Br EM you know something to your cost, you know it is true because of a bad experience to

-» COST

OF LIVING, COUNT

1

Words frequently used with cost verbs 2

*** 1 is

lot

or do

[c]

business a com-

cost- cutting noun

[u] actions

taken to reduce the

costs of a business, government, or other organization: The family of the victim blame a hospital system more

concerned with cost-cutting than with care.

a cost-cutting

exercise ,

cost-effective adj giving the most profit or advantage in exchange for the amount of money that is spent: Is it more cost-effective to buy or rent property? —.costeffectively adv, cost-effectiveness noun [U]

cost-ing / 'kostin/ noun

[c/U] calculation of the expected cost of a plan, business proposal, etc.

costly 1

/'kostli/ adj

formal

*

costing a lot of money: expensive: They have been new equipment. a costly business/

investing in costly

process/exercise Changing your company's management

can be a costly business. 1a. used about something that costs more money than you want to pay: Appeals can be costly and time-consuming. 1b. used about something that is expensive but of very good quality: costly

style

silks /perfumes

2 causing a

problems: Dropping the ball with only play was a costly mistake. the noun the amount of money you need in order to pay for basic things such as food, cost-ofclothes, shelter, heating, and transportation living adj: a cost-of-living allowance cost-plus noun [C] business an amount calculated by adding the cost of producing something to a profit or charge that has been agreed —'cost-plus adj: a costplus contract 'cost price noun [C/U] the price it costs to produce something, without making any profit seconds

cost of

lot of

left to

'living,

—

cos-tume

/'kas.tum/ noun

*

[C/U] clothes that performers wear in a play, movie, a etc.: The costumes, sets, and acting are all superb. costume designer 2 [C] clothes that you wear at a costume party, pretending to be a famous person, an animal, a character from a story, etc. 3 [C/U] clothes that are typical of a particular place or of a period in history: dancers in traditional costumes They were all dressed in 18th-century costume. 1

this.

cost

pay a

parison of the likely costs of a plan or project with the benefit it will bring, done in order to help make a decision

1

costs.

to

the process of the costs of managing a

cost- benefit analysis noun

cos-set / 'kasst / verb [T] formal to give someone a lot of care and attention, often too much: pamper cost /kost/ noun ••* 1 [C/U] the amount of money that is needed in order

person. +to This scheme helps homeless people at no cost to the taxpayer. -» cost of living 2 [C/U] damage or loss that is caused to something good or worth having: + of the serious environmental costs + to They decided to divorce, of the new road network whatever the cost to their children. at a cost of The plant closed down at a cost of over 1,000 jobs. the social/human costs of sth the social costs of unemployment 3 costs [plural] money that an individual or organization must spend regularly on things like electricity, rent, and travel: Higher fuel prices will lead to increased costs for car owners. cut/ reduce costs New technology has helped us to cut costs. 3a. all the money that a

have

[u] business

recording and calculating all business or organization co-star 1 /'koo.star/ noun [C] an actor's costars are the other actors who have main parts in a movie or play co-star 2 or co-star /'koo.star/ verb [i/T] if actors costar in a movie or play, they act the main parts together

/'kazmas; 'kaz.moos/ noun the whole

to buy, pay for, or do something: +of A rise in interest cover the cost rates will increase the cost of borrowing. of sth (=be enough to pay for something) We need money the cost of doing sth The cost to cover the cost of heating. at a cost of of rebuilding the theater will be $13 million. We're organizing a trip to New York, at a cost of $300 per

will

cost ac counting noun

someone

who has a lot of knowledge and experience of different countries and cultures

we can consider them.

cost an arm and a leg informal to cost a lot of money cost a fortune informal to cost a lot of money sth costs money used for saying that something is expensive, so someone should not expect to have it: The kids want new trainers, but they cost money. it'll cost you spoken used for saying that if someone

and nature of the universe

origin

cot

309

cos«mol«0'gist/kuz'malod3ist/noun [C] someone who studies the origin and nature of the universe

cover, cut, defray, incur, meet, offset, recoup, recover, reduce

/kost/ (past tense and past

participle cost)

'costume .drama

noun [c] a play or movie about a particular historical period in which the actors wear clothes typical of that period

1

verb

[T]

something costs an amount of money, that amount needed in order to buy it, pay for it, or do it: A new if

computer costs between $500 and

cost sb sth cost sth per minute /hour /year etc. Calls cost 36 cents per minute. cost sth per person /head /adult etc. Dinner cost $35 per person including wine. cost sth to do sth How much does it cost to rent a bike? 2 to cause someone to lose something good or valuable: The merger will cost jobs. cost sb sth His decision to take the car cost him his life. cost sb dearly (=cause a serious loss) We made two mistakes that cost us dearly.

Unemployment

$3,000.

costs the taxpayer billions each year.

'costume jewelry

noun

[u]

jewelry that

is

not valu-

able but looks expensive

noun [c] AmE a party where people wear clothes that make them look like a famous person, an animal, a character from a story, etc. cos-tum-i-er /ko'stumjei; ka'stumior/ or costum-er /'ka.stumor; ka stumor/ noun [C] a person or

'costume .party

company that provides costumes for the theater or for people to wear to parties co-sy /'koozi/ the Br E spelling of cozy cot /kat/ noun [c] 1 Am E a small narrow bed that can be folded up —picture -» bed 2 BrE a crib for a baby 1

to sleep in

^

cotangent

could

310

co-tan-gent /.koo Ucnd3ant/ noun

a kight triangle, the measurement of an acute angle that is equal to the length of the side between the angle and the right angle divided by the length of the side opposite the [c] in

angle

up

something such as blood out of your lungs by coughing 2 [i] to make a sound like a cough: The engine coughed into

[C/U]

BrE sids

village or the countryside

.cottage 'cheese noun

[u] a soft

does not contain much fat cottage industry noun people producing things at

[c]

white cheese that

a business that involves

home

cot-ton /'katn/ noun [u] •• 1 cloth made from the white cotton plant 1a.

fibers of a plant called a

[only before noun]

made from

cotton

cloth: a flowered cotton dress 2 a plant grown in warm regions that has white fibers used for making cotton cloth .fields of cotton

3 Am E

example, for cleaning a cut on your skin or removing makeup. Br E cotton wool 4 Br £ THREAD soft cotton used, for

cot«ton 2

/

same as cough ia: coughing up money to pay for something, especially when you would prefer not to: Come on, cough up, it's your turn to pay. +for / had to cough up for the medical bills. 3 [T] Br E informal to admit something or give information about something that you would prefer

It

the floor. illness in

2 an

cough drop

took

him a while

its form, so the third person singular form does not end in "-s": She could play the violin when she was six.

Questions and negatives are formed without "do": Could he help you? / could not breathe.

The negative form could not

is often shortened in conversation or informal writing to couldn't: /

couldn't find her

Could

noun [c] BrE a cotton swab cotton 'candy noun [u] AmE a sweet food that consists of many long thin strings of sugar

Could has no

used for emphasizing what you are saying, especially when you are angry: Get your cottonpicking hands off my girl!

cotton ,reel noun [c] BrE a spool for thread cotton swab noun [c] AmE a small plastic stick with

[u]

BrE cotton used for cleaning a someone from could happen

to protect

the dangers or problems that

wool

'ball noun [C] mainly BrE a cotton ball /kautJV noun [C] 1 a long low comfortable seat that two or three people can sit on: sofa 2 a long piece of furniture like a bed that someone lies on while talking about their mental problems with a psychiatrist couch 2 /kaotJV verb [T usually passive] formal to express something in a particular way: be couched in sth Couched in generalities, the report named no one responsible for the

.cotton

1

incident.

couch potato

noun [C] informal someone who spends time sitting at home watching television. This that you do not approve of people like this. cou-gar /'kugar/ noun [c] a large wild cat that lives in mountain areas of North and South America: mountain a

lot of

word shows

lion

cough

1

/kaf/verb

•

to force air up through your throat with a sudden noise, especially when you have a cold or when you want to get someone's attention: My chest felt painful, and I was coughing uncontrollably. 1a. cough or cough 1

[I]

no

participles,

and no

infinitive

is

Could is used as the past tense of can when it means that someone had the ability to do something, or that something was possible: The Roman army could march

a small piece of cotton at each end used, for example, your ears

for cleaning

wrap sb in cotton wool Br E

tenses,

no past tense, but could have followed by a past participle is used for referring to something in the past that was not real, or something that may possibly have been real: I could have been killed. What was that noise? Could it have been the wind? There

Am E old-fashioned

cut on your skin or removing makeup

is

form.

.pikin/ adj [only before noun]

look like cotton

phone number.

often used in tag questions: They couldn't see us, could they?

bud

cotton 'wool noun

**•

is

Could does not change

the U.S., in the southeast of the country

cot-ton-tail /'katn.teil/ noun [C] a small North American rabbit with a white tail cot-ton-wood /'katn.wud/ noun [c/u] a North American tree that has seeds covered with white fibers that

that

could.

to cotton

a small ball of cotton, used for

cot-ton-pick-ing /katn

a type of candy containing medior a sore

when you have a cough

usually followed by an infinitive without "to": I'm glad you could come. Sometimes it is used without a following infinitive: / came as quickly as I

removing makeup, cleaning a cut on your skin, or cleaning a baby 'Cotton Belt, the the main cotton-growing region of

'cotton

[c]

you take to help cure a cough could / weak kad; strong kod/ modal verb

at first. [C]

noun

cough .mixture noun [c/u] BrE cough syrup cough syrup noun [C/u] AmE a liquid medicine

AmE

ball noun

which you cough often and sometimes cough-ing noun [u]:afit

cine that you suck throat

on to what I was saying. cotton to phrasal vb [T] informal [cotton to sb/sth] to begin to like someone or something: I didn't cotton to

cotton

know

/kof/ noun [c] • 1 the action of coughing, or the sound you make when you cough: He gave an embarrassed cough and looked at

Could

+ to

1

[T]

informal to give

other people did not

cotton on phrasal vb [l] informal to begin to realize or understand something: Suddenly I cottoned on that she'd start.

phrasal vb 1

I/T]

cough 2

'katn / verb

been lying from the

[

your throat and lungs hurt of coughing

1

couch

life.

bloodZ

co-ter-ie /'kootari/ noun [C] formal a small group of people who do things together co-til-lion /ka'tilian/ noun [C) an old word meaning a "formal dance" cot«tage /'katid3/ noun [c] a small house, usually in a

all

to force

cough up

cot death noun

him

[T]

30 miles in a day.

past tense of "can" used as the past tense of "can": In the Renee could already read when she was four. distance I could see a cloud of smoke. 2 in requests spoken used in polite requests, or when offering or suggesting something: Could I have a glass of water? Could you mail this letter for me?-* can 3 saying what is possible 3a. used for saying that something is possible or that it may happen: We could still win - the game isn t over yet. * In a situation like this, could easily You could easily anything could happen. get lost in the dark. 3b. spoken used for suggesting to someone a possible course of action, especially when they are in a difficult situation: You could come and stay with us. could always You could always sell the cabin if you need some extra cash. 4 expressing annoyance spoken used for showing that you are annoyed at the way someone has behaved: How could you be so cruel! They could at least have said they were sorry. 5 for emphasis spoken used for emphasizing how angry, happy, bored, etc. you are: It's all Helen's fault. I could strangle her! When I heard the news, I was so happy I could have cried. could have (done sth) spoken 1 used for saying that 1

1

something was possible in the past, even though it did not happen: You could have been killed. / could have told She could have you, but I didn't think you would listen. married Gerald if she'd wanted to. 2 used for saying that perhaps something was true, although you do not really

couldn't

count

311

know: The explosion could have been caused by a gas

leak.

It could have been Dan, but I'm not sure. couldn't be better/worse/nicer etc. mainly spoken used emphasizing that someone or something is extremely good/bad/nice etc.: The two brothers couldn't / was so be more different (=they are very different). nervous, but she couldn't have been nicer to me. I couldn't mainly Br E spoken used for politely saying "no" when someone offers you something: "More ice

1

count /kaont/ verb

for

cream?" "No, thanks. I couldn't." spoken used for saying that I couldn't ask/wish for. something is so good, you cannot imagine anything better: / couldn't wish for a better husband. We got fantastic support - we couldn't have asked for more. .

-> CARE

.

1

short form the usual way of saying or writing "could not." This is not used in formal

could-n't /'kudnt/ writing.

couldst /kodst/

word meaning "could" a smooth sauce made from

verb an old

cou-lis /'kuli/ noun [C/u] crushed fruit or vegetables: raspberry / tomato / peach coulis

***

council

/'kaunsl/ noun [C] the elected politicians who govern a local area: a member of the city council Their planning application was rejected by the council. 1a. an organization that provides local government in a city, county, etc.: Mount Vernon City Council The council is responsible for the library service. 1b. [only before noun] belonging to or relating to a council: a change in council policy 2 an official group of people who have been chosen to make decisions or provide advice: the United Nations Security Council the European Union's Council of Ministers 2a. a meeting of a group like this, especially in the past: The Pope summoned his bishops to a council in 1

Normandy. 'council chamber noun [c] the room in which a council meets 'council estate noun [c] BrE an area of a city consisting of council houses 'council house noun [c] BrE a house owned by the local government, for which you pay a low rent council-lor / 'kaonsabr/the Br E spelling of councilor coun-cil-man /'kaonslman/ (plural coun«cil*men /'kaonslmsn/) noun [C] AmE a man who is an elected member of the government of a city in the U.S. .council of 'war noun [singular] BrE a war council coun-cil-or / 'kaonsalar/ noun [c] Am E a member of a council

councilwom-an

/'kaonsl.woman/

(plural

coun-

cil»wom»en/'kaunsl,wimin/) noun [C]AmEa woman who is an elected member of the government of a city in the U.S.

coun-sel

1

/ 'kaonsl/ (present participle counselling or counselling; pasttense and past participle counseled or counselled)

verb

[T]

**

1 to give someone advice and help with their problems, especially as your job: She has spent about five years counseling rape victims. Macnade was being counseled for violent tendencies. 2 formal to give someone advice about what to do in a particular situation: counsel sb to do sth Privately, the president was being counseled to end the war.

coun-sel 2 /'kaunsl/ noun * 1 [C] a lawyer who gives someone

legal advice and represents them in a court of law: a defense counsel 2 [c/u] forma I advice and help

keep your own counsel to say nothing about your plans or opinions

coun*seMngorcoun»seMing/'kauns3lirj/noun[u]

**

advice and help you give someone on their problems, especially as your job: Services include counseling on drug and alcohol abuse and help with finding employment.

counselor

•• 1

or

counsellor

someone whose job

is

/

kaunsabr/ noun

to give advice

and help

[C]

to

people with problems -> guidance counselor 2 Am E someone who takes care of children at a summer

CAMP

•••

1 say how many there are 2 say numbers in order

4 be important 5 treat/consider as

3 include

+ PHRASES

in

calculation

sth

1 [i/T] to calculate how many people or things there are in a group: All the votes have been counted. She put At least 60 the money in her bag without counting it. people were injured, but we're still counting. 2 [I] to say numbers one after another in order: + (up) to / can count up to ten in German. 3 [l/T] to include something or someone in a calculation, or to be included in a calculation: Points scored + toward The test scores for after the bell do not count. project work count toward your final grade. + as Do public holidays count as part of vacation time?* count sth as sth/ be counted as sth For tax purposes, sick pay is counted as

income. [I] to be important or to have influence: You're late but you 're here and that's what counts. What really counts is whether you have good computing skills. count for sth/ anything/nothing They made me feel my views didn't count anything. for 5 [l/T] to think of someone or something as a particular thing, or to be thought of as a particular thing: + as That counts as a lie as far as I'm concerned. count sth as sth/ be counted as sth Is geography counted as a science subject? count sb as sth Beth had a good voice, but had never counted herself as a real musician. count sb among sth He counts John Lennon among his musical influences. count yourself lucky /fortunate We can count ourselves lucky that none of us got hurt.

4

for saying that a number is continuing to increase as time passes: So far we've had

and counting spoken used

calls, and counting. count your blessings to realize that there are good things about your situation, as well as bad ones. This phrase is often used for telling someone that they should

over 4,000

not complain. count the cost Br E to realize what has been lost or damaged as a result of something count the days/hours/minutes etc. to wait for something that you want very much to happen: I'm counting the days until I see you again. don't count your chickens (before they're hatched) used for telling someone not to make plans that depend on the success of something until they are certain that it is successful make sth count to make something have as useful and positive an effect as possible: You only get one chance, so you have to make it count. who's counting? spoken used for saying that it is not important how many things there are, how many times something happens, etc.: I've had about ten pieces of chocolate already, but who 's counting? you can count sth on (the fingers of) one hand spoken used for saying that there are very few things or people of a particular type -» SHEEP, STAND UP, THOUGHT 1

count against

phrasal vb [T] [count against sb] to be a disadvantage in a particular situation: I'm worried that

my age might count against me. .count down phrasal vb [l/T] to wait for something to happen, usually noticing every day or moment that passes until it happens: We are counting down the days until the end of the semester. count in phrasal vb [T] [count sb in] to include someone in your plans: "There's a party on Saturday. " "Count me in!"

count on or count upon phrasal vb [T] 1 [count on sb] to depend on someone to do what you want or expect them to do for you: The whole team was counting on me, and I let them down. count on sb for sth You can always count on him for good advice. count on sb to do sth / knew I could count on you to be on time. count on sb doing sth / was counting on Jane driving me home. la. used in a humorous way for saying that you know someone will behave in a particular way: You can always count on Ted to make a mess of the cooking. 2 [count on sb/sth] to plan or expect that something will happen: Tournament directors are counting on good weather. count on sb/sth doing sth We're counting on about 20 people coming to the party. She hadn't counted on it raining.

1

count

$100 in $5

bills.

count up phrasal vb [T] to count all the things or people in a group count upon phrasal vb [T] same as count on count 2 /kaunt/ noun [c] •• 1

counterpoint

312

count out phrasal vb [T] 1 [count sb out] to not include someone in a plan or activity: If you're going to watch football, you can count me out. 2 [count sb out] in boxing, to count up to ten, and then say that someone has lost a fight 3 to count things one by one: She counted out

4 amount of sth in sth 5 person of high status

counting process

2 saying numbers 3 each crime

in

order

[T] to take action in order to oppose or stop something or reduce its negative effects: Caffeine is known to counter tiredness. The movie's main characters counter the famil-

iar racial stereotypes.

coun-ter 3 / 'kaontar/ adj, adv opposite or with an opposite

purpose: run counter to sth The policy

remember or record a number

is divisive,

and

runs counter to common sense. counter- /kaontar/ prefix opposing: used with some

nouns, adjectives, and verbs: a counter-proposal an way to counteract global warming Their efforts

:

as

it

changes over a period of time: +of Try to keep count of how many calories you eat over a week. lose count of sth used for emphasizing that something has happened very many times: I've lost count of the

number of interviews I've given. on both/all/several/many etc. counts in both/all/ several/many etc. ways: / thought he was a kind and honest man, I was wrong on both counts. out for the count unconscious, or sleeping and not likely to wake up: Steve was out for the count, so I answered the phone.

count-a-ble /'kaontabl/ noun is a noun that has a "a" when it is singular

briefings.

2

have

the process of counting how many people or things there are in a group: After the count, Ellison had 25% of the votes. word /head /traffic etc. count / did a quick head count and realized Suzie was missing. at (the) last count At the last count, 400 people had agreed to join. 1a. the total number of people or things counted: My count is 80 - what's yours? -» body count 2 the process of saying numbers in order, up to a particular number: Hold your breath for a count often. 3 legal each crime that someone is charged with: Manning was jailed on three counts of corruption. 4 the amount of a substance that is measured as being present in another substance, for example, in your blood or in the air: pollen/sperm/cell etc. count My eyes start to water when the pollen count is high. 5 Count a nobleman in some European countries, but not in the U.K. the Count of Anjou to

't

effective

+ PHRASES

1

keep count

you just don want to do it. " How can we counter these rumors? The government countered with a flurry of

all been counterproductive.

counteract

/ kaontar aekt/ verb [T] to reduce the negative effect of something, by doing something that effect: Schools are taking action to counteract bullying. measures to counteract traffic congestion

has an opposite

1

coun-ter-at-tack /'kaontara,tsk/ noun [c] an attack against someone who has just attacked you in a war, game, or argument coun-ter-at-tack 2 /'kaontara.tsk/ verb [i] to attack someone who has just attacked you in a war, game, or argument coun-ter-bal-ance /'kaontar,ba?lans/ verb [T] to 1

have an effect that is equal and opposite to something else: The risk is counterbalanced by the potential rewards. coun-ter-bal-ance 2 / 'kaontar .banians/ noun [c] something that has an effect that is equal and opposite to something else: +to The prisoners' evidence is a useful counterbalance to more official sources.

counter-claim / 'kaontar.kleim/ noun [c] a you make against someone who has made a

statement statement

against you, especially in a legal case — coun-ter-claim verb

[T]

coun-ter-clock-wise

/

,kaontar'klak,waiz/ adv

Am E

moving in the opposite direction to the way clock hands move. Br E anticlockwise —opposite clockwise

counterculture of

life

from

/'kaontar.kAltJar/ noun

[c]

a

way

and

set of attitudes that is deliberately different the main culture in a society: the hippie count-

erculture of the 1960s

a countable plural and can be used after adj

linguistics

counterfeit

1

/'kaontar,fit/ adj counterfeit money, products, tickets, etc. are illegal copies made in order to trick people: counterfeit $100 bills

count-down

counterfeit 2 / 'kaontar ,fit/ verb

coun-te-nance /'kaontanans/ noun

coun-ter-f oil /'kaontar .foil/ noun [c] the part of something such as a check that you keep as a record of a payment you have made coun-ter-in-sur-gen-cy /,kaontann's3rd3ansi/ noun

/'kaont.daon/ noun [c] 1 the counting of numbers backward, for example from ten to zero, before something important happens: The countdown for the shuttle launch has already begun. 2 the period of time just before an important event 1

[C] literary

your

face or the expression on your face

coun-te-nance

2

/'kaontanans/ verb [T] formal to approve of something or allow something to happen counter /'kaontar/ noun [c] ** 1

1 long flat

4 way to oppose/stop 5 reply to criticism + PHRASES

surface

2 object for board game 3 equipment that counts

sth

1 a long flat surface where customers are served, for example in a store or a bank: You buy your tickets at the

a cheese counter la. a long flat surface in a kitchen where you prepare food. Br E usually worktop —picture -» C2 2 a small round colored object that you use in a board counter.

—

GAME picture -> C16 3 a machine or piece of equipment that counts something and shows the total: the casino's high-speed coin counters a rev counter 4 an action you take in order to oppose or stop something or reduce its negative effect 5 something you say to reply to a criticism or argument: a counter to unfair criticism

over the counter drugs and medicines that are available over the counter can be bought without a doctor's PRESCRIPTION

under the counter bought or

counter 2 [I/T]

/'kaontar/ verb

sold secretly

and

illegally

•

[T]

to

make an

illegal

tickets, etc.

[u] a military action against people who are fighting against the government of their own country

coun-ter-in-tel-li-gence / ,kaontarm'telid3ans/ noun [U] the activities and methods used by a country to prevent other countries from discovering its secrets count-er-in-tu-i-tive /.kaontann'tuitiv/ adj opposite to what seems obvious or natural countermand / kaontar 'maend/ verb [t] formal to tell someone to ignore a previous order, usually by giving them a different order

coun-ter-meas-ures

/ 'kaontar rne^arz/ noun [plural] actions taken to stop something else from happening or having a negative effect

coun-terof-fen-sive /kaontar a.fensrv/ noun [C] an attack against someone who has already attacked you, especially a military attack

counterpane

/

'kaontar ,pem/ noun

[c] old-fashioned

a BEDSPREAD

**

counterpart

someone /'kaontar.part/ noun [c] or something that has the same job or purpose as another person or thing, but in a different country, time, situation, or organization: The ambassador is meeting his

German its

counterpart.

The new model

is

vastly superior to

1997 counterpart.

counterpoint

to reply to a criticism or statement that you disagree with: "Yes," Leah countered, "but the truth is 1

copy of money, products,

1

/'kaontar.pamt/ noun 1 [u] two or more tunes that are played together to sound like one tune 2 [C] something that produces a different effect from something else, especially in an interesting or attractive

way

counterpoint verb

[T]

to

a different effect from something else /.kaontarpra'dAktiv/ adj having a result that is the opposite of the one you sending young that offenders to intended: Research shows prison can be counterproductive. coun'ter>rev'0*lu*tion /.kaontorevs'lufn/ noun [c/ U] political or military opposition to a government that is in power as a result of a revolution

counter-rev-o-lu-tion-ar-y noun [C] someone who takes part

— coun'terTevo'lu'tiorvafy

/ kaontareva'lujri.eri/ in a counterrevolution

adj:

counterrevolutionary

activities

coun-ter-sign /'kaontsr.sam/ verb [t] to sign a document that someone else has already signed coun*ter*ten«or /'kaontar.tensr/ noun [c] a man who

coun*ter»top / kaontar.tap/ noun

[C]

Am E the surface

of a counter in a kitchen

coun-ter-vail-ing /.kaontar'veihn/ adj very formal influencing something in an opposite but equally strong way: countervailing evidence

count-er-weight / kaontarweit/ noun is

a weight equal to another weight and creates a balance [c] 1

[c]

/'kauntin ,haus/ noun [c] a place in the past

where money and accounts were kept

* very many, especially reasonable: his countless teleThe occupying forces committed count-

count-less /'kaontbs/ more than you think is vision appearances

ad)

less atrocities.

noun

'count

noun

[c]

a countable noun

coun-tri-fied /'k.\ntn,faid/ adj typical of the countryside. This word is often used to show that you do not like the person or thing that you are describing.

coun-try

/'k.\ntri/

•••

noun

an area of land that has its own government and borders: Ministers from four Arab countries met today in Cairo. We do not have capital punishment in this country. He felt he had betrayed his country. 1a. the country the people who live in a country: a crime that 1

[C]

official

has shocked the whole country 2 u areas away from cities and large towns, consisting of fields, farms, villages, etc: countryside: We went for a picnic in the country. Unemployment affects both town and country. 2a. [only before noun] relating to the country: a winding country road friendly country people 3 [U] COUNTRY MUSIC 4 [u] an area that is known for a particular product, activity, person, etc.: East of here is mostly farming country. Shakespeare/Thomas Hardy etc. country (=an area connected with a famous person) The area around Stratford -on-Avon is known as Shakespeare country. [

]

.country and western noun [u] country music .country bumpkin noun [c] a bumpkin 'country club noun [C] an expensive private club where the members hold social events and play sports

experience of city

.country house noun

life

a large house in the countryside, usually in the U.K. or Europe, especially one that has been owned by the same family for many years [C]

coun-try-man

(plural countrymen /'kAiitriman/ k Antriman/) noun [C] 1 someone who is from the same country as you 2 a man who lives in the countryside

/

'country .music noun

a type of popular music based of the southern U.S., usually guitars, and violins: country, [u]

on the traditional music containing singing, COUNTRY AND WESTERN

.country seat noun

[C]

tryside that belongs to

countryside

coun-try-wonvan

coun(plural /'k.\ntri, woman/ trywom«en/'k.\ntri wimin/) noun [C] 1 a woman who is from the same country as you 2 a woman who lives in the countryside

coun-ty /'kaonti/ noun [c] •** a region that has its own local government in some countries such as the U.K. and U.S.: Both candidates have visited every county the busiest market in the county a. [only in the state. before noun] relating to a county or its government: She's in the county youth orchestra.

.county council noun

[c] in

the U.K. and some U.S. are elected to govern a

who

county

county court

noun [c/u] a local court of law in the some U.S. counties that deals with minor legal issues but not serious crimes U.K. and in

county

fair noun [C] an event that happens every summer in U.S. counties, with rides, games, and competitions for the best farm animals, best pies, etc.

where

its

town

.county

coup /ku/

noun

noun [C]

Am E the main city

[C]

government

in a county,

is

[c]

BrE a

county seat

**

1 coup or coup d'etat an occasion when a group of people takes control of a country, usually by means of military force: a military /army coup There has been a series of military coups since the country gained indestage/lead/mount a coup A band of young pendence. disillusioned officers staged a coup. an attempted /failed/ abortive coup He was jailed for his part in the attempted + against the 1996 coup against General Abacha coup. 1a. an occasion when someone suddenly gains control in an organization: a boardroom coup 2 an impressive and surprising success: It's a great a publicity/ coup to get Bjork to perform here. propaganda /public relations coup This is a major publicity coup for the company.

Words

frequently used with

coup

attempt, launch, lead, mount, plot, stage

verbs

1

coup de grace

/.ku da 'gras/ noun [singular] formal a final action that destroys or defeats something that was already weak or failing: King's comments dealt the coup de grace to any hope she had of being elected.

coup d'e-tat / ku dei'ta/see coup coupe /ku'pei; kup/ noun [c] a car with two side doors and a back door that slopes downward

cou-ple 1

1

•**

/'kApl/ noun informal two things or people of the

[singular]

same

type: "Has he had any serious girlfriends?" "A couple. " + of A couple of police officers were standing at the door. Take a couple of aspirin - you'll soon feel better. 1a. a small number of things or people: I've invited a couple of There were a couple of things I wanted to friends over. discuss.

such as golf and tennis

.country cousin noun [C] informal an insulting word for someone from the countryside who does not have

much

in all parts of a country: nationwide: a project that has since been copied girls a countrywide the countrywide search for

.county 'seat noun

a woman who is either the wife of an earl or count, or has the same rank as an earl or count, in an aristocratic system

counting house

in the state.

coun«try'Wide/'k\ntri waid/ad|, adv

counties, a group of people

sings in a very high voice

2 a COUNTERBALANCE count-ess /'kaontas/ noun

The region boasts some of the most beautiful countryside

produce

courvter-pro-duc-tive

that

couple

313

coun-ter-point 2 /kaontsr.point/

BrEa

large house in the counis rich

someone who

/'kAntri.said/ noun [u] • the area outside towns and cities, with farms, fields, and trees: There is growing concern over the future of the countryside.

[C] two people who are married or involved in a romantic relationship with each other: The couple first met in 1985. A nice young couple has moved in next door. married couples with children 2a. two people who are doing something together, who may or may not be involved in a romantic relationship: The room was full of dancing couples. the couple at the next table

2

Differences between English: couple

American and

British

In the U.S.. a couple of things or people may mean two of them, but it often just means any small number: The farm is a couple of miles off the main highway (=a few miles away). In the U.K.. a couple of almost always means just two: We're going out to a restaurant with a couple offriends (=two friends).

cou-ple 2

[T usually passive] if one thing is / kApl / verb 1 coupled with another, they are combined and produce a particular effect: Her intelligence, coupled with her

"

couplet makes her a perfect candidate for the job. 2 passive] if one vehicle or part of a machine

experience,

[T

usually

is

coupled to another, they are joined so that they work together: The two computer processors can be coupled. be coupled to sth A trailer was coupled to the tractor. 3 [i] literary when animals couple, they have sex cou-plet /'kApbt/ noun [C] two lines of poetry that are next to each other: a rhyming couplet cou-pling /'kAplin/ noun 1 [c] an object used for joining two things together 1a. [usually singular] a combination of two things 2 [C/U] literary sexual activity cou-pon /'ku,pan/ noun [c] • 1 a piece of paper that allows you to buy something at a reduced price: The coupon entitles you to 20 percent off any merchandise in this catalog. 1 a. a piece of paper that allows you to buy something that is rationed 2 a piece of paper that you write your name and address on and send to someone, for example to enter a competition courage /'kAnd3/ noun [u] •* the ability to do something that you know is right or good, even though it is dangerous, frightening, or very difficult: She has shown immense courage in opposing a corrupt and violent regime. have the courage to do sth / didn't have the courage to admit I was wrong. pluck up /summon up (the) courage (=try to make yourself feel brave enough to do something) Eventually I plucked up the courage and made an appointment with the doctor. it takes courage to do sth It took a great deal of courage to leave her friends. a. the ability to be brave when you are in great pain: He had faced his illness with great courage.

have the courage of your (own) convictions to continue to say or do what you think is right, even when other people think you are wrong take courage from sth to feel more confident and hopeful because of something take your courage in both hands to decide to do something, even though you are nervous or frightened about it

coura-geous

/k3'reid39s/ adj very brave and determined: Frank fought a courageous battle against cancer. a courageous decision/ step cou«ra*geous«ly adv courgette /kor'3et/ noun [C/U] BrE a zucchini courier /'koriar, 'kariar/ noun [C] 1 someone whose job is to deliver documents or packages 2 BrE a. tour

—

GUIDE

course

1

/kors/ noun

1 series of

court

314

[c]

classes

2 action sb chooses 3 way things develop 4 direction sth follows

••• 5 part of meal 6 area for sports 7 medical treatment

+ PHRASES

1 a series of classes or lectures in an academic subject or a practical skill: a drama/ secretarial/ Spanish course + in an introductory course in economics take a course You could take a language course abroad. run /offer a course The school runs courses for beginners. 2 the things that you choose to do in a particular situation: course of action What course of action do you recommend? the best/safest etc. course is to do sth The safest course is to avoid alcohol. 3 the way that things develop over a period of time: course of events In the normal course of events, he would have left and thought no more about it. the course of history a speech that changed the course of history 4 the direction that a vehicle, especially a ship or airplane, is traveling in or plans to travel in: The captain had to change course quickly. on/off course (=going/not going in the planned direction) The oil tanker veered off course and hit a rock. 4a. the direction in which a river flows: Several villages along the course of the river were

flooded.

5 one of the parts of a meal: first/main course / had shrimp, followed by steak for my main course. threecourse /four-course etc. meal They offer a two-course lunch for $4.99. 6 an area of land or water where races take place: The mountains are the most difficult part of the course. 6a. a golf course: an 18-hole course 7 mainly BrE & medical treatment that someone is given over a period of time: a course of steroid injections in/during/over the course of sth while something

is

happening or continuing: The insurance covers you ifyou are injured in the course of your employment. During the course of the morning I learned a lot about the project. in the course of time after some time has passed: eventually: Don't worry, it will all become clear in the course of time. on course for sth/to do sth very likely to achieve something or have a particular result: The company is on course for its worst-ever losses this year. run/take its course to develop in the usual way and reach a natural end: The doctor said we just had to let the disease run its course. -» COLLISION, DUE OF COURSE 1

,

Words

frequently used with

adjectives

course

correspondence, intensive,

1

introductory, refresher, residential, vocational

course 2

/kors/ verb

1

[i]

to flow

somewhere

in large

amounts: Tears coursed down his cheeks. Fear sends adrenalin coursing through your veins. 1a. if an emotion or physical feeling courses through you, you suddenly feel it strongly: Anger coursed through him. 2 [i/T] to use dogs to chase rabbits or hares as a sport /kors/ adv spoken of course: "She's not in love with me. " "Course she is. It's obvious. course-book /'kors.buk/ noun [c] BrE a textbook course-work /'kors,w3rk/ noun [u] school work that a student must do as part of a course of study, with the grade that they achieve forming part of their final grade court 1 /kort/ noun

course 3

•••

1 for

4 in name of 5 courtyard

cases/trials

2 area

for sport

3 (place

for)

king/queen

buildings

+ PHRASES

[C/u] a place where trials take place and legal cases are decided, especially in front of a judge and a jury: court of law, law court: in court The charges were read aloud in court. appear in court Duggan will appear in court on Monday. -» court of appeals 1a. the court [singular] the people in a court, especially the judge and jury: police officer told the court that he had seen Brown leaving the house. the evidence before the court (=being considered by the court) 1b. [only before noun] done by a court or relating to a court: They are dropping their court case against him. She got a court injunction banning her 1

A

husband from her home. 1c. the courts [plural] the system of courts that decide legal cases: You can always try to get your money back through the courts. The courts ruled that the company are entitled to make a fair profit. 1d. [U] used for referring to the process of taking a legal action against someone: go to court (=begin a court case) She threatened to go to court if he did not pay up. take sb to court (=begin a case against someone) Lynn

come to took her employers to court for compensation. court (=start to be discussed in court) It took five years for the case to come to court. settle out of court (=agree to pay someone in order to avoid a court case) Mr. Lodge settled out of court for $50,000. 2 [C] an area marked with lines where some sports are played, such as tennis and basketball: tennis / basketball /badminton court The hotel has two tennis courts. on court The players had been on court for over two hours, —picture

-» ci4

3

[C/U] the place where a king or queen lives and works 3a. the court [singular] a king or queen, together with their family and their servants, advisers, etc.: an influential member of the court of Henry VIII 4 Court used in the names of streets or apartment

buildings: They live at 27 Mallory Court.

5 [C] a COURTYARD hold court humorous to talk to a group of people who are all paying you a lot of attention because you are interesting, funny, or important pay court to sb very formal to give someone a lot of attention in order to impress them or make them like you

court 2

to try to impress or please to help you in some way: politicians courting middle-class voters Suddenly, she's being courted by newspapers and television reporters every night. 2 [T] to make special efforts to get some-

/kort/ verb

1

[T]

someone because you want them

courteous

married to later

cour-te-ous

/

'lortiss/ adj polite, especially in a

way: Hotel employees must be courteous at

— opposite

cover

315

thing that will benefit you: For years they had been court courting influence in Britain's major companies. publicity /popularity He courted publicity and then complained about his loss of privacy. 3 [T] to behave in a way that is likely to bring a bad result: court disaster/ danger/scandal To ignore her advice would be courting disaster. 4 [i/T] old-fashioned to have a romantic relationship with someone, especially someone that you get

— cour«te«ous'ly

discourteous

formal

all

times.

adv,

cour-

te-ous-ness noun [u] cour-te'San/.korta'zaen/noun [c] in the past, a woman who had sex with rich and important men in exchange for money, protection, and status 1 cour-te-sy /'k3rtssi/ noun * [u] politeness, especially

formal politeness in social situations: a

man who

treats

common courtesy everyone with kindness and courtesy (=ordinary politeness that everyone expects) It's only common courtesy to thank someone when they help. a. [C] something you say or do to be polite: It would be a courtesy to call them and tell them we'll be late. b. have the courtesy to do sth to be polite enough to do something. This expression is often used when you are annoyed because someone has not behaved politely: You could have had the courtesy to return my calls.

cou-tu-ri-er /ku'toriei/ noun [c] someone who designs and makes very expensive clothes: fashion designer cove /koov/ noun [c] a small area of ocean that is partly surrounded by land cov-en /'k.\vn/ noun [C] a group or meeting of witches cov-e-nant 1 /'kAvanant/ noun [C] 1 a legal agreement between two people, for example one relating to a house, land, or property 1a. breach of covenant failure to do what you have agreed to do in a covenant 2 a formal agreement or promise cov-e-nant 2 /'k.wansnt/ verb [t] to legally agree to do something

cov-er 1 /'kAvsr/

1 used for saying who has provided somefor thanking them for it: First prize is two tickets to Australia, courtesy of United Airlines. 2 as a result of: The Giants won the game courtesy of a lastsecond field goal. [only before noun]

provided free

of charge: The hotel provides courtesy shuttle service from the airport.

'courtesy call noun [c] a visit or telephone you make to a customer in order to be polite

call that

court-house

/'kort.haos/ noun [c] a building that has courts in it for legal trials

one or more court-i-er /'lortiar/ noun [C] someone who has an official position at the court of a king or queen, or who spends time there court-ly /'kortli/ adj formal very polite in a formal way court-martial 1 noun [c] a court for trials of members of the military who have broken military laws a. a trial in

a military court 2

.court-'martial verb court court

a.

[t]

to decide that

to

judge someone in a military is guilty in a military

someone

[c] a court of law that holds appeals (=cases that are heard again in court because someone was not satisfied with the original judgment)

court of 'law noun

[C]

a court where legal trials take

place

court 'order noun

an order that someone must or must not do something, given by a court of law court-room / 'kort.rum/ noun [C] * a room where legal cases are judged: Cheers rose from the courtroom when the verdict was given. a bitter courtroom battle [C]

court-ship / 'kort ,Jip/ noun 1 [c/U] the period of time when a man and a woman have a romantic relationship with each other, before they get married 1a. an attempt to get someone's support, especially in business or politics: +of their courtship of Japanese investors 2 [u] the behavior of animals who are trying to attract a sexual partner 'court shoe noun [C] BrE a pump worn by a woman on her foot court-yard /kortjard/ noun [C] a square area that is surrounded by buildings or walls: a paved courtyard Concerts are held in the courtyard.

couscous

/'kus.kus/ noun [u] crushed wheat that is used in a North African meal with meat and vegetables a. [C/u] a meal made with meat, vegetables, and cous-

cous

cousin

verb

1

put sth over sth else

2 3 4 5 6

be

all

[T]

over sth

include and deal with

report/describe provide insurance

••• 7 travel a distance

8 perform sb else's song 9 point a gun atsb 10 in sports + PHRASES

have enough money for

cover or cover up

to put one thing over another, in order to protect or hide it: Cover the food until you are ready to eat it. cover sb/sth with sth They covered her with a blanket. be covered with /by sth The floor was covered with a sheet of plastic. 1a. to be on top of something: A rug covered the hole in the carpet. 1b. to put your hands over your eyes, ears, or mouth: Bob covered his eyes, unable to look at the body. 2 to be all over a surface or object: Bruises covered his entire body. be covered with /in sth His clothes were 1

covered in mud. All the furniture was covered with dust. 2a. to spread something all over a surface or object: They covered the path with rose petals. 2b. to spread or lie all over an area of land: Dense forest covers the lower slopes of the mountain. 3 to include and deal with a particular situation, subject, period of history, etc. Section 5 covers vacation Her new book covers allowances for part-time workers. The program covers all the period from 1870 to 1918. aspects of health and safety at work. 3a. if a law, rule, or contract covers a particular situation, type of person. etc., it includes or deals with that situation or person: apply to: The rights of unmarried fathers are not covered :

AmE

.court of ap'peals noun

,

a famous the design

of these clothes

and

cour-te-sy 2 / 'k3rtssi/ adj

is

cou-ture /ku'tor/ noun [u] clothes that designer makes for individual customers, or

courtesy of thing,

The Duke of Kent

a cousin of the Queen. 1a. someone who is related to you through a brother, sister, uncle, or aunt of one of your parents: She is a distant cousin (=not a close relation) of the famous author. picture -» family tree 2 someone or something that is related to another person or thing: Many politicians want to foster closer These pigs are close links with our European cousins. cousins of the wild hog. are cousins.

•*

/'kAzn/ noun [c] 1 a child of your uncle or aunt. This person can also be called your first cousin. A child of the cousin of one of your parents is called a second cousin: Harry and I

by this legislation. to give a report or description of an event on television or radio, or in a newspaper: We will be covering Clare Gray covered the game live on Saturday afternoon. the Paris fashion shows for the paper. 5 if an insurance agreement covers a situation or person, it provides protection against loss for that situation or person: The warranty does not cover damage caused by misuse of the product. cover sb for sth His car insurance covers him for business use. cover sb to do sth Are you covered to drive a truck? cover sb against sth You need to be covered against fire. 6 to have enough money to pay for something: We need $700 a month to cover the rent. 7 to travel a particular distance: We had to cover the last three miles on foot. 8 to perform or record a song that was first performed

4

by someone

else:

Her new album covers some old Beatles

classics.

9

to protect

someone from attack by pointing a gun

at

someone who might shoot them: His partner covered him while he ran across the prison yard. 9a. to prevent someone from moving or escaping by pointing a gun toward them: You go first while we cover the back door. 10 in some sports, to stay very close to an opposing player in order to prevent them from scoring a goal or getting a point

^

cover cover

lems cover your tracks to try to hide evidence of something bad that you have done: Whoever had taken the money

had covered

their tracks pretty well.

cover yourself or cover your back

to take action to

protect yourself against criticism, blame, or legal problems: They put a warning on the packaging just to cover themselves.

cover for phrasal vb

[cover for sb] 1 to do someone's work while they are sick or not there: I'm just covering Mrs. bear with me. 2 Tyler, so please to protect for someone from punishment, for example by telling a lie for them: If Pauline asks where I am, will you cover for [T]

me? 1 [T] same as cover 2 [l/T] to put more clothes or covers on your body, to hide it or keep cover it warm: It's freezing outside, so up. When dad saw my short skirt he told me to cover myself up. 3 [l/T] to hide the truth about something by not telling what you know or by preventing other people from telling what

cover up phrasal vb

1

i

they know: It was a real scandal, but the school tried to cover the whole thing up. +iorHegot his powerful friends to cover up for him.

cov-er2 /'kAvar/ noun 1 for

**• 7 cover charge

putting over sth

2 outside

of

book/CD

3 place for shelter/hiding

4 protection from attack 5 for hiding secret/crime 6 of song

8 place in restaurant 9 sheets/blankets 10 insurance agreement 11 doing sb else's work + PHRASES

after her cover was blown. 6 cover or cover version [c] a

by someone who

is

recorded not the original performer: They did is

a brilliant cover of the old Abba song. 7 [C/u] Am E a cover charge 8 [C] a place for one person at a table in a restaurant 9 the covers [plural] sheets and blankets that you lie under in bed: He pulled the covers up and turned out the light.

[U]

BrE

coverage that an insurance agreement

you Br E an arrangement in which a person does the work of someone who is away from work under cover pretending to be someone else in order to find out secret information: go /work under cover gives

11

[u]

Working under cover

is

/'k.\v(3)nd;5/ noun [u] 1 news about something on television or radio or in the newspapers: You can see live coverage of all the main Olympics events, la. used about the amount of attention that television, radio, and newspapers give to something, or the way in which something is reported: The murder has received extensive media coverage. Their coverage of the riot was criticized for ignoring its causes. 2 E the amount and type of protection that an insurance agreement gives you: a policy that aims to give you more comprehensive coverage 3 information about a range of things, for example in

Am

a book or course of education: The course offers good coverage of the subject.

cov-er-alls /kworplz/ noun [plural] AmE a piece of clothing that you wear over your ordinary clothes in order to protect them noun [c] money added to the bill in a restaurant in addition to the cost of the food and service -covered /k.ward/ suffix used with some nouns for making adjectives meaning covered with a particular thing: chocolate-covered candy a velvet-covered sofa

cover charge

cov-ered wag-on / kword wxgan/ noun

[c] a vehicle pulled by horses that has a curved top like a tent, used in the past by people traveling across North America

cover

[c] an attractive young woman whose on the front of a magazine cov-er-ing /'kAv(a)nn/ noun [singular] something that covers something else: The ground was hidden under a covering of dead leaves. cov-er-let /'k.warbt/ noun [c] a cover that you put over the other covers on a bed: bedspread cover letter noun [c] Am E a letter that you send with a document or package to explain what it is or to give

girl noun

photograph

is

some extra information or 'cover .sheet noun

[c] the first page of a fax message, giving information such as the name and fax number of the person sending it

cover story

noun [C] 1 a main story in a magazine relating to the picture on the front cover 2 a false story that someone tells in order to hide who they are or

what they are doing co-vert /'koo \3rt; kou'vart/

one of the most dangerous types of

police work.

under cover of night/darkness hidden by darkness: They planned to attack under cover of darkness. under separate cover used in a letter for saying that something will be sent separately

adj secret: Detectives often

He stole a covert glance at use covert video surveillance. co«verHy adv opposite overt

Lily.

—

—

cover-up

noun [c] an attempt to stop people from discovering the truth about something, especially a crime or a serious mistake

cover version

noun

[c]

a cover of a popular song

cov-et /'k.wat/ verb [T] formal to want something that someone else has cov-et-ous / k W3t3s/ adj formal wanting to have something that someone else has, especially money cow 1 /kau/ noun [C] •• 1 an animal kept by farmers for its milk or meat. A male cow is called a bull, a female is a cow, and a young cow is a calf. Their meat is called beef. The sound a cow makes is written as moo. 1a. the female of some types of animal such as elephants or whales

—picture

song that

••

cov-erage

cover page

1 [C] something that you put over something else in order to hide it, protect it, or close it: She put plastic covers on all the furniture. cushion covers 2 [C] the outside page at the front or back of a book or magazine: Her face was once on the cover of Vogue magazine. read sth from cover to cover (=read it all) On the airplane I read the newspaper from cover to cover. 2a. the paper or cardboard on the front of a record or CD 3 [u] places such as buildings or trees where people or animals can hide or shelter from the weather: The troops had to run across open fields with no cover. run for cover/ take cover Everybody ran for cover as the hail started to break cover (=come out from a shelter) We waited fall. patiently for the lions to break cover. 4 [U] protection from attack, especially from someone with a gun: give cover Detective Philips entered the house while the other officers gave cover. 5 [C] a legal business that is used for hiding an illegal or secret activity: +for His import-export company was a cover for a drug-smuggling operation. 5a. a false story that is used for hiding who someone really is: His cover was that he was just released from prison and was blow sb's cover (=tell interested in joining the gang. people who someone really is) She had to leave the country

10

cowardly

316

the bases to deal with every possible thing that could happen or that people could want: We think the agreement covers all the bases for a lasting peace. cover your ass/butt Am E informal to take action to protect yourself against criticism, blame, or legal proball

2 BrE

-* ci2

an insulting word for a woman, espestupid or unkind have a cow AmE informal to become very angry or upset about something till/until the cows come home informal for a very long cially

offensive

one who

is

time

cow2

/kao/ verb [T usually passive] to make someone do what you want by frightening them: intimidate: They refused to be cowed.

cow-ard

/'kauard/ noun

[C]

someone who

is

not brave

enough to fight or do something difficult or dangerous that they should do /'kaoardis/ noun [u] behavior that shows you are not brave enough to fight or do something difficult or dangerous that you should do

cow-ard-ice

cow-ardly

/ 'kauardli/ adj 1 a cowardly person is not brave enough to fight or do something difficult or dangerous that they should do 1a. used about someone's behavior: a cowardly decision 2 cruel toward someone who is weaker than you: a cowardly attack

cowboy

AMERICANS. 2 a man whose job in the U.S.

BrE someone

3

'cowboy .boots

co-zy 2 /'koozi/

up phrasal vb [i] 1 to move close to someone for warmth or love: In the morning we children cozied up together in the same bed. found all the 2 to try to become friendly with someone in order to get some benefit for yourself: +to He began cozying up to the

is to

take care of cows on a ranch

in business

who

provides goods or

services that are of very bad quality: cowboy builders

noun

high leather boots with raised heels and pointed toes —picture -» shoe 'cowboy ,hat noun [c] a high hat with a wide brim (=the flat part that surrounds a hat) —picture -» hat informal a hard cow-chip /'kao.tjip/ noun [C] [plural]

AmE

dried cowpie

cow-er

/'kaor/ verb [I] to move your body down and away from someone or something because you are frightened: cringe: The dog was cowering in a corner.

— cower-ing adj

/'kao,g3rl/ noun [C] a woman whose job take care of cows on a ranch in the U.S.

cow-girl

is to

cow-hand /

kao.haend/ noun [c] someone whose job is to take care of cows on a ranch in the U.S. cow-hide /'kao haid/ noun [u] the skin of a cow, or leather made from the skin of a cow cowl /kaul/ noun [c] 1 a part of a piece of clothing that covers the head and shoulders, worn especially by monks 2 a cover for a chimney that improves the flow of

crack

317

noun (C] • 1 a man in stories and movies called Westerns about the North American West. A cowboy's job was to look after cattle, but they are often shown in dangerous situations and especially having fights with native

cow-boy / 'kao.boi/

smoke

cowl-ing / 'kaolin / noun

[c]

a metal cover for the engine

of an aircraft

co-worker

noun [C] someone who works with you, someone with a similar position or status in an organization cow-pie /'kao.pai/ noun [C] Am E informal a round flat piece of solid waste from a cow cow-poke /'kao.pook/ noun [C] AmE old-fashioned a COWHAND cow-pox /'kao.paks/ noun [u] a disease that affects cows. The blood of the sick cows was used in the past

verb ,cozy

boss as soon as he

co-zy 3 /'koozi/ noun

was

hired.

a covering that you put over a teapot to keep the tea hot /,si pi 'ei/ noun [c] • a certified public accountant: an accountant with all the necessary quali[C]

AmE

CPA

fications

CPU /,si

noun

computing a central processing it does crab /kryeb/ noun 1 [c] a shellfish with ten legs and two large claws used for holding things. Crabs walk sideways. 1a. [C/u] the meat from a crab eaten as food: crab salad 2 crabs [plural) a medical condition in which you have very small insects in your pubic hair 3 [C] informal someone who is always annoyed and complains about unimportant things crab 2 /krreb/ verb [I] 1 informal to criticize people and complain a lot about unimportant things 2 to catch crabs for eating 'crab .apple noun [C/u] a very small sour apple crab-bed /'krabad/ adj 1 crabbed writing is written in small letters that are very close together and difficult to read: cramped: crabbed handwriting 2 old-fashioned CRABBY crab-by /'krsbi/ adj easily annoyed by unimportant things: grouchy, irritable crab-bi-ness noun [u] crab-meat /'krceb.mit/ noun [u] the meat from a crab crab-wise /'krsb.waiz/ adv sideways crack 1 /kraek/ verb •* pi 'ju/

unit: the part of a

[c]

computer that controls what

1

—

especially

making a vaccine that prevented the serious disease smallpox in people.

for

cow-rie

/'kaori/ noun [c] a shiny, colored shell of a sea animal, used in the past as money in parts of Africa

and Asia

cow-shed

/'kao, Jed/ noun [c] a farm building

where

cows are kept

cow-slip /'kao .slip/ noun

[C]

a wild plant with yellow

flowers

'cow .town noun [c] Am E a small town in the U.S. areas with many farms where cows are kept cox /kaks/ noun [C] a coxswain —cox verb [i/T]

near

cox-comb / 'kaks.koom/ noun [C] an old word meaning a

man who

is

too interested in his clothes

and appear-

ance

cox-swain /'kaksn; 'kak.swem/noun [c] someone who directs the people who row a boat, especially in a race coy /koi/ adj 1 not willing to give information about something, especially in a way that is slightly annoying: + about Tim is being very coy about his new job. 2 someone who is coy pretends to be shy in order to make themselves seem more attractive 2a. used about someone's behavior: Kate gave him a coy look. coyly adv: She laughed, rather coyly.

—

coy-o-te

/kai'ooti; 'kai.oot/ noun [c] a small wild dog that lives in North America. Coyotes often live near

people and sometimes steal food or

kill

small pets.

coy-pu

/'koi.pu/ noun [C] an animal with fur used for making clothing, that lives mainly in South America

co-zy 1 /'koozi/adj

*

warm and comfortable, and making you

1 feel relaxed: snug: a cozy chair next to the fireplace 1a. friendly and relaxed: a cozy chat a cozy evening with friends 2 a cozy relationship, in business or politics, involves people who seem to be using their relationship in a dishonest way to get benefits for each other: the cozy relationship between government agencies and private industry

1

break so

line

appears

2 break sth open 3 make short loud noise 4 hit part of body hard

5 solve problem/mystery 6 lose control of yourself 7 when voice shakes

1 [T] to damage something so that a line or long narrow hole appears on its surface, but it does not break into She cracked pieces: / dropped a plate and cracked it. several ribs and broke her arm skiing. 1a. if something cracks, a line or long narrow hole appears on its surface, but it does not break into pieces: The ice was starting to crack at the edges. The egg cracked open and a little chick struggled out. —picture -» next page 2 [T] to deliberately break something open in order to get what is inside: They used a hammer to crack open the coconuts. 3 [i] to make a short sudden loud noise like a small explosion: Thunder cracked overhead. 3a. crack your knuckles to deliberately pull your fingers so that they [

l

]

a short loud sound 3b. [T] to make a whip make a short sudden loud noise [T] to accidentally hit a part of your body against something with a lot of force: Dad fell and cracked his head against the door. 4a. [T] to hit someone on the head with a lot of force: clout, whack: She cracked him over the head with a frying pan. 5 [T] to solve a complicated problem or find the answer to a mystery: Detectives believe they are near to cracking the case. It was a code that seemed impossible to crack. 6 [I] to lose control of yourself and say or do things you would not normally say or do, for example, because you are tired or you have been threatened: Heston never crack under the cracked, even when they tortured him. pressure/strain She won the game because her opponent cracked under the pressure. 7 [I] if your voice cracks, it goes higher and lower, and you cannot control it, especially because of a strong emotion or because you are going to cry

make

4

crack a book/ the books informal

to

You'd better start cracking the books

if you

the

read or study: want to pass

test.

crack a joke informal to tell a joke: He was very relaxed, smiling and cracking jokes. crack sth open informal to open a bottle or can of alcoholic drink crack a safe to succeed in opening a safe in order to steal what is inside it crack a smile to begin smiling

1

crack

it is

crack 2 /knek/ noun

•*

1 line where sth breaks 2 narrow opening 3 sign sth is weak/failing 4 rude/insulting joke 5 short loud noise

[C]

cracked

7

informal an attempt to do something: have/take a crack at (doing) sth We thought we'd have a crack at [C]

running our own business. 8 crack or crack cocaine [U] a pure form of the drug cocaine crack addicts

illegal

:

at the crack of dawn extremely early in the morning: / was up at the crack of dawn trying to finish my essay. slip/fall through the cracks to not be dealt with by a

system that is designed to help you or stop you doing something what's the crack? Br E informal used for asking someone what is happening or what has happened recently 3 -» PAPER

crack 3

/kraek/ adj [only before noun] very skillful, espea crack regiment a crack shot (=someone who is very accurate in shooting a gun) She's a crack shot with a rifle. cially as a result of being trained well: soldiers in

6 hard hit on part 7 attempt 8 illegal drug + PHRASES

of

body

a line on a surface where something is beginning to break apart: Many old buildings have cracks in their walls. hairline crack (=an extremely thin crack) Hairline cracks appear in the paint when it dries too quickly. 2 [C] a narrow opening between two things or parts of things: She peered out through the crack in the curtains. 3 [C] a sign that an organization, relationship, or plan is weak or beginning to fail: events which deepened the cracks in the monarchy cracks start to appear (in sth) After only a year cracks started to appear in their marriage. 4 [C] informal a rude or insulting joke about someone or something: Some of the students were making cracks about her appearance. -» wisecrack 5 [C] a short sudden loud noise like a small explosion: the sharp crack of a single gunshot 6 [C] informal a hard hit on a part of your body: He got a nasty crack on the head. 1

crackers

318

crack the whip informal to try to make people work harder or faster get cracking informal to start doing something or going somewhere immediately: We'll have to get cracking if we want to get there before dark. crack down phrasal vb [l] to start dealing with someone or something much more strictly: +on The school is cracking down on smoking. crack up phrasal vb informal 1 [i] to become mentally ill: He just cracked up from the stress. 2 [l] to suddenly laugh a lot at something: The girls all cracked up when they saw him. 2a. [T] to make someone laugh a lot: Little kids just crack me up with the things they say. sth is not all it's cracked up to be informal used for saying that something is not as good as people say that

crack-brained and not

/

kraek ,breind/ adj

informal strange

sensible: another of her crackbrained schemes

crackdown

/'kraek.daon/ noun (c usually singular] strong action that someone in authority takes to stop a particular activity: clampdown: Police are launching a

new crackdown on drug

users.

a government crackdown

against terrorists

crack-er

/'kraekar/ noun [c] 1 a type of thin dry hard with cheese 2 E an insulting who lives in the southeastern U.S. 3 Br E informal old-fashioned an attractive woman 4 decorated paper tube that makes a noise when you pull it apart. It usually has a small toy, joke, and paper hat inside and is traditionally used at

Am

biscuit often eaten

word

for a poor white person

BrEa

Christmas.

crack>er»jack extremely team

crack*ers

/'kraeka^aek/

skillful or well done:

/'kraekarz/ adj

AmE

ad] informal a crackerjack baseball

BrE informal

crazy

:

cracking

That was a cracking party! /'kraekl/ verb [I] 1 to make continuous short sounds like the sound of wood burning: The radio began 2 to be full of something such as nervousness crackle. to or excitement: The atmosphere crackled with expectation. crack-le noun [C/U]: the crackle of thunder in the

crack-le

—

distance /'kraekhrj/ noun 1 [singular/u] the sound that something makes when it crackles: the crackling of dried leaves underfoot 2 cracklings [plural] hard pieces of cooked skin from a pig, used as food

crack-ling

crackly / 'kraekli/ adj making

continuous short sounds like the sound of wood burning: The radio was faint and

crackly.

crack-pot

/'kraek.pat/ adj informal crack-pot noun [C] crackpot ideas

crack-up

slightly

crazy:

—

noun

[C]

AmE

informal

1

a nervous break-

1

/'kreidl/ noun [C] 1 a small bed for a baby that you can move gently from side to side 2 the place on a telephone where you put the receiver when you are not using it 3 a structure used for supporting something such as a ship that is being built or repaired

the cradle of sth a place where something began: birthplace: a region that is regarded as the cradle of Estonian culture

from/in the cradle from or

at a

cram /kraem/ verb * 1 [T] to put people or things into a space that is too small: cram sth into/in/under sth The sacks of rice were crammed under a huge table. Guards cram 40 prisoners cram sth with sth He was into cells designed for 12. cramming his mouth with food. 1a. [T] if people cram a place, they fill it completely: People crammed every street leading to the square. 2 [I] Br E informal to study hard in order to learn a lot in a short time, especially for an examination

crammed

very early time in your

life

from cradle

to grave through your whole life rob the cradle to try to start a romantic or sexual relationship with someone much younger -> cradle-

robber

cra-dle 2 /'kreidl/ verb [T] to hold something carefully and gently in your hands or arms cradle-robber noun [c] AmE informal someone who has a sexual relationship with a much younger person

/kraemd/

1

developing as successfully as regulations will services sector.

plural]

something produced

skillfully

/kraeft/ verb [T] to make or produce something skillfully .finely crafted leather goods There have been

many

attempts to craft a permanent peace settlement. hand-crafted (=made by hand, not by a machine) hand-

crafted furniture

craft-i-ness /'kraeftinas/ noun [u] skill at getting what you want, using clever or dishonest methods: cunning

crafts-man

/'kraeftsman/

(plural

crafts-men /'kraefts

man/) noun [c] a man who makes beautiful or practical objects using his hands crafts-man-ship / 'kraeftsman ,Jip/ noun [u] the skill involved in making something beautiful or practical using your hands a. the beautiful or impressive quality of something that has been made using a lot of skill: the superb craftsmanship of the temple carvings

crafts-per-son /

'kraefts ,pipl/)

/'kraefts,p3rsn/

noun

or practical objects

crafts-wom-an

(plural

glass of cranberry juice 1

crane /krem/

noun

/'kraefts

woman/

(plural

wimin/) noun [C] a woman who or practical objects using her hands

/'kraefts

craft-y

crafts-wom-en beautiful

makes

good at getting what you want, especially in a slightly dishonest way: cunning: You crafty so-and-so! a. used about someone's behavior or actions: That was a crafty move! craft-i-ly adv crag /kraeg/ noun [c] a very steep rough part of a cliff /'kraefti/ adj

—

or mountain

crag-gy / 'kraegi/ adj 1 steep with a lot of rough rocks 2 a craggy face looks strong and has deep lines in it: rugged: craggy features

[C]

*

a very tall machine used for lifting or moving heavy objects and building tall buildings: a crane driver 2 a large bird with long legs and a long neck that lives 1

near water

crane 2 /krem/

verb

[i/t] to

stretch

your neck out to try to see something: She craned out of the window, trying to see the ocean. He had to crane his neck to see what was happening on stage.

'crane crane

,fly noun [c] a flying insect with very long legs cra-ni-al /'kremial/ adj medica/ relat-

ing to your skull

cra-ni-um /'kremiam/ noun

crank

1

/kraenk/ noun

[C] 1

[C]

medical your skull

Am Einformal someone who

gets angry easily and is unpleasant to other people 2 a piece of equipment that turns to make something move or start 3 Br Einformal someone whose ideas or behavior are very strange: Protesters were dismissed as cranks. 3a. [only before noun] used about someone's behavior or actions: Radio stations often get crank calls.

crank 2

/kraenk/ verb

by turning a crank crank out phrasal vb large

crank

to start

[T]

[T]

an engine or machine

informal to produce things in their quality informal to increase the level

numbers without caring much about 'up phrasal vb

[T]

or degree of something: We'll have to crank up the air conditioning tonight.

crank-shaft

/'kraenk Jaeft/ noun [c] a long metal bar engine that is connected to the wheels and changes power into movement in a vehicle's

crank-y crafts-peo-ple

someone who makes beautiful using their hands [C]

that they cannot

small and crowded: horribly

1

cramped prison conditions It was cramped in the little cabin. 2 feeling uncomfortable in a space that is too small: I felt cramped and uncomfortable. crampon /'kraem.pan/ noun [c] a piece of metal with sharp points that you put on your boots for climbing on snow or ice cran-ber-ry /'kraen,beri/ noun [c] a small sour red fruit that grows on a bush: turkey with cranberry sauce a

by

craft 2

make someone feel

sb's style to

hand, for example a plate or a piece of furniture: a display of local crafts a craft fair 2 [C/U] the skill needed for a particular profession: The great preachers were masters of their craft. 3 (plural craft) [C] a boat or ship: We passed several other craft on the river. 3a. an aircraft or space vehicle

could: inhibit: Tight in the financial

behave in the way they want

cramped /kraempt/ adj

[C]

1a. [usually

it

cramp fresh thinking

**

/kraeft/ noun

with people

/kraemp/ noun 1 [C] a sudden severe pain in a tired muscle that becomes very tight 2 cramps [plural] pains that a woman sometimes gets during her period cramp 2 /kraemp/ verb [T] to prevent something from

a traditional skill of making things by hand, for example furniture or jewelry: the promotion of traditional Egyptian arts and crafts skilled craft workers 1

filled

1

— cradle-robbing noun [U]

craft

completely

adj

or things

cramp

cramp

down 2 a car or airplane crash

cradle

cranny

319

crack-ing /'kraekirj/ adj 1 informal very fast: a cracking pace 2 mainly Br E informal old-fashioned very good

/'kraenki/ adj

informal

1

someone who

is

cranky gets annoyed easily: irritable: Traveling can make you cranky, tired, and tense. 1a. if a baby or small child is cranky, he or she cries a lot and will not sleep or be calm 2 likely to stop working at any time: a cranky old lawnmower unusual: cranky theories

cran-ny / 'kraeni/ noun

[C]

3

mainly Br E strange or

a long narrow hole, especially

in a wall or rock: crevice

crap

1

/kraep/ noun [u] impolite 1 nonsense: She was His explanation was a bunch of be full of crap Ooften talk nonsense) Don't listen to him - he's full of crap. 2 something that is of bad quality: Vm tired of eating the crap they serve in the cafeteria. 2a. things that are useless, not wanted, or not important: You wouldn't believe the amount of crap he's talking crap, as usual.

crap.

1

craps

cut the crap used for telling someone to start talking

about what is really important I don't need this crap used for saying strongly that someone or something is annoying you not take crap from sb to not let someone behave in an unpleasant or unfair way toward you crap 2 /kriep/ interjection impolite used for showing that you are very angry or annoyed about something crap 3 /kraip/ verb [i/t] impolite to go to the toilet to DEFECATE

crap 4

/kraep/ adj Br E impolite bad in quality: / thought the movie was crap. a. bad at doing something: He's a crap driver.

crap-py / 'knepi/ adj very informal very bad: crappy food craps /kraeps/ noun [u] a game played especially in the U.S. in which the players throw two dice and risk money on the numbers

crap-shoot / 'krspjut / noun [singular] Am E a situation in which you do not know what will happen crash /kraJV verb •• 1

when

1

vehicle hits sth

2 hit sth noisily 3 when computer fails 4 sleep for the night

5

in

stock market/business

6 goto

party uninvited

+ PHRASES

1 [I/T] if a plane crashes, or if someone crashes it, it from the sky: A 727 crashed near Heidelberg. He crashed his plane on landing, causing $20,000 in damage. +into Amazingly, he survived when his plane crashed into the ocean, la. [i] if a moving vehicle crashes, it hits something, causing damage: The car skidded and I thought we were going to crash. + into Three people were killed when their car crashed into a tree. picture -» C6 1b. [T] if someone crashes a moving vehicle, they hit falls

—

something with it, causing damage: On his way to the party, Cliff crashed his car. 2 [i/T] to hit something hard, making a loud noise and often causing damage: +against/into/through/to A ball came crashing through the window. The wind howled and the waves crashed against the rocks. crash to the floor/ ground As Kelly saw him, the tray she was carrying crashed to the floor. crash sth against/ into sth He lifted his foot and crashed it into the door. 2a. [l] to make a sudden loud noise, as if something is being hit: Thunder crashed and boomed outside. 3 [i] if a computer or computer program crashes, it suddenly stops working 4 [i] informal to sleep somewhere for the night, usually when you did not plan to do this: You can crash at my place if you want. 5 if the stock market crashes, its value falls suddenly 5a. if a business crashes, it fails suddenly and com[

I

]

pletely

6

[T] informal to go to a party that invited to: gatecrash

you have not been

injured in the crash. a plane/car/train crash It was the worst train crash in thirty years. a head-on crash (=between two vehicles that are moving towards each other) a head-on crash between a car and a truck 2 an occasion when a computer or a computer program suddenly stops working: The system is prone to crashes. 3 a loud noise like the sound of two hard things hitting each other and breaking: There was a loud crash from the kitchen. the crash of the waves against the rocks 4 a sudden fall in prices or in the value of the stock market 4a. the sudden and complete failure of a busi-

ness

crash course noun are taught a lot

a course of study in which you about a subject in a short time

,diet noun short time

[c]

[C]

an attempt

to lose

crash helmet noun

weight in a very

a hard round hat that you to protect your head while driving a motorcycle

wear

[c]

or race car

.crash landing noun [c] an occasion when an aircraft has to land in a sudden and dangerous way crass /kras/ ad] stupid and offensive because of not being sensitive to other people's feelings crass-ness noun [U]

— crassly adv,

1

crate /krcit/ noun [c] a large wooden box used for moving or storing goods a. a container that is divided into smaller individual sections and used for moving bottles: a milk crate + of a crate of champagne b. a large container in which farm animals are kept

crate 2

/kreit/ verb [t] to put something into a crate in move or store it

order to

cra-ter /'kreitar/ noun [c] 1 the round hole at the top of a volcano 2 a large round hole in the ground caused by an explosion: a bomb crater 2a. a large round hole on the surface of a planet caused by a meteorite hitting the surface

cra-tered /'kreitsrd/ adj covered with craters cra-vat /kra'vaet/ noun [c] a wide piece of cloth

that a

man wears around his neck inside the collar of his shirt crave /kreiv/ verb 1 crave or crave for [i/t] to want something very much and in a way that is very hard to control: long for: He'd craved the attention of the older kids. Lewis still craves for the recognition he feels he lacks in America. 2 [T] an old word used for asking for

something in a polite way:

your pardon.

/ crave

cra-ven /'kreivn/ ad] formal not brave: cowardly crav-ing /'kreivin/ noun [C] a very strong feeling

of

wanting something craw /kro/ noun stick in your craw if something sticks in your craw, it is so unpleasant or morally wrong that you cannot accept it craw-dad /'kro.daed/ or craw-daddy /'kro.daedi/ noun [C] a crayfish craw-fish /'kro.fiJV noun [c/u] a crayfish

crawl 1

1

/krol/ verb

[i]

•

[+across/along/through

etc.]

to

move along

the

ground on your hands and knees or with your body close to the ground: She crawled across the floor, her eyes stingingfrom the smoke. They crawled through the tunnel. 1a. when a baby crawls, it moves forward on its hands and knees: She is just learning to crawl. 2 if a vehicle crawls, it moves forward very slowly: Cars and trucks crawled along the main road. 2a. if a person crawls somewhere, they move there very slowly or with difficulty: / was so tired I just wanted to crawl into bed. 2b. if time crawls by, it seems to pass very slowly: The weeks crawled by until we could meet again. 3 to try extremely hard to please someone, in order to gain an advantage, in a way that makes other people not respect you: + to The way you crawl to them makes me sick.

4

crash and burn Am E informal to fail completely .crash out phrasal vb [l] informal to suddenly start sleeping, usually when you are very tired: / crashed out around ten in front of the TV. crash 2 /kraeJV noun [c] •• 1 an accident that happens when a moving vehicle hits something, causing damage: in a crash He was seriously

crash

crayfish

320

got in his room. 3 solid waste that has left your body 3a. take a crap to go to the toilet to defecate

if

I'd rather die

than go crawling back

an insect crawls,

it

to

him.

moves forward using

Ants were crawling over the

its legs:

cheese.

be crawling with 1 to be full of people in a way that is unpleasant: The town was crawling with police. 2 to be covered in insects: The food was crawling with flies. make sb's skin/flesh crawl to give you a very unpleasant and slightly frightened feeling

crawl 2

/krol/ noun [sina very slow speed at which a vehicle moves forward: The traffic had slowed to a crawl. 2 a fast of swimming in style gular] 1

which you lie on your and move one arm over your head and then front crawl

crawl space noun

the [C]

other

while

your legs Am'E an area under the

kicking floor or

above the ceiling of a building that is so small that you can enter and move around only by crawling crayfish /'krei.fijV (plural crayfish) noun [c] a creature like a small lobster that lives in rivers and lakes and can be eaten

"

crayon crayon

1

cream

/'krei.an/ noun [C] a small stick of colored wax used for drawing

off phrasal vb [T] 1 to take the best people or things from a larger group in order to form a smaller special group: They always cream off all the best students. 2 to take a lot of money or profit, especially an unfair

cray'On 2

/'krei.an/ verb [i/t] to draw something using a crayon craze /kreiz/ noun [c] something that suddenly becomes very popular, but for only a short time: +for the craze for Irish music

crazed

/kreizd/

amount, in a business deal: He wondered how much Lawton had creamed off in addition to his share. cream cheese noun [u] a type of thick soft smooth white cheese that does not have a strong taste cream-er /'krimor/ noun 1 [c/u] a white liquid or powder used instead of milk or cream: non-dairy creamers 2 [C] a small container with a handle used for pouring cream cream*er«y /'krimari/ noun [c] a place where butter and cheese are made cream of 'tartar noun [u] a white substance used in BAKING POWDER cream-puff /'krim.pAi/ noun [c] 1 a small light cake that is empty inside and can be filled with whipped cream 2 informal someone who is very easy to control cream 'soda noun [C/U] a sweet drink with bubbles of

completely crazy and uncontrolled

adj

-crazed /kreizd/ suffix used with some nouns for saying what makes someone behave in a crazy and uncontrolled

way: a power-crazed politician

cra-zi'ly

/ 'kreizali/

adv in a

way

that

is

not normal and

you do not expect: The car swerved

that

plunged off the road.

cra-zy

She smiled and,

and

crazily,

crazily, felt shy.

**

1

/'kreizi/ adj informal not at all sensible or practical: irrational: It's crazy. Who would do a thing like that? Maybe Lou's idea wasn't so crazy after all. They were offering him crazy amounts of money. be crazy to do sth She knew she would be completely crazy to refuse.

crazy about sb very much in love pretty obvious he's crazy about you.

with someone:

It's

gas in

crazy about sth very enthusiastic about something: Judd's crazy about airplanes and flying. I'm not exactly crazy about the idea. drive sb crazy to make someone very upset or angry go crazy 1 to become very angry about something: My parents will go crazy if they find out. 2 to become bored, impatient, and upset: If I work there much longer I'll go crazy. 3 if an audience or group of people go crazy, they become very excited: He scored and the crowd went crazy.

like crazy to a very great degree: His

They 're selling

Words

that

arm hurt like crazy.

like crazy.

may cause

offense:

crazy

Avoid using words like crazy, and insane about people who have mental illnesses or mental health problems. Instead, use an expression such as mentally ill. Only use crazy in informal situations to describe silly behavior and actions.

cra«zy 2 tally

/

kreizi/ noun [c] offensive

someone who

is

men-

ill

-crazy /kreizi/ what someone

used with some nouns for saying extremely enthusiastic about: soccer-

suffix is

crazy youngsters

AmE

crazy

'quilt noun [c] 1 a patchwork quilt 2 a combination of things that do not seem to fit together: a crazy quilt of state and national regulations creak 1 /krik/ verb [I] 1 if something creaks, especially something wooden, it makes a high noise when it moves or when you put weight on it: The chair creaked as she sat down. 2 if a system, method, or organization creaks, it no longer works well

creak 2

/krik/ noun

[C]

a high noise that something,

makes when it moves or when you put weight on it: the creak of the barn door creak-ing /'krikin/ noun [c/u] a creak creak«y /'kriki/ adj 1 making a creaking sound 2 no especially something wooden,

longer working well or in good condition: The whole court system is becoming more creaky and inefficient.

cream

/krim/ noun •• a thick yellow- white liquid taken from the top of milk: peaches and cream Would you like cream or ice cream with your apple pie? la. [only before noun] used about food that contains cream .fish in cream sauce cream cakes 1b. cream of sth a soup containing cream: cream of tomato soup 2 [C/u] a thick smooth substance that you put on your skin, for example to protect it from the sun: skin cream sun cream antiseptic cream 3 [u] a yellow-white color 1

1

[U]

the cream of sb/ sth /the crop the best people or things in a particular group: the cream of the world's mountain climbers

cream 2 /krim/ ad) * yellow-white in color: a cream skirt cream 3 /krim/ verb [t] 1 to combine two or more things to form a thick smooth mixture: creamed potatoes

Cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl. 2 informal to defeat someone easily and completely: We got creamed

creative

321

in last week's

game.

,

it

that tastes of vanilla

cream tea

noun [c] BrE a small meal eaten in the afternoon consisting of tea with scones, jam, and cream creartvy /'krimi/ adj 1 yellow- white in color: She had golden hair and creamy skin. 2 a creamy substance is thick, soft, and smooth and does not flow easily: Beat the butter in a large bowl until creamy. 3 containing or made from cream: We had fish with a creamy sauce. crease 1 /kris/ noun 1 [c] a line made on cloth or paper when it is folded or crushed 2 [C] a line on someone's skin, especially on the face: wrinkle: She has creases at the corners of her eyes. 3 [singular] the area in front of the goal in a game such as hockey or lacrosse where a player stands in order to prevent the other team from scoring 3a. the line in front of the wicket where a batsman stands to hit the ball in the game of cricket

crease 2

/kris/ verb

1

[i/t]

to

make

lines

on cloth or

paper by folding or crushing it, or to become covered in these lines: She was careful not to crease her dress. 2 if something creases your face, or it creases, lines appear on your face because your expression changes: wrinkle: His face creased with worry. crease up phrasal vb [l/T] BrE informal to laugh a lot, or make someone laugh a lot: You really crease me up! creased /krist/ adj creased cloth or paper is marked with a crease: beautifully creased pants

cre-ate

/kri'eit/ verb [T]

•••

1 to make something new or original that did not exist before: How do I create a new file? In the last week, 170 new jobs have been created. the story of how God created the world newly /specially /recently etc. created the newly created post of general secretary 1a. to cause a situation, feeling, or problem to exist: Soft music creates a relaxing atmosphere. His comments have created a lot The main road was closed, creating traffic of confusion.

create an impression (=make someone think about you in a particular way) / really wanted to create a good impression at the start of the interview, lb. to make something such as a work of art: The choreographers had to create a whole new ballet. These hairstyles were created by "Toni and Guy. 2 to officially give someone a title: create sb sth De Burgh was created a marquess in 1825.

problems.

cre-a-tion /kri'eijn/ noun

•*•

[U] the act of creating something: The government is provide more money for job creation. + of the creation of Israel in 1948* The highway should aid the creation of new business in the area. 1a. [C] something that has been created, especially using skill or imagination: Birds' nests are extraordinary creations. She's the writer's greatest comic creation. Have you seen my latest creation? 2 the Creation the act of making the universe start to exist, when believed to be done by God 2a. [u] the universe and all the people, animals, and plants in it

1

to

crea-tion-ism the universe it

/kri'eijn, izom/

noun

[u]

the belief that

was created exactly as the Bible describes

— cre-a-tion-ist noun [C]

creative

1

/kri'eitrv/ adj

*•

involving a lot of imagination and new ideas: the creative use of tax and incentives to achieve economic goals Painting is a creative process. 1

°i

creative

credit rating

322

2 someone who is creative has a lot of imagination and new ideas: He was a creative genius. We offer people the opportunity to be creative. 2a. used about people who

suppliers will not give credit to their customers. interestfree credit You can get interest-free credit on all our prod-

create works of art, especially as their job: a creative I writer degree courses in the creative and per-

2

artist

forming arts — cre*a*tive*ly adv 2 cre*a»tive /kri eitiv/ noun [c] informal someone whose job is to have new ideas, especially in advertising: This city is full ofcreatives.

creative accounting noun showing financial information

[u]

the

in a

way

practice of that gives a

false idea but is not illegal

creative writing noun

[u] the activity of writing poetry and fiction, especially as an educational subject cre-a-tiv-i-ty /.kriei'tivati/ noun [u] • the ability to create new ideas or things using your imagination

cre-a-tor /krieitar/ noun • 1 [C] someone who has created something: Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond 2 the Creator formal God crea-ture /'kritjar/ noun [c] ••• 1 anything that lives except plants: a small furry creature la. an imaginary living thing that is strange or frightening: The Gorgon was a mythical creature. 2 a person described in a particular way: He seems rather a pathetic creature. 2a. formal someone who is completely controlled by another person or organization: + oiHe is a creature of the government. a creature of habit someone who likes to do the same thing at the same time every day

creature comforts noun you need

creche

to feel

the things that

[plural] all

happy and comfortable

/krej; kreijV noun [c]

BrE a place where

babies

and small children are taken care of while their parents are busy

cred /kred/ noun [u] informal street cred cre«dence /'kridns/ noun give/lend/add credence to sthformal to make people think that something is likely to be true: The recent discovery of the largest meteorite crater in Europe gives credence to Solomon 's theory. if an idea gains credence, people become likely to believe it give credence to sth to believe that something is true: It was too silly an idea for Chrissy to give any credence to

gain credence

more

it.

creden-tialed /kra'denfld/adj Am £ having the qualifications that show you are trained or suitable for a job: credentialed teachers

cre-dervtials /krs'denjlz/ noun

[plural] 1 personal achievements, or experiences that make someone appropriate for something: His credentials as a

qualities,

The company is looking to enhance its environmental credentials (=improve its reputation concerning the environment). 2 documents that prove who you are or show your qualifications or status: The policeman pulled the car over and asked to see

football coach are impressive.

the driver 's credentials.

credibility

/.kredi'bibti/ noun [u]

•

qualities that

someone has that make people believe or trust them: The jury had doubts about the credibility of some of the gain/lose credibility The government is losing by its failure to act quickly. undermine sb's (=damage it) Claire knew that to argue anymore would only undermine her credibility, a. used about things such as systems, statements, or beliefs: The credibility of your work will suffer if you get your facts wrong. witnesses.

credibility

credibility

credible

•

/'kredibl/adj 1 able to be believed or trusted: Boone was not a credible witness. There was no credible evidence against him. 2 considered as likely to happen or be successful: a credible challenger opponent candidate cred-i-bly adv

—

credit

1

/'kredrt/ noun

••• 5 money added to account 6 movie etc. sb worked on 7 list of who made movie

4

+ PHRASES

at college/university

credits

toward your degree.

an amount of money that you add to an account. of money that you take out of an account is a debit: All credits, debits, and charges will show on your bank statement. the credit column of a balance sheet 5a. in credit BrE to have more money in an account than the amount you have taken out: You don't pay any

5

[C]

An amount

interest if your

account remains in credit. a movie, television show, play, etc. that a particular person has worked on: a director whose television credits include NYPD Blue 7 the credits [plural] a list of the people involved in making a movie or television show that is shown at the end or beginning of it: the closing/end/opening credits The song plays over the opening credits.

6

[C]

be a credit to sb or do sb credit if you are a credit to someone connected with you. or if you do them credit, they should be proud of you: Our fans are a credit to the team. * Her children do her credit. credit where credit's due used for saying that someone deserves praise for something they have done give sb credit for sth to believe that someone is good at something or has a particular good quality: She's a much better actor than people give her credit for. on the credit side used before you mention a good or positive aspect of a situation: On the credit side, inflation has not risen this year, —opposite on the debit side to sb's credit 1 used about things that someone has done or achieved: He has fourteen movies to his credit. 2 used for saying that someone deserves praise: Jane, to her credit, did not believe her story.

credit2

/'kredit/ verb

[t]

•

to add an amount of money to an account: On May credit sb/sth 1st. the bank credited S400 to her account. with sth Your account has been credited with the amount credit sth to sb/sth The money will be credited to owed. 1

your account by the end of business tomorrow.

2

in negatives or questions] to believe that sometrue: scarcely/ hardly credit sth / could scarcely credit what had happened. +that It was hard to credit that he had once been an actor.

[usually

thing

is

credit sb with sth [often passive] 1 to say or believe that someone is responsible for a particular achievement: Clinton credited Mike Boorda with bringing peace to Bosnia. be widely/generally/wrongly credited with sth Fair lie is widely credited with inventing the phrase "the Establishment. "2 to say or believe that someone has a particular quality: Surely you credit me with more sense than that! credit sth to sth to say that someone has achieved something because of a particular thing: The team credited their victory to hard work.

credit-able

/'kreditabl/ adj good enough to deserve some praise or admiration: He finished a very creditable

fifth in the race.

performance

The company has turned

in

a creditable

this year.

**

credit card noun [c] a small plastic card that you similar use to buy things now and pay for them later. card that you use to pay for things directly from your bank account is called a debit card.

A

[C] the maximum amount of money that a customer can borrow using a particular credit

card account cred'i-tor / kreditar/ noun [C] ** a person or company that is owed money by another person or company

— Opposite DEBTOR

an arrangement to receive goods from a store or money from a bank and pay for it later: on credit I don like buying things on credit. give /offer credit Some 1

tax bill: These tax credits are designed to help offset the The government plans to introduce export credits. 3 [u] praise for something you have done or achieved: take the credit He always takes the credit for my ideas. + for You deserve credit for making him change his mind. 4 [C] a part of a college or university program that you have completed successfully: This course counts as three costs of child-care.

credit limit noun

arrangement to pay later 2 money you have right to 3 praise for sth you did 1

ucts.

[C] an amount of money that you have a right to, for example money that you can use to pay part of your

[u]

't

credit rating noun [c] financial information about someone that a bank or store uses for deciding whether to lend them money or give them credit

credit slip instead of

money

creep«y-crawl«y /, kripi krali/ noun [c] informal an insect. This word shows that you dislike or are afraid

a document that a store gives you when you take back something you

[c]

have bought 'credit union noun

of insects.

cre-mains/kn'meinz/noun

an organization that takes care lends them

[c]

money that its members have saved and money at low rates of interest of

cre-do /'kridoo/ noun

[c]

cre-mate /kra'meit;

formal a statement of your

la creme, the /.krern da la 'krem/ noun formal the best people or things of a particular type: the creme de la creme of New York's young artists creme de menthe /,krem da 'manG/ noun [c/u] a sweet green liqueur (=an alcoholic drink drunk after a meal) with a mint flavor, or a glass of this drink creme frafche /.krem 'frejV noun [u] a type of thick cream with a slightly sour flavor

to believe).

/'kredjalas/ ad] formal tending to believe things that people tell you and therefore easily tricked or cheated: Credulous investors were persuaded to part with large sums of money.

cren-e-lat-ed /'krena.leitad/

creed

/krid/ noun [c] formal a set of religious beliefs: People of all races, colors, and creeds have to live together. a. a set of beliefs about how people should live or behave: a radical political creed

creek /krik; knk/ noun

[c] 1

a narrow stream

cre-ole

2BrE

1

the creek!

creel /kril/ noun [c] 1 a basket used for keeping fish that you have just caught 2 a container used for catch-

[I]

cre-ole

(past tense and past participle crept /krept/)

•

someone creeps somewhere, they move there quietly and slowly: I crept downstairs when everyone was

cre-o-sote /'kria.sout/ noun [u] a thick brown liquid that you paint on wood to protect it from the weather

if

She crept quietly into bed. 1a. if a vehicle creeps somewhere, it moves very slowly: The traffic kept creeping forward a few inches and then stopping. 1b. [+into/ in/along/across] if something such as fire, the sun, or fog creeps somewhere, it moves slowly: The flames were creeping along the hall behind him. As dusk crept in, lights came on. / watched the sunlight creep across the window. 1c. if someone's arm or hand creeps somewhere, it moves quietly and slowly: His arm crept around

— cre-o-sote verb

asleep.

her shoulder. A little hand crept across the table and touched my arm. 1d. E to crawl 2 [-t-across/into] if an expression or color creeps into someone's face, it gradually appears there: A little smile crept across her mouth. *A scarlet flush was creeping into her cheeks. 2a. [+in/ into /across] if an emotion or feeling creeps somewhere, someone gradually starts to experience it: Suspicion began to creep into her mind. She felt a tingling sensation creep across the back of her neck. 2b. [+in/into] to gradually start to affect or change something: It seems that very few errors crept into the text.

Am

.creep by phrasal vb [i] if time creeps by, it passes very slowly: The minutes seemed to be creeping by. .creep up [I] to gradually become larger in number or amount: The sales figures keep creeping up. The number of missing people has crept up to 40. .creep up on phrasal vb [T] [creep up on sb] 1 if something creeps up on you, it happens slowly or gradually so you do not notice it happening: It's funny how old age suddenly creeps up on you. 2 to move toward someone quietly and slowly, especially because you want to surprise them: I didn't notice him creeping up on me.

creep 2

/krip/ noun 1 [C] informal an unpleasant person: / thought he was a nasty little creep. 2 [U] a slow and gradual change or movement give sb the creeps to frightened

make someone

creep-er / 'kripar/ noun

[c]

feel

nervous or

a plant with long stems that

grow along the ground, around other plants, or up walls creeping /'kripin/ adj 1 happening very slowly so that people do not notice .creeping privatization ing plants grow along the ground

2

creep-

creep-y /'kripi/ adj informal unpleasant in a way that makes you feel nervous or frightened: a creepy silence

2

/'kri.ool/ adj 1 creole food has the typical strong flavor of food from the southern U.S. and usually contains tomatoes, peppers, onions, and rice 2 relating to languages that are Creoles

especially lobsters

/krip/

a crenelated

1

/'kri.ool/ noun 1 [C/U] a language that is a mixture of a European language and one or more other languages and is spoken as the first language of a people —compare pidgin 2 Creole or Creole [C] someone with French ancestors who lives in the southern U.S. 2a. someone with European and African ancestors who lives in the West Indies 2b. someone with Spanish ancestors who lives in the Caribbean, Central America, or South America

be up the creek (without a paddle) informal to be in a difficult situation: If we don't get this contract, we're up

fish,

ad] technical

wall or castle has battlements

a long narrow area of ocean stretching into the land

1

burn the body

creme de

cred-u-lous

verb

'kri.meit/ verb [T] to

where the bodies of dead people are cremated ere me car-a-mel / .krern kera'mel/ noun [c/u] a sweet food made from cream, eggs, and sugar

beliefs

creep

Am E informal ashes

of a dead person— cre-ma-tion noun [C/U] cre-ma-to-ri-um /.krema'tariam/ noun [c] a building

cre-du-li-ty /kra'djulati/ noun [u] formal a tendency to believe that something is true: Her claim that she earned only $33,000 a year strained credulity (=was very difficult

1

[plural]

that are left after cremation (=burning a dead body instead of burying it)

cred-it-wor-thi-ness /'kreditw3rdinas/ noun [u] the degree to which a person, organization, or country is considered likely to pay back money that they borrow cred-it-wor-thy /'kredit,w3rdi/ ad) likely to pay back money that you borrow

ing

Cretaceous

323

'credit .slip noun

crepe

[T]

1 [u] a soft thin cloth with small folds in its surface, made from cotton or silk 2 [C] a light thin pancake 3 [u] a light type of rubber used especially for making the soles of shoes

,

/kreip/ noun

crepe 'paper

noun

[u] thin

paper that stretches

easily,

has small folds on its surface, and is often used for making decorations crept the past tense and past participle of creep cres-cen-do /kra'Jendoo/ noun [c] 1 the loudest part 1

of a piece of music 1a. a gradual increase in sound in a piece of music 2 literary a gradual increase in something 2a. the point when something has increased to its highest limit

cres-cent

/'kreznt/ noun [c] 1 a curved shape that is wide in the middle and pointed at the ends, like the shape of the moon sometimes 1a. this curved shape used as the symbol of Islam —picture -» shape 2 used in some street names: Mornington Crescent cress /kres/ noun [u] a small plant with round green leaves that have a strong flavor and are eaten raw in salads or used for decorating food crest 1 /krest/ noun [C] 1 the top of a hill or mountain 1a. the white top of a wave 2 a set of feathers on the top of the heads of some birds 3 a design used as the symbol of a town, institution, or family of high social class: the royal crest

on the crest of a wave enjoying a period of great success or popularity: We seem to have been riding on the crest of a wave since the election. crest 2 /krest/ verb 1 [i] if a wave crests, it rises up to its highest point before falling 2 [J]formal to reach the top of something such as a hill crest-ed /'krestad/ adj a crested bird has a crest of feathers on the top of its head crest-fall-en / 'krest .falan/ adj sad and disappointed, especially when something has not succeeded Cre-ta-ceous, the /kn'teijas/ noun the period from about 144 to 65 million years ago when rock containing Cre-ta-ceous adj chalk was formed cre-tin /'kritn/ noun [C] offensive a very stupid person

—

^

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease Creutzfeldt-Ja-kob disease di.ziz/

noun

jokob

[u] the disease cju

crevasse /kra'vaes/ noun

[c]

a very deep crack in rock

or ice

crev»ice

/'krcvis/ noun [C] a

narrow crack

in rock or

in a wall

crew

1

/kru/ noun

•••

1 [C] the people who work on a ship, aircraft, etc.: The crashed hilling all the passengers and crew. 1a. the people who work on a military ship or aircraft, not including the officers 2 [singular] informal a group of people. This word usually shows that you dislike the people in the group: They spoke to the leader and his crew. a motley crew (=a strange mixture of people of different types) Movies like these attract a motley crew of enthusiasts. 3 [C] a group of people with a particular skill who work together: a movie crew an ambulance crew 4 [C] a team of people who row a boat in a race 4a. [u] Am E the sport of rowing a boat in races

jet

crew 2

/kru/ verb

[i/T] to

be a

member

of the

crew of a

boat

crew cut noun [C] a very short hairstyle for men crew-man /'kruman/ (plural crewmen /'kruman/) noun [C]

man who

a

is

a

member

of the crew of a ship,

aircraft, etc.

crew neck a.

noun [c] a tight round neck on a sweater a sweater with a crew neck picture -» neckline

—

crib 1 /knb/ noun

AmE

a small bed for a baby tall sides that have bars. Br E cot 2 E very informal the place where someone lives: Let's go back to my crib. 3 a wooden container for an animal's food 4 informal a crib note 4a. a piece of work that a student has copied dishonestly 1

[C]

Am

with

crib 2 /knb/ verb

[I/T]

informal to copy someone's

work

dishonestly

crib'bage /'knbid3/ noun

a card game in which players record the score by putting small pegs in holes in a wooden board crib .death noun [c/u] the sudden death of a baby while it is sleeping 'crib note or 'crib sheet noun [c] a sheet of paper containing information that a student uses dishonestly in an examination crick 1 /knk/ noun [c] a sudden pain in your neck or back caused when the muscles become stiff crick 2 /knk/ verb [T] to injure your neck or back by moving it too suddenly crick«et /'knkit/ noun 1 [c] a small brown insect that moves by jumping and makes a loud noise by rubbing its front wings together 2 [u] a game played by two teams of 11 players who get points by hitting a ball with a bat and running between two sets of sticks called stumps. Someone who plays this sport is called a crick[u]

AmE

crime wave

a sudden increase in the of crimes committed in a particular area

criminal

noun

[c]

not cricket

BrE

informal old-fashioned

not fair or

socially correct

the past tense and past participle of cry

1

cri*er /'krair/ noun [c] a town crier crime /kraim/ noun

***

1 [C] an illegal activity or action: commit a crime (=do something illegal) She was unaware that she had committed a crime. the scene of a crime (=where it happened) There were no apparent clues at the scene of the crime. solve a crime (=find out who did it) It was a crime that would take police years to solve. 1a. [U] illegal activities in general: fight/ combat crime new laws to help us combat crime effectively organized crime (=secret

organizations that commit a lot of crimes) There were about links between the government and organized crime. crime rate (=the number of crimes that people commit) The crime rate in the city has risen sharply. rising crime (=crime that is increasing) Rising crime is a key election issue. juvenile crime (=crime committed by young people) an increase in juvenile crime 1b. a crime against humanity [C] a very serious crime that makes a lot of people suffer, often committed during a war 2 [singular] something that is wrong or a mistake: be a crime to do sth It's not a crime to be curious. Her only crime was to be in love with the wrong man. stories

number

/'knminl/ noun [C] • someone who has committed a crime: The system is designed to prevent criminals from reoffending. a convicted criminal (=one who has been judged guilty in a court of law) Convicted criminals should not profit from publicizing their crimes. a hardened criminal (^someone who has committed many crimes) Most of the offenders are not hardened 1

criminals.

Words

frequently used with criminal

adjectives

common,

habitual, hardened,

known, notorious

crinvi-nal 2 /'kriminl/adj

**•

1 [usually before noun] relating to illegal acts: The book examines the causes of criminal behavior. a criminal offense /act It is a criminal offense to threaten someone

with violence. 1a. [only before noun] relating to parts of the legal system that deal with crime: Police are conducting a criminal investigation into his business affairs. the criminal justice system criminal charges (=official statements saying that someone is accused of committing a crime) You could face criminal charges. criminal proceedings (=the process of examining a crime in a court of law) There is not enough evidence to start criminal proceedings against him. 1b. [only before noun] used about people who often commit crimes: the criminal element in society 2 bad, wrong, or unfair in a way that makes you angry: It's criminal the way they treat their animals. That's a criminal waste of resources.

.criminal damage noun [u] BrE legal the crime of damaging someone's property crim-inal-ise /'knmml.aiz/ a BrE spelling of criminalize

criminalize

[T] 1 to make an new law 2 to state that when they thought they

/'knminl.aiz/ verb

activity illegal by making a someone is guilty of a crime were acting legally

.criminal 'law noun [u] the system of laws that deals with crimes and the punishment of criminals crinvi-nal-ly /'knmmli/ adv 1 according to criminal law 2 informal extremely She 's made a criminally stupid :

mistake.

.criminal 'negligence noun [u] the crime of not doing something that would have prevented a serious accident .criminal 'record noun [c] an official list of crimes that someone has committed: We have to check whether applicants have a criminal record.

crim-i-nol-o-gy / ,knmi'nabd3i/ noun [u] the scientific study of crime and criminals— crim*i*nol*o*gist noun [c] 1

crimp /knmp/

verb

[T]

1

AmE informal

to prevent

something from increasing or developing: regulations that have crimped imports

eter.

cried

cringing

324 /.kmtsfelt

2

to

make

small folds in

something by pressing or squeezing it 2a. to make shapes like small folds in your hair using heat from a special tool

crimp 2 /knmp/

noun

[c]

a small fold in something,

made by pressing or squeezing a. a shape like a small your hair, made using heat from a special tool

fold in

put a crimp in/on something Am E to prevent something from increasing or developing crinvson 1 /'knmzn/ ad] dark purple-red in color

go/turn crimson if someone goes or turns crimson, their face becomes red because they are embarrassed or angry crinvson 2 /'knmzn/ noun [u] a dark purple-red color cringe 1 /knnd3/ verb [i] 1 to move back slightly from something that is unpleasant or frightening 2 to feel embarrassed or ashamed about something cringe 2 /krmd3/ noun [c] 1 a quick slight movement away from something that is unpleasant or frightening 2 a feeling that you get when you are embarrassed or ashamed about something cring-ing /'krind3irj/ adj a cringing person always obeys people or agrees with them in a way that does not seem sincere. This word shows that you do not respect people like this.

crinkle crinkle

criticism

325

1

/'knrjkl/ or .crinkle 'up verb [i/t] if you crinkle something such as paper or cloth, or it crinkles, you make a lot of small messy folds in it

2 crin-kle /'knrjkl/ noun [C] a small messy fold in something such as paper or cloth crin-kly /'knnkli/ adj 1 something that is crinkly has a lot of crinkles in it 2 crinkly hair is rough and curly crin-o-line /'krin(3)lm/ noun [C] a frame that women in the past wore under their skirts to give them a round shape cripes /kraips/ interjection informal old-fashioned used for expressing surprise or anger 1 crip-ple / kripl/ noun [C] offensive an offensive word for someone who is physically disabled, especially someone who is unable to walk 2 crip-ple /'kripl/ verb [T] 1 to make someone physically disabled, especially unable to walk 1a. informal to make a part of someone's body very painful: These shoes are crippling me. 2 to destroy something or damage it severely: The war had crippled the country's

criss-cross

causing someone to be physically disabled, especially unable to walk 1a. causing a lot of pain or other health problems 2 causing severe damage or problems cri-sis / 'kraisis/ (plural cri«ses/ 'krai.siz/) noun [C/u] •*•** 1 an urgent, difficult, or dangerous situation: financial/ economic /political crisis a period of economic crisis defuse /resolve /solve a crisis Talks have so far failed to

sonal or professional He's the kind of person

life

when something could

fail:

who copes well in a crisis. a midcrisis (=a time around the age of 40 when someone feels dissatisfied with their life) Perhaps your father is life

having some sort of mid-life crisis. 2 medical a time when a disease starts to get better or worse very suddenly 'crisis .management noun [u] a method of working in which a manager only makes decisions when there is a crisis a. methods for dealing with a crisis .crisis of 'confidence noun [singular] a situation in which people have stopped believing that someone or something is good .crisis of 'conscience noun [singular] a time when someone is worrying because they think they have done something unfair or morally wrong 1

crisp /knsp/adj 1

•

food: firm

2 weather: cold and dry 3 cloth/paper: clean

4 speech/writing: clear 5 movement: quick

1 crisp food is firm in a pleasant way and makes a noise when you bite it: The bacon should be crisp and brown. a crisp apple/ carrot 2 crisp weather is pleasant because it is cold and dry: a crisp spring day 3 crisp cloth or paper is smooth, clean, and fresh: He put on a crisp white shirt. 4 crisp speech or writing is clear and effective: Her reply was crisp and unemotional. 5 a crisp movement is quick and accurate: a crisp

backhand

volley

crisp 2 /krisp/ verb [l/T] to become crisp, or to cook something until it becomes crisp crisp 3 /krisp/ noun 1 a sweet food made from pieces of fruit covered with a mixture of flour, butter, and sugar and baked in an oven: an apple/ blackberry crisp 2 [C usually plural]

burn sth

BrEa

potato chip

to a crisp informal to

burn something com-

pletely

crisp-bread /'knsp.bred/ noun [c/u] BrE a cracker made from rye or wheat

thin hard

crisp-y /'knspi/ ad] food that is crispy is firm in a pleasant way, and makes a noise when you bite it criss-cross / 'kns.kros/ verb 1 [T] to go across a place and back again many times, taking a different path each time: crisscrossing the state on a bus 2 [l/T] to form 1

a pattern of straight lines that cross each other

noun

[C]

a pattern of straight

lines that cross each other

of straight lines

that cross each other

cri-te-ri-a /krai'tirio/ (singular cri-te-ri-on /krai'timn/) noun [plural] standards that are used for judging something or making a decision about something. +for What criteria do you have for selecting patients for treat-

***

ment? fulfill /meet /satisfy the criteria Everyone qualifications meet our criteria will be considered.

whose

**•

crit-ic /'kntik/ noun [C] 1 someone whose job is to write or broadcast their opinions about things such as books, movies, or plays: Michael is the paper's literary critic. 2 someone who does not like something and states their opinion about it: Critics say the plan is short-sighted and dangerous. + of She has been the strongest critic of the government's tax proposals.

••*

crit-i-cal /'kntikl/ adj 1

saying

when

sth

is

wrong

5 according to critics 6 considering carefully 7 at level sth happens + phrases

2 very important 3 difficult to deal with 4 seriously sick/injured

1

resolve the crisis. + in the current crisis in the farming industry in crisis We admit that the nursing profession is in crisis. 1a. a dangerous situation in someone's per-

/'kris.krns/

3 criss-cross /'knskr.is/ adj consisting

economy.

crip-pling/'knplin/adj

2

expressing an opinion

1

when you think something

wrong or bad: Her father was a gave a highly

very critical

is

He

man.

+ of People have been

critical speech.

critical

of the way she has handled the affair. 2 very important: Classroom practice is a critical factor in children's learning. +to What happens in the next few days is critical to our success. of critical importance an issue that is of critical importance to the party 3 difficult to deal with because a small mistake could make very bad things happen: Negotiations have entered a critical phase. 4 someone who is critical is very seriously sick or injured and might die: Several of the passengers are still critical. in critical condition Six of the patients were still in critical condition.

5 according to people whose job is to give their opinion new books, plays, or movies: It wasn't

of things such as

the critical success they

(=admiration) Her

had hoped for. critical acclaim show has won much critical

latest

acclaim.

6 [only before noun] considering something carefully and deciding what the good and bad aspects are: In his book, Laurence takes a critical look at modern life. 7 at a level or standard where important changes start happen under sb's to

critical eye with someone watching to make sure that everything is done correctly with a critical eye carefully in order to make sure that everything is correct or good

Words

frequently used with critical

nouns

analysis, appraisal, evaluation,

6

examination, scrutiny

'critical .list, the noun a list of very seriously sick people in a hospital: on the critical list One of the patients is still on the critical list. crit-i-cal-ly /'kntikli/ adv

*

1 extremely and seriously: critically ill Critically ill patients were given access to experimental treatments. critically important It is critically important that an agree-

ment

is reached this month. carefully in order to judge what the good and bad aspects of something are: We are teaching children to think critically. 3 in a way that shows you do not like or approve of something: No one we interviewed spoke critically of the mayor or her brother. 4 by people whose job is to give their opinion of things such as new books, plays, or movies: critically acclaimed (=admired) his critically acclaimed novel

2

critical

amount tion 2

'mass noun 1 [C/U] science the smallest of a substance needed to cause a nuclear reacthe smallest number of people or

[singular/ u]

things needed to

criticise

make something happen BrE spelling of criticize

/'knti,sai//a

crit-i-cism /'knti.si/om/ noun 1

[U]

comments

that

show

••*

that

you think something

^

criticize is

criticism of his team's attract criticism It's not

performance hard to take. unusual for politicians to attract criticism. fierce /strong criticism Plans for the new road have drawn fierce criticism

from

constructive criticism (^criticism that is intended to be helpful) We always welcome constructive criticism. 1a. [C] a comment that shows that you think something is wrong or bad: a valid /fair criticism The report contains many valid criticisms of the current system. 2 [u] the activity of giving your professional opinion about things such as new books, plays, or movies: local people.

frequently used with criticism

adjectives

someone or speaking in an angry and unpleasant way to them is like hitting or injuring them.

small farm

in Scotland

/krwa'sant; krwa'sa/ noun [C] a type of bread with a curved shape that is usually eaten

light

for breakfast

crone /kroon/ woman

noun

an insulting word

[c]

cro-ny /'krooni/ noun

for

an old

a friend or supporter, especially of someone powerful. This word shows that you dislike the person and their friends. [C]

cro-ny«ism /'krooni.izam/ noun

noun [C] 1 informal someone who is dishonest, especially someone who uses their position of power for their own personal advantage: the bunch of crooks who run the government 1 a. a criminal, especially one who steals money 2 the place where something bends inward: the crook of your arm 3 a long stick that is curved at one end, used by shepherds for controlling their sheep

crook 2 /krok/

verb

[T]

to

bend a part of your body

inward, especially your finger crook-ed /'krokad/ adj 1 not straight: Your tie's crooked. a crooked smile / nose / teeth 2 informal dishonest and likely to do illegal things, especially in order to get money: corrupt: a crooked lawyer crooked deals crook-ed- ly adv croon /krun/ verb [i/t] to sing in a slow soft voice a. to speak in a soft voice that is intended to make someone

1

crop /krap/

[C] * a careful written examination of a subject that includes the writer's opinions: a radical critique of globalization 1

2

[T]

formal to express your examining and judging

after

AmE

crit-ter /'kntsr/ noun [C] informal 1 an animal 2 a person, especially someone you feel sympathy or pity for

when a frog croaks, it makes low loud rough sound in its throat 2 [i/t] to speak or 1

[I)

a say something in a low rough voice that sounds as you have a sore throat 3 [i] informal to die

if

croak 2 /krouk/

noun [C] 1 the low loud rough sound that a frog makes 2 the low rough sound of someone's voice that sounds as if they have a sore throat

someone's voice sounds croaky, they speak in a low rough voice that sounds like they have a sore throat if

cro«chet /kroo'Jei/ verb [i/t] to make a piece of clothing that has a pattern of holes, using yarn needle with a hook on the end

noun old-fashioned

tainer for storing food, usually

1

and a large

a round conof clay 2 crocks

[C]

made

[plural] Br E crockery a crock (of shit) Am E offensive something that you do

Am E informal drunk

crock«er«y /'krakari/ noun

[u] plates, cups,

bowls,

etc.

used for serving food

croC'O-dile /'kraka.dail/ noun

1

[c]

a large reptile

It

has a long body

that lives in water in hot countries.

and a long mouth with many sharp skin of a crocodile, used and bags —picture -» ci3 2

teeth. 1a. [u] the especially for making shoes [C]

Br E a group of children

walking in pairs in a line

croc-o-dile tears /'krakadail

[c]

someone who sings slow

love songs in a soft voice

cri-tique /kn'tik/ noun

cri-tique /kn'tik/ verb opinion about something it carefully and in detail

calm

croon-er /'krunar/ noun

throat. -» ANGRY, ARGUMENT, FEELING

not believe or accept /krakt/ adj

BrEa

croissant

feel

She hit out angrily at the judge's decision. He lashed out at me, accusing me of not caring. They tore me to pieces/shreds. They were gunning/or me. Don't beat yourself up over this. Don't knock what you don't understand. There's no need to jump down my

crocked

mainly

—

Metaphor Criticizing

crock /krak/

[c]

1

••

croak'y / 'krooki/ adj

noun

crook /krok/

1

crit-i-cize /'knti.saiz/ verb 1 [i/t] to say what you think is wrong or bad about something: Cabinet members were told not to criticize the policy publicly. It was difficult to be honest without seeming to criticize. criticize sb/sth for (doing) sth Public health experts criticize the proposals for not going far enough. be strongly/severely/widely/sharply/heavily criticized Social services were widely criticized for not taking more action to protect children at risk. 2 [T] to consider something carefully and judge what the good and bad aspects of it are

1

/kroft; kraft/

in politics

adverse, fierce, outspoken, severe, strong, widespread

croak /krouk/ verb

croft

[u] the practice of giving jobs and other advantages to friends, especially

literary criticism

Words

crore

326

wrong or bad: +of He finds

,tirz/ noun [plural] sympathy or sadness that is not sincere cro'cus /'krookas/ noun [C] a small yellow, white, or purple flower that appears early in spring

noun

*•

1 [C] a plant grown for food, usually on a farm: That year, crop failure led to widespread famine. They're all out planting the crops today. the possible health risks posed by genetically modified crops cash crop (=grown to be sold for profit) Tobacco is the state's largest cash crop. 1a. an amount of crops grown in a particular year: a good crop of potatoes a bumper crop (=a very large crop) Last year we had a bumper crop of strawberries. 2 [singular] [+of] several things that happen or are produced at the same time: This summer's crop of Hollywood movies will be reviewed on Saturday. 2a. several people who achieve something or become known for something at the same time: this year's crop of rookie politicians

3

[C]

a very short hairstyle

4 [C] a riding crop crop 2 /krap/ verb • 1 [T] to remove a part of a picture or photograph by cutting it 1a. to cut someone's hair very short 2 [I] if a plant crops, it produces vegetables, fruit, grain, etc. [I] informal to appear or happen suddenly or unexpectedly: come up: A lice 's name keeps cropBen had to go back to ping up in our conversations. work - something's cropped up there. 'crop .circle noun [c] a part of a field where the crops have been pushed flat in the shape of a circle. Some people think these are caused by aliens. the process of using crop- dusting noun [u] aircraft to drop chemicals onto crops to kill insects cropped pants /krapt paents/ or crop pants noun [plural] wide pants that end just below the knee 'crop rotation noun [u] a regular change in the type of crop you grow on a particular area of land, in order to keep the soil healthy 'crop ,tP noun [C] a short shirt for women that does not cover the stomach cro*quet /'krouki/ noun [u] a game played on grass in which players hit balls through curved pieces of metal called wickets or hoops using long wooden hammers called mallets cro«quette /kroo'ket/ noun [C] a food made from a mixture of pieces of fish, meat, or vegetables pressed into a circular or tube shape, covered with breadcrumbs, and cooked in oil crore /krar/ number Indian English ten million: used

crop up phrasal vb

AmE

especially to

mean

ten million rupees

cross cross 1

1

cross-cultural

327 /kras/ verb

•••

go to other side

2 be across (each other) 3 combine animal breeds 4 appear on face

5 in sports 6 oppose sb + PHRASES

1 [i/T] to go from one side of something such as a road or river to the other: She wanted to be sure the children had crossed the road safely. Wait until there is no traffic and it's safe to cross. 1a. to go from one side of something such as a room or enclosed area to the other: A +to He tall woman was crossing the room toward me. crossed to the window and closed the curtains. 1b. to go from one side of a border or line that separates places to the other: It was dark when we crossed the French border. + into Refugees had been crossing into Albania all

cross 2

/kros/ noun

[C]

day.

1 in Christianity

2

2 mixed animal/plant 3 in sports

[i] if things such as roads or lines cross, they go across each other: intersect: Meet me at the point where the two paths cross. 2a. [T] to go across something: An

Roman road crosses the modern street at right angles. [T] to combine one breed of animal or plant with another to produce animals or plants that are a genetic mix: cross sth with sth a domestic dog crossed with a wolf 4 [T] if an expression crosses someone's face or lips, it appears there for a short time: A little smile crossed her old

3

lips.

5 [T] in sports such as soccer, to kick or hit the ball from one side of the field to someone in the middle or on the other side 6 [T] to oppose someone or disagree with them: No one ever dared cross him.

cross your arms to put one arm over the other in front of your body, so that each hand is on the opposite elbow cross a boundary/line to go beyond accepted limits or standards of behavior: Her humor often crosses the boundaries of good taste. You've really crossed the line this time, buddy! cross a check Br E to draw two lines across a check to show that it can be paid only into the bank account of the person whose name is on it cross your fingers to put your middle finger over your first finger as a wish for good luck: I'm going to see if the car starts; keep your fingers crossed! cross your heart (and hope to die) spoken used as a way of making a promise, especially between children: "I

won

't

tell

- cross

cross your legs to at the

my sit

heart!"

with one leg placed over the other

knee

cross sb's mind if something crosses your mind, you think of it, but often not for very long or very seriously: It suddenly crossed his mind that maybe Stephanie had been right. cross that bridge when you come to it to deal with something when it happens, and not worry about it before cross yourself to make the shape of the Christian symbol of the Cross over your body, by moving a hand from the head to the chest and then from shoulder to shoulder, especially in the Roman Catholic religion paths cross if two people's paths cross, they meet without planning to: Their paths were to cross several times in the years ahead. what do you get if you cross a sth with a sth else? spoken used in jokes for asking what two things mixed together would make -» DOT2

cross off phrasal vb [T] to draw a line through something on a list to show that you have dealt with it: The children say their names, and you cross them off. .cross out phrasal vb [T] to draw an X or a line through writing because it is wrong or you have decided to write something else: Just cross out the old address. cross over phrasal vb [l] 1 to start to belong to a different group or type than before: +into Several Latino singers have crossed over into mainstream rock. 2 mainly Br E to stop supporting one group and start supporting another: + to Another member of the government has crossed over to the opposition.

•• 4 in boxing 5 symbol X + PHRASES

a shape with one long upright line and one shorter line across it, used as a symbol of Christianity 1a. a model, structure, or piece of jewelry in the shape of a cross lb. the Cross the structure on which Jesus Christ died according to the Bible: a painting of Jesus on the Cross -» crucifixion 2 a plant, vegetable, or fruit that is the result of mixing two different types to produce a new genetic type: + between The Clementine is a cross between a tangerine and a Seville orange. 2a. an animal that is a mixture of two different breeds + between My dog is a cross between a collie and a poodle. 2b. something that contains the qualities of two different groups or types: + between Most of their music is a cross between jazz and rock. 3 in sports such as soccer and hockey, the action of kicking or hitting the ball from one side of the field to someone in the middle or on the other side 4 in boxing, a way of hitting your opponent from the side as they try to hit you: a right cross 5 Br E the symbol X 5a. used for showing your choice on a written list of choices: Put a cross next to the name of the person you are voting for. 5b. used for showing 1

:

that

an answer

is

wrong

a cross (sb has) to bear something unpleasant that someone has to deal with, especially continuously for a long time: We all have our crosses to bear. cross 3 /kros/ adj angry. This word is used especially by or to children: The neighbors got cross every time we put our music on. + with I'm cross with her for lying. cross- /kros/ prefix 1 across: used with some nouns and adjectives: cross-border traffic 2 combining or involving different things: used with some nouns, verbs, and adjectives: cross-cultural events cross-bar / 'kros.bar/ noun [C] 1 the bar that joins the two upright posts of a goal —picture -» ci4 2 the metal bar on a bicycle that is between the seat and the handlebars

cross-bones see skull and crossbones cross-bow /'kros.boo/ noun [C] a weapon used

for

firing pointed sticks called bolts or arrows, especially in the past. It is similar to a bow and arrow but is held flat.

cross-breed

/'kros.brid/ noun mixture of two different breeds

[c]

an animal that

is

a

cross-check

/'kros.tfek; .kros'tjek/ verb [T] to check that information is correct by checking it again using a different method —cross-check noun [C]

cross-country 1

1

adj

•

going across countryside, not using tracks or roads:

a cross-country race

2 from one services

side of a country to the other: cross-country

— .cross-country adv

cross-country 2

noun [c/U] a race in which runners run across countryside, not using tracks or roads .cross-country skiing noun [u] a type of skiing on level ground instead of down hills cross-cultural adj involving or combining different cultures

crosscurrent cross-cur-rent

noun

a current that flows across the main current in a river or ocean 2 something such as a belief, method, or tradition that is different from what is usual or generally accepted [c]

1

cross-dressing noun

[u] the activity of wearing clothes designed for the opposite sex, especially for sexual pleasure .cross- dresser noun [C]

—

cross-examine during a

[T] to ask a witness questions another lawyer has already asked

verb

trial after

them questions a. to ask someone a lot of questions, usually in an unfriendly way: interrogate —.crossexamination noun [C/U]

cross-eyed

crowd

328 / 'kros ,k.\ront/

/.kros

'aid/ adj

having eyes that look

toward each other slightly

cross-fertilization noun

[c/u] 1 science the process

of fertilizing one type of plant with pollen from a different type of plant in order to produce a new genetic mix 2 an exchange of ideas, customs, methods, etc. between different people or groups

cross- training noun [u] the activity of training more than one sport cross- train verb [l]

—

crossword

cross- fertilize

verb 1 [i/t] science to fertilize one type of plant with pollen from a different type of plant in order to produce a new genetic mix 2 [T] to add your own ideas, customs, methods, etc. to those of another person or group

cross-fire /'kn>s fair/ noun [u] 1 bullets coming from two directions, fired by two people or armies who are shooting at each other: Several civilians were wounded in the crossfire. 2 angry words or actions between two people that may accidentally affect other people who are not directly involved: Kids often get caught in the crossfire when parents are divorcing.

cross-hatch-ing

/'kros.haetfirj/

noun

[u]

a pattern of

parallel lines that are drawn across each other, used especially in drawings for showing light and dark areas

crossing /'krosin/ 1

noun

[c]

*

a trip by boat across a river or ocean: This was

my

third transatlantic crossing.

2

a place where you are allowed to cross something such as a road or border: a pedestrian crossing

cross-leg-ged

/,kros 'legsd/ adj, adv in a sitting posusually on the floor, with your knees bent and with the lower legs crossing each other: We sat crosspicture -> posture legged on the floor. ition,

—

cross-o-ver /'kros.ouvsr/ noun

[c/u] a change

one situation or style to another cross purposes noun at cross purposes

1

from

if

two

people are at cross purposes, they think they are talking about the same thing when in fact they are not 2 if two people, plans, or actions are at cross purposes, they are trying to achieve different things that do not agree with each other

cross- question verb [t] to cross-examine someone .cross 'reference noun [C] a note in a book that tells you to look at another page for more information

cross-roads /'krosxoudz/

(plural crossroads) noun [C] 1 a place where one road crosses another 2 a point during the development of something when you have to make an important decision about what to do next: He was at a crossroads in his career. 'cross .section noun 1 [c/u] the inside of an object that you can see by cutting through the middle of it from top to bottom 1a. a drawing that shows the inside of something 2 [C] a group that contains an example of all or most types of people or things: +of The study interviews a wide cross section of U.S. citizens. cross-stitch noun [u] the activity of creating pictures or writing on cloth using a needle and thread to make cross-stitch stitches that are shaped like the letter X

—

verb

[l/T]

cross-town

AmE

/'kros.taun/ adj, adv going across a town: a 15-minute crosstown drive a. from the other side of a town: The team lost 3-0 to crosstown rivals.

cross-train-er / 'kros.tremar/ noun [c] 1 someone who trains in more than one sport 2 a type of sports shoe designed for several different activities

'cross- .trainer noun [C] a piece of exercise equipment with parts that you stand on and parts that you hold, allowing you to move your legs and arms backward and forward —picture -» ci6

in

/'kros.wok/ noun [c] AmE a painted path that people use for crossing a street cross-wind /'kros.wmd/ noun [c often plural] a wind that blows across the direction you are traveling in cross-wise /'kros.waiz/ adv 1 across, at an angle, or from one corner of something to the other opposite lengthwise 2 in the shape of an X cross-word /'knis,w3rd/ or crossword puzzle noun [C] * a word game on paper, in which the answers to questions called clues are written in rows of squares that cross each other so that some letters are shared crotch /krutJV noun [c] the area between your legs where they join your body a. the part of a piece of clothing that covers this area

cross-walk

crotch-et/'kratjst/noun [c]BrEa

musical note that

is

a quarter of the length of a semibreve

crotch-et-y

/'kratjati/ adj informal someone crotchety gets easily annoyed

crouch to

1

/kraotJV verb

[i]

move your body

who

is

•

close to the

ground by bending

your knees and leaning forward slightly: She crouched down and reached out to the little boy. picture -» posture 2 to lean forward with your head and shoulders bent,

—

especially in order to get closer to something: Five or six men were crouched over papers on the desk.

croup /krup/

noun [u] a children's illness that makes you cough and makes it difficult for you to breathe crou-pi-er /'krupi.ei; 'krupiar/ noun [C] someone who is

in charge of a

crou-ton

game

in a casino

/'kru.tan/ noun [C usually

plural] a small piece of hard bread served on soup and in salads

crow

1

/krou/ noun [C] a large black bird that makes a loud sound called cawing as the crow flies in a straight line: We're only 10 miles away as the crow flies, but it's an hour's drive by road. eat crow Am E informal to admit that you were wrong

about something

crow2

/krou/ verb [i] 1 if a rooster (=male chicken) crows, it makes a loud high noise 2 to talk very proudly about something you have done, especially when you have defeated someone 3 Br E if a baby crows, it makes a sound that shows it is happy crow-bar /'krou.bar/ noun [C] a metal bar with a curved end, used for forcing open heavy objects such as doors

crowd

1

/kraud/ noun

***

a large number of people in the same place: The a crowd of 30,000 An boys disappeared into the crowd. angry crowd had gathered on the steps of City Hall. Crowds of people began making their way to the station. 1a. a large group of people at an event: He takes off his shirt and the crowd goes wild. 2 [singular] informal a group of friends: I spent an evening out with the usual crowd. 1

[C]

follow the crowd/go with the crowd to do or think the same as the majority of people stand out in a crowd to be very different and easy to notice

Words

frequently used with

verbs

attract, bring,

crowd

draw, pull

crowd 2 /kraud/ verb * 1 [I] to move to a particular place at the same time as a lot of other people: +into We crowded into the kitchen + around Everyone in the restaurant with the others.

crowded around them and started singing. 2 [T] if a group of people crowd a place, they make it full by being in it: Hundreds of people crowded the streets. 3 [T] if things such as thoughts or memories crowd your mind, your mind becomes full of them: Images of the accident kept crowding my mind. 4 [T] to stand so close to someone that it annoys them or makes them feel nervous: Don't crowd me!

crowd out

phrasal vb

[T]

to

become stronger or more

crowded

successful than another group so that they fail or can no longer compete with you: The old inhabitants are Tradbeing crowded out by rich young professionals. itional industries were crowded out with the growth of

mass tourism. /'kraodad/ adj * containing a lot of people, especially too many: a crowded street/ train/ restaurant

crowd-ed Was

the pool crowded? a. containing a lot of things,

many: a crowded schedule /kraon/ noun [c] **

especially too

crown 1

1

8

unit of

money

1 a circular decoration that a king or queen wears on their head as a symbol of power, often decorated with jewels 1a. a decoration for your head shaped like a crown: a crown of wild flowers 2 a title that you get when you win an important sports competition: France will be defending their World Cup crown. 3 the top part of your head 3a. the part of a hat that covers the crown of your head 4 a cover for a tooth that has broken or decayed badly:

a gold crown 5 the round top part of a hill or the Crown formal the king or queen: the relationship between the British Parliament and the

6 the crown

Crown 6a. the crown the position of being king or queen: When he dies, the crown will pass to his son. 6b. the Crown the government of a country that has a king or queen: a minister of the Crown The Crown was forced to drop the charges because of a lack of evidence. 7 the wide circular top part of some types of tree 8 a unit of money used in the U.K. in the past 8a. a unit of money used in some European countries

crown 2 /kraon/ verb

[t]

make king/queen

4 cover top of sth 5 hitsb on head

2 put cover on tooth 3 add greatest success

1 to make someone a king or queen during a ceremony in which a crown is put on their head: James HI was crowned at Kelso Abbey. crown sb sth Haile Selassie was crowned emperor in 1930. 1a. to give someone a crown for winning a competition: crown sb sth She was crowned Miss America almost twenty years ago. 1b. to give someone a title for winning an important sports competition: crown sb sth They were crowned champions after a dramatic 6-5 final. 2 to put a cover on a tooth that has broken or decayed badly 3 to add the last and greatest success to a series of achievements: Williams crowned his amazing pop career by taking three of last night's four major awards. 4 to cover the top of something: Almost every hill is crowned with a pretty village. 5 informal old-fashioned to hit someone hard on the head crown 'court noun [C] a court of law in England and Wales in which a judge and jury deal with serious crimes crowning /'kraunin/ adj a crowning achievement or moment is the last and greatest one in a series crowning 'glory noun [c] 1 the most impressive and most important part of something 2 humorous your

hair

crown jewels

noun [plural] 1 the crown, jewelry, and other valuable objects that a king or queen wears or carries during ceremonies 2 the most impressive or valuable possessions that you have: These industries are the crown jewels of the French economy.

,

crown

,

crown

'prince noun

[c]

a prince

after the present king or

who will become king

queen dies

prin'cess noun

[c]

1

a princess

who

will

become queen after the present king or queen dies 2 the wife of a crown prince 'crow's ,feet noun [plural] informal wrinkles in the skin at the corners of

your eyes

'crow's nest noun [c] a place near the top of a ship's mast where a sailor stands to look out over the ocean

crucial

•*•

/'krujl/adj 1 something that is crucial

is

because it has a major effect on the result of something: We believe the question being investigated by the Commission is one of crucial importance to the country. Anderson played a crucial role in the team 's 3-2 victory on a crucial factor/element/part Experience is, Saturday. of course, a crucial factor in deciding who would be the +for The money is crucial for the best person for the job. +to Resolving this issue is crucial to making research. peace work. it is crucial (that) It is crucial that all students develop these basic skills. 2 BrE very informal extremely good cru*ciaMy adv: This is crucially important. cru-ci«ble /'krusabl/ noun [c] 1 a container used for heating substances or melting metals at very high temperatures 2 an environment that is very dangerous, difficult, or exciting

—

5 top part of hill 6 sb who rules 7 top part of tree

on king/queen's head

2 title for winning 3 top part of head/hat 4 cover for tooth

1

cruise

329

extremely important

cru-ci-fix /'krusi.fiks/ noun [C] a model of Jesus Christ dying on a cross, often found in a church or worn as jewelry cru-ci-fix-ion /.krusi'fikfan/ noun 1 [c/u] a method of killing someone by fastening them to a cross with nails or rope 2 the Crucifixion the occasion when Jesus Christ was killed on the cross according to the Bible

cru-ci-f orm / 'krusi.form/ ad\ formal shaped like a cross cru'Ci'fy /'krusi.fai/ verb [T] 1 to kill someone by fastening them to a cross with nails or rope 2 informal to criticize someone in a very cruel way: I'm going to get crucified by the media for this. crud /krAd/ noun [u] informal 1 dirt or a similar unpleasant substance 2 something that you dislike or consider unpleasant crud-dy adj: She was wearing a cruddy old sweatshirt. crude 1 /krud/adj * 1 made using very simple methods or materials: basic: a crude home-made bomb 1a. not exact or accurate, but often good enough for a particular purpose 2 crude words or actions are offensive because they refer to sex in an unpleasant way 3 a crude substance is still in its natural state and has not yet been refined for use by chemical processes crude 2 /krud/ or .crude 'oil noun [u] oil that is still in its natural state and has not yet been refined for use by chemical processes cru*di*tes /.krudi'tei/ noun [plural] formal raw vegetables cut into pieces and served before a meal with a thick cold sauce called a dip cru'el/'krual/adj 1 someone who is cruel enjoys causing pain to other people or animals, or enjoys making them unhappy or upset: a cruel parent +to How could you be so cruel to someone who never did you any harm? la. used about someone's behavior: She had a cruel look in her eyes. a

—

••

cruel sense of humor

make people suffer in a a cruel blow unfair: It's a cruel world. Closing the school would be a cruel blow to this community.

2 cruel events way that seems

or situations

be cruel to be kind to say or do something to someone that seems unkind but is intended to help them

— cru-el-ly adv cruelty

/'krualti/ noun * 1 [C/U] behavior that deliberately causes pain to other people or animals, or makes them unhappy or upset: He is still She was shocked by the cruelty of his words. haunted by the cruelties he witnessed during the war. mental/emotional cruelty She divorced him on the grounds +to cruelty to children/ animals of mental cruelty. 2 [u] the unfairness of an event or situation that makes people suffer: the cruelty of her untimely death cru-et / 'kruit/ noun [C] 1 Am E a small glass container with a handle, used for serving vinegar or oil 2 mainly BrE & small container for salt, pepper, or other condiments, or an object that holds a set of these containers, used during a meal cruise 1 /kruz/ noun [c] * a trip on a ship for pleasure, especially one that involves visiting a series of places

cruise 2 /kruz/ 1

[l/T]

verb

*

to sail in a ship for pleasure, especially to a

series of places: The first week was spent cruising around the Baltic. They'll be going cruising the Greek islands next week. 1a. [I] to travel at a steady speed in a car or airplane: We are now cruising at a height of 30,000 feet.

^

:

cruise control 1b. [i/t] to drive around slowly in a car for pleasure: teenage boys cruising the streets in their fathers' cars [i] |+to/ into/through] informal to achieve success easily in a race, game, or competition: The Rams cruised to their sixth successive win this afternoon. 3 [I/T] very informal to go around a place trying to find a sexual partner

2

cruise control noun that keeps

it

[u] a piece of equipment in a car traveling at the same fast speed for a long

distance

'cruise liner noun [c] a cruise ship .cruise 'missile noun [c] a nuclear missile that is controlled by a computer and can travel very long distances

cruis-er /'kruzar/ noun [Cl 1 a fast military ship: a battle cruiser 1a. a motor boat that is used for sailing in for pleasure and is big enough to live on: cabin cruiser

2 Am E informal a police car cruise .ship noun [c] a large comfortable ship used cruises

[c] Am E a small sweet cake with a curly or twisted shape, cooked in oil crumb /krAm/ noun [c] 1 [usually plural] a very small piece that falls off a dry food such as bread or cake: He brushed the crumbs from his jacket, la. [usually singular] informal a very small amount of food: She hasn't touched a single crumb of her dinner. 1b. a very small amount of something: a few crumbs of praise for their hard work The late goal was to be their only crumb of comfort on a miserable afternoon. 2 informal old-fashioned someone who has done something you do not approve of

AmE

1

crum-ble /'krAmbl/

verb 1 [i/t] to break something into very small pieces, or to be broken into very small pieces: The soft earth of the river bank crumbled under his Crumble the biscuits over the fruit mixture. 1a. [I] feet. if something hard such as stone or a brick crumbles, parts of it fall off because it is very old or damaged: Part of the roof had rotted away and the exposed plaster was beginning to crumble. 2 [I] to stop existing or being effective: My determination crumbled as soon as I saw her. His 1992 trip began four months after the Soviet Union crumbled.

crum-ble 2 /'krAmbl/ noun

[C/U]

BrE

a crisp that you

eat as dessert

crunvbly / 'krAmbli/ adj

breaking easily into very small

pieces

/'krAmi/

adj

informal not good in quality: a

crummy school crunvpet/'krAmpat/nounBrE 1 [c] a flat round cake eaten hot with butter 2 [u] informal old-fashioned people considered as sexually attractive

crum-ple /'krAmpl/

verb 1

crumple

or

crumple up

to crush something such as paper or cloth so that forms messy folds, or to be crushed in this way: / quickly crumpled up the letter and shoved it in my pocket. The front section of the car had crumpled in the collision. 2 [I] to fall to the ground suddenly, with your body, legs, and arms bent, because you are injured, sick, or upset: He crumpled in a heap at our feet. 3 [i] if your face crumples, you suddenly look very unhappy or [i/T] it

disappointed 1

crunch /krAntJ/ verb 1 [i/T] to bite hard food, causing it to make a loud noise: Jane was crunching a peppermint noisily. 2 [I] to make a noise like something being crushed: Leaves crunched under our feet as we walked up the path to the house. 2a. to move on a surface that makes the noise of something being crushed: They crunched across splintered glass and wood to the door. 3 [T] informal if you crunch numbers, you do a lot of calculations 3a. if you crunch information, you deal with it quickly crunch 2 /krAntJ/ noun 1 [singular] the loud noise that something hard makes when you bite it: the crunch of potato chips la. a noise like something being crushed: i" could hear the crunch of someone's feet on the gravel. 2 [C usually singular] informal a situation that is very difficult because you do not have enough of something, especially time or money: a credit/ budget crunch 3 the crunch informal the time when something important or difficult happens or must be decided: if/when it comes to the crunch If it comes to the crunch, can I rely on you to support me?

crunchy /

krAntJi / ad)

Br E crunchy foods make a loud

when you bite them cru-sade /kru'seid/ noun noise

1

[c] an effort over a long time to achieve something that you strongly believe is morally right: campaign: a crusade to do sth a crusade to ban tobacco advertising +for a crusade for equal rights + against They led an unsuccessful crusade against government corruption. cru-sade 2 /kru'seid/ verb [i] to work hard for a long time to achieve something that you strongly believe is morally right: + for a lawyer crusading for social justice

+ against They're crusading against child abuse. [c] someone who works hard for a long time to achieve something that they strongly believe is morally right

cru-sad-er /kru'seidar/ noun

1

crush /krAj/verb** something so hard that you damage severely or destroy it, especially by making its shape The front of the car was completely crushed in the accident. 1a. to injure or kill someone by crushing them: crush sb to death Two of the firefighters were crushed to death when a beam fell on them. lb. to press something so hard that it breaks into very small pieces: Chop the onion and crush the garlic. The drink is served over crushed ice. picture -» C2 2 [T] to completely defeat someone who is opposing you, especially by using force or violence: Any antigovernment protest was swiftly crushed. 2a. to easily defeat someone who is competing against you 3 [t usually passive] to make someone feel disappointed, embarrassed, or upset / was crushed that I wasn 't invited. 4 [i/T] if you crush something such as cloth, or it crushes, it becomes covered with small messy folds: She refused to sit down in case she crushed her dress. 1

[T]

to hit or press

it

for

crul-ler / 'krAbr/ noun

crunvmy

crux

330

flatter:

—

:

crush 2

/krAjV noun [c] 1 informal a feeling of love and admiration for someone, often someone you know you cannot have a relationship with: It wasn't really love, just a schoolgirl crush. have a crush on sb / had the biggest crush on Joe all through high school. 2 [singular] a crowd of people all extremely close together in an area that is too small for them: We were scared we'd lose them in the crush. a crush of reporters crushing /'krAjin/ adj 1 complete and achieved very easily: a crushing defeat /victory 2 very severe: a crushing blow It's a crushing blow for the president's foreign policy. 3 criticizing someone or something very severely: a crushing reply

crust /krASt/ noun [C/U] 1 the hard brown outer

*

part of a loaf of bread: a crust bread Sparrows pecked at a crust of bread. 2 a layer of cooked pastry that forms the outer part of a pie. The inner part is called the filling. 3 the thick outer surface of the Earth or another planet the Earth's crust Molten lava rose up from beneath the of

Earth's crust. 4 a hard layer of a substance covering a softer substance or a liquid: / washed the crust of make-up from my face.

-» UPPER CRUST

crustacean

/krA'steifn/ noun [C] technical a sea animal such as a crab or a lobster with a hard shell

and several pairs of legs: shellfish crust-ed /'krAStad/ adj covered with a hard

layer of

something crust-ie /'krASti/ noun

[C] BrE informal someone who which being clean and having a home and possessions are not important crust«y /'krASti/ adj 1 crusty bread covered with a hard crust is 2 informal easily annoyed

lives a life in

crutch

/krAtJV noun 1 [C] a stick fits under your arm so that you can lean on it and walk when your leg or foot is injured: a pair of crutches be on crutches / was on crutches that

cruxcn

for six weeks. 2 [singular] someone or something that you depend on for support or help, especially too much

3 [c]BrEacR0Tcn crux /krAks/ noun the crux (of sth) the most aspect

of something:

The

police

didn't

important have enough

cry cry 1

/krai/ (past tense and past

participle cried

/kraid/) verb

•** have tears coming from your eyes, especially because you are sad: I'm sorry - please don't cry. +for 1

[I/T]

to

cry She could hear her brother crying for his mother, with pain/happiness/relief/rage etc. Now she felt like + over /about crying with rage at her own stupidity. Laura was angry with herselffor wasting time crying over him. cry tears of rage /frustration /pain etc. He cried cry yourself tears of frustration at his inability to help. to sleep (=cry continuously until you start to sleep) / cried myself to sleep at night for weeks after we broke up. la. if a baby cries, it makes a loud noise because it is hungry or uncomfortable 2 [l/T] to shout something: "That's not what I meant," Polly cried. cry for help Ted could hear a woman's voice cry sb's name She sometimes cries his crying for help. name in her sleep. cry (sth) in surprise/alarm/horror/ delight etc. "No!" he cried in horror. 3 [I] if an animal or bird cries, it makes a loud noise

cry foul to say publicly that something

is dishonest or especially when it affects you directly: Australia has cried foul over the decision to increase export subsidies. cry your eyes/heart out informal to cry in an uncon-

illegal,

trolled

way

cry on sb's shoulder informal to tell someone about all the things that are making you sad or upset. The person you are talking to is a shoulder to cry on. cry over spilled milk to waste time feeling upset about something bad that has happened and cannot be changed: "No use crying over spilled milk, " she said. for crying out loud spoken used for expressing anger [l] informal to decide not to do something that you had promised or agreed to do ,cry out phrasal vb 1 [i] to make a loud noise because you are in pain or because you are afraid or shocked: It's enough to make most people cry out in horror. 2 [l/T] to shout something, especially when you are surprised or worried: "Be careful!" Miss Honey cried out. +for Someone was crying out for help. ,cry out for phrasal vb [T usually progressive] [cry out for sth] to clearly need something a lot: This room is crying out for some new furniture.

,cry off phrasal vb

cry 2 /krai/ noun 1 of

[C]

emotion/pain

cry«o*gen«ics /kraioo'd3eniks/ noun

the science that studies the effects of low temperatures, especially the possible use of low temperatures for preserving the bodies of dead people [u]

/kript/ noun [C] an underground room where the bodies of dead people are buried, usually under a church

crypt

cryp-tic /'kriptik/

adj expressing something in a mysterious or indirect way so that it is difficult to understand: a cryptic message /comment /note

crypto- /knptoo/ prefix hidden or secret: used with some nouns and adjectives: cryptogram (=a text written using a secret code)

cryp-to-gram /'kripts.gr&m/ noun

a

[c]

secret

message written in code crys-tal /'knstl/ noun 1

[u] clear glass of very good quality: a set of crystal wine glasses la. objects such as glasses and bowls made from crystal: We should use the good crystal at dinner tonight. 2 [C] a piece of a substance that has a regular shape with many sides and is formed when the substance becomes solid: ice /salt/ sugar /snow crystals 3 [C/u] a clear rock that looks like glass, especially quartz 3a. [C/u] a piece of crystal used as a jewel: a crystal necklace 4 [C] the piece of glass or plastic that protects the face of a clock or watch

.crystal 'ball noun [c] a glass ball that some people believe can show the future crystal 'clear adj 1 completely transparent and very bright: crystal clear glass / water I air 2 extremely obvious or easy to understand: Her motives were now crystal clear; she wanted a way out. crys«taMze/'kristl,aiz/an AmE spelling of crystallize

crys*taMine

/'kristl,am/ adj

1

crystals or looking like crystals parent and bright

science consisting of literary very trans-

2

crys-tal-lize /'knstl.aiz/ verb [l/T] 1 to change into crystals, or to make something change into crystals: Ice had crystallized on the window pane overnight. 2 to become definite or easily understood, or to make something definite or easily understood: It was her trips to South and Central America that crystallized her desire to work on environmental issues. crys'tal-lized /'knstl.aizd/ adj crystallized fruits or sweet foods are covered with sugar crystals crystallized :

••

2 shouted words 3 of animal/bird

4

cubic

331

evidence against him. That's the crux of the matter.

ginger 5 urgent request 6 emotional reaction + PHRASES

act of producing tears

a loud expression of emotion, especially pain, fear, or happiness: + of a cry of pain /anguish give/utter a cry The horses gave a cry of alarm. 2 something that someone shouts: There was a cry of "Fire!" and everyone started to panic. 3 the noise that an animal or bird makes: the cry of a wolf 4 [singular] a period of time when you have tears coming from your eyes, especially because you are sad: have a (good) cry She went to the toilet and had a good cry. 5 an urgent request for something: a cry for help Was cutting her wrists a cry for help, or was it a real attempt 1

to kill herself?

emotional reaction from the public: +of A cry of outrage greeted the publication of his book. In response to cries of protest, two ministers resigned.

6 an

be a far cry from informal to be very different from someone or something: Paris was a far cry from the village where she grew up. in full cry 1 behaving in an enthusiastic and noisy way: By the next day the tabloids were in full cry, calling for the government to take immediate action. 2 if a group of dogs hunting an animal are in full cry, they are chasing it in a very enthusiastic and noisy way cry*ba*by /'krai.beibi/ noun [c] informal someone who cries too much, especially a child cry-ing /'krann/ adj a crying need for sth an urgent

need for something a crying shame used for emphasizing how bad or unfair something is: It's a crying shame the way they've treated him!

C-sec-tion

/'si

.sekjsn/ noun [c/u] a cesarean

CST abbrev Central Standard Time: October

to April in the central

CT abbrev

1

the time used from area of the U.S.

Connecticut 2 Central Time: cst or cdt

Ct. abbrev 1 cent

2

carat

Connecticut 2 Court Ctrl abbrev control: the control key on a computer keyboard CT scan /,si ti 'skaen/ noun [c] a cat scan cu. abbrev cubic cub /kAb/ noun [c] a young bear, lion, fox, wolf, or other wild animal: lion/fox cubs cub*by*hole /'kAbi.houl/ noun [C] 1 a very small room or space in a budding, usually used for storing things 2 one of a set of small boxes with open fronts on a desk or shelf, used for storing letters or papers cube 1 /kjub/ noun [c] 1 an object like a box with six square sides that are all the same size: cubes of cheese* To make the croutons, first cut the bread into cubes, —picture -> shape 2 Am E informal a cubicle in an office 3 [+of] technical the cube of a number is the larger number that is the result of multiplying the number by itself twice, for example, the cube of 2 is 2 x 2 x 2, which

Ct. abbrev

is

1

8

cube 2

/kjub/ verb

[T]

1

[usually passive] technical

multiply a number by itself twice bread, or other food into cubes: dice

2

to to cut cheese,

cube root

noun [C] the cube root of a number is the number that you multiply by itself twice to the number, for example the cube root of 8 is 2

smaller

make

cu-bic /'kjubik/

adj [only before noun]

1

cubic units are in an in cubic

used for measuring volume (=the amount of space object):

a cubic meter / centimeter

units: cubic capacity

2 measured

cubicle a small enclosed area in a rest of the room by thin walls [c]

or curtains: a shower/ toilet cubicle /kjubist/ ad] relating to an early 20th-century style of painting in which the artist paints several different views of a person or object in a single painting, usually using straight lines cub-ism noun [u], cub-ist

cubist

—

noun

[C]

cu-bit /'kjubit/ noun

[c]

an old unit for measuring from your elbow to your

length, equal to the distance

wrist

cub reporter their first job

noun [c] a young reporter working on a newspaper

in

Cub Scout noun [C] Am E a member of the Cub Scouts Cub Scouts, the noun [plural] AmE the division of the boy scouts for the youngest boys

cuckold

1

word

ing

/'kA,koold/ noun

for a

man whose

[C] old-fashioned

an

insult-

wife has sex with another

man

cuckold 2 /

k.\ kould/ verb [T] old-fashioned 1 if a wife cuckolds her husband, she has sex with another man if a man cuckolds another man, he has sex with the other man's wife

2

cuck-oo

1

/'ku,ku/ noun [C] 1 a gray bird that leaves its eggs in other birds' nests and makes a loud call that sounds like its name 2 the sound made by a cuckoo cuck'OO 2 /'ko.ku/ adj informal old-fashioned crazy cuckoo clock noun [c] a clock with a model bird inside that comes out of a small door and makes a noise like a cuckoo

cu-cumber

/'kju,k.\mb3r/ noun [c/u] a long thin vegetable that has a dark green skin and is white inside. It is usually eaten raw in salads. picture -» en

—

as cool as a cucumber informal very calm and relaxed, especially in difficult situations

cud

/k.\d/ noun [u] food that animals such as cows and sheep bring back into their mouths to chew again after

they have swallowed

it

chew the cud 1 if an animal chews the cud, it brings food that it has swallowed back into its mouth to chew again 2 informal if you chew the cud, you spend a long time thinking about something cud-die

1

/'kAdl/ verb [i/t] if you cuddle someone, you put your arms around them and hold them close to show that you like or love them: He took her in his arms and cuddled her. Couples were kissing and cuddling in corners.

cuddle up phrasal vb

[i]

to sit or lie

with your body

against someone else's because you want to feel warm, protected, or loved: +to He cuddled up to her on the sofa.

cud-die 2 /'k.\dl/ noun [C] an act of cuddling someone cud*dly / k\dli / adj a cuddly person or animal is attractive and makes you want to cuddle them, especially round cudg*el /'kAd33l/ noun [c] a short thick because they look

soft or

1

stick used for

hitting people

take up the cudgels to take action to support or defend a person, idea, political movement,

cudg-el 2

/'k,\d33l/ verb

[t]

to hit

etc.

someone hard and

usually several times with a cudgel

cudgel your brain(s) old-fashioned to think very hard about something, often something you are trying to

remember /kju/ noun [c] • something that an actor does or says as a signal to another actor to do or say something 1a. an event,

cue

cultivate

332

cu'bi«cle /kjubikl/ noun room, separated from the

1

1

action, or statement that tells someone indirectly that they should do something: +for Greg's arrival seemed to be the cue for everyone to get up and start dancing. a cue to do sth / took her tired face as my cue to leave. 2 a long thin stick that you use for hitting the ball in games such as pool and billiards (right) on cue often humorous moment, or exactly when you

exactly the right expect: Just as we're

at

leaving, right on cue, the children say that they to the bathroom.

have

to

go

take your cue from sb to behave in the same way as someone else, because you think that is the right thing to do

cue 2

/kju/ verb [T] to give someone, usually an actor or other performer, a signal to do or say something cue ball noun [c] the white ball that you hit with the cue in games such as snooker and pool cue card noun [c] a large card that someone holds beside a television camera so that speakers and actors can read the words they have to say cuff 1 /k\f/ noun [C] 1 the part of a sleeve that fits around your wrist 2 Am E the bottom edge of the leg of a pair of pants that is folded up 3 cuffs [plural] informal handcuffs 4 mainly Br E if you give someone a cuff, you hit them with your open hand, usually on the head -» off-the-cuff

cuff2

Am

/k.\f/ verb [T] 1 E to fold up the bottom edge of a pair of pants to form a cuff 2 informal to handcuff

someone: The convict had his hands cuffed behind his back. 3 mainly BrE to hit someone with your open hand, usually on the head cufMink/'kAflink/noun [c usually plural] an object used instead of a button for fastening the cuff of a man's shirt

cuisine

/kwi'zin/ noun [c/u] 1 a particular style of cooking food, especially the style of a particular country or region: Thai/ Italian cuisine 2 the food you can eat

in a particular place, especially a restaurant or hotel: a chance to try the local cuisine

cul-de-sac

/ k\l da 'ssk; ,kol da 'saek/ noun [c] 1 a short street closed at one end, so traffic cannot pass through it 2 a situation in which you can make no more progress or from which you cannot escape: The government has backed itself into another ideological cul-

de-sac.

culinary and how

to

/'kjuh.neri; 'kAli.neri/ adj relating to food it: He likes to show off his culinary skills.

cook

culinary delights (=very good food) delights do you have for us tonight?

And what

culinary

1

cull /k\l/ verb [T] 1 to collect something such as information from different places: recipes culled from magazines 2 to kill animals deliberately, especially in order to stop the population from becoming too large 2 cull /k\\/ noun [C] an act of culling animals: a seal cull cul«mi«nate /'kAlmi.neit/ verb culminate in phrasal vb [T] [culminate in sth] to happen or exist as the final result of a process or situation: A series of financial disasters culminated in the collapse of the country's largest bank.

cul-mi-na-tion

/.kAlmi'neiJri/ noun [singular] the final result of a process or situation: + of This agreement is the culmination of weeks of negotiations. cu-lottes /kjs'lats/ noun [plural] women's short pants that have wide legs and look like a skirt

cul-pa-ble /'kAlpabl/ adj formal responsible something bad or illegal

.culpable 'homicide noun

for doing

[u] legal in Scottish,

South

African, or Indian law, the crime of killing someone illegally but without intending or planning to kill them

cul-prit /'kAlpnt/ noun [C] 1 someone who is responsible for doing something bad or illegal: Police have so far failed to find the culprits. 2 the cause of something bad happening: The workload is bigger than ever, and technology seems to be the main culprit. cult 1 /kAlt/ noun [c] * 1 a religious group, especially one with beliefs that most people consider strange or dangerous 1a. formal a religious system in which people worship a particular god, person, or object: the cult of the goddess Isis 2 extreme admiration for someone or something: +of The modern cult of beauty puts enormous pressure on young women. -» personality cult

cult2 /k\lt/

adj [only before noun] very popular with a particular group of people: a cult figure/ hero/ band/movie cul-ti-vate /'kAlti.veit/ verb [t] • 1 to make land suitable for growing crops or plants: Most of the world's fertile land is already being cultivated.

grow crops or

plants, especially in large quancultivated throughout the coastal regions. 2 to develop something such as an attitude, ability, or skill: He's trying to cultivate a more caring image. 3 to develop a friendship or relationship with someone, usually in order to get an advantage from it

1a. to

tities:

Rice

is

cup

cultivated

cultivated

a cultivated person is well educated and knows how to behave politely: a cultivated man I voice / accent 2 cultivated land is used for growing crops or plants 2a. developed from wild crops or plants and grown on farms or in gardens: wild and cultivated flowers /'kAlti.veitad/ adj 1

cul-ti-va-tion /.kAlti'veiJn/ noun [u] • 1 the process of growing crops or plants: Sugar cane cultivation is in decline on the island. 1a. the use of land for growing crops or plants: under cultivation (=used for growing crops) Every inch of fertile land was under

From

2

the process of developing something such as a relationship, attitude, or skill

Cul'ti«va'tor/'kAlti,veit3r/noun [C] technical a machine used for preparing soil for growing crops

•**

cultural

/'kAltJarsl/adj relating to the culture of a particular group, country, or society: an improved understanding of ethnic and culrespect for racial and cultural identity tural diversity the cultural traditions of our society a misunderstanding that was cultural rather than intellectual 2 relating to music, literature, and other arts: During the summer New York offers a variety of special cultural events. The country enjoys a rich and diverse cultural cul*tw-aMy adv: The two cities are culturally very life. 1

—

culture

1

/'kAltJar/ noun

***

1 [u] activities involving music, literature, and other arts: If you're looking for culture, then Paris is the place for you. Mexico's literary culture

2 [C] science a group of bacteria or cells that have been grown in a scientific experiment: a collection of animal cultures 2a. [u] science the process by which a group of bacteria or cells are grown in a scientific experiment: cell

tissue culture

[C/U] a set of ideas, beliefs,

and ways of behaving of

a particular organization or group of people: The two firms have very different corporate cultures. Some organizations encourage a culture of secrecy. -» youth culture 3a. [C] a society that has its own set of ideas, beliefs, and ways of behaving: people from different cultures ancient cultures 3b. [C/U] a set of ideas, beliefs, and ways of behaving of a particular society: societies that share the same language and culture exposure to Western culture through movies and music 4 [U] technical the process of growing crops or raising animals: the culture of genetically modified crops 2 cul-ture /'kAltJsr/ verb [T] science to grow a group of bacteria or cells in a scientific experiment /'kAltJsrd/ ad] someone who is cultured is well educated and polite and knows a lot about music, literature, and other arts

.cultured pearl noun

[C] a type of pearl grown artiinstead of one that grows in an oyster

shock

noun [c/u] the nervous or confused feeling that people sometimes get when they arrive in a place that has a very different culture from their own 'culture vulture noun [c] informal someone who is very interested in music, literature, and other arts. This word shows that you think people like this are annoying or not sincere.

cuhvert / 'kAlvart / noun [C] a very wide pipe that carries water under a road or railroad line 1 /kAm/ preposition used between two words that describe two qualities or uses that someone or something has: The hotel has a small bar-cum-restaurant. cum 2 /kAm/ noun [u] impolite a man's semen

cum

cumbersome /'kAmbsrsam/ adj

1 not simple, fast, or effective enough and difficult or annoying to use: a cumbersome system/process/ technique 1a. large, heavy, and difficult to move or carry Modern hand-held cameras are far less cumbersome. 2 cumbersome words or phrases are difficult to understand or remember because they are long or complicated: The book had a :

very

cumbersome

cumin / 'kAmin;

/'kjumja.leitiv, 'kjumjabtiv/ ad] • developing or increasing gradually as a result of more the cumulative effect on the body of repeated doses of the medicine cu*miHa*tive*ly adv

cu-mu-la-tive

—

cumulative trauma disorder

noun

a medical condition affecting a part of your body that bends such as your wrist or elbow because you repeat the same movement too many times [u]

cumu-lus

/'kjumjatas/ noun [U] technical a mass of large low white clouds that are round at the top and flat at the bottom 1

cu-ne-i-form /'kjuni.form/ adj

linguistics relating to a writing system used in ancient times in the Middle East. The letters are shaped like long thin wedges (=wide at one end and narrow at the other).

cu*ne«i'form 2 /'kjuni.fDrm/ noun

[u] linguistics cunei-

cunnilingus

/.kAni'lirjgas/ noun [u] the use of the tongue and lips to touch a woman's sex organs and give her sexual pleasure

cuivning 1 /'kAnin/adj

'kumm/ noun

cum laude /,kAm

'laoda,

receives a degree

1

someone who

cum

[u]

,kAm 'laodi/ adv a student laude from a U.S. college or

is

cunning uses

their intelligence to get what they want, especially by tricking or cheating people: a cunning and resourceful criminal la. used about people's behavior, actions, or ideas: a cunning marketing strategy 2 E old-fashioned attractive and usually small curvning-ly adv

—

curvning

2

Am

the use of clever methods that involve tricking or cheating people: She displayed remarkable cunning in persuading us all of her innocence. to get

/'kAnin/ noun

[u]

what you want, especially methods

cunt /kAnt/ word sive

noun [c] offensive 1 an extremely offensive woman's sex organs 2 an extremely offenword for someone you consider unpleasant or for a

annoying 1 /k\p/ noun

cup

1

••• 5 hole with flag in 6 mixed alcoholic

container for drink

2 metal container as prize 3 sth small, round, & hollow 4 round part of bra

7

in

golf

drink

sports

+ phrases

1 [C] a small round container for a drink, usually with a handle: Henry took the coffee cups into the kitchen. She my cup with hot tea. picture -> next page cups and saucers Where do you keep the cups and saucers? 1a. the drink contained in a cup: I've already had two cups. + of Would you like a cup of coffee? 1b. the amount that a cup contains, used in the U.S. as a unit for measuring quantities of food when you are cooking: + of Mix one cup of sugar with three cups offlour. 2 [C] a large round metal container with two handles given as a prize to the winner of a competition 2a. Cup a sports competition in which the prize is a large metal cup: the team's victory in the World Cup 3 [C] something that is small, round, and has an empty space inside: the cup of sb's hand She held the candies in the cup of her hand. 4 [C] one of the two round parts of a bra that cover a woman's breasts: What cup size are you? 5 [C]AmE a small hole marked by a flag that you try to hit the ball into in golf —picture -» cm 6 [C/U] mainly Br E an alcoholic drink made from a mixture of two or more drinks, especially wine and

—

filled

fruit juice

7 [C]AmE a hard cover worn by men

title.

seeds used for adding a special flavor to food, or the plant that produces them. Cumin is a type of spice.

who

praise."

/'kAmsr.DAnd/ noun [c] a wide band of brightly colored cloth that a man wears around his waist as part of a very formal suit

cul-tured

'culture

meaning "with

form writing

similar.

ficially,

Latin,

cummerbund

and more additions:

cultivation.

3

university has achieved the third highest level of honors. The second highest is called magna cum laude and the highest is summa cum laude.

sex organs in

when playing

to protect their

sports

your cups old-fashioned drunk

not be sb's cup of tea informal if someone or something is not your cup of tea, you do not like them or do not consider them interesting

^

cup

334

curl

2

a solution to a problem: +for It's the only possible cure for our chronic trade deficit. miracle cure (=an easy solution that works immediately) Tax cuts are not the miracle cure the Right seems to think.

cure 2

/kjor/ verb [T] • 1 to stop someone from being affected by an illness: It might be several months before she's fully cured. 1a. to stop an illness from affecting someone: Many formerly fatal diseases can now be cured. 2 to control or get rid of a bad habit, feeling, or attitude: cure sb of sth Nothing seemed to cure him of his nervousness.

3

/kAp/ verb [T] • to hold or support something in your hands after making them into a curved shape cup your hand/hands to make your hand/hands into

cup

a curved shape /'kAbsrd/ noun [C] 1 a tall piece of furniture, usually attached to a wall and used for storing things, with shelves inside and one or two doors at the front: a kitchen cupboard the cupboard door 2 BrEa

cupboard

CLOSET

the cupboard is bare Br E used for saying that there is no food left or money left to buy something -» skeleton

cupcake / 'kAp.keik/ noun

[c] a small round cake with frosting (=a thick sweet substance made from sugar) on top picture -» cake

—

cupful

/'kAp.fol/ noun [C] the amount of something that a cup contains: three cupfuls of water /'kjupid/ noun [C] the Roman god of love, shown as a little boy with wings, holding a bow and arrow a. cupid a picture or model of a little boy intended to look like Cupid: Pictures of little cupids floating in pink clouds covered the ceiling.

Cupid

play Cupid often humorous to try to make two people begin a romantic relationship cu-pid-i-ty /kju'pidati/ noun [u] very formal the strong feeling of wanting much more than you need: greed cu-po-la / 'kjupata/ noun [C] a part of a roof shaped like half a ball, often covered in shiny metal cur /k3r/ noun [C] 1 a dog, especially an angry dog 2 an old word meaning a man you dislike or have no respect for

curable

/'kjorsbl/ adj possible to cure

cu-ra-re or cu-ra-ri /kjo'rari/ noun [u] a poisonous substance made from a South American plant cu-rate / 'kjorat/ noun [C] an Anglican priest who helps 1

more senior priest cu-rate 2 /'kjoreit/ verb a

exhibit in a

[T]

to

be the curator of an

museum

cu-ra-tive /'kjurstiv/ adj formal used for curing an illness cu-ra-tive noun [C] cu*ra*tor /kja'reitar/ noun [C] someone whose job is to

—

take care of the objects in a

museum

AmE

1

curb /k3rb/

noun [C] 1 the edge of a sidewalk (=path built beside a road) that is closest to the road. BrE kerb: A car drew up to the curb and stopped. la. jump the curb if a vehicle or driver jumps the curb, they drive up onto the sidewalk 2 a rule or control that stops or limits something: +on Curbs on the use of mountain bikes in the forest are being called for.

curb 2 /k3rb/ verb is

[T]

harmful: Increased

to control or limit something that interest rates should curb inflation.

a. to control an emotion or way of behaving that could cause problems: You'd better curb that temper of yours. /k3rd/ noun [C/u] the solid substance that forms in milk when it starts to become sour curdle /'k3rdl/ verb [i/T] if milk or another liquid curdles, or if something makes it curdle, lumps begin

curd

form in it make your blood curdle to

much cure /kjor/ noun 1

[c]

to

shock or frighten you very

**

1 a medicine or treatment that makes a sick person healthy Doctors say there are several possible cures. + f or There's no cure for diabetes but the symptoms can be :

managed.

to solve a problem: Better quality control might cur? our production problems. 4 to preserve meat, fish, or other foods by drying them, or by using smoke or salt cure-all noun [c) something that cures every illness or solves every problem: panacea curfew /'k3r,fju/ noun [c/u] a law that does not allow people to go outside between a particular time in the evening and a particular time in the morning a. the period of time during which people must not go outside according to a curfew law b. the time by which someone, especially a child, must be home in the evening cu-ri-o /'kjori,oo/ noun [c] an object that is very old or

unusual cu-ri-os-i-ty /.kjori'asati/ noun * 1 [singular/u] a strong feeling of wanting to find out about something: + about All children have a certain curiosity about sexual matters. out of curiosity (=because of curiosity) Just out of curiosity, where were you last night? idle curiosity (=wanting to know something for no specific reason) "Why do you want to know?" "Oh, just idle curiosity." 1a. curiosity killed the cat used for warning someone that something dangerous or harmful could happen to them because they are too interested in things that do not concern them

2

[C]

something unusual and interesting

curious

/'kjorias/ adj

••

1 someone who is curious wants to find out about something: / didn't mean to pry. I'm just curious. That's + about Children are curious about animals and how all. they live. curious to see /hear/ know sth People were curious to know why the accident happened. 1a. used about someone's expression: a curious look/glance She shot him a quick, curious look. 2 unusual and interesting: a set of curious kitchen implements He felt a curious mixture of happiness and fear. it is curious that It is curious that you've never mentioned

this before.

cu-ri-ous-ly /'kjoriasli/ adv • 1 in an unusual and interesting way: They were curiously quiet. / thought him a curiously impressive person. 2 in a way that shows that you want to find out about something: Sandra looked at him curiously. 1 curl /k3rl/ verb •• 1 curl or curl up [i/t] to form a curved or round shape, or give something this shape: Jane had short hair curling around her face. As she talked, she curled a strand of hair on one finger. Sam's hands curled up into fists. 2 [i] to move in a curving or twisting way: Smoke curled from tall chimneys. 3 [I] to curve up or down at the edges: The pages had begun to yellow and curl. curl your hair/make your hair curl to make you feel very upset or frightened curl your lip to pull your top lip upward at one side in a way that shows that you are annoyed, bored, or do not respect someone -» TOE 1

up phrasal vb [i] 1 to sit in a comfortable with your legs bent and your feet up off the

,curl

position, floor:

We

sat curled up on the sofa, watching the late movie. 1a. to lie with your back curved and your legs and arms close to your chest: Anna lay curled up in bed, thinking about

what happened. 2 same as curl curl 2 /k3rl/ noun *

1

1 [C usually plural] a section of hair that grows or is shaped in a curve: blond/dark curls 1a. [singular/u] the way that someone's hair grows in curls: The heat takes all the curl out of your hair.

curler 2

a decoration curl-ing /'k3rhn/ noun [u] a game played on ice in which players slide heavy stones toward a mark in the center of a circle 'curling ,iron noun [c] a small piece of electrical equipment that you heat and wrap your hair around in order to curl it curl«y /'k3rli/ adj * forming curves or circles: curly red hair the pig's curly tail curly letters /writing

AmE

curly brackets noun

[plural] informal the symbols used especially in mathematics and computer programs showing that things written between them should be considered together curmudgeon /kar'm.^an/ noun [C) old-fashioned !

I

for

someone who

gets

annoyed

easily, especially

an old

person

curmudgeonly

/kar'mAd3anli/

adj

formal easily

annoyed cur-rant /'kArant/ noun

may

curtain

335

something long and thin that has a curved or circular shape: + of a curl of smoke/ ribbon exercise in which you lift a weight by bending an 3 [C] your lower arms or legs upward a curl of your lip a movement of your top lip upward at one side in a way that shows that you are annoyed, bored, or do not respect someone curl»er /'k3rbr/ noun [C] a plastic or metal tube that you wrap your hair around in order to curl it: roller cur-lew /'k3r,lu/ noun [C] a brown bird that lives near water and has long legs and a long thin curved beak curlicue /'k3rli,kju/ noun [c] a curl or twist used as [C]

[C] a small round fruit that be red, black, or white, and grows on a currant

bush

currency /'k\ransi/

noun

•••

1 [C/u] the system of money used in a particular country: the buying and selling offoreign currencies the single European currency 1a. money that is used in a particular country: You can use credit cards but it's best to take some currency as well. -» hard currency 2 [u] the state of being approved of or used by many people in a society: All the modernist styles have become common currency. gain currency The idea of withdrawing from the war has gained wide currency.

current

1

/'kArant/ ad)

[usually before noun]

pening or existing now: Production

***

is likely to

hap-

remain at

Curri-er and Ives

kAriar and 'aivz/ a company that produced colored prints showing American life in the 19th century and is especially famous for its beautiful /

outdoor winter scenes 1 l\\r\l noun [c/u] an Indian food consisting of meat or vegetables cooked in a sauce with a hot flavor, often eaten with rice: a chicken/ Iambi vegetable curry curry 2 /'k\ri/ verb [T] to cook something such as meat or vegetables in a sauce with a hot flavor: curried eggs

curry

curry favor (with sb)

to try to

make someone

curry

of a powder, used for

making curry

1

to use offensive or impolite language: swear: She looked at her watch, cursed, and ran for a taxi. 1a. [T] to 1

[l]

say or think offensive or impolite words about someone or something: Joe will be cursing me when he finds out I've gone in without him. She cursed herself for being such a fool. 2 [T often passive] to use magic powers to make bad things happen to someone

curse 2

/k3rs/ noun 1 [c] an offensive or very impolite word or phrase: swear word 2 [C] a bad situation or event caused by someone's deliberate use of their magic powers: the curse of the Pharaohs put a curse on sb/sth He was sure someone had put a curse on his house. 2a. the words used for causing bad luck —opposite blessing 3 [singular] an unpleasant situation or influence that continues for a long time: the curse of unemployment 4 the curse informal old-fashioned a woman's period

/k3rst/ adj 1 affected in a negative way by a magic curse: They were starting to believe that the house was cursed. 2 /'k3rsad/ [only before noun] informal oldfashioned used for emphasizing that you think something is annoying or stupid be cursed with sth to have a particular serious problem that continues or is repeated for a long time: The region

curs-ed

has been cursed with a

cursive

series of floods.

/'k3rsiv/ adj linguistics cursive handwriting is word joined to the next

written with each letter of a letter

cursor / 'k3rsar/

noun [singular] a small flashing line on a computer screen that you move to mark the point where you are going to type or do something

license to practice.

curtain

current of opinion / thought / feeling the opinions/ thoughts/feelings of the majority of people at a particular time

current affairs noun

[plural] political, social, and economic events that are happening now and are discussed in news programs and newspapers

•*•

currently

/'kArantli/ adv is currently appearing in a recording currently available on

Davis

curriculum

at the present time: the best

Broadway play.

CD

*•

/ka'nkjalam/ noun [c] the subjects that students study at a particular school or college:

Our mathematics curriculum is much broader now. curriculum planning / development on/ in the curriculum (=taught as a subject) Latin is no longer on the curriculum.

curriculum vitae

/ka.rikjalam vitai; ka.rikjalam a document that lists a university teacher's experience, and the books and articles they have published. It is used when applying for a job or promotion. 2 BrEa resume 'vaiti/

noun

[C]

1

AmE

to

curse /k3rs/verb*

curso«ry /'k3rsari/ adj formal quick and

/'kArant/ noun * [c] a strong movement of water in one direction: Strong currents and winds swept their boat out to sea. a. [C] a strong movement of air in one direction: Birds of prey use air currents to lift them. A fan supplies a current of fresh air. b. [C/U] a flow of electricity: electric current

you

powder noun [u] a mixture of spices in the form

current levels. the current situation /climate There are several reasons for the current political situation. the current trend (=the way things are developing) Given current trends, car usage will increase, a. believed or practiced by many people at the present time: current educational thinking Two theories were then widely current, b. correct or legal at the present time: Is this your current address? An attorney must have a current

current 2

like

or give you something: Big tax cuts are often proposed curry favor with voters.

brief:

A

not thorough: cursory examination did not reveal any problems.

in a way that shows you are impatient or angry: a curt reply /note /announcement curt-ly adv She apologized for being so curt with me. curtail /k3r'teil/ verb [T] formal to reduce or limit something, especially something good: a government attempt to curtail debate cur*tail*ment noun [C/U]

curt /k3rt/ adj using few words

—

—

*•

/'k3rtn/ noun 1 [C] a long piece of cloth, usually one of a pair, that hangs down and covers a window: close/pull/draw the curtains (=move them together) Close the curtains and open/pull/draw (=move them apart) turn the light on. Open those heavy curtains and let some sunlight in. 1a. a long piece of material that hangs down and separates one part of a room from another: a shower curtain The nurse pulled the curtains around the bed. lb. [usually singular] a very large piece of cloth that is pulled up or to the side on a theater stage when a performance starts: The audience cheered wildly as the curtain rose. 2 [singular/u] a large amount of a substance such as smoke or rain that is too thick to see through: +of She drove off the gray curtain of mist suddenly swallowing hetup. *A curtain of thick dark hair hid her face.

be curtains for informal used for saying that someone or something will die, end, or be in serious trouble: One more mistake and it'll be curtains for him. bring down the curtain on sth/bring the curtain down on sth mainly journalism to end something: They bring down the curtain on their African tour in Cape Town today. the curtain falls on sth literary if the curtain falls on something, it ends the final curtain 1 the end of a performance in a theater 2 mainly literary the end of something, especially life

curtain call

the audience applauds

curtained off

AmE

separated from the rest of a curtain: .A section of the room had been provide privacy. adj

room or area by a curtained off to

curtain raiser

/'k.irtn.reizar/ noun [C] a short performance that is put on before a more important one a. an event that happens before a more important one, or an event that is the first in a series curtain ,rod noun [c] AmE a metal, wood, or plastic pole that a curtain hangs from curt-sy 1 or curt-sey /'lortsi/ verb [i] if a woman curtsies, she shows her respect for someone by bending her knees with one leg behind the other as a formal

greeting

curt-sy 2 or curt-sey /'k3rtsi/ noun [c] a formal greeting in which a woman bends her knees with one leg behind the other

cur«va«ceous /k3r'veij3s/adj a curvaceous woman has large breasts, a small waist, and wide hips cur-va-ture /'k3rva,tJor/ noun [u] technical the way in which something curves: the angle of curvature a. medical a medical condition in which a part of your body, usually your back, is curved too much: curvature of the spine

curve

1

/k3rv/ noun

[c]

*•

a shape or line with a gradual smooth bend: From high above I saw the gentle curve of the bay. 1a. a bend in a road or river: As he rounded the curve he saw her standing by the gate. 1b. used about a woman's breasts or hips: Jane's swimsuit emphasized the curves of her body. 1c. a curved line drawn on a graph 2 a CURVE BALL 1

(ball) Am E informal to do something unexpected that makes someone confused or causes problems curve 2 /k3rv/ verb [i/t] * to form a curve or make something form a curve: The track curved around the mountain. He curved his mouth into a weary smile, a. to move in a curve or make something move in a curve: Simons curved the ball around the goalkeeper and into the

throw sb a curve

net.

'curve

.ball noun [C] in baseball, a throw that is difficult because the ball moves in a curve curved /k3rvd/ adj * forming a curve: a bull with huge curved horns curv»y / 'k3rvi/ adj informal forming or full of curves: a curvy road a. a curvy woman has an attractive body with large breasts, a small waist, and wide hips cushion 1 /'kojn/ noun • to hit

1 soft

cover for seat

2 layer separating objects 3 protection against sth

4 amount sb is winning by 5 edge of table in games

1 [C] a cloth bag filled with something soft such as feathers, used for making a seat more comfortable 2 [C] a layer that separates two objects and prevents one from hitting or touching the other: The air cushion reduces the boat's contact with water. 3 [singular] something, especially money, that is a protection against the possible effects of something bad: a

cushion against inflation 4 [singular] a number of points or goals by which you are winning during a game or competition: Grayson's goal gives the team a five-point cushion. 5 [C] the rubber inner edge of the table that you hit balls against in games such as snooker or billiards

cushion 2

/'kojn/ verb [T] 1 if a soft object or substance cushions someone or something, it protects them effects of a fall or a hit: Our landing was cushioned by deep snow. 2 to protect a person or thing from the harmful effects of something: cushion sb/ sth from /against sth Computer rental packages cushion customers against upgrade costs.

from the

cushion the blow 1 to reduce the bad effects of something 2 to reduce the effect of a fall or hit cush-y /'kufi/ adj informal very easy or pleasant and not involving a lot of work: You're lucky to have such a cushy job.

customary

336

curtain call noun [C] the time just after a play or show when the performers come to the front of the stage and

cusp

/k\sp/ noun [C] 1 technical the point where two curves meet 2 a time when one situation or stage ends and another begins: the problems confronting Africa on the cusp of the millennium

on the cusp someone who was born on the cusp was born around the 21st of a month, when one sign of the zodiac ends

cus-pi-dor

cuss

and the next begins /'kAspi.cbr/ noun [c]

AmE a spittoon

1

/kAs/ verb [i/T] informal to swear cuss out phrasal vb [T] AmE informal [cuss sb out] to shout offensive words at someone because you are annoyed with them CUSS 2 /kAs/ noun [C] 1 informal old-fashioned someone who is annoying and unreasonable 2 Am E informal a cuss

word

cuss-ed

/'kAsad/ adj informal old-fashioned not willing be reasonable: He's just plain cussed, isn't he? cuss word noun [C] informal an offensive word that you say because you are annoyed: swear word cus-tard /'kAstsrd/ noun [c/u] a soft, firm sweet food made from a mixture of milk, eggs, and sugar a. [u] mainly BrEa sweet yellow sauce made from milk, eggs, and sugar .custard 'pie noun [c] 1 a pie that clowns throw at one another as a joke 2 a deliberate attempt to make someone feel embarrassed, or make people laugh at to

them in public Cus-ter's Last Stand

k as tor/ .laest 'staend/ a famous battle fought in the 19th century by a U.S. army general named George Armstrong Custer against a native American people called the Sioux. Custer and all his men

were killed. custo-di-al /kA'stoodial/ adj 1 relating to the job of a custodian 2 legal relating to the legal right to take care of someone, especially a child 3 legal relating to putting or keeping someone in prison

cus.todial 'parent noun

[c] legal

the parent

who has

legal custody of a child

custodial 'sentence noun

[c] legal

which someone is sent to prison cus*to*di»an /kA'stoodian/ noun

[c]

a punishment in 1

someone who

is responsible for something valuable such as money, property, or a collection of works of art 2 someone who tries to preserve a set of principles: Our universities must serve as custodians of intellectual freedom. 3 E someone whose job is to clean a building and fix things that are broken

Am

**

cuS'tO'dy

/'kAStsdi/ noun [u] legal the legal right to take care of a child: The parents have joint custody of their children. The girl's father was 1

awarded

2 a

sole custody.

which someone is kept in prison until trial: be in custody One of the men hold/keep sb in custody detained is still in custody. Suspects can be kept in police custody for up to 48 hours. take sb into custody The suspect had been taken into custody and was being questioned. 3 the protection or care of someone or something: in sb's custody The files in question are in the custody of the FBI. situation in

they go to court for

cuS'tom

1

/'kAStam/ noun

**

[C/U] something people do that is traditional or usual: local customs and traditions the custom of doing sth the old custom of kissing under the mistletoe 1a. something a particular person regularly does: On Wednesday evening, as was his custom, he went down to the village. 2 [u] BrE the practice of buying goods or services from a particular store or company: business: Several restaurants compete for tourists' custom. 1

-» customs

Words

frequently used with

adjectives

custom

age-old, ancient, established,

1

traditional

cus«tom 2

/'kAStam/ adj [only before noun] created especially for a particular person: custom systems software

cus-tom-ar-y

*

usual in a particular /'kAsta.meri/ adj society or situation: It is customary to offer the repairman a cup of coffee, a. usual for a particular person: Michael worked with his customary thoroughness and care. cus'tonvar-i'ly adv

—

custom-built person

customer /'kAstamar/ noun

[C]

***

1 a person or company that buys goods or services: Supermarkets use a variety of tactics to attract and retain Discounts are available for our regular cuscustomers. tomers. 1a. [only before noun] relating to customers: customer services /relations /support 2 informal a particular type of person, especially one who is dishonest or difficult to deal with: a cool customer a tricky /awkward /tough customer

cus-tonvise cus-tom-ize

/ 'kASta.maiz/ a Br E spelling of customize /'kASta.maiz/ verb [T] to change the way something looks or works so that it is exactly what you want or need: You can use the control panel to customize

Windows.

custom-made

adj

designed and

made

for

one par-

ticular person

/'kAStamz/ noun [plural] * a government department that collects taxes on goods that people bring into a country a. the place at a port, airport, or border where officials check that the goods that people are bringing into a country are legal, and whether they should pay customs duties b. the taxes you pay on goods that you bring into a country: duty

cus-toms

1

cut /kAt/

(past tense and past participle cut)

1

use knife/sharp tool

2 3 4 5 6

have

ability to

verb

***

8 divide playing cards 9 divide area into parts 10 make a record

cut

body reduce/lower on computer stop sth moving/working injure part of

11 pass through/across

12 take place

in line

+ PHRASES

use a knife, pair of scissors, or other sharp tool to divide something into two or more pieces: I'm going to cut the cake now. The telephone wires had been cut. [T]

to

cut sth in half /two The apples

had been

cut in half. cut sth into pieces/quarters/three etc. Cut the pepper into small pieces. 1a. to use a sharp tool to remove a piece from something: I cut a slice of bread. cut sb sth Will you cut me a slice of pizza? cut sth from / off sth You should cut that broken branch off the tree. cut sth in/ through sth Firemen had to cut a hole in the car roof to get him out. 1b. to use a sharp tool to make something shorter: trim: You need to cut your toenails. It's Ken's turn to cut the grass. have/get your hair cut I'm going to have my hair cut tomorrow. 2 [I] to be capable of cutting in a particular way: These scissors don't cut very well. 2a. [T] to be able to cut a particular substance: a tool that cuts metal easily 3 [T] to injure a part of your body with something sharp that cuts the skin: Be careful not to cut your finger. He cut himself shaving. Her face was badly cut by flying glass.

4

[T] to reduce something such as the amount or level of something: Supermarkets are drastically cutting prices. We have cut our spending by 33%. cut sth to the bone (=reduce it as much as possible) The government has cut our funding to the bone. 4a. to reduce the strength or effectiveness of something by mixing it with something else: cut sth with sth cocaine cut with chalk powder 5 [T] to remove a part of a computer document, especially in order to paste it into another place or document -» CUT AND PASTE 6 cut or cut off [T] to stop the supply of something or stop something working: The accident had cut the oxygen to her brain. All lines of communication had been cut. Could you cut the engine for a minute? 7 [T] to make something such as a piece of writing, a speech, a movie, or a broadcast shorter by removing parts from it: You need to cut your speech by about 10 minutes. 7a. cut or cut out to remove parts from something such as a piece of writing, a speech, a movie, or a broadcast, especially because they are not suitable: They have cut some sex scenes from the film. 8 [l/T] to divide a set of playing cards into two piles 9 [T] to divide an area into two or more parts: The 1

Danube

10

cuts Budapest in two.

[T] if

a musician or

band cuts a record, they record

it

1 1

cut or cut across

something: the place where Broadway cuts 42nd Street 12 cut or cut in line [\}Am E to take a place near the front of a line of people rather than going to the back cut and run informal to get out of a situation when it becomes too difficult or unpleasant cut both ways if something cuts both ways, it has both good and bad aspects cut a check Am E if a business cuts a check, it approves or writes it cut the cheese Am E to fart cut class/school Am E informal to not go to class/school when you should be there: That's the second time you've cut class this week. cut corners to not

especially because

[T]

to pass

through or across

do a job as thoroughly as you should, you want to finish it quickly or save

money cut sb dead

1

to

pretend not to see or recognize

someone you know: I shouted hello but she cut me dead. 2 Am E to hurt someone's feelings by refusing to speak to them cut a deal to make a business deal cut a fine/ridiculous etc. figure literary to look very attractive /silly etc.: Tom cut a striking figure in his dark dinner jacket. cut the ground from under sb's feet to spoil someone's plans or achievements by doing something better than them or by doing it before them cut it informal to be satisfactory or successful: We want to know why so many talented youngsters just don't cut it. cut it close Am E informal to give yourself only a very short amount of time to do something: He left the hotel at 9 a.m., which was cutting it close for his 9:15 meeting. cut loose informal 1 if someone cuts loose or is cut loose, they stop being influenced or controlled by

someone:

7 make sth shorter 1

cut

337

custom-built adj designed and built for one particular

mal

It's

to stop

time you cut loose from your family. 2 inforbehaving in a controlled way and start

having fun cut your losses to get out of a bad situation before it gets worse instead of waiting to see whether it will

improve cut no ice/not cut any ice (with sb) to fail to impress or influence someone cut your own throat to behave in a way that causes serious harm or trouble for yourself cut sb short to interrupt someone who is talking so that they cannot finish what they are saying cut sth short to make something last for less time than planned: I'm sorry we had to cut our visit short. cut your teeth on sth to get your first experience in a particular job by doing something: actors who cut their teeth on low-budget movies cut to the chase to start dealing with the most important aspect of something rather than things that are less relevant cut sb to the quick to say or do something unkind that makes someone feel very upset: His mockery, which he meant as a joke, cut her to the quick. cut a tooth if a child cuts a tooth, it starts to grow

through the gum not cut the mustard informal to not be good enough to cut a long story short used for saying that you will not talk about all the details of something but will go directly to the most important point -» CRAP

1

phrasal vb [T] [cut across sth] 1 to go across an area of land instead of going around the edge of it: We cut across the field to save time. 2 same ascut n: A river cut across the path about a hundred yards farther on. 3 to affect two or more different groups: These problems cut

,cut

across

1

across class boundaries. ,cut away phrasal vb [T] to

remove the parts of something you do not want by cutting them: Cut away any dead growth on your roses. ,cut 'back phrasal vb 1 [l/T] to reduce the amount of something, especially money that you spend: It's time we cut back a little. plans to cut back investment in education + on We're trying to cut back on the amount we spend for food. 2 [l/T] same as cut down 3: Pete smokes but he's trying to cut back. +on If you cut back on fat and that

sugar, you'll lose weight. 3 [T] to remove parts of a plant or tree in order to reduce its size cut down phrasal vb 1 [T] to cut through the trunk of a tree in order to make it fall to the ground 2 [l/T] [cut

CUt down

cute

338

reduce an amount of something: How can you cut down the risk of cancer? + on These improvements will cut down on traffic noise. 3 cut down or cut back [1/ T] to start doing less of something, especially because it is bad for your health: The doctor advised him to cut down his working hours. + on I'm trying to cut down on salt. 4 [T] to make something such as a speech or piece of writing shorter 5 [T often passive] literary if a weapon, bullet, or illness cuts someone down, it kills or injures sth] to

quickly and smoothly through something: England cut through the French defense and scored a goal. ,cut up phrasal vb 1 [i] Am E informal to behave in a noisy silly way: They were in the habit of cutting up whenever the teacher left the room. 2 [T] to cut something into several pieces: At this stage, your child will need someone to cut up her food for her. cut 2 /kAt/ noun [C]

•••

them

damage from

1

cut sb down to size to make someone accept that they are not as important or impressive as they believe they are cut in phrasal vb 1 [i] if someone cuts in when you are dancing with someone, they start dancing with the person you were dancing with 2 [i] if a piece of equipment cuts in, it starts operating automatically when it is needed: kick in: The cooling system cuts in when the temperature gets too high. 3 [i] to drive past a vehicle and move quickly in front of it in a dangerous way 4 [i] to interrupt someone who is speaking: "That's ridiculous. " Sue cut in. 5 [T] [cut sb in] informal to allow someone to get part of the profits of something: cut sb in on sth They wouldn't cut me in on the deal. cut off phrasal vb [T] 1 same ascut 6: The government has threatened to cut off our funding. They cut off the electricity last week. 2 to prevent someone from ever receiving your money or property Herfather cut her off without a penny. 3 to make a place difficult or impossible to enter, leave, or communicate with: The floods completely cut off the town. cut sth off from sth Our house is cut off from the rest of the town. 3a. to prevent someone from leaving a place, or from communicating with people in another place: Having a new baby can cut a young mother off from the adult world. 4 to remove something by cutting it: Cut the tops off the carrots. Why did you cut off all your hair? 5 to stop someone from going somewhere, especially by blocking their way: A second policeman cut off his escape. 6 to prevent someone from continuing what they are saying: Don't cut me off when I'm talking. 7 [cut sb off] Am E informal to not allow someone to buy any more alcoholic drinks in a bar because they have already drunk too many 8 [usually passive] [cut sb off] if someone or something cuts you off when you are talking on the telephone, they make the telephone line stop working: We got cut off in the middle of the call. 9 [cut sb off] to stop having a close or friendly relationship with someone: Why did all his friends suddenly cut him off? 1

:

cut off your nose to spite your face informal to do something that is intended to harm someone even though you know that it will harm you too cut out phrasal vb 1 [T] to remove something from a larger piece by cutting: cut sth out of sth I cut this article out of a magazine for you. la. to make something by cutting it from a larger piece: cut sth out from sth Cut out six circles from a large sheet of paper. 2 [T] to stop eating something or doing something, especially because it is bad for your health: I'm trying to cut out chocolate completely. 3 [T] same as cut 7a: They've cut out several scenes in which I appeared. 4 [T] [cut sb out] to not allow someone to do something or get something: cut sb out of sth / don't want to cut the children out of our plans. cut sb out of your will (=not leave them anything when you die) Frank's mother cut him out of her will. 5 [l] if an engine or machine cuts out, it suddenly stops working 6 [1] to suddenly leave a line of traffic and join another one 7 [T] [cut out sth] to stop something such as noise or light from reaching a place 1

cut it /that out spoken used for telling someone to stop doing something that you do not like not be cut out for sth/to do sth to lack the right qualities or character for doing something: Bill was never cut out to be a parent. -» work 2 cut through phrasal vb [T] [cut through sth] 1 to go through an area instead of going around the edge of it: He decided to cut through the woods. 2 to make a path through something by cutting: She tried to cut through the undergrowth. cut a way/path/route through sth He cut his way through the jungle with a machete. 3 to deal quickly and effectively with something that causes problems or is confusing: We need to cut through the political rhetoric and see what really lies behind the policy. 4 to move

7 making sth shorter

sth sharp

8 way of arranging movie 9 passage 10 sth that hurts feelings

2 reduction in sth 3 piece of meat 4 sb's part of money 5 way sth is cut 6 act/process of cutting

11 piece of music

+ PHRASES

an injury on your skin where something sharp has cut it: My son's face was covered with cuts and bruises. 1

She suffered a deep cut to her scalp. 1a. a mark or hole in a surface where something sharp has cut it: Make a series of small cuts in the meat.

2 a reduction +

in something: job /tax/ pay /defense cuts The government threatened a cut in education spend-

in

ing.

3

a piece of meat that has been cut from a particular part of the animal: a lean cut of beef -> cold cuts [usually singular] informal someone's part of a total amount of money: The agent will take a 10% cut. 5 [usually singular] the way in which someone's hair has been cut: We gave Jenny's hair a softer cut. 5a. the way in which cloth has been cut that gives it a particular style or shape: the stylish cut of his evening clothes 6 [usually singular] the act or process of cutting something: / chopped the log with one clean cut. 6a. the act of cutting someone's hair: a cut and blow-dry 7 an act of making something such as a piece of writing, a speech, a movie, or a broadcast shorter: Some drastic cuts have been made in the third act. 7a. an act of removing parts from something such as a piece of writing, a speech, a movie, or a broadcast, especially because they are not suitable 8 a way of arranging how a movie looks by moving, removing, or adding scenes: the director's cut 8a. a quick move from one scene of a movie to another E a passage cut through something such as rock 9 1 [usually singular],4ra E a comment or action that hurts someone's feelings 10a. a situation in which you pretend not to see or recognize someone you know piece of music that has been recorded

4

Am

11a

be a cut above something else

to

be

much

better than

someone or

the cut and thrust (of sth) Br E the lively or determined

way

in which -» POWER CUT

cut

3

say

/kAt/

when

movie

something

interjection

is

done

something that movie directors

they want the actors and people making the time

to stop for a short

cut-and- dried

adj

a decision, situation, or result that

is cut-and-dried is clear and definite and cannot be changed 1 ,cut and paste verb [i/t] to move a piece of writing from one place in a computer file to another place 2 ,cut and 'paste noun [u] a method of moving a piece of writing from one place in a computer file to another

place

cut-a« way / 'kAts.wei/ adj a cutaway drawing or model shows an object with a side removed to allow you to 1

see inside

it

cut«a*way 2 / 'kAts.wei/ noun that

shows something that

is

[c] a short shot in a movie not happening in the main

scene

cut-back / 'kAt.baek/ noun [c] a such as the amount of money Many hospitals face cutbacks in will be forced to

cute

make cutbacks

reduction in something available to spend: +in services.

The company

in all departments.

•

/kjut/ adj 1 attractive, usually small, and easy to like: a cute child a cute little house 2 informal sexually attractive: There are a couple of really cute guys at work. 3 informal clever in a way that shows a lack of respect or honesty: get cute with sb Don't you get cute with me,

young man!

— cute-ness noun [u]

cutesy /'kjutsi/ ad] informal attractive in a does not seem natural or real

cut-ey /'kjuti/ another spelling of cutie cut 'glass noun [u] glass with designs cut

way

cy-a-nide

that

chem-

ical

into

/saibar/ prefix relating to computers and the Internet: used with some adjectives and nouns

its

cy-ber-ca-fe /saibsrkie.fel/ noun

[c] a cafe with computers so that customers can use the Internet

cut-glass adj 1 made of cut glass: a cut-glass bowl 2 Br E someone with a cut-glass accent speaks in a way that is typical of people from the highest social

cy -ber-net-ics / .saibor'netiks/ noun [u] the use of technology to make copies of natural things, for example artificial

class

body parts

cy-ber-punk

cu-ti-cle /'kjutikl/ noun (c] a layer of hard skin at the base of a nail on a finger or toe —picture -» hand cut-ie / kjuti/ noun [C] informal someone who is attract-

— cyber-net-ic adj

/'saibor,p\nk/ noun [u] a type of science

which the future is shown as a frightening which computers control everything

fiction in society in

cy-ber-space

/'saibar.speis/ noun [u] the imaginary place that e-mails and other pieces of information pass through when they are going from one computer to

ive

cut-lass /'kAtbs/ noun [Cj a short sword with a curved blade used in the past by pirates cut-ler-y /'kAtlari/ noun [u] mainly Br E the knives, forks, and spoons that you use for eating food. AmE usually silverware cut-let /'kAtbt/ noun [C] 1 a flat piece of meat still

another

cy-ber-squat-ting

/'saibor.skwutir)/ noun [u] computing the practice of buying the right to own an Internet address with the same name as that of a well-known company in order to make money by selling the address to that company

attached to a bone, usually a piece of pork or veal 2 a food made from pieces of vegetables or nuts pressed together into a long flat shape and cooked in oil

cy-borg / 'sai.borg / noun [C] a creature in science fiction stories that is part human and part machine cy-cla-men /'siklsman/ noun [c] a small plant with

a level or limit at which something stops: the cutoff date by which all applications must be received 2 [C] a part of a pipe that can be closed to stop a gas or liquid flowing 3 cutoffs [plural] short pants that you make by cutting part of the legs off old pants

CUt«off /'kAtpf/ noun

1

[C]

pink, white, or red flowers

cy-cle 1

[c] 1 a shape cut out of a piece of card or wood, usually with a picture stuck on it 2 a piece of equipment that automatically switches off a machine when something goes wrong

'cut-rate

adj

a.

used about places that

sell

,

cut-ter /'kAtar/ noun

[C)

1

a tool used for a pair of bolt cutters

[often plural)

cutting something: a pastry cutter 2 a small fast ship

cut-throat 1 /'kAt.Groot/

adj [usually before noun] a cutthroat activity or situation is one in which people behave in an unfair or immoral way in order to get an advantage over other people

cut-throat 2 /'kAt.Oroot/ noun

[c]

murderer or violent criminal cut-ting /'kAtin/ noun [c] • 1 a piece cut from a plant and used

an old word for a

1

new plant 2 Br E a newspaper clipping 3 Br E a cut made for a road cut-ting

for

growing into a

or a railroad

2

/'kAtirj/ adj 1 a cutting remark is cruel and intended to upset someone 2 a cutting wind is strong

and very cold

cutting board noun

[c]

AmE a

piece of

wood

or

on —picture -» board 1 the most modern and the development of something: at the [singular]

advanced point in cutting edge of sth These models are of computer design.

2

at the cutting edge a feature that gives someone or

something an advantage edge adj extremely modern and advanced:

cutting-

cutting-edge technology

'cutting

room

noun [c] a room where the separate pieces of a movie or television show are put together and the pieces that are not wanted are removed

cut-tie-fish

/'kAtl.fiJV

noun [C/U] a sea creature with

arms

up adj

informal 1 upset or offended: + about Maria 's still cut up about the way he treated her. 2 injured by being cut many times: He 's badly cut up from the broken

glass.

cuz

/kaz/ conjunction "because" that shows

AmE how

informal a it

way

of writing

sounds in informal con-

versation

CV/si

noun [C] Br E a resume cwt abbrev hundredweight cy-an /'saisn; 'sai.aen/ noun [u] technical a blue color used as one of the basic colors in printing 'vi/

••

cycle 'rickshaw noun

[C] Indian English a type of bicycle used as a taxi, with three wheels and a part at the back for carrying passengers

cy-cli-cal /'siklikl/ adj cyclical events happen again and again in the same order or at the same times cy-clist /'saiklist/ noun [C] mainly BrE someone who rides a bicycle

cy-clone

/'sai.kloon/ noun [C] a severe storm in which the wind spins in a circle

/'sai klaps/ noun [C] an extremely large man with only one eye in the middle of his forehead in ancient Greek stories cyg-net /'signst/ noun [c] a young swan

cy-clops

cyl-in-der/'silmdsr/noun [c] * 1 an object shaped like a wide tube 1a. a metal container for gas or liquid —picture -» shape 2 the tube in an engine that a piston moves backward and forward in -» FIRE 2

flat

plastic used for cutting food

cutting edge noun

[c]

poems, songs, or pieces of music on a particular subject 2 a bicycle 2a. Am E a motorcycle cy-cle 2 /'saikl/ verb [I] mainly Br E • to use a bicycle

cut-rate

goods: a cut-rate store

noun

rinse cycle lb. a set of

Am E cheaper than the normal price: a cut-

rate vacation

/'saikl/

1 a series of events that happen again and again in the same order or at the same times: +of the cycle of hate and violence in the world 1a. a set of things that a machine does as part of a process: the washing machine's

cut-out /'kAt.aot/ noun

ten

/'saia.naid/ noun [u] a very poisonous

cyber-

surface

,cut

cynicism

339

cutesy

cy-lin-dri-cal /si'lindnkl/ ad] shaped like a cylinder cym-bal /'simbl/ noun [c] a simple musical instrument consisting of a thin circular piece of metal that you play by hitting it with a stick or by hitting two of them against each other. A cymbal is a percussion instrument, —picture -» percussion cyn-ic /'sinik/ noun [c] 1 someone who believes that people care only about themselves and are not sincere or honest 2 someone who expects things not to be successful or useful

cyn-i-cal

/'sinikl/ adj

someone who

*

cynical believes that people care only about themselves and are not sincere or honest 2 someone who is cynical expects things not to be successful or useful + about / know that some of you are 1

is

very cynical about the proposals. willing to let other people be harmed so that you can get an advantage: Democrats said it was a cynical attempt smear the Presidents reputation. to cyn-i-cal-ly

3

—

/'smikli/adv

cyn-i-cism

/'sini.sizsm/ noun [u] 1 the belief that people care only about themselves and are not sincere or honest 2 the belief that things will not be successful or useful 3 the attitude or behavior of someone who is willing to let other people be harmed in order to get an

advantage

cypher /'saifor/ another spelling of

—

^2

cipher cypress / saipras/ noun [C] a tall tree with dark green leaves that do not fall off in winter 1 Cyp.ri.ot /'s.prbt/ noun [c] someone from Cyprus wr .

czarina

340

cy.pher

/,

•

/

,

Cyp.ri.ot /s.pmt/ad] from Cyprus 2 relating

Cyrillic

1

to

,

r.

.

someone who is Cypnot Cyprus or its culture

is

used to write Russian and some Central European languages cyst /sist/ noun [C] a lump containing liquid that grows under your skin or inside your body cys-tic fi'bro.sis / ,sistik fai'broosis/ noun fu] a /sa'nlik/ adj the Cyrillic alphabet

is

serious medical condition that makes it very difficult for Y° u t0 breathe and mainly affects children

cys-thtis /sistaitis/ noun [u] a minor illness that mainly affects women and makes it painful to urinate (=get rid of your body s liquid waste)

cy t o|.o.gy M y /sa.'tabd 3 i/ noun .

|row and c hangei

[u] the study of how cells especially cells that cause cancer

Cy Young Award, the/, sai

Jaij a.wDrd/ a prize given every year in the U.S. to the best pitcher in baseball [C] a man who ruled Russia before 1917 cza-rina /za'rina/ noun [cl 1 a woman who ruled Russia before 1917 2 the wife of a czar

czar /zar/ noun

Dd or D (plural D's) noun [C/u] 1 the fourth d letter of the English alphabet. D is a consonant. 2 D the second note in the musical scale of C major 3 D a grade that a teacher gives to a student's work to showthat it is below average 4 D the roman numeral for 500 -> D AND C, D-DAY d. abbrev died: used before the date of someone's death: William Shakespeare d. 1616 /di/

(plural d's)

D. abbrev Democrat -'d short form a way

of writing "had" or "would." This is not often used in formal writing: He realized she'd asked him something. I'd like a glass of milk, please. D.A. /,di 'ei/ abbrev district attorney dab 1 /dasb/ noun [C] 1 a small amount of a substance put on a surface 2 a gentle touch on a surface with something such as a piece of cloth, in order to make it clean or dry 3 a small flat ocean fish dab 2 /dsb/ verb 1 [i/T] to touch a surface gently several times with something such as a piece of cloth, in order to make it clean or dry: Remove the stain by carefully + at Marge dabbed at her eyes dabbing it with a cloth. with a handkerchief. 2 [T] to quickly put small amounts of a substance on a surface: Dab some lotion onto the affected area.

dabble /'dsbl/ verb

[i] to be involved in an activity for a short time in a way that is not very serious: + in When he was younger he dabbled in astrology.

dab 'hand

noun [C] BrE informal someone who is very good at something: +at She's a dab hand at DIY. da-cha /'dstja/ noun [C] a house in the countryside in Russia that someone lives in on weekends or during vacations

dachs-hund

/'daekssnd/ noun [c] a type of small dog with very short legs, a long body, and long ears

Da-cron / 'dei.kranMm E trademark a light strong cloth made from

artificial fibers

/daed/ noun [c) informal your father: His dad works in my office. Can I borrow some money, Dad? dad-dy /'dsdi/ noun [c] informal • your father. This word is usually used by and to young children: My daddy is a truck driver. Here I am, Daddy. -» sugar daddy

long-legs /dsdi'bn.legz/ noun [C] 1 AmE an insect like a spider with a very small round body and very long thin legs 2 Br E a crane fly da-do /deidoo/ noun [c] 1 the lower part of the wall

daddy

room when it is decorated in a different color or substance from the upper part 2 dado or dado rail a narrow piece of wood fixed around the middle of the walls of a room as a decoration dae-mon /'diman/ noun [C] a spirit in ancient Greek stories that is less important than a god or that protects a particular person or place compare demon daf-fo-dil /'daefadil/ noun [c] a tall yellow flower with a center shaped like a cup that grows in the spring —picture -» C9 of a

—

daf-fy

/'daefi/ adj

behaving in a strange way that often

informal 1 silly and not sensible or reasonable: / think it's a daft idea. don't be daft Don't be daft - of course I won't forget you. be daft enough to do sth Who would be daft enough to pay so much for a car? 2 crazy: I'm not daft you know. I do remember what it's like to be young. daft-ness noun [u]

—

Australian offensive 1 someone who looks dirty or whose clothes and hair are messy 2 someone who is not very attractive or fashionable 3 someone who behaves in a strange way that often makes people laugh dag-gy /'dasgi/ adj [c]

—

dag-ger

/'daegar/ noun [c] a

updated on a daily

basis.

2 3

a daily newspaper is published every day a daily amount or rate is the amount or rate for one day: Her daily wages barely covered her travel costs.

dai-ly

2

daily.

adv ** every day: Fresh bread is delivered once/twice/three times etc. daily Take one pill

/ 'deili /

twice daily.

daMy 3

/'deili/

noun

[c]

a newspaper that

is

published

every day .daily 'life noun [c/u] all the things that happen or that you do regularly: / don't think that I should have to face discrimination as part of my daily life.

dain-ty / 'deinti/ adj

1

small and attractive in a delicate

way: dainty china cups 2 a dainty movement or action is small and graceful: Mary took dainty bites from the sandwich. dain-ti-ly adv, dain-ti-ness noun [U] dai-qui-ri / 'daeksri/ noun [c/u] an alcoholic drink made by mixing rum, lime juice, and sugar 1 dair-y /'deri/ noun 1 [C] a company that sells milk and makes and sells foods that are made from milk, for example butter and cheese 2 [C] a building on a farm where milk is kept and where foods such as butter and cheese are made 3 [u] dairy products: The doctor has told me to avoid dairy. 4 [C] New Zealand a small local

—

dairy 2

/'deri/ adj [only before noun]

1

dairy products

include milk and foods that are made from milk, for example butter and cheese 2 involved or used in producing milk or foods made from milk: dairy cows /cattle a dairy farm /farmer 3 involved in preparing, serving, or eating milk products rather than meat, according to Jewish rules about food: a famous dairy restaurant on Manhattan 's Lower East Side da-is /'dens/ noun [C] a platform in a room that you stand on to make a speech dai-sy / 'deizi/ noun [c] a type of small white flower with

a yellow center

— picture -» C9

be pushing up (the) daisies humorous to be dead -» fresh daisy .chain noun [c] a decoration that children make by joining a lot of daisies together by their stems daks /daeks/ noun [plural] Australian informal pants dal /dal/ another spelling of dhal dale /deil/ noun [C] an old word meaning "valley" Da-lit /'dalit/ noun [C] Indian English someone who belongs to the lowest caste (^social class) in the trad-

makes people laugh daft /daeft/ adj mainly BrE

dag /daeg / noun

/do'gera.taip/ noun [C/u] a photograph produced using a very old-fashioned process dahl-ia /dulia/ noun [C] a large brightly colored flower that is grown in gardens dai-kon /'daikan/ noun [c] a large white radish from Asia Dail, the /doil/ the lower of the two houses of the Irish Parliament. The upper house is called the Senate. 1 dai-ly /'dcili/ adj [only before noun] ••• 1 done or happening every day: She is in daily contact with her mother. on a daily basis The information is

store

**

dad

da-guer-reo-type

weapon

like a very small

sword —picture -» knife look daggers at sb to look at someone in a way that shows you are very angry with them da-go /'deigou/ noun [C] offensive an extremely offensive word for a person from Italy, Spain, Portugal, or South America

itional Hindu social system dal-li-ance /'dslisns/ noun [C/u]

1

old-fashioned a

short sexual relationship, especially one involving people who are married to other people 2 formal a short period of time when someone is involved or interested in something but not in a serious way /'dsli/ verb [I] old-fashioned to be very slow in doing something dally with phrasal vb [T] 1 [dally with sb] old-fashioned to have a short sexual relationship with someone 2 [dally with sth] to consider an idea or course of action but not in a serious way: She had often dallied with the thought

daMy

of leaving him.

Dal-ma-tian

/dael'meijn/ noun [c] a type of large dog with smooth white hair and black spots 1 /daem/ noun [c] 1 a wall budt across a river to stop the water from flowing, especially in order to create a lake or to help to produce electric power 2 tech-

dam

a

dam nical the

verb

[T] to

stop a river or flowing by across it

stream from building a

dam-age

dam

1

/

'daemid3/ noun

•*• 1

[U]

physical

harm

to something so that it is broken, spoiled, or injured: Mr. Charlton surveyed the damage caused by the bulldozer. +to Damage to the building could take six months to repair. do damage No damage had been done, and we pushed the car back onto the road. suffer damage The house suffered only superficial damage in the fire. serious /severe /extensive damage A fire had caused serious damage to their apartment. permanent/ irreparable/ irreversible damage Mining in the area was doing irreparable damage to the environment. brain/ liver/ nerve damage a new drug to treat nerve damage storm /flood /fire /bomb damage (^damage caused by a storm, fire, etc.) Experts have been assessing the level of flood damage. 1a. emotional or mental harm caused to someone: Many traumatic events may be overcome without lasting damage.

caused

2

damning

342

mother of an animal such as a horse or sheep dam 2 /daem/ or dam up

negative effects on someone or something: +to to the bank's image is extremely serious. untold damage (^damage that is impossible to measure) The revelations caused untold damage to his political repu[u]

The damage

tation.

3 damages [plural] money that a court orders you to pay someone because you have harmed them or their property: Mrs. Owen was ordered to pay damages of $6,000. The jury awarded damages of over $9 million to the victims.

dam-ask

/'daemask/ noun [u] a thick heavy cloth with a pattern woven into it, used for making things such as drapes and covers for furniture dame /deim / noun [C] 1 Am E informal old-fashioned a woman. It is sometimes used in a humorous way, but many women find it offensive. 2 Dame used in front of the name of a woman who has been given a special honor by the British government: Dame Joan Sutherland 2a. someone who has this title: She became a Dame in 1990. 3 BrEa man dressed as an old woman who performs in a Christmas pantomime show

dam-mit

/'dammit/ interjection impolite used

when you

are annoyed about something

damn

1

/dami/ interjection impolite used when you are annoyed about something: Damn! I've broken one of my nails.

damn 2

/daem/ adj [only before noun] impolite used for emphasizing what you are saying, especially when you are annoyed about something: / can't open the damn window. a damn sight better /cheaper /worse etc. (=much better, cheaper, worse, etc.) I feel a damn sight better

than I did yesterday.

damn 3 /daem/ adv

impolite used for emphasizing what you are saying, especially when you are annoyed about

damn hard. He's a damn good damn well You'll damn well do as you're told! know damn (good and) well Why did you paint it green? You know damn well I don like green. something: She works teacher.

't

damn straight Am E impolite used for expressing strong agreement with something that someone has just said

damn 4 /daem/ verb [T] to criticize someone or something extremely severely: The department's review damned the whole system.

and damn the consequences/expense etc.

impolite used you are going to do something without worrying about what will happen as a result/how much

for saying that it

will cost, etc.

the damage is done used for saying that something bad or wrong has already been done and cannot be changed what's the damage? humorous used for asking someone

supposed

how much you have

damn with faint praise to praise someone or something

to

pay them

dam-age 2

***

/'daemid3/ verb [T] 1 to harm something physically so that it is broken, spoiled, or injured: Many buildings and cars had been damaged in the blast. badly /severely /seriously/ extensively damage The house had been severely damaged by fire. irreparably / permanently damage Environmentalists argue that the plan would irreparably

damage the island's ecology. 2 to have a negative effect on someone or something: This latest crisis could damage prospects for economic recovery. badly/seriously/severely damage His political reputation has been seriously damaged in recent years by the scandal.

damage control or damage limitation noun [u] the process of trying to limit the negative effects of

something

damaging /'daemon/ adj * 1 causing physical harm to something so that it is broken, spoiled, or injured: Increased emissions almost certainly have a damaging effect on the environment. +to Smoking is damaging to your health.

2 having

a negative effect on someone or something: Hurst resigned after a series of damaging allegations concerning his personal life. +for The new tax laws could be very damaging for small businesses. + to These revelations are potentially damaging to the Democratic Party.

Words nouns

frequently used with consequence,

damaging

effect,

impact,

1

result

admission,

allegation,

criticism,

2

disclosure

Damascus

/da'maeskas/ the road to Damascus an experience that completely changes the way you think about something

From the story in the Bible in which St. Paul hears the voice of God while on his way to Damascus to stop people from believing in Jesus Christ. The experience makes him become a Christian.

damn it/you/him

etc. impolite used when you are annoyed about something: Jim's never around when he's to

be -

damn him!

with such a lack of enthusiasm that it is obvious you do not think they are at all good damn 5 /daem/ noun impolite not give/care a damn (about) to not care at all about someone or something: / don't give a damn what she thinks. not worth a damn used for saying that something has no value or use: The contract isn't worth a damn if it hasn 't been signed. dam-na-ble /'daemnabl/ adj old-fashioned extremely bad or annoying - dam-na-bly adv dam-na-tion 1 /daem'neijn/ noun [u] the act of sending someone to hell after they have died, because of the bad things they have done, or the state of being in hell, according to some religions dam-na-tion 2 /daem'neijn/ interjection old-fashioned used when you are annoyed about something damned 1 /daemd/ adj 1 impolite damn 2 the damned people who have been sent to hell after they have died, because of the bad things they have done, according to

some

religions

sb/sth be damned old-fashioned used for saying that you do not care at all about someone or something: Art be damned! This is garbage! damned if you do, and damned if you don't informal used for saying that no action you take in a situation will produce a good result I'll be damned/I'm damned impolite 1 used for emphasizing how surprised or shocked you are about something 2 impolite used for emphasizing that you refuse to do something damned 2 /daemd/ adv impolite damn damned-est 1 /'daemdast/ noun do your damnedest informal to make your best effort to do something: We knew he would do his damnedest to get it to us on time.

damned-est 2

/'daemdast/ adj old-fashioned most strange or surprising: People write to us about the damn-

edest things.

damning

/'daemin/

wrong or

bad, or that

showing that something is someone has done something

ad]

"

damp

1

**

something that is damp is an unpleasant way or when it damp basement room The wood damp-ly adv, dampness noun damp.

/daemp/

adj

slightly wet, often in should be dry: a cold

won't burn

if it's

—

[U]

damp

2

/daemp/ noun

[u] slightly

wet areas inside a

building, especially in the walls

damp 3 /daemp/

or

damp 'down

verb

[t]

to

dampen

something

damp-en

/'daempsn/ verb [T] 1 to make something slightly wet: If you dampen laundry, it's much easier to iron it. 2 dampen or dampen down to make something such as a feeling or hope less strong: Not even

defeat could dampen the enthusiasm of his supporters. .dampen down phrasal vb [T] same as dampen 2

damp-en-er /'dcempansr/ see damper damp-er /'daempar/ noun [C] 1 a piece

of metal that 2 a block of wood covered with cloth, used for making the sound of a piano string less loud

controls the flow of air into a fire

put a damper/dampener on sth informal 1 to make people feel less enthusiastic or hopeful about something 2 to stop something from happening or make it less successful

darrvsel /daemzl/ noun [c] an old word for a young woman who is not married a damsel in distress humorous a woman who is in trouble and needs help dam-son /'daemzn/ noun [c/u] a soft round fruit with purple skin, like a small plum 1 /daens/ verb

dance

***

move your feet and your body in a pattern of movements that follows the sound of music: / was too shy at first to ask you to dance. + with Who was that you 1

[i]

to

were dancing with? +to They danced to the music of a 14piece band. 1a. [T] to perform a particular type of dance: Two couples were left on the floor, dancing a waltz.

2

[I] [+around/across/away etc.] if a person or animal dances somewhere, they move there in a lively graceful way, usually because they are happy or full of energy 3 [i] if something dances, it makes a series of quick light movements: Flames danced in the fireplace.

dance attendance on sb BrE to behave like someone's servant by being always ready to do what they ask you to

do

dance the night away

to spend the whole night dancing /daens/ noun 1 [C] a social event where there is music for people to dance to: the high school's annual dance 2 [C] a pattern of movements that you make with your feet and your body, following the sound of music: do a dance They did traditional square dances. 3 [C] a piece of music written or played for people to dance to: Outside a band was playing the Floral Dance. dance tunes 4 [u] the activity or job of dancing in order to entertain an audience: She teaches drama and dance. a dance

dance 2

•••

teacher/ school / class -»

SONG

'dance band noun

[c] a group of musicians who play a type of popular music that people can dance to in COUPLES

'dance

.floor noun [C] an area in a club, restaurant, designed for people to dance on 'dance hall noun [c] a large room or building where people paid to go and dance to popular music in the etc.

past

beat for dancing to in clubs, often involving a electronic production

dancer

/'daensar/ noun [c] especially as their job

dancing

••

lot of

someone who dances,

/'daensnj/ noun [u] * the activity of moving and your body in a pattern of movements that follows the sound of music: The celebrations will include fireworks and dancing. dancing classes

your

and

si/

noun

[C] dilation

and curettage: a

medical operation to remove material from inside a

dandelion

/ 'daendi ,aian/ noun [c] a wild plant with a large yellow flower that changes into a furry white ball of seeds —picture -» C9

dander

/'daendar/ noun [u] very small pieces of dead skin from an animal's body

get your/sb's dander up informal old-fashioned become angry or make someone become angry

dan-die

/'daendi/ verb or young child up and

feet

[T]

to

move a baby gently on your knee or in

old-fashioned to

down

your arms

dan-druff

/'daendraf/ noun [u] small white pieces of

dry skin in your hair 1

dan-dy dan-dy 2

/'daendi/ adj informal old-fashioned excellent

/'daendi/ noun [c] old-fashioned a man who cares a lot about his appearance and always wears fashionable clothes

Dane /dem/ noun [c] someone from Denmark dang /daen/ adj, adv AmE informal old-fashioned 1

used emphasizing what you are saying, especially when you are annoyed or excited about something: You dang

for

near got yourself killed!

dang 2

/daen/ interjection appointed or annoyed

AmE used

dan-ger /'demd33r/ noun

when you

are dis-

••*

1 [U] a situation in which harm, death, damage, or destruction is possible: The notice said "Danger! Keep Out!" in danger The President was in no danger at any time. be in great/ grave danger You must leave immediately: You're in great danger here. put sb/sb's life in danger This may put my client's life in serious danger. +from danger from exposure to radiation face danger This man had faced danger and death without flinching. 1a. [C/u] a situation in which something unpleasant might happen: +of We must act now to avoid the danger of another rise in interest rates. + (that) There is a danger that the money will simply be wasted. a real/ great/serious danger There is a very real danger that people will lose interest. in danger of (doing) sth The peace talks are now in danger of collapse. there's no danger of that (=it is very unlikely) "What if he comes back early from lunch?" "There's no danger of that. 2 [C] a person or thing that might harm someone or damage something: +to The animal is a danger to the public. pose a danger to sb/sth Landslides and falling rocks pose a serious danger to tourists. + of a campaign to warn children of the dangers of electricity

dangerous

/'demd3aras/adj

•*•

1 likely to harm or kill someone or to damage or destroy something: a dangerous dog a dangerous stretch Air pollution has reached dangerous levels in of road some cities. highly dangerous an exciting but highly dangerous sport +to It is not yet known whether these chemicals are dangerous to humans. it is dangerous (for to sth It's dangerous sb) do to walk around here on your

own at night. 2 likely to have a bad

effect or cause a problem: Mr. Ashley is playing a dangerous game, pretending to support warring factions. it is dangerous (for sb) to do sth It is extremely dangerous for you to get involved in this. a dangerous precedent (=a decision that others will follow and that will cause problems) The firing of Mr. Nolan could set a dangerous precedent.

dangerous ground

or

dangerous territory

noun [U] a situation or subject that might cause problems, for example because people disagree strongly about

dance-hall /'daenshol/ noun [u] ragga 'dance .music noun [u] a type of music with a strong

i

D and C /,di

woman's womb

handled

damp

dangerously

343

wrong or bad: damning evidence of corruption in the commission a damning report into the way the case was

it

dan-ger-ous-ly / 'demd.prasli/ adv

1

to

such a degree

that harm, death, damage, or destruction is possible: dangerously low /high /hot etc. Her blood pressure was

climbing dangerously high. dangerously close/near He was standing dangerously close to the machine. 2 in a way that is likely to harm someone or to damage something: Rimmington denied that he was driving dangerously last night.

live dangerously often humorous to take risks or choose to do dangerous things

t

dangle dan-gle

front of him.

keep/leave sb dangling informal to not tell someone what is going to happen or when it will happen: You him dangling while you decide. Dan-ish / 'deiniJV adj 1 someone who is Danish is from Denmark 2 relating to Denmark, or its language or can't just leave 1

culture

Darvish 2

/'deiniJV noun 1

mal a danish pastry 2 speak in Denmark .Danish 'pastry noun

[u]

Danish

or

danish

[C] infor-

the language that people

[c]

dank /daenk/ adj a dank room or building is unpleasant it is cold and has walls and floors that are wet dap-per / dspar/ adj a man who is dapper is small and wears attractive clothes that give him a neat appearance dap«pled/'da3pld/adj 1 covered with or forming areas of lighter and darker color or light and shadow: the

because slightly

dappled sunlight of the forest 2 a dappled horse or other animal has a coat with spots of different colors

dap'ple-gray

/.daepl grei/ adj a dapple-gray horse is gray with spots of darker gray DAR, the /,di ei 'ar/ the Daughters of the American Revolution dare 1 /der/verb *• light

Dare can be used

in the following ways:

as an intransitive verb (followed by an infinitive with "to"): He doesn't dare to complain, (without a following infinitive): She never went there on her own she didn't dare to. in very formal speech or writing as a modal verb (followed by an infinitive without "to"): No one dared speak, (without a following infinitive): Fight him if you dare. When dare is a modal verb, the third person singular of the present tense does not end in "-s." When dare is a modal verb, negatives and questions are formed without "do": Dare he tell her the truth? He dare not lie.

as a transitive verb (with an object usually followed infinitive

climb the

with

"to"):

Someone dared him

to

tree.

1 [I never progressive] if you dare to do something, you are not afraid to do it, even though it may be dangerous or shocking or may cause trouble for you: Larry argue with the boss? He wouldn 't dare. / drove as fast as I dared. dare to do sth Andrei Sakharov was one of the few people who dared to protest. dare do sth Neither of the superpowers would have dared use nuclear weapons. hardly dare / hardly dare to go into the room without first

getting permission. 2 [T never passive] to try to persuade someone to prove that they are not afraid to do something that is dangerous or likely to cause trouble: I dare you Go on, call the police. I dare you. dare sb to do sth The older boys dared Jimmy to go up on the roof.

dare (to) hope/dream/believe [usually in negatives] if you dare not hope, dream, or believe that something will happen or is true, you think it is very unlikely, but you would really like it to happen: / never dared dream that peace would come so soon. The work was finished much sooner than he'd ever dared to hope. dare I say (it) mainly Br E spoken formal used when you are saying something that you think other people may not like don't you dare spoken used for telling someone not to do something, when you are warning them that you will be very angry if they do it: "I'll tell Susan what you said about her. " "Don't you dare!" don't you dare do sth Don't you dare come near me! hardly dare (to) breathe to feel extremely nervous or worried about something that is happening or is going to

happen

how dare you

spoken used for telling someone how shocked and angry you are about something they have done or said: "Were you ever involved with this woman?" "How dare you! I'm a respectable married man." how dare you do sth How dare you go into my room without asking me! 1 dare say Br E spoken used for saying that something is probably true, although you do not know for certain dare 2 I dec I noun [C usually singular] an attempt to persuade someone to do something dangerous in order to prove that they are brave: "Why don't you fight him?" "Is that a dare?"' on a dare When he was 14, he had stayed out all night on a dare. / 'der,devl/ noun [c] someone who does dangerous things for enjoyment and does not worry about

dare-dev-il

daredevil

the risk

a flat sweet cake for one person, containing fruit and nuts and often with frosting on the top

by an

dark chocolate

344

damgl/ verb 1 [l/T] if you dangle something or if it dangles, it hangs or swings without anything stopping it: A single light bulb dangled from the ceiling. 2 [T] [dangle sth before/in front of sb] to offer someone something attractive as a way of persuading them to do something: Other teams were dangling huge pay offers in /

daring

1

/'denn/

adj

adj 1

brave enough

to

do dangerous

things: one of the most daring rescues ever attempted 2 new and different in a way that might offend or upset some people: a daring and highly original movie dar*ing*ly adv

—

daring 2

/'denn/ noun [u] 1 the brave attitude of someone who does dangerous things without being afraid 2 the brave attitude of someone who does new and different things, even if they might offend or upset

some people 1

dark /dark/

adj

•••

lacking light: a dark and stormy night When Maggie woke up, it was still dark. get/ grow dark (^become dark at the end of a day) When they left, it was already starting to get dark. go dark (=become suddenly dark) The room went dark and the movie screen flickered into life. 2 black or almost black in color: He was dressed in a dark suit with a white shirt. There were dark patches on the walls where water had soaked through. She glanced up at the dark clouds above the cliffs. 2a. strong and not pale in color: dark blue/green/red etc. a dark bluejacket 2b. dark hair, eyes, or skin are brown or black in color: He was tanned and had dark curly hair. an attractive dark-haired nurse 2c. if a white person is described as being dark, they have brown or black hair and sometimes skin that is not light in color: a tall dark man 3 [usually before noun] morally bad, dangerous, or frightening: / always suspected there was a darker side to his character. 3a. [usually before noun] a dark time is one in which people feel frightened, unhappy, and without hope: during the darkest days of the war sb's darkest hour This was the President's darkest hour. 3b. [usually before noun] a dark look or remark is angry and threatening 3c. [usually before noun] dark thoughts are sad because you believe that something bad is going to happen 3d. [usually before noun] a dark secret or mystery is kept well hidden, especially because people would not approve if they knew about it 3e. [only before noun] a dark place is distant and mysterious because very little information is known about it: in some dark corner of his mind 4 if a theater is dark, there are no performances there during a particular time 1

dark 2 /dark/

***

noun the dark a situation in which is no light, especially because it is night: Timothy afraid of the dark. in the dark Why are you sitting here

there is

in the

dark?

after dark after it has become night: Do not go out on your own after dark. before dark before it becomes night: We were hoping to get

home

before dark.

in the dark (about sth) not knowing very much about something, because other people are keeping it secret from you: We are still very much in the dark about how keep sb in the dark (about sth) (=not the money was lost.

someone about something because you want to keep it secret from them) You've kept us totally in the dark about what happened that night. 'Dark Ages, the noun [plural] the period of European history from about the 6th to the 10th centuries a. a period of history when attitudes, methods, or machines are not very advanced: When it comes to technology, some of these companies are still in the Dark Ages. dark .chocolate noun [u] chocolate that is darker in color than milk chocolate because no milk has been tell

added

to

it

darken become darker, or sky darkened and heavy

1

to

rain began to fall. His hair, darkened by sweat, clung to his head. 2 to suddenly become serious or less hopeful, or suddenly make a situation seem serious or less hopeful: Philip's face darkened. The mood was darkened further by a gloomy economic forecast.

my door again often humorous used for someone never to come back to your house again darkened / 'darkand / adj a darkened room or building is dark because there are no lights on inside dark 'glasses noun [plural] sunglasses with very dark lenses, often worn by someone who does not want to be never darken telling

recognized

dark 'horse noun

[singular]

someone with a

1

secret,

especially a secret ability, skill, or achievement, that

surprises you when you finally discover it 2 someone who wins a race, competition, election, etc. that no one expected them to win

dark-ie /'darki/ noun [c] offensive an extremely offensive word for a black person dark-ly /'darkli/ adv 1 in an angry and threatening

way 2 in a dark color: against the window.

dark 'matter noun

A

figure stood darkly outlined

[U] science

dark meat

noun [u] meat from a part of a bird such as its leg that is darker than the rest. Lighter meat is called white meat. dark-ness /'durknas/ noun [u] ** 1 the lack of light, especially because it is night: Sarah peered into the darkness, trying to see who was crying. in darkness The front rooms were all in darkness. be plunged into darkness (=to be suddenly without light from electricity) The power station was shut down and the whole city was plunged into darkness. 1a. night: darkness falls (=comes) The search had to be abandoned when darkness fell. under cover of darkness (=hidden by it) Later, under cover of darkness, they crept into the house. 2 the dark color of something: the darkness of his eyes/ hair/skin 3 literary evil: the forces /powers of darkness 4 literary sadness or lack of hope

dark-room

/'dark.rum/ noun [C] a room with very little light in it, used for developing photographs from film using chemicals darling 1 /'darlirj/ noun [c] *• 1 spoken used for talking to someone you love: Are you sleepy, darling?

2 someone who

is

very kind: She's such a darling,

3 [usually singular] someone who is liked or admired very much by a particular group of people: a stock market/

1

+ of He quickly became the darling of the

2

/

you know how much you mean to me. very attractive. People

little

word do not usually sound dress! I simply 1

darn /darn/

must have

sincere:

1 [I] [+across/forward/into/off etc.] to make a sudden quick movement somewhere: She darted forward and snatched the bag away from the girl. A child darted out in front of our car. 2 [I/T] [dart sth around/across/at etc.] if you dart a look or a glance, or if your eyes dart somewhere, you look there suddenly and for a very short time: He darted nervous glances around the auditorium.

dart-board

/'dart.bard/ noun [c] a round board that at in the game of darts

you throw darts

[u] a game in which you throw small pointed objects called darts at a round board called a dartboard in order to score points

Dar-win-i-an /darwinian/

it!

interjection informal

used when you are

adj relating to

Dar-win-ism /'darwi.mzam/ noun

[u] a

Darwinism

theory of evo-

lution

From Charles Darwin, a 19th-century British scientist who was the first person to develop this theory.

dash

1

/daeJV verb

*

|+into/out of /across etc.] to run or go somewhere very quickly because you are in a hurry: Maria came dashing down the stairs. / dashed out into the street, still in my pajamas. 1

[I]

2

[T] [dash sth against/onto/to etc.] to throw or hit something very violently onto a surface, usually so that it breaks: Picking up the glass, he dashed it against the wall. 2a. [I] [+against] if water dashes against something, it hits it violently: Huge waves dashed against the

side of the boat.

dash sb's hopes to make it impossible for someone to do what they hoped to do: Hopes for an early economic

now

recovery have

been dashed.

dash it (all) informal old-fashioned used when you are annoyed about something I must dash/I have to dash spoken used for saying that you must leave quickly because you are in a hurry 'off phrasal

vb

1

[I]

to leave quickly or suddenly to dash off right after

because you are in a hurry: I've got

lunch to meet a client. 2 [T] to write or draw something quickly because you are in a hurry: / sat down and dashed off a couple of notes.

dash 2 /daeJV

noun

amount

*

1

small

2

act of running/hurrying

of sth

3 symbol in writing 4 where car controls are

who use

What a darling

annoyed about something darn it/you/him etc. informal used when you are annoyed about something: Darn it! I was sure I'd left my

5 short very fast race 6 signal in Morse code 7 style/confidence/energy

1 [C usually singular] [+of] a small amount of a substance added to food or drink to give it a special flavor: Add a dash of soy sauce for that authentic Chinese taste. 1a. [+of a small amount of an interesting or unusual quality that something contains or has added to it: A dash of glamour was supplied by the presence of a couple of minor ]

TV celebrities.

keys here.

darn 2 /darn /or darned /darnd/ adj,

adv informal used emphasizing what you are saying, especially when you are annoyed about something: / can't see a darn thing with these glasses! We've worked darned hard on

for

this project!

darn 3 /darn/

verb [i/t] to repair a piece of clothing by sewing stitches across the hole 4 darn /darn/ noun [C] a repair to a piece of clothing, done by sewing stitches across the hole darning /'darnin/ noun [u] the activity of repairing a piece of clothing by sewing stitches across the hole, or

clothing that

dart 2 /dart/ verb*

much by someone .Darling

[usually before noun]

this

or throw as a weapon. Darts often contain poison or a drug to make wild animals become unconscious. 2 [singular] a sudden, quick, and usually short movement: make a dart for The cat made a dart for the door as he came in. 3 [singular] [+of] literary a sudden, quick, and usually short feeling of fear, anger, etc. 4 [C] a narrow pointed fold made in a piece of clothing by sewing so that it has a better shape or fits better

*

'darlinV adj [only before noun] loved very

Peter,

1 [C] a small pointed object that you throw at a dartto score points in the game of darts la. [C] a small pointed object that you fire from a gun

board in order

,dash isn't

she?

media darling extreme left.

dart 1 /dart/ noun •

darts /darts/ noun

a substance that scientists think exists out in space, but for which they have no direct proof

darling 2

dash

345

dark-en /'darkan/ verb [i/t] make something darker: The

is

being repaired in this

way

[singular] an act of running or going somewhere very quickly because you are in a hurry: make a dash for sb/ make a dash sth She made a sudden dash for the door. for it (=run very quickly to escape or reach a place) He looked at his guards and wondered whether he should make a dash for it. 3 [C] the symbol -, used in writing to separate different parts of a sentence 4 [C] informal the dashboard of a car 5 [C] a short race in which people run as fast as they can: sprint: the hundred yard dash 6 [C] a long signal used for sending messages in morse code. Short signals are called dots.

2

In

dashboard 7

combination of

style, confidence,

and energy

dash-board

/'d&f.bord/ noun [c] the part inside a car where the speedometer and other instruments are —picture -» cs

dash-ing

/'dsjin/ adj old-fashioned a dashing man is attractive and fashionable in an exciting way a. used about a man's appearance, clothes, or behavior

das'tard'ly evil:

/'daestsrdli/ adj old-fashioned very cruel or

a dastardly villain

DAT /dret/ noun [C] digital audio tape: a type of audiotape used for recording sound or information da'ta/'dsta; 'delta/ noun [u] ••• 1 facts or information used for making calculations or decisions: can be followed by a plural verb in scientific English, in which case the singular is datum: The analysis was based on data collected in the field. 2 information in a form that a computer can use: The new format carries 30 times more data than a CD-ROM. data bank noun [c] computing 1 a large amount of information, especially when it is used by computers 2 old-fashioned a database da«ta'base/'deit3,beis/ noun [c] computing •* a large amount of information stored in a computer in an organized

way

that allows individual pieces of infor-

mation to be found quickly 'data .capture noun [u] computing the process of collecting data and putting it into a computer by electronic methods 'data .mining noun [u] computing the process of searching a database using special software in order to find out information, for example what type of people buy a product. It is often used by companies as a way of trying to increase sales.

da-ta process-ing

/,deit9 'prasesin/ noun [u] computing the operations performed by a computer in order to store, organize, or find information

'data ,set noun stored as a

file

[C]

computing an amount of information

on a computer

data warehouse noun

computing a large amount of information from a corporation stored on a computer and used for making business decisions date 1 /deit/ noun 1 [C] the name and number of a particular day or year: The date on the report is October 24, 1998. today's date "What's today's date?" "The 25th." 1a. a particular day, month, or year when something happens: / made a note of the date and time of his arrival. + of The precise date of the book's publication is not yet known. set/fix a date (= choose it) Should we set a date for the next meeting? 1b. [singular] a time in the past or future: at a later/ future date The exact details of the plan will be worked out at a later date. at an earlier date Johnson had agreed at an earlier date to take on the role of chairman. -» date of [c]

•••

birth, use-by date 2 [C] an arrangement to meet someone you are having or starting a sexual or romantic relationship with: have a date (with sb) / have a date with one of the guys from my class tonight. go (out) on a date (with sb) Phil called me last night, and we're going on a date this evening. someone 2a. you have arranged to meet as part of a sexual or romantic relationship: So come on, tell us, who's your date this evening? 2b. make a date (with sb) to arrange to meet someone on a particular day 3 [C] a sweet brown sticky fruit with a hard narrow seed inside that grows on palm trees

to date formal until now: There have been no reports of the animal being seen to date. -» out-of-date, up-to-date

date

2

David and Goliath

346

[u] old-fashioned a

/deit/ verb

[T] to

it

was made by examining

discover exactly

entific tests:

it

old something is or when carefully or making sci-

The paintings have not been accurately dated

yet.

4

[i] to seem no longer modern or fashionable: a style of building that has hardly dated at all 5 [T] to prove that you are starting to get old or are older than the people you are talking to: / suppose that attitude really dates me!

date back to phrasal vb [T] [date back to sth] to be made or begun at a particular time in the past: a large collection of records dating back to the 1950s date from phrasal vb [T] [date from sth] to be made at a particular time in the past: These sculptures must date from the middle of the 7th century. date-book /'deitbok/ noun [c] AmE an appointment book

dat-ed

/'deitsd/ adj no longer modern or fashionable: These styles are beginning to look dated.

date

.line,

the noun

the international date line

.date of 'birth noun [c] * the day, month, and year you were born date .rape noun [c/u] a crime in which one person rapes another (=forces them to have sex) while on a date with them date- rape verb [T] date .stamp noun [C] an object used for printing the date on a document, or the date that is printed datestamp verb [T]

—

—

dating service

/'deitin ,s3rvis/

that finds partners for people sexual or romantic relationship

noun

[C]

who want

a business to begin a

da*tive

/'deitiv/ noun [c/u] linguistics the form of a noun, pronoun, or adjective that you use in some languages when it is the indirect object of a verb da«tive adj

—

daub

1

daub

2

/dob/ verb [T] to spread a wet substance such as paint on a surface in a careless way /dob/ noun 1 [C] a small amount of a wet substance spread on a surface in a careless way: + of a daub blue paint 2 [u] technical a mixture of wet clay and of straw (=dried plant stems), used for making walls, especially in the past 3 [C] mainly literary a picture painted without

skill

/'dotar/ noun [c] •*• your female child picture -» famh,y tree 2 a woman who comes from a particular place or grew up in a particular period of time that influenced the way she developed as a person: She spoke as a true

daugh-ter

1

—

1

daughter of the

city.

daugh-ter 2 / 'dotor/ adj

[only before noun] developed from something else and very similar to it: Members of the daughter movement were far more politically active. daughter-in-law noun [c] the wife of your son. You are her mother-in-law or father-in-law. —picture -»

FAMILY tree

Daughters of the American Revolution, the an organization for women related to men who fought in the 18th-century American Revolution. Its members are known for having conservative political opinions.

daunt

/dont/ verb

[T often passive] if

something daunts

makes you worried because you think

it will be or dangerous to do: I admit I'm daunted by the job, but I'm going to try my best.

you,

it

very

difficult

nothing daunted formal not made hopeful in any

less confident or

way

daunt-ing

/'dontin/ adj something that is daunting it will be very or dangerous to do: a daunting task/challenge/ prospect We are left with the daunting task of cleaning up this mess. daunt*ing«ly adv

makes you worried because you think difficult

•••

have relationship with sb 2 write date on sth

4 seem no longer modern 5 show you are getting old

3 discover how

+ PHRASES

1

old sth

how

3

is

1 [l/T] if you and another person are dating, or if you are dating someone, the two of you are having a sexual or romantic relationship with each other: They've been dating for over six months now. At college he had dated a medical student from Kansas. [t] 2 to write the date on something: The letter was dated February 23.

—

daunt-less /'dontbs/

adj mainly literary never frightened or worried even by very difficult or dangerous

things

dav-en-port / 'dsvn.port/ noun

AmE

a large and [c] 1 comfortable sofa (=long chair for two or three people), especially one that can be made into a bed 2 a small old-fashioned desk

David and

Go-li-ath /.deivsd and go'laio6/ used for describing a situation in which a small person or

Davis Cup much

larger one in a surprising

way From

the story in the Bible in which David, a boy, kills Goliath, a giant, with a stone.

young

Da* vis Cup, the /'dews ,kAp/ an important

inter-

national men's tennis competition held every year

daw-die

/'dodl/ verb [i] to go somewhere or do something so slowly that people become annoyed with you 1 the beginning of the day, /don/ noun [C/U] when it begins to get light: / don't think he went to sleep at dawn They had decided to leave at dawn. until dawn. at the crack of dawn (=very early in the morning) We had to get up at the crack of dawn. dawn breaks (=starts) As dawn broke, lines of people began to form at all the border crossings. from dawn till dusk (=all day) He had worked from dawn till dusk without a break.

**

dawn

the dawn of sth mainly literary the time when something such as a new period in history begins

dawn 2 /don/ verb

[i]

•

a day or morning dawns, it begins to get light: The big day dawned with a howling wind and heavy rain. 1 a. if something such as a new period in history dawns, it begins: The camera age was just dawning, and none of us had ever had our pictures taken before. 2 if something such as a thought or a feeling dawns, you begin to realize, understand, or feel it: +that The realization dawned that few of them would survive. dawn on phrasal vb [T] [dawn on sb] if something dawns on you, you realize it for the first time: It was several months before the truth finally dawned on me. it dawns on sb that Little by little it dawned on Archie that his wife 1

if

was not coming back.

dawn

chorus, the noun BrE dawn

the sound of birds

singing at

dawn

'raid noun [c] a military or police attack made beginning of the day, so that the people being attacked will not be prepared for it at the

*••

day

/dei/ noun 1 [C] one of the periods of time that a week is divided into, equal to 24 hours: We're going away for five days. The animals are kept inside for 14 hours a day. 24 hours a day (=during the whole of the day and night) The store is open 24 hours a day. 1a. [C/u] the period of time when it is light outside: There was not enough of the day left to finish the game. during the day The restaurant is only open during the day. by day (=during the day) By day he is a banker, but by night he sings in a club, —opposite night 1b. [C usually singular] the period of time when you are awake and doing things: every day You should try to go for a walk every day. all day (long) What do you do at home all day? a bad/hard/long day (=a difficult or unpleasant day) She came home exhausted after a hard day at the office. a day off (=a day when you do not work) / have a day off next week. a day out (=a day when you go out somewhere for fun or enjoyment)^// children enjoy a day out at the fair. 2 [singular] a time in the past or future: We look forward to the day when nuclear weapons will no longer exist. the

day will/may/might come (when) The day may come when our air becomes too polluted to breathe. 3 days [plural] a period of time when you are doing a particular thing or when something is happening or is successful: / think my days as a basketball player are coming to an end. That was back in the days of the horse and buggy. the early days of sth She became famous in the early days of television.

a day's work spoken used for saying that you are willing to do something or are able to deal with it it is part of your normal job or activities

all in

because

any day now spoken very soon (as) clear/plain as day informal very easy

to under-

stand, see, or hear

back in the days

Am E spoken

used for referring to a time in the past, especially a time when someone was

young be on days

to

day

347

organization defeats a

be working during the day instead of at

night

a/the big day a very important day, especially the day arranged for your wedding sb's day the period of time when someone was young: The place has changed completely since my day. In my

young men were drafted into the military. day after day every day for a long time, often in a way

day, all

that is boring or unpleasant the day after tomorrow two days from now: We're going on vacation the day after tomorrow. day and night/night and day all the time: Electricians have been working day and night to restore electricity to the area.

the day before yesterday two days ago: / got back home the

day before yesterday.

day by day in small slow stages as each day passes: She's much better now and getting stronger day by day. day in, day out every day for a long time, especially in

way that is boring or unpleasant: It's so boring, eating the same food day in, day out. sb's day in the sun the time when someone is young, successful, or famous sb's day will come spoken used for saying that someone will become successful in the future even though they a

are not successful now from day one ever since the first day or the very beginning of something from day to day 1 in a way that changes quickly or often: He seems to change his opinion from day to day. 2 without thinking about what is going to happen in the future: They lived from day to day. from one day to the next if something changes from one day to the next, it changes suddenly the good old days a time in the past when everything

was much better than now have your day in court to get the opportunity to defend yourself from criticism have had your/its day to have stopped being successful, effective, or fashionable, especially because of being no longer young have seen better days informal to be in bad condition if sb's a day spoken used for saying that someone is at least as old as the age you are mentioning: She's 50 if she's

a day.

in the old days a long time ago, especially a time you remember as being good or happy in this day and age in the present or modern times: You can 't have people living in these conditions in this day and age! in those days during a particular period in the past: Most people married young in those days. it's not sb's day informal used for saying that someone is having a lot of problems it's not every day that informal used for saying that an event or situation is very unusual and special: It's not every day you get the chance to meet a real movie star. sb's lucky day a day when something good happens for

someone

make sb's day to make someone feel very happy make my day spoken used for warning someone that

if

they do something, you will enjoy stopping, defeating, or punishing them make a day of it to spend the whole day, instead of just part of it, doing something enjoyable not have all day spoken to be in a hurry of sb's/sth's day during the time when someone or

something existed: When

it first

came out,

it

was

the finest

television of its day.

of the day 1 existing at a particular period of time: These officials are appointed by the government of the day. 2 served on a particular day in a restaurant: the soup/ fish of the day one day 1 at some time in the future: She hopes to own her own business one day. 2 on a day in the past: One day he just walked out and never came back. one of these days spoken at some time in the future one of those days informal a day when you seem to have a lot of problems the other day informal recently some day at some time in the future: I'll go back there

some day. that'll be the day spoken used for saying that you do not believe something will happen these days spoken used for talking about things that are happening or true now: Children grow up much more quickly these days.

those were the days spoken used for saying that a time in the past was better or happier than now to the day used for saying that something happened on

^

'D

daybreak

for Chicago. /'dei,breik/ noun [u] the time first appears in the morning: dawn

'day ,care noun

when

light

2BrE

1

/ 'dei.drim/ verb [i] to spend time thinking about something pleasant, especially when you should be doing something more serious: Stop daydreaming and daydream-er noun [C] get back to work! day-dream 2 /'dei.drim/ noun [c] thoughts about something pleasant that you have when you should be doing something more serious Day-Glo /'dei.gloo/ [usually before noun] trademark extremely bright yellow, orange, pink, or green in color: Day-Glo orange socks day job noun [C] the main job of someone who is also trying to succeed in some other career such as singing or acting a. don't give up the/your day job humorous used for telling someone that you do not think that they will be successful if they try to change their career day-light /'dei.lait/ noun [u] * the light outside that you see during the day: The large windows let in plenty of daylight, a. the period of time during the day when

—

was

light: It

still

daylight

when we

left.

see daylight to understand something that you could not understand before

daylight

robbery

noun

[u]

BrE

spoken highway

ROBBERY

day-lights

/'daezl/ verb [t often passive] 1 if a bright light dazzles you, you cannot see for a short period of time 2 to impress someone a lot, for example, with your beauty, intelligence, or skill

daz-zle 2 /'dxzl/ noun [singular/u] 1 the extreme brightness of a light that makes you unable to see for a short period of time 2 an extremely impressive quality

/'dei.laits/

noun informal beat/knock the

(living) daylights out of sb to hit someone very hard many times so that you injure them seriously scare/frighten the (living) daylights out of sb to make

someone suddenly

/'diczlin/ adj 1 a dazzling light is so bright that it makes you unable to see for a short period of time: the dazzling midday sun 2 extremely impressive daz-zling-ly adv

dB

care given to young children while their parents are at work by people who are trained to take care of children. The place where this care is given is called a day care center. care given during the day to people who need special help, for example because they are very old or disabled

it is

DC

Columbia 1 June 6th, 1944, the day on which the and other armies arrived on the beaches of northern France in World War II 2 informal the day when something important happens, usually something that you have been planning for a long time

D.D.S. / ,di

daytime television

adj [only before noun] life:

* happening every day

the day-to-day

running of the

company of Florida that

is

/dei.touna 'bitJV a city in the state for the car races that are held

famous

there

,day trading noun [u] the activity of buying shares and selling them for a profit later in the same day day-

—

day

[C]

.trip noun [c] a trip that you make for pleasure in to a place and come back on the same

which you go day

daze

/deiz/ noun in a daze unable to think clearly or understand what is happening because you are surhave been hit on the head dazed /deizd/ adj unable to think clearly or understand what is happening because you are surprised, upset, tired, or have been hit on the head prised, upset, tired, or

di 'es/ abbrev

used after someone's

Am E Doctor of Dental Surgery:

name

to

show

that they are a

DENTIST

DDT /di

noun

a poisonous chemical used for killing insects that destroy crops. It also kills animals and is dangerous to humans, so is no longer allowed in many countries. This kind of chemical is called a pesticide or an insecticide.

DE

di

'ti/

[u]

abbrev Delaware

prefix used with many verbs, nouns, and adjectives for giving a word the opposite meaning: decaffeinated coffee measures that will destabilize the economy

de- /di/

dea-con

/'dikan/ noun [C] 1 someone with a position below that of a priest in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, or Orthodox church 2 someone whose job is to help a minister (=a priest) in some Protestant

just

churches

dea-con-ess

/'dikanas/ noun

deacon de-ac-ti-vate

[c]

a

woman who

is

a

prevent someor an alarm from being able to

/di'aekti.veit/ verb [T] to

bomb

thing such as a

work

dead

1

adj***

/ded/

1

no longer

2

not working

alive

3 not interesting

4 no longer relevant 5 very weak/tired/sick 6 having no feeling 7 showing

room noun [C] a room in a hospital where patients can go during the day to watch television, read, or talk 'day .school noun [c] 1 a private school for students who live at home instead of at the school 2 Am E an educational course that lasts one day day-time /'dei.taim/ noun [u] * the period of time during the day when it is light outside: He never goes

Day-to-na Beach

District of

U.S., British,

day: a day-long meeting

'day

as part of your normal

abbrev direct current: electric current that

'si/

D-Day /'di.dei/

feel

out in the daytime.

/,di

D.C. abbrev

AmE

day-to-day

abbrev decibel

always flows in the same direction. Electric current that changes direction is called AC or alternating current.

very frightened daylight saving time or daylight savings noun [u] the time during the summer when clocks are put forward one hour in order to give people more light in the evening day-Jong adj [usually before noun] continuing for a whole

trader noun

1

—

•

[u]

AmE

day-dream

daz-zle

dazzling

-» NUMBER2

day-break

1

dead

348

same day in a different year: It's ten years to the day since we first moved here. to this day even now, after a very long time: To this day I don't know exactly what started the fight. win/carry the day to be successful in dealing with opposition or an opponent: Common sense at last won the day. It was Foster's pitching that finally carried the day the

little

emotion

8 no longer spoken 9 complete 10 in ball games 11 when place has no

life

12 no longer being used 13 in trouble + PHRASES

The police don't know whether she's alive or dead. *He is grieving for his dead father. I raked up the dead leaves. a dead body Rescue workers are still pulling dead bodies out of the rubble. be feared /presumed dead Three people are still missing, presumed dead. leave leave sb for sb dead The shootings left 14 people dead. dead (=leave them to die) He was beaten and left for dead by a gang of teenagers. long dead (=dead for a long time) 1

no longer

alive:

By the time I had my children, Grandma was long dead. dead and gone All of that generation are now dead and more dead than alive (=very sick, weak, or badly gone. injured) They staggered down the mountain, more dead than alive. 1a. the dead people who are dead: the dead and injured Fifteen of her relatives were among the dead and injured. the dead and dying The bridge was soon blocked with the dead and dying. bury the /your dead The people of the town now want to be left alone to bury their dead in peace. 2 a piece of equipment that is dead is no longer working or able to receive an electrical signal: The battery was completely dead. go dead The phone suddenly went dead. 3 a place, time, or situation that is dead is not very interesting because very little happens in it: The street seems dead without all the bustle of the children. Winter is traditionally a dead time of year in the fashion business. 4 no longer considered useful, relevant, or likely to be successful: The idea of self-government for the area is now

dead Feminism

is

not dead.

buried.

5 dead

or half dead [never before noun] informal very weak, or sick: You kids seem half dead.'* dead on your feet (=very tired but still standing) By the time we had finished we were all dead on our feet. 6 if a part of your body is dead, you cannot feel it or move it normally: go dead My legs had gone completely tired,

dead.

7 if someone's eyes are dead or their voice is dead, they feel or show no emotion: She turned to him with her strange dead eyes. 8 [usually before noun] a dead language such as Latin is no longer used by people in their ordinary lives 9 [only before noun] complete: dead silence She finished dead speaking, and there was dead silence in the room. center (=exactly in the center) The bullet hit the target dead center. a dead stop The truck suddenly came to a (^completely unconscious) She a dead faint. 10 a ball is dead in some games if it is outside the area on which the game is played, so that the game stops for a short time 11a place that is dead has no living plants or animals

dead stop.

in a

fell forward

in

dead

and

faint

hit the floor in

it

12 Br E informal a dead glass or bottle is one you have finished drinking from 12a. a dead match has already been used and is now useless 13 [never before noun] informal in serious trouble: If Louise catches you going through her purse, you 're dead! be in dead trouble/be dead meat informal to be in serious trouble

dead from the neck up Br E offensive very stupid dead in the water completely unlikely to succeed: The peace process is now dead in the water. dead to the world sleeping in a way that makes it very difficult to wake you drop dead spoken used for telling someone rudely to stop annoying you or to go away, or for saying that you refuse to do something over my dead body spoken used for telling someone angrily that you will never allow something to happen rise from/come back from the dead to become alive again after being dead sb wouldn't be seen/caught dead spoken used for saying that someone would never wear a particular type of clothing, go to a particular place, or take part in a particular activity because it is not fashionable: /

wouldn 't be seen dead

dead 2 /ded/ adv

in

a jacket

informal

like that!

*

1 completely: stop dead (in your tracks) ^completely and suddenly) Rachel stopped dead in her tracks when she saw me with Andy. be dead set against (doing) sth (=oppose it completely) My parents are dead set against the idea of me going to South America. be dead set on (doing) sth (=be determined to do something despite opposition) The director is dead set on this location. la. very: dead tired I'm dead tired, but I can't miss this

meeting. 2 directly: dead ahead / can see the service station dead

ahead.

dead 3

/ded/ noun in the dead of night mainly

literary

in the middle of the night, during the darkest quietest time

and

in the dead of winter mainly literary in the middle of the winter during the worst, coldest period of it

dead

deaf

349

be dead and buried (=have failed completely) A government spokesman acknowledged that the peace process is dead and effectively dead.

'beat

adj [never before noun]

mainly Br E informal

extremely tired

dead-beat /'ded.bit/ noun [c] informal 1 AmE someone who tries to avoid paying money that they owe 2 someone who is lazy and does not want to achieve

dead-en

/'dedn/ verb [t] 1 to make a feeling or a pain less strong 2 to make a sound less loud dead 'end noun [c] 1 a road or passage that has no way out at one end 2 a situation in which no more progress is possible dead-end job noun [c] a job that provides you with no chance of getting a better job dead hand noun [singular] literary a strong harmful influence that something continues to have dead-head 1 /'ded.hed/ verb [t] 1 to remove the dead flowers from a plant 2 Am E to drive a train or bus that is carrying no passengers or goods on it dead-head 2 /'ded.hed/ noun [c] 1 offensive a stupid person 2 informal someone who uses a free ticket to go to an event or to travel 3 a train or bus carrying no passengers or goods on it dead 'heat noun [C] a situation in which two people, horses, cars, etc. are very near each other in a race or competition so that either might win dead 'letter noun [c] 1 a letter that can neither be delivered nor returned to anyone, because the addresses are missing or not complete 2 a law, agreement, or tradition that people no longer pay any attention to dead-line / 'ded .lain/ noun [c] * a specific time or date by which you have to do something: They've given us a +for The deadline for applications five o'clock deadline. was last Friday. meet/miss a deadline (=finish/not finish something in time) If we can't meet the deadline, they won 't give us another contract. dead-lock / 'ded ,lak/ noun 1 [singular/u] a situation in which neither person or group involved in a disagreement is willing to change their opinions or position: Negotiations are finally due to begin after months of political deadlock. break the deadlock (=end it) Hopes of breaking the deadlock are fading. 2 [C] BrE a lock that closes with a small metal bar when you turn a key or handle

AmE

dead-locked

/'ded.lakt/ adj if a situation is deadlocked or people are deadlocked, there is a serious disagreement and neither person or group involved in it is willing to change their opinions or position

dead-lyVdedli/adj

•

able or likely to kill people: This is a potentially deadly a deadly weapon The police charged him with possession of a deadly weapon. +to Too many water changes can prove deadly to these delicate fish. 2 [only before noun] complete: A deadly silence followed her 1

disease.

announcement. 3 informal very boring: the same old deadly routine 4 always able to achieve the intended result, effect, or purpose: Miller is a deadly shooter from the three-point line.

deadly enemy/foe/rival someone you have always hated or competed with a lot

dead-ly 2

/'dedli/ adv extremely: Politics serious business. a deadly boring play

is

a deadly

dead-pan / 'ded ,paen /adj pretending to be serious when

—

you are really joking: deadpan humor dead-pan adv 'ringer noun [c] informal someone who looks exactly like someone else dead 'weight noun 1 [c] something that is very heavy and difficult to lift or carry 1a. someone who cannot

dead

be lifted easily because they are sleeping, unconscious, or dead 2 [singular] something that makes it difficult for development, progress, or change to happen dead noun [u] people or things that are no longer considered useful or necessary by an organ-

wood

ization

deadbeat dad noun [C] Am E informal a father, usually

** not able to hear anything, or not able hear very well. Many deaf people wear a hearing aid to help them hear. Deaf people often use their hands to communicate in sign language, and many can lip-

not living with the family, who does not provide money or support to help the mother take care of their children

read what other people are saying: totally/partially deaf She's been totally deaf since birth, a. (as) deaf as a post

anything in

life

'dead ,bolt noun [c] the metal bar when you turn a key or handle

dead duck

noun

[C]

who will be punished this,

fail

I'm a dead duck!

informal

1

of a lock that closes

humorous someone

severely: If she ever finds out about 2 something that will certainly

deaf /def/ adj to

informal very deaf deaf to sth not willing to listen to something fall on deaf ears if something such as a warning, a request, or an attempt to change someone's attitude falls on deaf ears, it is completely ignored by the person who hears it

'e.

deafen

—

warning, a your attitude

to a

deaf-and-dumb adj offensive not able to hear or speak deaf-en

/'defn/ verb [T] 1 if a noise deafens you, you cannot hear anything else because it is so loud: They were deafened by the noise of the aircraft. 2 to make someone unable to hear either temporarily or per-

manently

deaf-en-ing

/'defnin/ adj so loud that you can hear

nothing else

deaf 'mute noun

[c) offensive

someone who cannot hear

or speak

deal

1

/dil/ noun

•••

formal agreement

1 a

2 how sb is treated 3 act of giving cards

4 what is happening 5 type of wood + PHRASES

a formal agreement, especially in business or politics: a business /peace /land deal + with a deal with a German TV company + between We think there was a deal between the CIA and the FBI. do/cut/make/reach/ strike a deal (with sb) We've cut a deal with Germany on wine imports. a deal goes through (=happens as arranged) We're 99% certain the deal will go through. a deal falls through (=does not happen as arranged) He nearly got the job but then the deal fell through. get a good deal (on sth) (=get it at a low price) / got a really good deal on my new computer, la. [C usually singular] an informal arrangement you have with someone that gives you advantages or disadvantages: have a good deal I've got a really good deal living at Sophie's house. 1

dear

350

turn a deaf ear (to) to refuse to listen request, or an attempt to change deaf-ness noun [u]

[C]

-» DEALING

2

[singular] the way in which you are treated by other people: a good/better/fair deal (for sb) They are demandget a rough /raw deal (=be ing a fair deal for nurses. treated unfairly) Disabled people have a raw deal under the current government. -» new deal 3 [singular] the act of giving cards to the people playing a game of cards: Whose deal is it next?

deal out phrasal vb 1 [l/T] same as deal 2 v. He dealt all the cards out. 2 [T] informal to give a punishment to someone deal with phrasal vb [T] 1 [deal with sth] to take action to do something, especially to solve a problem: The government must now deal with the problem of high unemployment. / spent the morning dealing with my emails. be best dealt with (=most effectively) The subject is probably best dealt with by simply ignoring it. 1a. [deal with sb] to take the action that is necessary when you are involved with a particular person or type of person: He believes young offenders should be dealt with quickly and harshly. 2 [deal with sth] to accept and control a difficult emotional situation so that you can start to live a normal life again despite it: She's dealing with her father's death very well. 3 [deal with sb] to buy goods or services from someone or sell them to someone: We have dealt with the company for years. 4 [deal with sth] to be about a subject: Chapter 5 deals only briefly with this issue. 4a. to talk about something: We'll deal with the question of poverty in a moment.

•••

deal«er/'ditar/ noun [c] 1 a person or company that buys and sells a particular product: a used-car dealer one of the largest New York art dealers + in a dealer in expensive leather goods

2 someone who

3 the person who game of cards

/'dibr.Jip/ noun [c] a business that sells the products of a particular company, especially cars

deahing/'dilin/noun

room noun [c] business a room at a stock exchange where shares are bought and sold 2 past tense and past participle of deal dean /din/ noun [C] 1 a senior official at a college or university 2 a senior Christian priest in a cathedral or other important church 3 Am E informal the most important person in a particular group: He saw himself as the dean of the local business community. dean*er*y /'dinsri/ noun [c] 1 the area that the dean of a church has authority over 2 the house of the dean of a church 'dean's .list noun [c] AmE a list of the students at a college or university who have achieved the best grades 'dealing

or not?

dealt the

a big deal spoken something that is very important: Water is a big deal in the Southwest. it's no big deal It's no big deal if you can't pay me back right now. it's not that big a deal Relax, it's not that big a deal if we're five minutes late. make a big deal (out) of sth (=behave as if it is very important) / know he's done well in all his classes, but I don't see why he has to make such a big deal out of it! big deal spoken used for showing that you do not think that something is very good or impressive: So she's got a part in the school play? Big deal! a done deal informal something that has already been

dear

decided and cannot be changed good deal Am E spoken used for showing that you think

something is good a good/great deal of sth a large amount or quantity of something: A great deal of research has been done already. She spent a good deal of time on the project. it's a deal spoken used for saying that you agree to something

deal 2 [I/T]

/dil/ (past tense and past participle dealt /delt/) verb

•*•

deal or deal out to give cards to the people playing a game of cards: Whose turn is it to deal?* Each player is 1

dealt three cards. 2 to buy and sell illegal drugs:

Many drug

addicts often

deal as well.

deal a blow to 1 to harm, upset, or shock someone or something: This scandal has dealt a blow to his plans to run for the Senate. 2 formal to hit someone or something to buy and sell deal in phrasal vb [t] [deal in sth] 1 something: a small company that deals in rare books The police said she was dealing in stolen goods. 2 to be interested in something: Lawrence was not a man who dealt in rumors. deal in phrasal vb [T] spoken [deal sb in] to allow someone to take part in something with you: If you 're going hiking this weekend, deal me in.

••

1 [U] the business of buying and selling: property /drug dealing 2 dealings [plural] the business activities or the general relationship that you have with another person or organization: have dealings with sb/sth We've had no dealings with their company for years. 3 [u] the particular way in which you do business with or behave toward other people: a reputation for fair/ plain /honest dealing

deal spoken what is happening or going to happen: what's the deal? So, what's the deal? Is she coming

making

on the

gives cards to the people playing a

deal-er-ship

4 the

5 [U] wood from fir or pine trees used for furniture: a set of deal chairs

sells illegal drugs, especially

street

1

/dir/ adj

•••

beginning of letter

1

at

2

loved/liked very

much

3 expensive

4 used for speaking 5 nice + PHRASES

to sb

Dear used in front of someone's name at the beginning of a letter to them: Dear Diana, I hope you 're feeling la. Dear Sir/Sirs/Madam used at the better now. beginning of a very formal letter, for example, to a company or to someone you have never met: Dear Sirs, 1 am writing to complain about your telephone helpline. 2 loved or liked very much: a dear friend She is a very dear friend of mine. dear to sb You are both very dear to 1

me.

3 [not usually before noun] old-fashioned expensive 4 Br E old-fashioned used for speaking to someone in a friendly way or in a way that shows that you think you are better or more important than them 5 nice. People who use this word usually do not sound sincere: dear little /sweet /old etc. Raymond is a dear sweet

man!

be dear to sb's heart formal if something is dear to someone's heart, they are very interested in it and care a lot about it: Education is a subject that is very dear to the President's heart.

dear God spoken used for expressing strong emotion, especially anger or shock: Dear God, what is the matter

now? for dear

life

informal using

all

your strength, speed,

dear

dear2

/dir/ noun [c]

••

someone who

is nice, generous, and helpful to others: be a dear and do sth Be a dear and go get my glasses for

1

me, will you?

2 spoken used for talking to someone you love or are friendly with: Have you had a nice day, dear? 2a. used for talking in a friendly way to someone whose name you do not know: Be careful on those steps, dear.

dear3

spilled

your

BrE

cause a lot of them lose a lot of money Dear Ab-by /,dir 'aebi/ AmE a newspaper column written by a woman who gives advice about people's problems. People sometimes say they feel like Dear Abby when other people ask them for advice. dearest 1 /'dirast/ noun old-fashioned used for talking /dir/ adv cost sb dear problems for someone or make

to

someone you

love: Yes, dearest, you're absolutely right. a. sb's nearest and dearest often humorous someone's

family and good friends

dearest 2

/'dirsst/ adj 1 [only before noun] used about something that you want or hope for more than anything else: It's my dearest wish that you two should get married. 2 old-fashioned most loved or liked: sb's dearest friend a letter from her dearest friend 3 old-fashioned used in front of the name of someone you love at the beginning of a letter to them 4 mainly Br E most

expensive

dearie

/'diri/ noun [C] informal old-fashioned used for talking to someone you love or like or for talking in a friendly way to someone whose name you do not know: Do you need any help, dearie?

Dear John letter noun [c] a letter that you send to a man to tell him that you are ending your sexual or ,

romantic relationship with him dearly /'dirli/ adv 1 very much: He dearly wants to would win. / love him dearly in spite of all his faults. dearly like to do sth I'd dearly like to be there when he finds out the truth! 2 with serious loss, damage, or trouble: You 're going to pay dearly for that mistake. cost sb dearly Success in your career can cost you dearly in your personal life.

dearly beloved spoken formal used by a priest or other religious official as a way of speaking to the people at the start of a Christian ceremony, especially a wedding dearth /d3r0/ noun [singular] formal[+oi] a situation in which there is not enough of something: lack death /de8/ noun 1 [C/U] the state of being dead: It was clear that Sandra was very close to death. bleed/starve/burn etc. to death These people will starve to death unless they receive help soon. stab /kick /beat etc. sb to death Two of the prisoners were beaten to death by the guards. escape/cheat death (=avoid being killed) They narrowly escaped death when their car skidded off the road. the cause of death The doctor said that the cause of death was brain damage. 1a. an occasion when someone dies: the rising number of deaths on the roads every year There has recently been a death in their family. deaths from cancer/disease/

**•

traffic

the

all the time!

sb/sth will be the death of me often humorous used for saying that someone or something annoys, upsets, or worries you very much you'll catch your death (of cold) spoken used for warning someone that if they go outside when it is cold or wet they will become sick -» KISS OF DEATH, MATTER death-bed 1 /'deG.bed/ noun [singular] a bed in which someone dies or is about to die

on your deathbed often humorous going

to die

very soon

death-bed 2

coffee.

dear4

2

were all bored to death! be sick to death of (=have seen, heard, or had so much of someone or something that you now hate them) I'm sick to death ofpeople complaining

1

••

used when you are upset, /dir/ interjection disappointed, annoyed, worried, or surprised about something bad that has happened or something wrong that you have done: oh dear Oh dear, I'm afraid I've

to

debatable

351

or determination in order to avoid danger or serious trouble: He clung on to the edge of the clifffor dear life.

accidents etc. The program

number of deaths from

is

aimed at reducing

cancer.

the time when something ends or the fact that it ends: + of the death of apartheid in South Africa spell the death of sth (=cause the end of it) These regulations could spell the death of the industry. 2a. be in at the death (of sth) informal to be present when something ends or someone suffers defeat, especially because you are pleased about it [singular]

at death's door informal very sick and likely to die do sth to death to do something so much that it becomes

very boring look/feel like death warmed over informal to look or feel very sick to death informal very or very much: be bored/scared/ frightened /worried etc. to death It went on for hours, we

/'deG.bed/ adj [only before noun] done when you are about to die: a deathbed confession noun [c] an action or event that causes blow death the sudden and complete end of something important noun [c] a concentration camp in which death prisoners die or are killed

camp

death certificate

noun [c] an official document signed by a doctor providing details of how and when someone died 'death knell noun [singular] literary an event or situation that is a sign of the end of something

death-ly

1

/

deGli/ adj

dead person: a deathly

death-ly 2

making you think

of death or a

silence/ hush

way

that makes you think deathly of death or a dead person: deathly silent/ still pale/ white Her hand was deathly cold. /'deGli/ adv in a

'death penalty, the noun

*

legal

punishment by

death, usually for a serious crime such as murder. Killing people officially is called capital punishment.

'death ,rate noun

[c]

the

number

of deaths in a par-

one year 'death .rattle noun [singular] a sound sometimes made in the throat of someone who is dying death row /'deG ,rou/ noun [u] AmE the part of a prison for criminals who are going to be executed ticular area in

(=legally killed)

'death .sentence noun [c] 1 a judge's official statement ordering someone to be punished by death 2 informal something that will cause someone to die: Having cancer

is

not necessarily a death sentence.

'death squad noun

[c] a group of people who illegally other people, especially their political opponents death ,tax noun [C] Am E inheritance tax

kill

'death .throes noun [plural] 1 the final stages of something before it comes to an end or fails completely 2 uncontrolled shaking and twisting movements of someone who is dying in pain 'death .toll noun [c] the number of people who are killed

on a particular occasion

death

.trap noun [c] informal a place, building, or is in such bad condition that it could be dangerous to people .Death 'Valley an area of desert covering parts of California and Nevada, famous for being one of the hottest places in the world death .warrant noun [c] an official document ordering someone to be punished by death sign your own death warrant informal to do something that will cause you great danger or very serious problems 'death .wish noun [c] a feeling of wanting to die deb /deb/ noun [c] informal a debutante de-ba-cle /dei'bakl/ noun [c] something that fails completely in an embarrassing way vehicle that

de-bar

/di'bar/ verb

[t

usually passive]

to

officially

prevent someone from doing something de-base /di'beis/ verb [t] formal to reduce the value, quality, or status of something

debase yourself to behave in a way that makes people lose respect for you — de-base-ment noun [U] debatable /di'beitabl/ ad) something that is debatable is not certain because it is possible for people to have different opinions about it: a debatable point/ issue/

debate

de-bate

1

/di'beit/ noun

It is

debatable

**•

[C/u] a discussion in state different opinions about a subject: +about/on/over There has been intense debate over the handling of illegal immigrants. (a) lively/ heated /fierce /intense debate The proposals provoked a be the subject of much /some debate Her fierce debate.

which people or groups

E

'

books have been the subject of much debate, a. [C] a formal discussion that ends with a decision made by voting: + about /on sth an emergency debate on the future of the peace talks

a matter for/of debate something that people have different opinions about and argue about open to debate if something is open to debate, it is not certain or not yet decided, because people have different opinions about it

de-bate 2

••

/di'beit/ verb [i/t] people debate a subject, they discuss it formally before making a decision, usually by voting: Congress hotly debated (=with very is still debating the bill. strong opposing opinions) This is one of the most hotly + whether The two sides debated debated issues today. whether to raise taxes. 2 to consider an action or situation carefully before you decide what to do: / debated whether or not to call + what He stopped and debated what to do her parents. next. debate doing something She debated leaving without saying anything, but decided against it. de-bat- ing adj: a debating team 1

if

—

de-bauch

/di'botj/ verb

[T]

old-fashioned

to

make

someone behave in an immoral way, especially by giving them their first experience of sex, alcohol, or illegal

drugs

de-bauched

/di'botjt/ adj

someone who

is

debauched

considered to be immoral, because their way of involves a lot of sex, alcohol, or illegal drugs is

life

de-bauch-er-y

/di'batjari/ noun [u] behavior that is considered to be immoral because it involves a lot of sex, alcohol, or illegal drugs

de-ben-ture

/di'bentjar/ noun [C] business an official arrangement with a company in which the company promises to pay a fixed rate of interest on money you have invested in it

de-bil-i-tate /di'bih.teit/ verb to

make someone

de-bil-i-tat-ing

[T usually passive]

physically or mentally /di'bih.teitin/

adj

formal

weak

formal

someone physically or mentally weak: a

making

debilitating

illness /disease I condition

de-bil-i-ty /di'bilati/ noun [c/u] formal a state in which you are physically or mentally weak, usually because of an illness 1 deb-it /'debit/ noun [c] 1 an amount of money taken from a bank account 2 an amount of money that you owe, especially when it is recorded in a company's accounts or on a bank statement opposite credit deb«it 2 / 'debit/ verb [T] 1 if a bank debits your account,

—

it

takes money out of it for a particular purpose 2 to that an amount of money is owed by recording it a company's accounts or on a bank statement opposite credit

show in

—

decanter

352

assertion/ claim it is debatable whether whether the plan would actually work.

'debit card noun [c] a plastic card given by a bank that you use for paying for things. It moves money automatically from your bank account to the account of the person you are paying, —compare credit card

deb-onair

/.deba'ner/ adj old-fashioned a man who is debonair wears fashionable clothes and is attractive, relaxed, and confident

De-brett's /da'brets/ a book that gives information about British aristocrats (=people from the highest social classes)

de-brief /di'brif/ verb [T] to get information from someone who has just finished an important job, especially for the military or the government debriefing /di'brifirj/ noun [C/U] a meeting where someone gives a report about an important job they have just finished, especially for the military or the government

de-bris /da'bri/ noun [u] the broken pieces that are left when something large has been destroyed, especially by an explosion, fire, or accident a. garbage or pieces of useless material that make a place messy

debt

/det/ noun

•••

1 [C] an amount of money that you owe: By this time we had debts of over $15,000. run up a debt (=let it increase) She had run up debts of nearly $10,000. pay (off) /repay a debt Many people experience difficulty in paying off their debts. clear/settle a debt (=pay all of it) She agreed to settle her sister's debts. cancel /write off a debt (=decide that it does not have to be paid) The bank finally agreed to cancel the debt. 1a. [u] a situation in which you owe money to other people: be in debt (to sb) / don't like being in debt to anyone. go/get/run into debt She was terrified of getting into debt. heavily/ deeply in debt Many students are heavily in debt. 2 [singular] an obligation to be grateful to someone because they have done something for you: owe a debt of gratitude to sb / owe a debt of gratitude to my father, who has always supported me. 'debt col lector noun [c] someone whose job is to make people pay back the money they owe debt-or /'detar/ noun [C] ** a person, organization, or country that owes money opposite creditor 'debt re lief noun [u] the practice of letting poor countries not pay back what they owe to rich countries de-bug /di'bAg/ verb [T] computing to look for and remove mistakes from a computer program so that it

—

works correctly

de-bunk

/di'bAnk/ verb

such as an idea or belief

de-but

[T]

to prove that

is false

and

something

silly

*

1

/dei'bju; 'dei.bju/ noun [c] the first time a performer or sports player appears in public: make your debut Chadman made his debut on Broadway in 1968.

debut Madonna's movie debut in Desperately Seeking Susan 2 de-but /dei'bju; 'dei.bju/ adj [only before noun] a debut CD, appearance, novel, etc. is the first that a performer, sb's acting/singing/movie/directorial

sports player, writer, etc.

makes

de-but 3

/'dei.bju/ verb [I] to perform or be performed in public for the first time: He debuted at Carnegie Hall in 1994.

/'debja.tant/ noun [c] a young woman for the first time at a ball and officially becomes part of fashionable society Dec. abbrev December dec-ade/'de,keid/ noun [c] *** a period often years, especially one beginning with a year that ends in a 0, for example 1990 through 1999: in/over/during/within the past/last/next decade Prices have risen sharply in

deb-u-tante who appears

the last decade.

dec-a-dence /'dekadans/ noun

[u] 1 behavior that is considered immoral because it concentrates too much on pleasure: a life of sexual decadence 2 so much pleasure that it almost seems morally wrong: Eating like that every night is pure decadence. dec-a-dent /'dekadant/ adj 1 involving a lot of pleasure that is considered immoral: the decadent Berlin of the Twenties and Thirties 2 allowing yourself or providing so much pleasure that it almost seems morally wrong: self-indulgent: a deliciously decadent dessert

de-caf

noun [C/u] informal decaffeinated cup of this drink

/'di.kaef/

coffee, or a

de-caf-fein-at-ed /di'kaefi.neitad/ adj decaffeinated coffee or tea has had the caffeine (=a chemical substance that keeps you awake) removed de-cal / di.ksel; di'kael/ noun [c] a picture on a special piece of sticky paper that you can put onto a surface

de-camp

/di'kaemp/ verb [I] to leave a place in order work somewhere else a. to leave a place quickly because you have done something wrong de-cant /di'kaent/ verb [T] to pour wine out of one container and into another so that the sediment is left to live or

behind

de-cant-er /di'ksntar/ noun that

[c]

you pour an alcoholic drink

to people

a special glass bottle into before serving it

decapitate

—

[C/U]

de-cath-lon /di'ksG.lan/ noun [C] a sports event that consists often different sports —compare pentathlon

de-cay

*

1

/di'kei/ verb to be gradually destroyed as a result of a natural process of change, or to destroy something in this way: 1

[I/T]

As dead

trees decay, they feed the soil.

will decay

2

your

Too much sugar

teeth.

a building or an area decays, its state gradually gets worse because it has not been taken care of 3 [I] to become gradually worse in quality, or weaker in power or influence [I]

if

de-cay 2

*

/di'kei/ noun [u]

1 the gradual destruction of something as a result of a natural process of change: Bacteria cause the decay of Candy causes tooth decay. dead plants and animals. 1a. the part of something that has gradually been destroyed 2 the process by which a building or area gradually gets into a worse state because it has not been taken care of: fall into decay (=get into a worse state) The

farmhouse fell

and

into disuse

decay.

3

the process of becoming gradually worse in quality, or weaker in power or influence: the social and moral decay of the country

de-ceased

dead: flowers on the graves of deceased relatives 2 the deceased a dead person or people, especially when the death or deaths were recent: The deceased was a highly respected member of the farming community. /di'sist/ adj

de-ce-dent, the

who has de-ceit

formal

1

/di'sidant/ noun

AmE legal a person

recently died

noun [c/u] dishonest behavior that is intended to trick someone: The whole relationship was based on lies and deceit. de-ceit-f ul /di'sitfal/ adj behaving dishonestly in order /di'sit/

— de-ceit-f uMy — compare deceptive

to trick people

noun

[U]

adv,

de-ceit-f ul-ness

2

deceive /di'siv/ verb

•

[T]

to trick someone by behaving in a dishonest way: "You two don't deceive me, " she said. "I know what you're trying to do. " deceive sb into doing sth He was deceived into giving them all his money. don't be deceived Don't 1

be deceived, she's not as nice as she seems. 2 if something deceives you, it gives you a false idea

about something

else:

sb's

eyes /ears deceive them

Unless my eyes deceive me, that's your brother over there. old-fashioned if someone deceives their husband, wife, or partner, they have a sexual relationship with someone else

3

deceive yourself to refuse to believe something because you do not want to: You're just deceiving yourself if you think he'll come back to you. looks /appearances can be deceiving used for saying that people and things are often very different from how they appear

de-cel-er-ate gress, or drive

/di'seb.reit/ verb

[i]

formal to move, pro-

more slowly —opposite accelerate

December /di'sembar/

***

noun [c/u] the twelfth of the year, between November and January: House prices fell slightly in December. I received a letter from them on December 15/ December 15th.

and

last

month

Repairs started last December.

de-cen-cy

/'disnsi/ noun [u] behavior that is moral, good, or reasonable: No one with any sense of decency can ignore their request for help. common decency (^standards of decency that most people should have) It would have been only common decency to phone and say you'd be late. have the decency to do sth You didn't even have the decency to say you 're sorry!

de-cent

decilitre

353

de-cap-i-tate /di'kaepi.teit/ verb [t] formal to cut off de-cap-i-ta-tion /di.kaepi'teijn/ noun someone's head

/'disnt/ adj

**

1 good or good enough: Are there any decent restaurants around here? The Dolphins have a decent chance of winning the game. 2 behaving toward other people in an honest, fair, and nice way: a decent caring man it is decent of sb to do sth It was decent of David to offer to pay. 3 considered by most people to be moral, good, or

married again so soon do the decent thing (=do after your husband has died. what is right) After such rudeness, the chairman should do the decent thing and apologize publicly. 4 informal old-fashioned wearing enough clothes to not be embarrassed to let other people see you: Don't look, de-cent-ly adv I'm not decent yet! de-cen-traMse/di'sentra.laiz/a Br E spelling of decenreasonable:

It's

not decent

to get

—

tralize

de-cen-tral-ize /di'sentra.laiz/ verb [T] to take power from a central government or organization and give it to several smaller and more local ones de-cen-

—

tral-i-za-tion /.disentrali'zeifn/ noun [U] de-cep-tion/di'sepjsn/ noun [c/u]* the act of tricking someone by telling them something that is not true: He was accused of obtaining money by deception. de-cep-tive /di'septiv/ adj 1 something that is deceptive seems very different from the way it really is: a deceptive calmness in his voice 2 trying to trick someone by telling them something that is not true: new laws

against misleading or deceptive advertising tive-ness noun [U]

— de-cep-

de-cep-tive-ly /di'septivli/ adv used for saying that something is different from how it appears: The house looks deceptively small from the outside (=but really it is big).

de-ci-bel uring

de-cide 1

/'desibl; 'desi,bel/

how

[l/T]

loud a sound

/di'said/ verb

to

make a

[c]

a unit for meas-

***

choice about what you are going to

He decided

to stay and see what would The committee decided unanimously to accept +that / decided that it would be best to tell

do: decide to do sth

happen.

noun

is

the offer. George everything.

+

what/whether/how/when/where

what

to do. She needs to decide whether or not she wants to keep the house. + between Julia has to decide between being an architect or a novelist. decide for yourself (=make a choice yourself and not ask or allow someone else to do it for you) "We think people should have the opportunity to decide for themselves what they want." la. [T] to influence someone so that they make a particular choice: What finally decided me was the location. decide sb to do sth That decided me to

etc. I can't decide

finally leave my job. 2 [T] to produce a particular result: Today's decide the championship.

3

game

will

something carefully and officially state what should be done about it: It could take months before this case is decided. The matter will be decided by a Senate committee. decide against/ in favor of sb The [T]

to consider

court decided against Mrs. McLaughlin. If the committee decides in his favor, he will be a very rich man.

decide a gainst phrasal vb [t] [decide against sb/sth] to not choose someone or something: In the end we decided against the house because it was too small. decide on phrasal vb [T] [decide on sb/sth] to choose someone or something from a number of possible choices:

We

decided on Spain as our vacation destination

this year.

de-cid-ed /di'saidad/ adj impossible to doubt and easy to see: a decided improvement on last year de-cid-ed-ly/di'saidsdli/adv 1 in a way that is impossible to doubt and easy to see: Chris's car was old and looked decidedly dangerous. 2 in a way that shows you are very certain about something: "I think we should do it, " said Peter decidedly.

de-cid-er /di'saidar/ noun [c] informal a goal or shot that wins a game, or a game that makes you the winner of a whole series of games if you win it de-cid-ing /di'saidin/ adj [usually before noun] producing the final result of a situation or event: In the end, money will be the deciding factor. / had the deciding vote. de-cid-u-ous /di'sid3uos/ adj deciduous trees lose all their leaves each fall. Trees that keep their leaves all year round are called evergreen.

dec-i-li-ter /'desi.litar/ noun [C] a unit for measuring an amount of liquid or gas in the metric system. There are 10 deciliters in one liter. dec-i-li-tre /'dcsi.litor/ the Br E spelling of deciliter

^

'*>

decimal /'desiml/ noun [c) a number in a system based on the number ten that consists of numbers on either side of a decimal point. 0.5, 25.75, and 873.4 are all decimals.

decimal 2 /'desiml/ adj based on the number ten decimalise /'desiml.aiz/ a BrE spelling of decimalize

dec-i-mal-ize / 'desiml ,aiz/ verb [i/t] to change a system of money or measurements to one based on the number dec-i-mal-i-za-tion /.desimll'zeijn/ noun [U]

ten

decimal place

noun [c] a position that comes after the decimal point in a decimal

decimal point

noun

[c]

the symbol

.

in a decimal

dec-i-mate

/'desi.meit/ verb [t] to spoil or destroy something, for example by getting rid of a lot of people: The department has been decimated by years of budget cuts. dec-i-ma-tion /.desi'meijn/ noun [U]

de-ci-pher /di'saifar/ verb [T] 1 to succeed in reading messy or careless writing: / always wonder how people manage to decipher my doctor's handwriting, la. to succeed in understanding the meaning of something written in a secret system of letters or symbols called a code 2 to understand something mysterious or confusing: The look he gave her was hard to decipher.

•••

decision

/di'si3n/ noun a choice that you make after thinking carefully: make a decision The committee should make its decision later this week. come to/reach a decision Have you come to a decision yet? + about/ on We haven't reached a final decision on the funding yet. reverse /overturn a decision The Supreme Court can overturn an earlier decision. the right/wrong decision / hope I've made the right decision. a big /tough /difficult decision The school is now faced with some very tough decisions. a decision to do sth Mrs. Osman has announced her decision to retire. 1a. [u] the process of making a choice after thinking carefully: The moment of decision has finally come. 2 [u] the ability to make choices quickly, confidently, and effectively: He acted with decision. 1

[C]

noun [u] • the process of deciding to do about something, especially in an organization: the consensus approach to decision-making Employees are demanding much greater involvement in the

decision-making what

decision-making process.

••

decisi ve

/di'saisrv/ adj 1 making the final result of a situation completely certain: Gettysburg, site of the final, decisive battle of the Civil War Cleveland's reputation for reliability was the decisive factor in winning the contract. The U.S. has played a decisive role in these negotiations. 2 able to make choices or decide what to do quickly and confidently: As a chairperson, he was firm and decisive. 2a. used about someone's behavior: decisive action We must take decisive action to solve this problem. 3 a decisive victory or defeat is one in which the winner does much better than the loser: a decisive victory for the Democratic Party de-ci-sive-ly adv,

—

de-ci-sive-ness noun [U]

deck 1

1

/dek/ noun

part of ship you

[c]

•*

walk on

2 level of vehicle/stadium 3 wood floor behind house 4 set of cards for games

5 tape deck/cassette deck 6 for records + PHRASES

1 the outside top part of a ship that you can walk on: on deck A lot of passengers were sitting up on deck. below deck (=inside and at a lower level than the deck) John stayed below deck in his cabin. 2 one of the levels on a ship, train, or stadium: upper/ lower deck the first-class cabins on the upper deck We had seats in the upper deck for the Dodgers game. 3 a wooden floor that is built onto the outside of the back of a house 4 a set of cards used for playing card games. BrE usually pack —picture -* ci6 5 a tape deck or a cassette deck 6 decks [plural] the turntables (=flat round parts of a record player) that djs use for mixing records on

hands on deck used for saying that everyone must help because there is an emergency all

decline

354

decimal

clear the decks informal to do work that you need to do before you can do other things hit the deck informal to fall or throw yourself to the

ground on deck ready for action, especially as the next batter (=someone who hits the ball) in baseball: Who's on deck? deck 2 /dek/ verb [T] 1 informal to hit someone so hard that they fall to the ground 2 same as deck out deck out phrasal vb [t] to decorate a person or object with something, usually for a special occasion: The streets are decked out with flags and streamers. deck chair noun |c] a light chair made of canvas (=strong cloth) on a wooden frame that you can fold up, used for sitting outside in warm weather —picture -» CHAIR

deck-hand

/'dek.haend/ noun [c] someone who works on a ship doing jobs such as cleaning /'dekin/ noun [u] mainly BrE wood used for

deck-ing

making a floor outside 'deck shoe noun [c] a cloth

flat

shoe that

is

made

of thick

and has a rubber bottom

de-claim

/di'kleim/ verb [i/t] formal to say something, especially in a formal or impressive way

de-clam-a-to-ry

/di'klaema.tori/ adj formal expressing feelings or opinions with great force

declaration /.dekb'reijn/ noun announcement laration of war

that something

is

[c/u]

•• an official

happening: +of a

dec-

an important statement: +of his declaration of love b. an official written statement that you sign to show that something is true: a tax declaration a.

Declaration of Inde pendence, the

the official

document written at the beginning of the American Revolution in which people in North America stated that they did not want to be ruled by Britain de-clar-a-tive /di'klerativ/ adj linguistics a declarative sentence

is

declare

expressed as a statement

/di'kler/ verb

announce

[T]

••• something

is true or hapsupport for the agreement. declared. A state of emergency has been declared in the area. declare sb/sth (to be) sth The election was declared invalid. Sarah was declared the winner. 1a. to say something, especially in a formal or impressive way: "I'm leaving tomorrow," James suddenly declared. +that Brady declared that he had no intention of giving up the fight. 2 to state officially how much you have earned or how much property you own so that you can pay the correct amount of tax: All income from investments must also be declared. 2a. to state officially that you have brought goods into a country so that you can pay the correct amount of tax: Are you going to declare the painting at customs?

1

to

officially that

pening: Australia declared /

was

in

its

Germany when war was

declare a gainst phrasal vb [t] [declare against sb/sth] to say publicly that you oppose someone or something: Others followed him and declared against the proposal. declare for phrasal vb [T] [declare for sb/sth] to say publicly that you support someone or something: Senator Hopkins has now declared for the tax cuts. de-clared /di'klerd/ adj mainly BrE officially or publicly stated

de-clas-si-fied information verb

noun [C] declassified no longer secret de«clas'si'fy

/di'klaesi.faid/

is officially

—

[T]

de-clen-sion /di'klenfsn/ noun linguistics 1 [u] the process by which the form of nouns, adjectives, or pronouns changes in some languages depending on their relationship to other words in a sentence 2 [C] a group of nouns, adjectives, or pronouns in some languages that all change their form in the same way depending on their relationship to other words in a

sentence

de-cline /di'klam/ verb ••• 1 [I] to become less or worse: The number of people In many cases buying their own homes has declined. 1

decline steadily/sharply/ living standards are declining. rapidly /dramatically Stock prices declined sharply last week.

2

[l/T]

to say politely that

you

will not accept

something

decline

de-cline /di'klam/ noun [c/u] *** a reduction in the amount or quality of something: +in There has been a 2

a steady decline in public services over recent years. sharp /steep /dramatic decline a sharp decline in the economic /moral decline an effort to halt the Nasdaq economic decline of the region fall/go/slip into a decline in decline The industry has now fallen into a decline. Agriculture is in decline in many Third World countries. on the decline Thankfully, this is a disease that is now on the decline.

de-clin-ing /di'klainin/

mainly literary becoming

adj

less or worse: the declining audience for shows like this declining standards in educational achievement

sb's declining years the years of someone's life they are old and becoming weaker

de-code /di'kood/

verb

to

1

[T]

standing the meaning of a decipher 2 computing if a mation, it changes it into a stand 3 to change digital

when

succeed in under-

message written in code: computer decodes inforform that you can under-

de-cod-er /di'koodar/ noun

[C] a piece of equipment that changes digital electronic signals into a picture and sound on your television

de-col-le-te /deikol'tei/ adj a piece of woman's clothing that is decollete is very low at the top so that you can see part of her shoulders and breasts de-col-o-ni-za-tion /di.kalam'zeijn/ noun [u] the process by which a colony becomes independent from the country that used to control it de-com-mis-sion /dika'mijn/ verb [T] to stop using something such as a weapon, ship, or nuclear power station

de-com-pose/.diksm'pooz/verbD] 1 to be destroyed by a slow natural process 2 science to separate into noun

— de-com-po-si-tion

parts

put on something: Framed prints decorate every wall. 2 to give someone a medal because they have done something brave or good: They were decorated for their bravery.

deco-ra-tion

/.deka'reijn/ noun

••

[C/U] something nice that you put on or in something else to make it look more attractive: Dad was putting up the Christmas decorations. 2 [C] a medal given to someone who has done something 1

brave or good

•

dec-o-ra-tive

/'dek(3)rativ; dekareitiv/ adj intended to look attractive rather than be useful: a decorative border /motif The lighting in the room is functional as well as decorative.

/'deka.reitar/ noun [c] 1 Am E an interior decorator 2 Br E someone whose job is to paint houses and put paper on the walls dec-o-rous /'dekaras/ adj formal polite and formal dec-o-rous-ly adv de-co-rum /di'karam/ noun [u] formal polite behavior

dec-o-ra-tor

—

de-cou-ple

/di'kApl/ verb

[T]

formal to separate two

objects, ideas, or processes

electronic signals into a picture and sound on your television 4 linguistics to understand the meaning of a word, especially in a foreign language, without being able to use it correctly in a sentence of your own —opposite encode

smaller

decriminalize

355

or do something: They offered to fly him to Brussels, but decline an offer/invitation We asked her to he declined. decline to the reception, but she declined the invitation. do sth The mayor declined to comment on the rumors. 3 [i] linguistics if a noun, adjective, or pronoun declines, its form changes depending on its relationship to other words in a sentence 3a. [t] linguistics to list all the forms of the declension of a noun, adjective, or pronoun

/.dikampa'zifn/

de-coy

[c]

1

a person or thing

you use to trick someone into going somewhere or doing something 2 a real or artificial bird used for attracting other birds by people who hunt them — de-coy verb [T] de-crease 1 /di'kris/ verb ** [i] to become less: The number of people visiting the park has decreased sigthat

Prices are expected to decrease by less than 1 nificantly. percent this year. a. [T] to reduce something: The new system decreases the risk to public health, —opposite INCREASE

Other ways of saying decrease

be/go/come down

to

become

less, especially in

number, value, or price: Your cholesterol level is down on last month's figure. I'd like a digital camera, but I'm waiting for the prices to come down. drop/fall to decrease in

number or

quality, especially

by a large amount: falling educational standards

At

night the temperature drops to below zero.

plummet/plunge (mainly journalism) to decrease suddenly and very quickly: The president's popularity rating has plummeted in recent weeks. They planned an advertising campaign plunging car

[u]

noun

/'di.kai; di'kai/

in

an

effort to reverse

sales.

de-com-press

very low level or value, when this is seen as a bad thing: The dollar has slumped to record lows against the yen.

de-com-pres-sion /.dikam'prefn/ noun

almost nothing left: The population of the town has dwindled to about 2,000. their dwindling supplies of food and fuel

/.diksm'pres/ verb [t] 1 to reduce the pressure on something, especially air pressure 2 computing to make a computer file that has been compressed return to its full size [u] 1 the process of reducing the pressure on something la. the process of allowing your body to return to normal air pressure after you have been diving deep under water 2 computing the process of decompressing a computer

FILE

decompression sickness

noun [u] a serious medical condition that affects divers who come up to the surface of water too quickly

de-con-ges-tant /.dikan^estant/ noun [c] medical a drug that helps you breathe more easily when you have a cold

de-con-struct

/.dikan'strAkt/ verb

[t] linguistics to in order to show that it can be understood in a different way by each person who

examine a piece of writing reads

it

— de-con-struc-tion noun [U]

decontaminate

/.dikan'taemi.neit/

verb

[t]

to

remove a dangerous or poisonous substance from something

de-con-tam-i-na-tion /dikantaemi'neifn/ noun

[u]

decor

or

decor

style of decoration

decorate 1

to

make something

nice things on

mas

/'deijkor;

tree yet?

deikor/ noun [c/u] the

and furniture

/'deka.reit/ verb

[t]

in a building

••

or in it: decorate sth with sth The room had been

it

to decrease to a

dwindle

to decrease slowly

and steadily

until there

is

decline/be in decline to decrease at a steady rate over a long period: The party 's membership has declined by 70 percent over the last ten years. The market for cigarettes

is

de-crease 2 becoming less:

in long-term decline.

/'di.kris/

less or the

+in a decrease in

noun [C/u]

*

the process of

amount by which something is +of the number of violent crimes

Profits were $1 million, which is a decrease of 5 percent last year. opposite increase

—

from

1

1 a judgment made by a court of law 2 an official decision or order made by a leader or government

de-cree

/di'kri/ noun [c]

de-cree 2

/di'kri/ verb [t] if a leader or government decrees something, they officially decide or order it

de-crep-it /di'krepit/ ad] old and no longer in good condition a. old and no longer in good health de-crep-i-tude /di'krepi.tud/ noun [u]/orma/ the state of being old and no longer in good condition or good health

more attractive by putting Have you decorated your Christ-

look

decorated with balloons. 1a. used about the thing

slump

you

de-crimi-nal-ize /di'kriminlaiz/ verb [T] to change the law so that something that was illegal becomes legal: a campaign

to decriminalize the possession of marijuana de-crinvi-nal-i-za-tion /diknminli'zeifn/ noun [u]

1

W.

decry

deepen

356

de-cry

/di'krai/ verb [J] formal to say publicly that do not approve of someone or something

you

deep

dedicate to phrasal vb [T] 1 to spend your time and effort doing something: devote: dedicate sth to sth Andy wants to dedicate more time to his hobbies. dedicate sth to doing sth This woman has dedicated her whole life to helping others. dedicate yourself to sth He dedicated himself to academic work. 2 [dedicate sth to sb] to say at the beginning of something such as a book or song that it has been written for a person you love or admire: Lynne has dedicated the novel to her friend Norma. 2a. to say at an official ceremony that a new building will have a special connection with a particular person as a sign of admiration or respect for them: a church dedicated to Saint Francis 3 [dedicate sth to sth] to use space, time, or money for a particular thing: The newspaper dedicated three whole pages to pictures of the flood.

dedicated /'dedi.keitad/ adj * spending

all

your time and

effort

on something: We

are fortunate to have such a highly skilled and dedicated workforce. He was very hard-working and dedicated to his research.

2 made channel

or used for just one purpose: a dedicated sports dedicated hardware

dedication

/dedi'keijn/ noun * amount of time and effort that someone spends on something: The project has been a success, thanks to the dedication of all the teachers. 2 [C] a statement at the beginning of something such as a book or song that tells people it has been written for a person you love or admire 3 [C] an official ceremony at which a new building is given a special connection with a particular person as a sign of admiration or respect for them 1

the large

[U]

deduce /di'dus/ verb

[T] formal to know something as a result of considering the information or evidence that you have: deduce sth from sth The facts can be deduced

from an examination of the

data.

deduct /di'dAkt/ verb [T] to take an amount or number from a total: deduct sth from sth Nothing from your pay without your consent.

deductible

will be deducted

1

/di'dAktsbl/ adj taken away from the amount of money on which you pay tax 2 de-duct-i-ble /di'dAktabl/ noun [c] AmE an amount of money that someone has to pay toward the cost of something when an insurance company is going to pay total

the rest of the cost

de-duc-tion /di'dAkfsn/ noun 1 [c] an amount or number taken from a total: He earns $40,000 a year after tax deductions. 1a. [u] the process of taking an amount or number from a total: Interest will be paid without deduction of tax. 2 [C] something that you know from the information or evidence you have: We know he is but it takes more than deductions to win a court 2a. [u] the process of finding something out by considering the information or evidence that you have: his amazing powers of deduction

guilty, case.

de-duc-tive /di'dAktiv/

adj considering carefully the information or evidence that you have in order to find the solution to a question or problem: deductive reasoning

deed 1

/did/ noun

[c]

*

document that gives agreement, especially about who owns

[usually plural] legal

an

official

details of a legal a building or piece of land

2

adj

something that someone does good deed for the day humorous something good and helpful that someone does dee-jay /'di^ei/ noun [c] an informal way of writing "DJ" that shows how it sounds deem /dim/ verb [T never progressive]/orma/* to consider that someone or something has a particular quality: deem sth necessary /important /appropriate etc. The Commission will take as long as is deemed necessary to make its decision. deem sb/sth to be sth These buildings are deemed to be of architectural importance and must be

•••

way down

2 feeling/emotion: strong 3 sound: low 4 color: dark and strong

5 6 7 +

sleep: hard to

breathing a

wake from

lot of air

with complicated ideas PHRASES

1 going a long way down from the top or the surface: The river is pretty deep here. an area of high hills and deep valleys 1a. used for saying or asking the distance from the top or surface of something: How deep is the snow? 2 meters deep/ 6 feet deep etc. The pond needs to be at least ten feet deep. 1b. going a long way into something: He had a deep cut on his forehead. + inside By this time we were deep inside enemy territory. +in a small cabin deep in the woods 1c. going a long way back from the front of something: The shelves need to be a little deeper than that. 2 a deep feeling or emotion is very strong: / do feel a very deep sympathy for them all. a feeling of deep gratitude 3 a deep sound is low: / recognized George's deep voice on the other end of the phone. a deep roaring sound 4 a deep color is dark and strong: a beautiful deep red 5 a deep sleep is one that you do not wake up easily from: She fell into a deep sleep. 6 breathing a lot of air into or out of your body: Take a few deep breaths to calm yourself down. He looked at Rosie and gave a deep sigh. 7 someone who is deep has very serious thoughts, ideas, or feelings 7a. something that is deep involves very serious thoughts, ideas, or feelings: We had a very deep discussion about love and death.

deep in sth completely involved in doing something, especially so you do not notice things happening around you: deep in conversation Her husband seemed deep in conversation with Mrs. Beeley. deep in thought He was deep in thought, oblivious to all the noise around him. deep in debt owing a lot of money: How did you manage to get so deep in debt? go off at the deep end informal to unexpectedly become very angry, especially without a good reason in deep shit impolite in a very difficult situation in deep trouble in a very difficult situation in/into deep water in a difficult or serious situation: / was beginning to feel that I was getting into deep water. thrown in at the deep end made to deal with something difficult without being prepared for it

deep 2 /dip/ adv **• 1

a long

way down from

who work deep under surface 1a. a long deep into the forest.

the

way

the top or the surface: men ground deep below the ocean's into something: They continued

2 if people or things are two deep, three deep, etc., there are two, three, etc. rows of them behind or on top of each other: People were standing three deep at the side of the road to watch the parade. deep down 1 if you know or feel something deep down, you do know or feel it, although you try to pretend that you do not: Deep down I knew that Caroline was right. 2 if you have a particular quality deep down, you have that quality, although you try to keep it hidden from other people: Deep down he's really a very thoughtful person.

deep in/into the night

at or until

is

very

it is

very

a time that

late at night

run/go deep if a feeling runs or goes deep, strong and difficult to change

deep, the /dip/ noun literary deep-en /'dipsn/ verb

literary

1 bad situation: get worse 2 feeling: get stronger 3 know/understand more 4 water: become deeper

sb's

protected.

/dip/

1 going long

dedicate /'dedi.keit/ verb ••

1

1

the ocean

5 color: become darker 6 sound: become lower 7 become more complex

a bad situation deepens, it becomes worse: The a deepening conflict between crisis has deepened. the political rivals 2 [i/T] if a feeling or relationship deepens it, it becomes stronger: deepens, or something His anxiety deepened when he heard the news. Both sides are now deepening their commitment to the peace process. 3 [l/T] if someone's knowledge or understanding deepens, or something deepens it, they know or under1

[I]

if

economic

"

deep freeze to

and difficult to understand 'freeze noun [c] a machine used for keeping food

plicated

deep

very cold for a long time: freezes adj cooked in a lot of hot

deep-fried

oil:

deep-fried

onions

deep fryer

noun

cooking food in

[c]

AmE

a large deep pan used for

oil

1 very or very much: The comment had offended him The president said he was deeply concerned about deeply.

the situation.

2 a long way into something: The needle had penetrated deeply into his skin. 3 if you breathe or sigh deeply, you breathe a lot of air into or out of your body ad]

a deep pan pizza has a thick dough base

adj in

the deep areas of the ocean: deep-sea

diving 'sited/ or deep-root-ed /.dip 'rutad/ adj a deep-seated feeling or belief is strong and difficult to change: a deep-seated fear of spiders

deep-seat-ed

/.dip

,deep- set ad] deep-set eyes seem into your face

deep-six

to

be a long

way back

AmE

informal to stop planning or using something such as a project or activity verb

[T]

done something that they were officially ordered to do: If you fail to submit an answer within 15 days, you will be deemed in default. by default 1 if something happens by default, it happens only because someone does not do something else 2 if you win a game or competition by default, you win because the other person does not play or does not finish the game in default of sth mainly Br Eformal because something does not exist or happen

de-fault 2 /di'folt/ verb [I] 1 to fail to pay money that you owe: If you default on your payments, the bank will be forced to repossess your car. 2 to fail to appear in a court of law when you have been ordered to 3 to fail to take part in a game or competition when you have de-fault-er noun [C] agreed to

—

deeply /'dipli/adv **•

deep 'pan deep-sea

defend

357

deepen my understanding of local history. 4 [i/T] if water deepens, or someone deepens it, it becomes deeper: plans to deepen channels in the Port of New York 5 [i] if a color deepens, it becomes darker: As evening arrived, the shadows deepened. 6 [l/T] if a sound deepens, or someone deepens it, it becomes lower: The man suddenly deepened his voice. 7 [l/T] if a mystery deepens, or something deepens it, it becomes more com-

stand more: I'm trying

Deep South, the

the states of Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina in the south-

ern part of the U.S.

deep vein throm'bosis

noun [c/u] medical a serious medical condition in which a clot (=mass of thick blood) forms in a vein or artery deer /dir/ (plural deer or deers) noun [C] • a large brown animal with long thin legs. The adult male deer is called a stag and may have antlers growing from its head. The female deer is called a doe and a young deer is called a fawn, —picture -» ci3 deer-skin /'dir.skm/ noun [u] the skin of a deer, used for making things deer-stalk-er /'dir.stokar/ noun

[c]

a hat with pieces

that cover your ears

This type of hat was famously worn by Sherlock Holmes, the detective in the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930).

de-feat /di'fit/ noun [C/U] •• failure to win a competition or succeed in doing something: Wisconsin suffered a 23-7 defeat by Illinois. admit/accept/concede defeat a stubborn man who was not prepared to admit defeat a humiliating /heavy /crushing defeat —opposite 1

VICTORY

def eat 2 /di'fit/ verb

locks that will defeat most thieves to prevent something from happening or being successful: The proposal was defeated by 16 votes to 5.

3

de-feat-ism

/di'fi.tizam/ noun [u] an attitude that shows you think you will fail 1 de-feat«ist /di'fitist/adj behaving in a way that shows you think you will fail 2 de-feat-ist /di'fitist/ noun [C] someone who always

thinks they will

de fac«to actual,

1

/di

'fsektoo;

even though not

'faektoo/

dei

adj

formal

English is the de facto language of the computer industry. 2 Australian a de facto relationship is between two people who are officially recognized as partners without being legally married to each other 1

de fac'to 2 /di

official:

'faektoo; dei 'faektou/ adv very formal in

fact

defamation /.defa'meijn/ noun

[u] legal the offense of writing or saying something bad about someone that is not true and makes people have a bad opinion of

them de-fam-a-to-ry

/di Taenia ,tori/ adj formal defamatory remarks make people have a bad opinion of someone and are not true

de-fame /di'feim/ verb

[J]

formal

say or write somenot true and makes

to

thing bad about someone that is other people have a bad opinion of them

de-fault

1

/di'folt/

noun

**

way that something will appear or be done if you make no other choice, especially on a computer: Did you change the defaults on your e-mail set-up? The 1

[C]

the

default drive is "C. 2 [C/u] formal the position of

someone who has not

fail

def-e-cate

/'defa.keit/ verb [i] formal to get rid of solid waste from your body at the toilet def-e-ca-tion

—

/.defs'keifn/noun [u] /'di.fekt/ noun [c] ** a fault in someone or something: There are a few minor design defects. genetic

de-fect

1

defects

de-fect 2

/di'fekt/ verb

or

party,

[I]

organization

to leave a country, political

and

go

to

another

one

— de-fec-tion /dl'fek Jan/ noun [C/U], de-fec-tor noun [C]

de-fec-tive /di'fektiv/ adj not made correctly or not working correctly: faulty: defective brakes de-fence /di'fens/the Br E spelling of defense

de-fend 1

/di'fend/ verb

•••

protect from attack

2 speak to support sb/sth 3 prevent sth from failing

de-face

/di'feis/ verb [t] to deliberately damage something valuable by writing on it or breaking it

••

[T]

win against someone

in a game, fight, or election: The Yankees defeated the Red Sox 2-1. 2 if something defeats you, it is so difficult that you are unable to do it: The test completely defeated me. new 1 to beat:

4

in

5 6

try to in

law win again

sports

someone or something from attack: Thousands of young men came forward, willing to defend 1

[T]

to protect

their country. defend sb/sth from/against sth Steps are being taken to defend the city against attack. defend yourself You have a right to defend yourself if you are being attacked. 2 [T] to say things to support someone or something that is being criticized: Mr. Rose defended the committee's decision to publish the report early, strongly/strenuously/ vigorously defend He vigorously defended his party's record on human rights. defend yourself against sth They must be given the opportunity to defend themselves against

these allegations.

3

[t] to prevent something from failing, stopping, or being taken away: Hundreds of miners are fighting to

defend their jobs. We will defend their right to free speech. 4 [l/T] to be the lawyer in a court case who tries to prove that someone is not guilty 5 [T] to attempt to win a competition that you won last time in order to keep your position as winner: She will be defending her Wimbledon title later this month. successfully defend Can Baxter successfully defend his heavyweight championship? 6 [I] to play in a team sport in a position in which you are trying to prevent the other team from getting points: The opposition defended extremely well in the second half.

^

'»

.

defendant

de-fend'er/di'fendar/ noun [c] •• 1 a player whose job is to stop the other team from scoring in a game such as soccer 2 someone who supports something or works to prevent it from being lost or taken away: + of a defender of human rights -» PUBLIC DEFENDER

de-fense/di'fens/ noun

all

English

***

2 proof sb/sth is right 3 protection from illness

actions that you take to protect someone or something that is being attacked: come/rush to sb's defense Two of his friends came to his defense. 1a. [u] the system of weapons, equipment, and people used for protecting a country: Huge amounts of government money are spent an attempt to reduce the defense budget on defense. The president has promised to increase defense spending. 1b. [C usually plural] the particular structures, weapons, and people that are used to protect a place: The city walls were built as a defense against invaders. He stressed the need to strengthen the nation 's defenses. 2 [C/U] something that you say to support someone or something that is being criticized: +of The President responded with a strong defense of his foreign policy. in defense of Monroe has been fierce in defense of the present speak /say sth in sb's defense Several people system. spoke in my defense. come /spring /rush to sb's defense Martin immediately sprang to her defense, saying she was innocent. 2a. [singular] all the things that are said and shown in a court case to prove that someone is not mount a guilty: I think we have quite a strong defense. defense He mounted a surprisingly effective defense. 2b. the defense the people in a court case who try to prove that someone is not guilty: The defense will begin giving evidence tomorrow. 3 [C often plural] something that happens in your body [u]

you from becoming

sick:

new drugs

that

work

by strengthening the body's own defenses 4 /'di.fens/ [u] the players in a team game who try to prevent the other team from scoring points 5 [singular] an attempt by someone to win a competition that they won last time so they keep their position as winner: Simpson is in New York this week for the defense of his title. 6 [C] a way of thinking or behaving that protects you from being tricked or hurt: sb's defenses are down He got me to sign the contract when my defenses were down. -> SELF-DEFENSE

defense-less

/di'fensbs/ ad] lacking the ability to

protect yourself

de-fense-man /di'fensman; 'difens.maen/ noun [c] Am E a player whose job is to stop the other team from scoring points in a

game such

defense mechanism

as hockey

something that happens in your mind that helps you deal with something such as a bad experience 2 a process in your body that prevents you from becoming sick de-fen-si-ble /di'fensabl/ adj 1 a defensible belief or idea is one that you can support well against criticism 2 a defensible place is one that you can protect against attack

on

this point.

noun

[C]

1

— opposite indefensible

de-fen-sive /di'fensiv/adj ** 1 showing that you are angry or offended when you think someone is criticizing you: He got really defensive when I asked why he had left. 2 intended or used for protecting a place during an 1

respect

/.defa'renfj/

behavior that shows to accept their

to

showing that you them politely

treat

[u] refusal to obey a person or rule: She spoke with a tone of defiance. in defiance of Beef was reportedly exported from Britain in defiance of

the ban.

de-fi-ant /di'faiant/ adj refusing to obey a person or rule: He was in a defiant mood. Mr. Lally remains defiant, insisting that he will not give

de«fi'Cient/di'fiJnt/adj 1 lacking the correct amount of something: a diet deficient in vitamin C 2 formal not good enough: inadequate: a deficient education system deficit /'defasit/ noun [C] 1 the amount by which something is less than you need or should have: + of a country with trade deficits of

•*

$90 billion

2

technical a lack of a quality, skill, or ability that you should have de-file /di'fail/ verb [T] formal to spoil something important, pure, or holy de-fine /di'fam/ verb [T] 1 to describe clearly and exactly what something is: No one has defined the scope of the project. The responsibilities of each team member need to be clearly defined. 2 to explain the meaning of a word: Defining the word Manual work is broadly "love" can be very difficult. defined as work that you do with your hands. 3 to show the shape of something 4 to be a feature or quality that shows exactly what someone or something is like: It is his work that really define sb/sth as the high winds that define defines him. de-fined adj: Our roles are all a storm as a hurricane well defined. a sharply defined image

•••

—

definite /'defanit/

**

adj

There's 1 certain: This book will be a definite bestseller. a definite link between smoking and some types of cancer. 2 clearly decided and specific: We haven't arranged a definite date for our visit yet. 3 [never before noun] very clear about what you say so that everyone understands you: + about Amy was very definite about her intention to travel the world.

Academic writing You may sometimes want

to emphasize that something is definitely true. At other times, you may want to say that you are not completely certain about something, or that there is some doubt about the facts. Here are some linking words and phrases that you can use.

emphasizing that something is definite beyond question that by the 17th century a distinct change of emphasis had occurred. beyond doubt/question, undoubtedly, unquestionably, there can be no question/doubt that. ., it is undeniable that.

It is

.

.

saying that something is exactly as expected This proposal predictably caused considerable opposition.

definite

/di'fensrv/ noun on the defensive trying defend something from attacks or criticism: put sb on the defensive a controversy that has put the school's leadership on the defensive

— de«fi«ant*ly adv

caused by iron deficiency 2 a fault in someone or something that makes them not good enough: problems caused by deficiencies in the maintenance program

saying that something

— de«fen«sive'ly adv

in.

de-fi-cien-cy /di'fijnsi/ noun [C/u] * 1 a lack of something that your body needs: anemia

scoring points to

adj

someone and want

— def'efeivtiaMy adv

attack: defensive weapons 3 intended to stop the other team from scoring points in a game: a strong defensive effort 4 a defensive player tries to stop the other team from

de-fen-sive 2

[u]

you respect someone and are willing

de-f i-ance /di'faians/ noun 4 in sports 5 attempt to win again 6 behavior that protects

sb/sth that protects

to prevent

defer to Mr. Walters

def >er-ence / 'def(3)rans/ noun def-er-en-tial

of the Faith a title used by kings and queens since Henry VIII

1

de-fer /difsr/ verb [t] to arrange for something to happen at a later time than you had planned: postpone de fer to phrasal vb [J] formal to accept someone's opinion or decision, especially because you respect them: / will

opinions or decisions

De fender

1

definite

358

de-fen-dant /di'fcndont/ noun [C] legal *• someone who has been accused of a crime and is on trial

inevitably,

predictably,

unsurprisingly,

...as

predicted/expected is

likely or possible but not

If market failures can be offset by other policies then, on balance, privatization is likely to be desirable.

arguably, conceivably, on balance, perhaps/maybe, possibly, presumably, probably, it can be argued

.

definite article

degenerate

359

likely/feasible/possible/probable it seems clear that. ., there are good reasons to believe that.

de-flec-tion /di'flekjsn/ noun [c/u] the action of making something go in a different direction, especially

saying that something is true in most cases In general, the solubility of a gas decreases with increas-

de-flow-er

that..., that. . .,

is

it

.

.

ing temperature.

as a rule, by and large, generally speaking, in general, in most cases, on the whole saying that something appears to be one thing, but may really be something else They had been moved from their traditional homelands near the border, ostensibly in order to protect them against the possibility of an enemy advance. allegedly, apparently, in theory, ostensibly, ingly, theoretically

Other ways of indicating that something

is

seem-

definite or

not definite You can use modal verbs such as could, may, and might to express uncertainty. You can also use verbs such as seem and tend.

You can use the following adjectives to suggest that something is possible but not definite: alleged, apparent, hypothetical, likely.

by hitting

it

[T] literary to have sex with has never had sex de-fog-ger /di'fagsr/ noun [c/u] Am E the part of a car that blows air onto the windows to keep them clear

a

/di'flaor/ verb

woman who

— dcfog verb

[T]

de-fo-li-ant /di'fooliant/ noun [c/u] a chemical used for

making the leaves

fall off

a tree or plant

de-fo-li-ate /di'fooli.eit/ verb [T] to remove the leaves from a plant or tree using a defoliant de-fo-li-a-tion /di,fooli'eijn/noun[u]

de»for*es»ta*tion /di.fora'steijn/ noun [u] the process of removing the trees from an area of land de-form /di'form/ verb [l/T] to change shape, or make something change its shape, in a way that is not attractive or good: Wearing shoes that are too tight will deform your feet. de'for«ma«tion/,difor'meijn, .defsr'meijn/ noun [c/u] the process of changing shape in a way that is not good or attractive, or a change in shape that results from this process

de-formed definite 'article noun [c usually singular] linguistics the word "the" in English, or a similar type of word in another language

def initely

••

'defamtli/ adv 1 without any doubt: Your dessert is definitely the best one here. I'm definitely not going to Ben 's party tonight. 2 used for emphasizing that you mean "yes": "So we'll see you on Sunday at 7:00?" "Definitely!" /

definition

/.defa'nijn/ noun

•*•

1 [C] a statement of what a word or expression means: + of The definition of "family" has changed over the years. a clear/ precise definition We need a clear definition of the concept of human rights. a legal definition Do you know the legal definition of "larceny?" broaden /widen a definition Environmentalists are trying to broaden the definition of recycling. 2 [U] the quality of being clear: Some of the photographs

lack definition.

by definition as a part of the basic nature of something:

A dictatorship means, by definition, one center of power. de-fin-i-tive /di'finativ/ ad) [usually before noun] * 1 better than all others: This little book is the definitive travel guide to Moscow. 2 certain and unlikely to change: Doctors have now been able to make a definitive diagnosis. a definitive statement de*fin*i*tive*ly adv

—

de-flate

/di'fleit/ verb 1

[T]

to

make someone

feel less

confident or important: Peter's comments completely deflated the boy's confidence. 2 [l/T] if a tire or balloon deflates, or if you deflate it, air comes out of it— opposite inflate 3 [T] business to make changes in an economy in order to lower prices [T] to show that something is not true: a comment intended to deflate rumors that the

4

President

is ill

/di'formd/ adj something that is deformed has a different shape from what is usual or natural and is

not attractive to look at

de-for-mi-ty /diTormsti/ noun [c/u] a part of someone's body that is not the normal shape

de-frag-ment

/di'fraegxnent/ verb [t] computing to carry out an operation on a computer that brings together all free space and all similar files, and therefore increases the speed at which the computer operates

de-fraud /di'frod/ verb

[i/t] to

money from a person way to provide money to pay

get

or organization in a dishonest

de*f ray /di'frei/ verb

[T] formal

for something: Grants are offered to help defray the cost of attending the conference.

de-frock

/di'frak/ verb [T] to remove a priest from their job because they have done something wrong de-frost /di'frost/ verb 1 [l/T] if frozen food defrosts, or you defrost it, it becomes warmer until it is no longer frozen 2 [l/T] if a freezer or fridge defrosts, or you defrost it, you switch it off so that the ice inside starts to melt 3 [J]AmE to remove ice from the windows of

a car using

deft with

warm

/deft/ adj skill

1

la.

yachtswoman deft at

air

movements are made quickly and moving quickly and with skill: a deft who is extremely deft

deft at doing sth a chef

producing original dishes

de-funct /di'fAnkt/ adj not more de-fuse /di'fjuz/ verb [T] 1

— deft-ly adv

existing or working any

to make a situation more relaxed by making people feel less angry or less worried: The government is trying to defuse tensions over cuts in public spending. 2 to stop a bomb from exploding by removing its fuse

happy: After losing the game, Kelly felt pretty deflated. de-fla-tion /di'fleijn/ noun [U] business the general reduction of prices or economic activity in an economy

de«fy /di'fai/verb[T]* 1 to refuse to obey someone or something: disobey: The commander defied a direct order to surrender. 2 to happen in a way that is different from what usually happens or what you expect: Buildings leaned crazily,

de*fla*tion*ar*y /di'fleijn.eri/ adj business causing prices and the level of economic activity to become lower or stop increasing: the deflationary impact of an

defying the law of gravity. 3 if something defies description, belief, or understanding, it is strange and almost impossible to describe, believe, or understand

de-flat-ed

/di'fleitsd/ adj feeling less confident

and

— opposite inflation

economic

crisis in

Asia

— opposite inflationary

de-flect /di'flekt/ verb 1 [T] to direct criticism, attention, or blame away from yourself toward someone else: The company was criticized for trying to deflect the blame for the accident. deflect sth from sth It was designed to deflect attention from domestic political problems. 2 [T] to make someone change their plans or stop what they are doing: deflect sb from (doing) sth Violence will not deflect us from seeking a peaceful political settlement to the problems. 3 [i/T] if something deflects, or is deflected, it starts to move in a different direction, usually because it has hit something: The ball skimmed off Shearer's head and was deflected past Meldrum.

defy sb to do sth to tell someone to prove that something is possible by doing it: / defy you to produce one shred of evidence.

deg. abbrev degree de-gen-er-ate /di'd3en3,rcit/ verb [I] 1

to

become worse:

The

—

demonstration soon degenerated into de'gen«er«a*tion/di,d3en3'reijn/noun[u]

de-gen-er-ate erate lifestyle 2

2

violence.

immoral: a degenworse state than before

/di'd3en(o)rot/adj 1 technical in a

— de-gen-er-a-cy noun [U]

de«gen-er-ate 3 /di'd3en(a)rat/ noun whose behavior is shocking or immoral

[c]

someone

^

W>

degenerative

degrada-tion

^degro'deifn/ noun 1 (c/u) a situation or condition that makes someone feel ashamed and makes people lose respect for them: the misery and degradation of extreme poverty 2 U technical the process of changing into a worse condition: environmental degradation [

de-grade

/di'greid/ verb

1

[t]

]

to treat

someone so

badly that they feel ashamed or people stop respecting them 2 [T]formal to make something worse: Under no circumstances can the quality of nursing be allowed to be degraded. 3 [i] science if a substance degrades, it separates into the different substances that it consists of

de-grad-ing

/di'greidin/ adj causing you to have less respect for yourself or for someone else: a life of backbreaking labor in degrading conditions

degree /di'gri/

noun

•••

1 [C/u] an amount of something such as a feeling or a quality: The job requires a high degree of skill. The schools have had varying degrees of success in improving their test scores. some degree of sth (=a small amount of something) The project has had some degree of success. * to a /some degree (=partly) What you say is true to some degree. to a large degree To a large degree it is parents who should take the blame. 2 [C] a qualification that you get after completing a course at a college or university: a biology degree +in a master's degree in English literature 3 [C] a unit for measuring temperature. Measurements are often expressed by a number followed by the symbol °: It will probably be a few degrees colder by the weekend.

4

[C] a unit for measuring angles. Measurements are often expressed by a number followed by the symbol °: The two lines meet at a 90° angle.

by degrees gradually

dehumanise /di'hjums.naiz/a Br E spelling of dehumanize

dehuman-ize

to make people stop feeling and behaving like normal people, especially by treating them very badly 2 to make people seem less real or important than normal people de-hu-man-i-za-tion /difijumani'zeijri/ noun [u],

/di'hjuma.naiz/ verb

[t]

1

—

de-hu-man-iz-ing

dehy-drate

/di'hai.dreit/ verb 1 your body that you feel

remove

to

— de-hydra-tion de-hy-drat-ed sick because

/

the

[i]

much sick 2 [t]

to lose so

weak or

water from noun [u]

something

,dihai'dreijri/

/di'hai.dreitad/ ad) 1 feeling weak or lost a lot of water from your

you have

body 2 dehydrated food has been preserved by having all its water removed de-ice verb [t] to remove the ice from something such as an airplane or the windshield of a car de-i-fy /'dii.fai/ verb [t] formal to consider someone to be a god a. to treat someone as if you considered them to be a god de-i-fi-ca-tion/.diifi'keifn/ noun [u] deign /dein/ verb [i] if someone deigns to do something, they do it but in a way that shows they are not willing: Mandy was the only person who deigned to speak to him. de-i-ty /'disti/ noun [c] a god de-ja vu /.dei^a 'vu/ noun [u] the feeling that you are having exactly the same experience as one you have had before de-ject-ed /di'd3ekt3d/ adj someone who is dejected has lost all their hope or enthusiasm, especially because they have failed at something: They sat in silence, looking tired and dejected. de-jec-tion /di'd3ekjan/ noun [u] the feeling of being

—

dejected

del. abbrev delete Del. abbrev Delaware

de-lay 1

/di'lei/ verb

••

to do something later than is planned or expected: They agreed to delay the decision for as long as possible. / have delayed my return home because of the 1

[I/T]

2 [t usually passive) to make someone or something late or slow them down: His plane had been delayed for five hours.

If delivery is delayed,

we

will let

you know imme-

diately.

3

[I]

to deliberately take a long

de-lay 2

/di'lei/

noun

time to do something

••

which something happens later or more slowly than you expected: Why the delay? + in Try to find the reason for any delay in payment. delay in 1

[C/u] a situation in

doing sth Please excuse my delay in replying. 1a. [C] a situation in which a plane, train, etc. leaves or arrives late: Trees had fallen near the railroad tracks, causing more delays. After a long delay, the plane finally took off. 2 [U] failure to do something quickly: We have encountered nothing but obstruction and delay from our suppliers. without delay (^quickly) / hope that discussions will take place without delay. 3 [C] the time between an event and its result or between one event and the next: Callers' comments were aired after a ten-second delay.

de-lay-ing tac-tics

/di.lenrj 'tsktiks/ noun [plural] things that are deliberately said or done to make a process slower

de-lec-ta-ble /di'lektabl/

adj

cially to eat or drink: delicious

2

1

de-lec-ta-tion/,dilek'teifn/noun ure or enjoyment

delegate

very pleasant, espevery attractive

literary

[u] very formal pleas-

/'dela.geit/ verb * give part of your work, duties, or responsomeone who is more junior: Because Henry hated to delegate, he was always overworked. delegate sth to sb He always delegates boring tasks to his assistant. 2 [T] to choose someone to do a job for you or to represent you: Bill was delegated to contact the manager. 1

[I/T] to

sibilities to

[c] •• someone who is chosen to represent a group of other people at a meeting del-e-ga-tion /.deb'geijn/ noun •* 1 [C] a group of people who represent a country, gov-

del-e-gate 2 /'debgat/ noun

ernment, or organization: They agreed to send a delegation to the African summit meeting. 2 U ] the process of giving some of your work, duties, or responsibilities to a more junior person or organization [

adj

de-hu-mid-i-fi-er/,dihju'midi,fair/ noun [c] apiece of equipment that removes water from the atmosphere

water from

weather. Don't delay if you want to get your order in by Christmas. delay doing sth We delayed getting on board for as long as we could.

1

82° Fahrenheit

science

deliberation

360

de-gen-er-a-tive /di'd3en(o)roti\7 ad) a degenerative disease is one that gradually gets worse

de-lete/di'lit/verb

[t]

••

1 to remove or cross out something that has been written: delete sth from sth Several names had been deleted

from

the list. to remove information stored in a computer: Your records have been deleted from our database.

2

del-e-te-ri-ous /.deb'tirias/ adj very formal harmful de-le-tion /di'lijn/ noun [C/U] the process of deleting something: The records have been marked for deletion. del-i /'deli/ noun [C] informal a delicatessen

deliberate

1

/di'lib(3)ret/ adj

••

intended, not done by chance or by accident: intentional: I'm sure the omission of my name was deliberate. deliberate attempt/effort Her visit was a deliberate attempt deliberate policy/choice to draw attention to the area. They are giving preference to women as a matter of deliberate policy. Opposite ACCIDENTAL 2 slow and careful: He moved at a deliberate pace. 1

—

2

de-lib-er-ate /di'liba.reit/ verb [i/t] to think about or discuss something very carefully, especially before you make an important decision: The jury deliberated a second day without reaching a verdict. de-lib-er-ate-ly /di'lib(3)ratli/ adv •• 1 with a definite intention, not by chance or by accident: intentionally: You did that deliberately, just to annoy me. The police believe the fire was started deliberately. Her voice was deliberately cool, —opposite accidentally 2 in a slow careful way: He spoke deliberately, considering each word carefully. deliberation /di.liba'reifri/ noun 1 deliberations [plural] discussions in which a subject is considered carefully 1a. [u] long and careful thought or discussion: After much deliberation, Roy accepted the offer. 2 [u] a slow and careful way of speaking or moving

delicacy

deliver

361

delica-cy

/'delikasi/ noun 1 [C] a rare or expensive type of food: Caviar is considered a delicacy in many countries. 2 [u] the need to be sensitive in order to

offering to do something: Thank you so much, we'd be de-light-ed-ly adv: The children laughed delighted.

avoid making people angry or upset 2a. a sensitive and careful way of dealing with a difficult situation 2b. a careful and gentle way of doing something 3 [u] the quality of being easy to break or damage 3a. the quality of being delicate in appearance, color, taste, or smell

de-light-ful /di'laitfol/ adj • very pleasant or attractive: She was a delightful companion. There is a delightful little garden behind the house. de-light-ful-ly adv: It's a delightfully witty and perceptive description. de-lim-it /di limit/ verb [T] formal to set the limits of something de-lin-e-ate /di'lmi.eit/ verb [t] 1 formal to describe something very exactly 2 formal to decide or show the exact limits of something 3 technical to show a line or border, for example on a map de-lin-quervcy /di'linkwansi/ noun 1 [u] criminal or immoral behavior, especially by young people 2 [C/u] Am E legal failure to pay money you owe de-lin-quent 1 /di'linkwant/ adj 1 behaving in a way

del-i-cate /'delikat/ adj •• 1 something that is delicate can easily be damaged or broken: Delicate skin must be protected from the sun. 1a. someone who is delicate is rather weak and often sick 2 a delicate situation needs to be dealt with carefully so that people do not get upset or annoyed: The negoThere is a rather tiations are at a very delicate stage. delicate matter that I need to discuss with you. 2a. a delicate process is difficult, needing care and a lot of a delicate balance between skill: a very delicate operation

freedom and restraint

3

thin, small, light, or graceful: The plant has delicate pink flowers. her delicate hands 3a. attractive with many small details: a delicate floral design 3b. a delicate taste, smell, or color is pleasant and not

and

attractive

too strong

4 moving with

care and

skill:

He plays

the

piano with a

delicate touch.

del-i-cate-ly / 'dehkatli/ adv 1 in a careful way, so that something is not damaged: He placed the fruits delicately into a box. la. in a graceful way, with small or light movements: She raised the cup delicately to her lips.

way so that people are not upset or to handle the situation very delicately. in a way that is pleasant and not too strong in flavor, smell, or color: a delicately flavored fruit 2a. with a graceful design or many small attractive details: delicately embroidered blouses 1b. in a careful

annoyed: We need

2

delicately balanced balanced in a

way

that can easily

be damaged

del'i'cates /'delikats/ noun be washed with special care

[plural]

clothes that need to

deli-ca-tes-sen

/,delika'tesn/ noun [c] a store that food such as cooked meat, cheese, and food from other countries sells

delicious

•

/di'lijas/ adj 1 with a very pleasant taste or smell: This sauce is delicious with fish or vegetables. The fruit tasted delicious.

absolutely/simply/quite delicious The cheese

and white and

2 mainly

is soft

absolutely delicious.

very pleasant or enjoyable: delightful: There was a delicious breeze on the front porch. She literary

a delicious floating sensation. deliciously creamy dessert

felt

delight

1

/di'lait/

noun

— de*li*cious*ly adv: a

••

1 [U] a feeling of great happiness and pleasure: +in Joe's delight in his children's achievements was beautiful to see. with /in delight They would slide down the icy slopes, shrieking with delight.

to sb's delight

To

my great

take (a) delight in (doing) sth enjoy something or enjoy doing something: He seemed to take great delight in embarrassing me. 2 [C] something that gives you pleasure or happiness: be a delight / must say she was a delight to teach. the delights of sth Enjoy the delights of rural Spain.

delight, she said yes. la.

to

de-light 2 /di'lait/ verb [T] *• to give someone a lot of enjoyment or pleasure: We were all delighted by the news. His laid-back

de

style delights the reader.

light in phrasal vb

[T]

[delight in doing sth] to get a lot

of pleasure or enjoyment from something: in corresponding with his old students.

delighted

He

delights

**

very happy, especially because something good has happened: delighted to do sth / was delighted to see my old friends again. +(that) The family is delighted that the case is finally over. +at The company is delighted at the response to its advertisement. +with We're delighted with our new grandson. /di'laitad/ adj

absolutely delighted / was absolutely delighted with the

way things had turned out. a. formal very happy to do something: I'd be delighted to tell you more about our work, if you have the time. b. I'd/we'd be delighted used for politely accepting an invitation, or agreeing or

—

delightedly.

is criminal or antisocial 2 Am E legal a delinquent account or tax bill has not been paid on time 2a. someone who is delinquent in paying their taxes or bills fails to pay the money they owe de-lirvquent 2 /di'linkwant/ noun [c] someone, especially a young person, who behaves in a way that is criminal or antisocial de-lir-i-ous /di'lirias/ adj 1 talking or thinking in a confused way because you are sick 2 extremely happy and excited: ecstatic de«lir'i'ous«ly adv de*lir>i*um /di'liriam/ noun [u] 1 a confused state caused by illness 2 extreme excitement or happiness de-lir-i-um tremens /dihriam 'tremanz; di.liriam 'trimanz/ noun [u] medical a serious medical condition caused by drinking too much alcohol. Delirium tremens is often called the DTs. de-liv-er /di'hvar/ verb

that

—

*••

1

take sth/sb to place

2

give formal talk

5 help woman give birth 6 give sb a hard hit

3 provide sth (promised)

7 free sb from situation

4

+ PHRASES

in

computing

1 [T] to take something, especially goods or letters, to a place: The package was delivered this morning. deliver sth to sth Would you like to have the latest fashions delivered to your door? deliver sth by hand (=take a letter or package to a place yourself, rather than using the postal service) 1a. to give information or documents to someone: The message was delivered by the Finnish ambassador. deliver sth to sb These records should be delivered to the Registrar at the end of every financial year. 1b. to take someone to a place where they will be guarded or taken care of: deliver sb to He was safely

delivered to his hotel. 2 [J] formal to give a formal talk to a group of people: deliver a speech /lecture /address The main speech was delivered by Anne Samson. 2a. to give an official decision: The jury returned to deliver its verdict. 3 [i/T] to do something that you have promised to do: No one believed that he would be able to deliver everything that he had promised. + on The president may find himself unable to deliver on tax cuts. 3a. [T] to provide a service: These reforms will enable us to deliver health services more efficiently. 3b. [t] to win votes or support, especially for a political party: We're counting on you to deliver votes from younger people. 4 [T] computing to make a computer program available: We'll soon be delivering this software on multiple platforms. 4a. used for describing the power of a computer and what it can do: A two-processor configuration should deliver 57 MIPS. 5 [T] to help a woman to give birth to a baby: The baby was delivered by a paramedic. 6 [T] to hit someone hard: deliver a blow /punch She delivered a hefty blow to his stomach. 7 [T] formal to free someone from an unpleasant situation: deliver sb from sth It was another hundred years before they were finally delivered from slavery.

deliver the goods to do something that you have promised to do or are expected to do: People doubt that the President can really deliver the goods.

de liver up phrasal vb [T] formal to give something to someone officially and formally: All the firm 's accounting

W

deliverable records have

been delivered up to the court.

de-liv-er-a-ble/di'li\(o)r3bl/noun [c usually plural] business something that can be achieved or delivered as the result of a plan or process

deliverance

/di'liv(3)rens/

noun

[u]

process of being saved from danger or

de-liv-er-y/di'liv(3)ri/noun 1 bringing

goods

literary

the

harm

••• 4 in computing 5 way sb speaks

to a place

2 providing a service 3 process of giving birth

6

style of

in

throw or

public hit

1 [C/U] the process of bringing goods or letters to a place: Please allow ten days for delivery. They haven't made regular deliveries for a week. free delivery We offer take/accept delivery of sth free delivery within the U.S. We have recently taken delivery of two new computers. 1a. [C] goods that are brought to a place: The last delivery was damaged. 2 [u] the process of providing a service: +of delivery of health care 3 [C/U] the process of giving birth to a baby: She had a relatively easy delivery.

4

[U] computing the process of providing information through a computer: desktop delivery mechanisms 5 [singular] the way in which someone speaks in public: You need to work on your delivery. 6 [singular] the way that someone throws a ball or

makes a

hit in a sport

room

delivery

women

noun

a

[c]

room

in a hospital

where

give birth

dell /del/ noun

[C] literary

/di'laus/ verb [T] to remove lice (=small insects) from someone's skin, clothes, or hair

del-phin-i-um /del'fmism/ noun

[c]

a

tall

plant with

small blue flowers

del-ta /'delta/ noun

[C]

an area where a river divides

into several smaller rivers that flow into the ocean: the Nile delta

delude /di'lud/ verb

to make someone think something that is not true: deceive: The government should not be deluded into thinking that it is popular, a. delude [T]

yourself to choose to believe something that

de-lud-ed /di'ludsd/

adj

is

not true

believing something that

is

not true

a deluge of complaints about the defective product. very heavy fall of rain: downpour 2a. a flood

2 a

2

/'deljud3/ verb [t] 1 if you are deluged with things, you have a lot of them to deal with: The Commission has been deluged with complaints. 2 to fill or cover a place with water: flood

de-lu-sion /di'lu3n/ noun

1 [C/U] an idea or belief that is not true 2 [u] medical a mental condition in which you believe things that are not true 2a. [C] an idea caused by this condition 2b. delusions of grandeur a belief that you are more important than you really are

de-lu-sion-al adj

de-luxe

/ds'lvks/ adj used about things that are better in quality and more expensive than other things of the same type: luxury: a deluxe hotel/ model/version

delve/ delv/verb[i]

1 to look for information by searching through something thoroughly: This biography delves deep into the artist's private life. 2 to search for something in a bag, pocket, etc.: Frank delved into his pocket and brought out a few coins.

Dem. /dem/ abbrev

1 Democrat 2 democratic /'dema.gag/ noun [c] a political leader influence people by making emotional

dem-a-gogue who

tries to

speeches

de-mand 1

[T]

de-mand 2 /di'mzend/ noun ••• 1 [C] a very firm statement that you want something: He was sympathetic to their demands. meet/satisfy sb's demands (=agree to them) She was not willing to meet his demands. +for She repeated her demand for an urgent review of the system. make a demand You are not in a position to make demands right now. 2 demands [plural] the things that need to be done in a particular situation: +of the demands of his new job demands on (=what someone has to do) Despite demands time, she was always courteous to everyone. [U] the amount of a product or service that people want, or the fact that they want it: 18,400 new houses will be needed by 2011 to cope with the demand. +for Demand for organic food is increasing.

on her

3

be in demand to be wanted by a lot of people: Our software is in demand all over the world. by popular demand because a lot of people have asked for it to deal with: This program makes heavy demands on the computer's memory. Enforcing the current law is making

demands on the police. on demand whenever people want it: We make cosmetic surgery available on demand. ridiculous

can't simply

demanding /di'maendin/ ad] •• 1 a demanding person needs a lot of attention and is not easily pleased or satisfied: Young children can be very demanding. 2 needing a lot of time, ability, and energy: a demanding job

de-mar-cate / 'dimar.keit/ verb

[t] formal to decide the limits of something, especially the borders of an area

demarcation

1 /'deljud3/ noun [singular] 1 a lot of things all happening or arriving at the same time, especially if they are hard to deal with: flood: The company received

del-uge

del-uge

question in a very firm or angry way: "Where do you think you 're going?" she demanded. 2 [T] to say that people must have something that you consider necessary: demand sth of/from sb / demand a lot of others but more of myself. He demanded - and received - great loyalty from his employees. 2a. [i/T] if a situation or activity demands something, that thing is necessary: require: This is a complex task and demands a high level of skill. His work demands attention from all serious critics. if/when/as (the) occasion demands When the occasion demanded, they could be truly charming.

make demands on to be a lot for someone or something

a small valley

de-louse

many

demerit

362

now

1

/di'maend/ verb

to say in a very firm

•••

way that you want something:

Angry congressmen are demanding an inquiry into the deal. The demonstrators demanded the release of all prisoners. demand to know /see She demanded to know + (that) The panel demanded that what was happening. the report be made public. demand sth of sb Slowly he counted out the amount demanded of him. 1a. to ask a

/ dimar'keifn/ noun formal [u] the process of establishing borders or limits between areas, groups, or things a. [C/U] something that establishes borders or limits

de-mean

/di'min/ verb [T] formal to make people have someone: degrade: Advertisements like demean women, a. demean yourself to do something that may make people respect you less: You're a liar, and I won demean myself by talking to you. de-mean-ing /di'minirj/ adj demeaning behavior or treatment makes people have less respect for you: less respect for this

't

degrading

de-mean-or

/di'minar/ noun [u] formal the way you look and behave: His demeanor in court is usually quiet

and

timid.

de-mean-our /diminsr/ the Br E spelling of demeanor de-ment-ed/di'mentsd/adj strange, stupid, or crazy

1

informal behaving in a medical affected by

way 2

dementia

de-men-tia /di'menJV noun

[c/u] medical a serious

someone's brain and memory in which they gradually stop being able to think or behave in a normal way. Most forms of dementia usually affect only illness affecting

old people.

/di'm3rd3/ verb [i/t] mainly BrE business if a company demerges or is demerged, it is separated from a larger company or is broken into a lot of smaller

de-merge

companies

de-merg-er

/di'm3rd3ar/ noun

[c]

BrE

business a

demerger takes place when one company separates from a larger group to which it belonged de-mer-it /di'ment/ noun [c] 1 Am E a mark or record that shows someone has done something wrong 2 [usually plural] a fault or other bad quality: the merits and demerits of the agreement

demesne

/di'mein/ noun [C] technical a large house and the land that belongs to it demi- /demi/ prefix 1 half or small: used with some nouns: a demitasse (=a small cup used to serve coffee in) 2 partly or slightly: used with some nouns: a demirelief (=a

work

of art that

is

slightly raised

dem-i-god /'demi.gud/ noun [C] person who is admired by people as

from a surface) 1 an important

they were a god. This word shows that you think people are silly for treating someone like this. 2 a god who is less important than other gods, especially one who is partly a god and partly a human being dem-i-john /'demi,d3an/ noun [c] a large glass bottle used for storing wine de-mil-i-ta-rized zone /dimilitaraizd 'zoon/ noun [C] an area where no soldiers or fighting between armies is allowed, usually as the result of an official decision to end a war de-mise /di'maiz/ noun [singular] very formal 1 the time when something stops existing: the demise of the typewriter in this computer age 2 the death of a person: the senator's untimely demise de-mist-er /di'mistar/ noun [C/u] BrE a defogger if

demo /'demoo/ noun

[C] informal 1 a car that people drive to decide whether they want to buy one like it 2 a piece of recorded music that a new singer or group sends to a recording company 3 computing a piece of computer software that you can try for a period before buying the full program 4 BrE a protest demonstration

de*mob

/di'mab/ verb

[i/t]

BrE

informal old-fashioned

to demobilize — de-mob noun [U) demo-bil-ise /di'moobl,aiz/a BrE

spelling of

demo-

bilize

de-mO'bil-ize /di'moobl.aiz/ verb [i/t usually passive] to send members of military forces home, especially after war has a ended — de-mo-bil-i-za-tion /di.moobli'zeijn/ noun [u]

••*

de-moc-ra-cy

/di'makrssi/ noun a system of government in which people vote in elections to choose the people who will govern them: the transition toward democracy a threat to democracy 1a. [C] a country that has democracy: new/emerging/ fledgling democracies some of the fledgling democracies of the world 2 [u] a system of running a business or organization in which everyone can vote and share in making decisions: industrial democracy 1

[u]

/'dema.kraet/ noun [C] * someone who supports democracy as a political system: This bill will be welcomed by democrats everywhere.

denvo-crat

Dem-o-crat

/'dems.kraet/ noun [C] a member of the Democratic Party in the U.S. /.dema'knetik/ adj *** 1 based on the principle that all people are equal and should be able to share in making decisions: a demo-

dem-ocrat-ic

cratic organization

2

involving elections in which people vote for their political representatives: a country proud of its democratic system

3 Democratic used

in the names of some political Democratic Unionist Party -dem-ocrat-i'caMy/.dema'krastikli/adv: a democratically elected government parties:

the

Demo'cratic

.Party,

the one

of the

two main

poli-

are usually more liberal than those of the other main party, the Republican Party tical parties in the U.S. Its policies

democratise

/di'makra.taiz/a

BrE

spelling of de-

mocratize

de-moc-ra-tize /di'makra.taiz/ verb [t] to change the way of running a government or organization so that the people in it are more equal and can share in making decisions

de-mo-de / .deimoo'dei/ adj

very formal

no longer

fash-

ionable

demo-graph-ic lations

demonstrator

363

de-mesne

1

/.demo'grsfik/

adj relating to

popu-

denvo-graprvic 2 /.dema'grxfik/ noun group of people that a company wants

a

[singular]

to sell its products

to

denvo-graph-ics /demsgrxfiks/ noun

[plural] the particular features of a population, for example people's

age or race

demog-ra-phy

/di'magrafi/ noun [u] the study of

populations

de-moMsh /di'malij/ verb

[t]

•

1 to deliberately destroy a building: Former factories were being demolished, and the whole site redeveloped. 1a. to destroy a building or other structure by accident: The truck hit a wall at high speed, virtually demolishing it.

2

to have a bad effect on someone's feelings or spoil their plans: It was an experience that completely demolished her confidence. 3 informal to defeat someone easily in a game or competition 4 informal to eat all of something very quickly

dem-o-li-tion / .dema'lifn/ noun destruction of a building a game or competition

demolition job occasion severely

noun

2

[c/u] 1 the deliberate informal an easy defeat in

[singular]

BrE

informal

when someone or something 2 a complete and easy defeat

is

1

an

criticized

demon /'diman/ noun

1 [c] an evil spirit 2 demons worry someone or make them unhappy: inner demons He was still wrestling with his inner demons. 3 [C] someone who is extremely good at something: She's a demon at chess. the demon drink Br E humorous alcoholic drink de-mon-ic /di'manik/ or de-moniac /di'moo nisk/ adj connected with demons or like a demon — de«mon«i«caMy/dl'manikli/adv de-mon-ise /'dima.naiz/a BrE spelling of demonize de-moivize /'dima naiz/ verb [t] to describe someone or something as very bad or dangerous although they are not: a community that feels it has been demonized by [plural]

things

mainstream

that

society

de-mon-stra-ble

/di'manstrsbl; 'demsnstrsbl/ adj formal clear or obvious: a demonstrable improvement in de-morvstra-bly adv: The entire system is performance demonstrably unfair.

—

demonstrate 1

[T] to

/'deman.streit/ verb

show someone how

to

*•*

do something by doing

it

yourself: Various techniques will be demonstrated, la. to show clearly that something is true or that it exists: an experiment intended to demonstrate the importance of family relationships +that The study demonstrates that cigarette advertising does encourage children to smoke. 2 [I] to protest about something with other people in a public place: the right to demonstrate peacefully + against Hundreds of students had gathered to demonstrate against the budget cuts.

dem-on-stra-tion /.deman'streijn/ noun •• 1 [C/U] an occasion when someone shows how something works or how to do something: cooking demonstrations [C] an occasion when a large group of people protest about something: Angry students held demonstrations in + against There were a number of the university square. pro-democracy/ demonstrations against the new tax. independence etc. demonstrations ^demonstrations in support of something) pro-democracy demonstrations in the capital city's square 3 [C] an event that proves a fact: This is a powerful demonstration of what can be achieved with new tech-

2

nology.

4 [C] an action that shows how you feel: a demonstration of his love /di'manstrativ/ adj 1 showing kindness or love in the way you behave toward someone: a very demonstrative child 2 linguistics demonstrative pronouns are the words "this," "that," "these." de«mon'stra«tive«ly adv and "those"

demon-stra-tive

—

denvon«stra'tor/'dem3n,streit3r/noun[c] 1 someone who marches with other people in public to show they support or oppose something 2 someone whose job is to show people how something works or how to do something

W.

demoralize [Tj to

make someone

lose confidence or hope

de-mor-al-ized

deny

364

demoralize /di'mnro.laiz/ verb adj,

de-mor-al-i-za-tion noun de-mor-al-izing adj

[U],

de-mote

/di'moot/ verb [t] to give someone a lower rank or a less important job a. to give something a less important position de-mo-tion/di'moofn/noun[C/u] demotic /di'mutik/ adj formal relating to or typical of ordinary people

—

American trade policies have been denounced by some European governments. denounce sb/sth as Some groups have denounced Bush 's decision as ill-advised. 2 to tell an authority such as the police that a particular person is responsible for a crime: denounce sb to sb It was his own brother who denounced him to the secret police.

dense

de-mo-ti-vate /di'mooti.veit/ verb [T] to make someone lose their enthusiasm and interest — de-mo-ti-

1

a. to 2

de-mure

/di'mjor/

adj

a demure

woman

is

quiet and

shy and always behaves well a. used about a woman's behavior or the clothes she wears: a demure smile a de-mure-ly adv demure little dress de-mys-ti-fy /di'misti.fai/ verb [T] to make something difficult easy to understand, especially by explaining it

—

1

/den/ noun

[c]

*

and be alone

1a. a secret place

illegal things:

where people meet

a gambling den

to

1b. a secret place

informal someone

dense writing

is

—

Am E a group

the

amount

dent

of cub scouts

a den of iniquity humorous a place where immoral things happen

1

••

[u]

of something in a place: the density of

vegetation in the area 2 science the relationship size of an object

3 how heavy

where children go to play 2 the home of some wild animals

3

who is dense is stupid not easy to understand because it contains a lot of information 5 science a dense substance is very heavy in relation to its size densely adv: densely populated regions 3

4

1

Am E a room in a house where someone goes to relax

do

4 not easy to understand 5 substance: heavy

1 with a lot of trees, plants, or leaves growing close together: dense undergrowth 1a. containing a lot of things or people close together: a dense network of towns and cities a dense black cloud offlying insects 2 dense smoke or gas is so thick that it is difficult to see through it

density /'densati/ noun

clearly

den

*

1

/di'm3r/ verb [i] formal to refuse to do somesay you do not approve of something de-mur /di'm3r/ noun [u] formal refusal or disagreement: without demur Both teams accepted the decision without demur. thing

adj

2 smoke/gas: thick 3 person: stupid

v-at-ing adj

de-mur

/dens/

with close things/people

between the weight and the

or thick something

/dent/ noun

[C]

is

a place where a surface has been

pushed or knocked inward make a dent in sth informal something

to

reduce the amount of

dent 2

de-ni-a-ble/di'naiabl/adj if something is deniable, you can prove that it is not true opposite undeniable denial /di'naisl/ noun * 1 [C/U] a statement that something is not true or did not happen: a strong/vehement/strenuous denial of sth The company has issued a strong denial of responsibility

—

/dent/ verb [T] 1 to a dent in a surface:

make

The impact had dented car's front

have a bad

defeat.

accept the unpleasant truth about a situation or admit what you are feeling: in denial / think she's still in denial about his death. 3 [U] the refusal to let someone have or do something: the denial of human rights to the mass of the population [U] technical refusal to

dental relating hygiene

/'deni.greit/ verb [t] to criticize something that shows you think it has no value at all

noun 1 [u] thick cotton cloth that is used especially to make jeans denim 2 denims [plural] a pair of pants made :

from denim den-i-zen /'denizsn/ noun

[C] literary someone or something that lives in a particular place or goes there often

noun [C] Am E a woman who is in charge of a group of cub scouts (=an organization for young boys who learn practical skills and moral values) de-nom-i-nate /di'nami,neit/ verb [t] business to say what units of money are used: dollar- denominated assets/

'den

mother

investments

paper money: notes of various denominations

de-nom-i-na-tion-al /di.nami'neijanl/

adj relating to a particular religious group: denominational schools

de-nom-i-na-tor /di'nami neitar/ noun [C] technical in mathematics, the number that is below the line in a fraction. The number above the line is the numerator. COMMON DENOMINATOR

de-note

/di'nout/ verb [t] formal 1 to mean someweight. thing: represent: In the table, T denotes time and 2 to be a feature that shows you what something is: carpet. indicate: Bad stitching denotes a poor quality

W

denouement /.demu'ma/ noun a book, play, or series of events, explained

de-nounce 1

adj

teeth:

•

dental [u]

a

dent

between your teeth

dental hygienist noun

someone whose job is to clean people's teeth and give them advice on how to care for their teeth [c]

'dental .surgeon noun

[c] formal a dentist /'den.tin/ noun [u] the hard substance that your teeth are made of den-tist /'dentist/ noun [C] * someone whose job is to examine and treat people's teeth. You can refer to the place where a dentist works as the dentist or the

den-tine

dentist's: J hate going to the dentist's. [u] 1 the job of examining and treating people's teeth 2 the study of people's teeth and how to treat problems of the teeth and mouth

den-tist-ry/'dentistri/noun

de-nom-i-na-tion /di.nami'neijn/ noun [c] 1 a religious group within one of the main religions: a problem facing the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations 2 the value of a particular coin or piece of

-» LOWEST

to

substance like very thin string that you use to clean

den-im /'denim/

is

/'dentl/

'dental floss noun

den-i-grate

way

to

badly dented by the

been

2

in a

the

2

on something: Their confidence had

for the mistake.

usually blue and jeans and jackets

bumper. effect

/di'nauns/ verb

to criticize

[T]

[c]

formal the end of

when everything

is

*

someone or something severely

in public:

den-tures /'dentjarz/ noun [plural] artificial teeth worn by people who do not have their own teeth de-nud-ed /di'nudsd/ adj formal something that is denuded has had the thing that normally covers removed

it

denunciation

/di,nAnsi'eiJn/ noun [c/u] 1 very strong public criticism of someone or something: Her comments have been interpreted as a denunciation of government policy. 2 the act of telling the authorities that someone has done something wrong or illegal Den-ver boot /.denvar 'but/ noun [C] AmE a heavy metal object that police use to cover one wheel of an illegally parked car

deny /di'nai/ verb

[T]

•**

1 to say that you did not do something that someone has accused you of doing: + (that) A spokesman denied deny (doing) that the company had acted irresponsibly. sth He still denies murdering his wife. deny an allegation/

"

deodorant

accusation /claim /charge Both men have denied the vehemently / strenuously / categorically / hotly deny sth All three athletes vehemently deny taking the drug. 1a. to say that something is not true or does not exist: deny the existence of sth Officials have repeatdeny a rumor edly denied the existence of a secret report. He has denied rumors that he is having an affair with a government official. + (that) Officials continue to deny that drug use is widespread in the sport, lb. very formal to say that you do not know a particular person or do not have a particular belief or opinion: Denying his friend was the only way to survive. Neither man was prepared to deny his religion. 2 to refuse to admit to yourself or other people that you have a particular feeling, illness, or problem: / had been denying this anger for years. 3 to not allow someone to have something: deny sth to sb Doctors were accused of denying treatment to older patients. be denied sth He had been denied the right to speak to his lawyer. deny sb sth There are parents who refuse to deny their children anything. 3a. mainly journalism to stop an opponent from winning or scoring: The home team was denied victory in the dying minutes of the game. allegations.

deny yourself formal to not allow yourself to have something you would like to have there's no denying spoken used for saying that something is clearly true: There's no denying her popularity. + (that) There's no denying that he was a great man.

de-o-dor-ant /di'oodarant/ noun

[C/u] a substance

you put on your skin to prevent your body from having an unpleasant smell that

•*

depart

/di'part/ verb 1 formal to leave a place and start a trip: The airplane departed at noon. +from Our flight departs from Dulles at 2 o'clock. +for The Foreign Minister will depart for Cairo this evening. 1a. [T]AmE to leave a place and start a journey: Before departing Colombo, they visited a [

I

]

Buddhist temple.

2

[l/T] literary

depleted

365

to die:

He departed

this life in the winter

of 1973.

3 [I] Br E formal to leave your job: The departing manager said it was time for some fresh ideas. depart from phrasal vb [T] [depart from sth] to not use the usual way of doing something: Some schools are now departing from the traditional idea of homework.

de-part-ed /di'partsd/

mainly literary dead a. the departed formal a person who is dead, or people who adj

are dead

department

•••

/di'partmant/ noun [c] 1 one of the sections in a government, organization, or business that deals with one type of work: the Education Department the Department of Health the sales department 2 an area in a large store that sells a particular type of goods: the mens wear department 3 one of the areas that France and some other countries are divided into

de'parture .lounge noun airport where you airplane

de-pend

sit

[c] a large room in an and wait before going onto an

/di'pend/ verb

••*

it/that depends mainly spoken used when you cannot give a definite answer, because different things are possible in different situations: + what /where /how/ when/whether/if "How much will I have to pay for a car?" "It depends what type of car you want.

de'pend on or depend up,on formal phrasal vb [T] 1 [never progressive] [depend on sth] if one thing depends on another, it is changed or affected by the other thing: Their future depends on how well they do in school. depend entirely /solely on sth How much money you get depends entirely on your individual circumstances. depend largely (=mainly) on sth What the products will look like will depend largely on what customers want. 2 [depend on sb/sth] to need someone or something in order to survive or be successful: The project's success depends on the support of everyone concerned. depend on sb for sth The young birds depend on their parents for food depend on sb to do sth The horses all for several weeks. depend on Mr. Jackson to take care of them. 3 [depend on sb] if you can depend on someone to do something, you are sure that they will do it: / wasn't worried, I knew I could depend on you. as if your life depends on it with as much effort as possible depending on according area you choose.

dependable

to:

Prices vary depending on the

1 a dependable adj person always behaves in a sensible way and does what they say they will do 2 dependable things always work

/di'pendsbl/

in the way you expect them to de-pend-ence /di'pendans/ or de'pend«en«cy

/di'pendansi/ noun

[U]

**

1 a situation in which you need someone or something in order to live or succeed: +on our dependence on our parents the industry's dependence on coal 2 the fact that someone is addicted to a drug or to alcohol: the problems that alcohol dependence creates within the family unit

de*pend»en*cy is

/di'pendsnsi/ noun [c] a country that controlled by another country

dependent

1

/di'pendant/

adj

•**

you are dependent on someone or something, you need them in order to live or succeed: a married couple with dependent children + on /upon They hate being 1

if

dependent on their parents. 2 [+on] if one thing is dependent on another, it is affected by the other thing and changes if the other thing changes: Your pay is dependent on your work experience.

de«pend«ent 2

adj * involving one department of a large organization: a departmental

/di'pendant/ noun [c] a child or other whom you give food, money, and a home to: He has dependents from a previous marriage. dependent 'clause noun [c] linguistics a clause in a sentence that gives more information about the main clause but cannot exist without it de*per*son»aMze /di'parsanl.aiz/ verb [T] 1 to do something in a way that does not involve people very much 2 to treat people in a way that makes them feel that their feelings and ideas are not important

budget/ report/ secretary

de-pict

sb's

department informal

ment, you know about Mergers and Acquisitions

it

is

if

something

is

your depart-

and are responsible for Sandy's department.

it:

de RIGHT2

direction-al

/di'rekjanl; dai'rekjanl/ adj technical relating to or pointing in a particular direction 2 designed to send or receive radio signals better in one direction than in others: a directional microphone/ 1

antenna

directionless

/di'rekjanbs; lacking a definite purpose or plan

dai'rekfsntas/

•

an

official

order

di-rectly

1

/di'rektli; dai'rektli/adv

1 involving

•••

4 clearly and honestly 5 immediately 6 soon

no one else

2 in a direct 3 exactly

line

1 in a way that involves only the two people or things mentioned, with no one or nothing else coming in between: / prefer to deal directly with the manager. / am holding you directly responsible for this. This will

contribute directly to the strength of the economy. Many problems can be directly linked to the decline in manufacturing. 2 going straight to a place and not stopping or changing direction on the way there: His British lawyer arrived at Frankfurt airport this morning and went directly to the prison. Patrick took Jane by the elbows and looked directly into her eyes.

3

exactly: The post office is directly opposite the town hall. There was no light on in the room directly above. in a very clear and honest way that shows what you really think: Jackson avoided saying directly that he disapproved of the proposals. 5 immediately: He left the office directly after the meeting. 6 old-fashioned in a short time: The manager will be with

4

at 1

[C]

you directly. 2 di«rect'ly /di'rektli;dai'rektli/conjunction.Br£assoon as: / came directly I heard what had happened. di rect mail noun [u] advertisements mailed to people

control/management

where

di-rec-tive /di'rektiv; dai'rcktiv/ noun

adj

home

di rect 'marketing noun [u] the sale of products to people through the mail or by telephone instead of in stores

di rect method noun [singular/u] a way of teaching a foreign language to someone in which you only use the foreign language [c] linguistics the noun or pronoun in a sentence that is affected by the action of a transitive verb. In the sentence "Harry was reading a book," the noun phrase "a book" is the direct object of the verb "was reading."

.direct 'object noun

di-rec-tor /di'rektar; dai'rektar/ noun [C] •*• 1 someone who is in charge of making a movie or program, or getting a play ready for performance, especially by telling the actors and technical staff what to do compare producer

—

2 someone whose

job

is

to

company, organization, or

manage

all

or part of a

institution: the finance/

marketing /personnel director 2a. one of the senior managers in charge of a company: Taylor is now a director of the company as well as its largest single shareholder. a board of directors Oppenheimer has been on the board of directors since 1984.

di-rec-tor-ate

/di'rekt(3)rat; dai'rekt(3)rat/

noun

[C]

the directors of a company 2 a part of a government department that deals with a particular area of activity: BUREAU 1

di rector 'general noun [C] the person in charge of a large organization di«rec«to*ri*al /.dairek 'tonal/ adj relating to the work of a director, especially a movie director

Director of Public Prosecutions, the BrE a government official who decides whether someone accused of a crime by the police should be brought a court of law

to

trial in

di rector's 'cut noun [C] a movie in the form that is exactly what the director intended, before changes are made to produce the final form that is shown to the public

di-rec-tor-ship /di'rektarjip; dai'rektarjrp/ noun the job of being a director of a of time during

which someone

company is

a.

[c]

the period

a director

di-rec'to-ry /di'rektari; dai'rektari/ noun [c] • 1 a book that lists the names, addresses, and telephone

numbers of all the people in a city: telephone book 1a. a list of the names and telephone numbers of the people who work in an organization 1b. AmE a sign in a building or department store that tells you where to find something or someone 1c. a book that lists information in alphabetical order

directory assistance 2 a computer

file

files,

documents,

or programs

di

rectory as'sistance noun

you phone

to find out

[u]

Am E the service that

someone's telephone number:

dis or diss /dis/ verb [T] informal to treat or speak to someone in a way that does not show them respect dis- /dis/ prefix: used with some nouns, verbs, and adjectives for giving a word the opposite meaning: something) • dissimilar (=not similar)

dislike (=to not like

INFORMATION

.direct 'speech noun

BrE

[U]

**

course [c/u] technical a tax collected directly a person or organization instead of as part of the

price of a product or service

dirge /d3rd3/ noun

[c]

— direct taxation noun [u]

a slow sad song often sung at a

funeral

dir-i-gi-ble /'dirid33bl; di'nd33bl/ noun [C] an aircraft like a large balloon (=a bag filled with gas) with an engine

dirk /d3rk/ noun

[c]

a knife used as a weapon by Scottish

soldiers in the past

dirrvdl /'d3rndl/ noun

[C]

a wide skirt or dress that

fits

tightly at the waist

dirt /d3rt/ noun

[u]

disbelief

linguistics direct dis-

direct 'tax noun from

disaffected

383

that contains other

a condition dis-a-bil-i'ty /.disa'bibti/ noun [c/u] in which someone is not able to use a part of their body or brain properly, for example because of an injury: children with learning disabilities disability allowance/ benefit (=money that someone with a disability receives from the government) a protest against cuts in disability benefits

/dis'eibl/ verb [T] 1 to harm someone so that part of their body or brain no longer works normally: a disease that can kill or disable the young 2 to stop a machine or piece of equipment from working properly: Pressing the red button will temporarily disable the printer.

dis*a*ble

disabled 1

*

/di'seibld/ adj

*•

someone who is disabled is unable to use part of body or brain properly because of injury or disease

their

1 soil or mud (=soil mixed with water) Groups of children were playing in the dirt. mounds of dirt that makes something dirty: His face was covered in dirt. Angelo brushed the dirt off his coat. 3 informal information about someone that could damage their reputation if people knew about it: They will publish any dirt they can find on their political oppodig up dirt (on sb) The papers were looking to dig nents. up all the dirt on Dale. :

2 a substance

do sb dirt Am E informal to treat someone very badly treat sb like dirt to behave toward someone in a way that shows you have no respect for them 'dirt ,bike noun [c] a vehicle like a small bicycle with an engine that is used for riding or racing on rough

ground

'cheap adj, adv informal very inexpensive .farmer noun [c] AmE a very poor farmer who works alone because he does not have enough money to hire people to help him

,dirt 'dirt

'poor adj Am E informal extremely poor ,road or 'dirt, track noun [C] a road or track with a rough or loose surface

people who are disabled. Some people consider this word offensive and prefer to use the expression "people with disabilities".

2 the disabled

Words

that avoid giving offense:

disabled

Use disabled to describe someone who has a permanent condition, especially a physical one, that

some way - for example, a makes someone unable to walk. The older word handicapped, which referred to both physical and mental disabilities, is now usually considered offensive. You can use blind or deaf to refer to someone who cannot see or cannot hear, but many people now prefer the expressions visually impaired and hearing impaired. Some people use the word challenged (in compounds like physically challenged or visually challenged) to describe disabilities in a more positive way. But this is more often used in humorous phrases such as vertically challenged (=not tall). limits their activities in disability that

,dirt 'dirt

1

dirt-y /'d3rti/adj 1

**

not clean

2 dealing with sex 3 using unfair methods

+ PHRASES

:

AmE

air/wash your dirty linen/laundry in public to discuss private subjects or problems in public a dirty word if something is a dirty word, people dislike it or disagree with it, often without good reasons: For

many

teachers, change is a dirty word. sb's dirty work to do an unpleasant or dishonest job for someone so they do not have to do it themselves get your hands dirty 1 to do hard physical work 2 to

do

become involved

in something dishonest give sb a dirty look informal to look at someone in a way that shows that you are angry with them or do not like

them

dirt«y

2

/'d3rti/ verb [T] to

especially

/di'seiblmsnt/ noun [u] formal a condition in which someone is not able to use a part of their body or brain properly because of injury or disease

dis-a-bling 4 very bad 5 having illegal drugs

not clean Ifelt dirty, hungry, and cold. diseases spread by dirty water piles of dirty laundry dirty fingernails 2 [usually before noun] dirty language or pictures deal with sex in a way that offends some people: dirty jokes/ movies 3 [usually before noun] using dishonest or unfair methods: Politics is a dirty business. a dirty fighter 4 [only before noun] informal used for emphasizing how bad someone or something is: That's a dirty lie. 5 informal containing or having illegal drugs: One of the competitors had a dirty urine sample. 1

disa-ble-ment

make something

by putting marks on

not clean,

it

old 'man noun [C] informal an older man who offends people by being sexually interested in someone

.dirty

younger than him .dirty 'tricks noun [plural] dishonest ways of defeating or harming an opponent, especially in politics

disabling

it

you unable

/di'seiblirj/ adj if

use

a condition or injury

is

your body or your brain and makes

affects to

it

properly

dis-a-buse / .disa'bjuz/ verb [T] formal to make someone realize that they were wrong to believe something dis-ad-vaivtage /,diS3d'vaentid3/ noun [C/u] ** something that makes someone or something less effect1

ive, successful, or attractive: Grants are available for + of projects that tackle disadvantage in deprived areas. One of the disadvantages of the job is the long hours I

advantages and disadvantages (=good and bad work. features of something) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of living abroad. at a disadvantage less likely to succeed than other people or things: Anyone not familiar with the Internet is at a serious disadvantage. put/place sb at a disadvantage The strength of the company puts competitors at a great disadvantage. be/work to sb's disadvantage to make someone unlikely to succeed: Ma king such inflammatory remarks will only work to his disadvantage.

dis-ad-van-tage 2 /,dis3d'vaentid3/ verb [T] to make it more difficult for someone or something to succeed than other people or things

disadvantaged

/.disad'vaentKhjd/

adj

dis-

advantaged people do not have the same advantages as other people, for example because they do not have much money: economically /socially disadvantaged disadvantaged urban areas

disadvantageous / .dissdvan 'teid33s/ adj unlikely to produce a successful result or be effective dis-af-fect-ed /.disa'fektad/ adj a disaffected member of a group or organization no longer feels any loyalty toward it

_ I

disaffection dis-af-fec-tion

disa-gree

ft

J

/

disa'gri/ verb

[i]

••

have an opinion that is different from the opinion that another person has: Teenagers and their parents often disagree. Bob disagreed entirely, arguing that it was a risk worth taking. +with / disagree with you - I think she's done a very good job. He strongly disagreed with what Anne had said. + on/about Dole and Evans disagree on many aspects of the new policy2 to contain different information or produce different results: Two pathologists examined the body, but their 1

to

findings disagreed. disa gree with phrasal vb [T] 1 to not approve of something because you think that it is dishonest or immoral: Most people strongly disagree with any cruelty to animals. 2 mainly spoken if something you have eaten or drunk disagrees with you, it makes you feel sick: Spicy food disagrees with me.

dis'a-gree'a-ble/.disa'griabl/ adj formal 1 not pleasant or enjoyable 2 not friendly or polite dis«agree-a-bly adv

—

diss'grimant/ noun * 1 [C/u] a situation involving a lot of disagreements: The negotiations ended in disagreement. +with Bowen resigned from the club following a disagreement with the head coach. + over/ about There has been considerable disagreement over how best to deal with the crisis. + between /among Money is a source of disagreement between many couples. be in disagreement (=not agree) We're still in disagreement with management about the pay

disa-gree-ment

/

offer.

2

a difference between things that should be the same: + between There was some disagreement between the two statements he had given. [U]

dis»aMow / .diss'lau/ verb [T] to say officially that something cannot be accepted because allowed by the rules

it

is illegal

or not

dis-ap-pear/disapir/ verb [i] •** 1 if someone or something disappears, they move somewhere where they can no longer be seen: Dave said good night to everyone and quickly disappeared upstairs. The moon disappeared behind the clouds, disappear from view She was still waving as the train disappeared from view. 2 to no longer happen or exist: The symptoms should disappear within a few days. 3 to be impossible to find: The letter I had left on my desk had disappeared. the thousands of people who have disappeared in the war +from She disappeared from a London hotel on Monday and has not been seen since. disappear without trace / disappear into thin air (^disappear completely) The couple disappeared without trace while on vacation in France.

dis-ap-pear-ance

/.disa'pirsns/ noun 1 [c/u] a situation in which someone or something can no longer be found or seen: Richards was 18 at the time of her

disappearance. mysterious disappearances of radioactive materials 2 [u] a situation in which something stops happening or existing: the disappearance of several rare species

disappearing act

/.diss'pirin ,aekt/

the sudden disappearance of

noun

[singular]

someone you want

to talk

to

disappoint

/.diss'pomt/ verb

[i/T]

*•

to

make

unhappy because something they hoped happen or because someone or something was not as good as they expected: I hate to

someone

feel

for or expected did not

disappoint you, but the cake's all gone. disappoint sb's hopes/ expectations No one wants to disappoint people's hopes of peace.

disap-point-ed

/.disa'pomtsd/

adj

*

unhappy

because something you hoped for or expected did not happen or because someone or something was not as good as you expected: -t-(that) She was disappointed that he never replied to her letter. + at/ by /about Obviously, I +in I'm disappointed

feel very disappointed at not getting the job.

really disappointed in you, Ruth.

(=extremely appointed

to

disastrous

384

disofekjan/ noun [u] the state of no longer feeling loyal toward a group or organization /

bitterly

disappointed) Ireland were bitterly end the competition with only two points.

dis-

dis-appointing

•

diso'p.iintin/ adj had hoped for or expected: This year's /

not as good as you sales figures were very disappointing.

disappointment

/

pnmtmont/ noun

diss

••

1 [U] the feeling of being unhappy because something you hoped for or expected did not happen or because someone or something was not as good as you expected:

+ at Diplomats expressed disappointment at the lack of to sb's disappointment (=making someone disappointed) Jackson canceled the concert, to the great disappointment of his fans. + with The representatives acknowledged their disappointment with the negotiations. 2 [C] someone or something that is not as good as you thought they would be: a big /great /bitter /major disappointment Newcombe has described the defeat as the biggest disappointment of his career. be a disappointment to sb I'm such a disappointment to her.

progress.

disapproval

/diss'pruvl/ noun [u] a feeling of not approving of someone or something: +of He made no way the affair was handled. in /with disapproval Dr. Jensen shook her head in disapproval. a chorus of disapproval (=a lot of people saying that they disapprove of something) My suggestion met with a chorus of disapproval. dis-ap-prove / disa'pruv/ verb [i] • to not approve of someone or something: She wanted to confide in Alan, but was frightened he might disapprove. + of Why do you always have to disapprove of everything I do? strongly secret of his disapproval of the

disapprove / strongly disapprove of cheating. a disapproving / disa'pruvin/ adj expression or reaction shows that someone does not approve of something dis-ap-proving-ly adv

disapproving

—

dis-arm /dis'arm/

verb

1

[T]

to

take

someone's

weapons so that they can no longer use them: a plan to disarm paramilitary groups 1a. [i] if a country or organization disarms, it reduces or gets rid of its weapons or armed forces: Terrorist groups are unlikely to disarm. 2 [T] to make someone feel less angry or unfriendly because of the way you behave or talk to them: Interviewers are disarmed by her straightforward approach.

dis-ar-ma-ment /dis'armamant/ noun

[u]

a process

by which a country reduces or gets rid of its weapons or armed forces: a policy of unilateral nuclear disarmament dis-arm-ing /dis'armin/ adj making someone feel less angry or unfriendly because of the way you behave or talk to them: disarming honesty

dis«ar«range /,dis3'remd3/ order of something or

— dis-arnving-ly adv

verb

[t]

formal to upset the

make something

look messy

noun [u] 1 a situation in which people are very confused or things are not organized, especially because something unexpected has happened 2 a situation in which clothes or objects are very messy disassem-ble /.disa'sembl/ verb [T] formal to take something apart in order to repair it or understand

dis-ar-ray

/.diss'rei/

how it works dis-as-ter /di'zaestsr/ noun [C/U] ** something very bad that happens and causes a lot of damage or kills a lot of people: A series of disasters forced the company to a natural disaster Protect your property from close down. disaster strikes (=a natural disasters such as flooding. disaster happens) Disaster struck when the plane's engine exploded shortly after take-off end in disaster The expedibe tion ended in disaster, with three people being killed. a disaster for/spell disaster for (=have a very bad effect on) More bad weather would spell disaster for this year's wheat crop. a. used when talking about something that is annoying or a failure, but is not really very bad: a My carefully planned series of disasters in the kitchen party had been a complete disaster. .

a disaster waiting to happen used for saying that a situation is likely to develop in a very bad way: The nuclear power station was an environmental disaster waiting

to

happen.

dis'aster area noun 1 [c] a place or region that has been badly affected by a disaster 2 [singular] humorous a place that is very messy dis-as-trous/di zaestras/adj * causing a lot of damage or harm: +for The consequences of spending cuts would be disastrous for local schools, a. used about something

disavow is

no responsibility for them dis-a-vow-al /disa'vaoal/ noun [C/u] a statement which you disavow someone or something

dis-band /dis'bsnd/ disbands or

verb disbanded,

is

[i/t] its

if

dis-bar /dis'bar/ verb doing any legal work

a group of people stop working stop a lawyer from

noun [u] the feeling of not believing someone or something, especially something shocking or unexpected: Public reaction to the announcement An expression of has been one of shock and disbelief / ,disbi'lif/

in disbelief Liz stared at us disbelief crossed Brody'sface. in disbelief as we told her what had happened.

disbe-lieve

/.disbiliv/ verb

someone or something dis-burse /dis'b3rs/ verb from a fund (=an amount

[T]

of

[J]

formal to not believe

very formal to pay money available for a par-

money

ticular purpose)

/dis'bsrsmant/ noun very formal [C] an amount of money that is paid from a fund (=an amount of money available for a particular purpose) a. [u] the process of paying money from a fund

disc another spelling of disk dis-card /dis'kard/ verb [t] to get rid of something that you no longer want or need: Remove the seeds from the melon and discard them. dis-cern /di's3rn/ verb [t] formal 1 to notice something, especially after thinking about it carefully or studying it: discern a difference /pattern /reason 2 to see or hear something, especially something that is far away or not very clear: We could just about discern a small figure walking toward us.

dis-cerrvi-ble /di'ssrnabl/

adj able to be seen, noticed, or understood: a discernible improvement in the patient's condition A small boat was clearly discernible in the middle of the lake.

dis-cern-ing /dis3rnin/

showing good judgment about things such as art, music, and books and able to tell whether something is valuable or well made: The ad]

discerning reader will appreciate the subtleties of Boyd's

humor.

dis-cern-ment /di'ssrnmant/ noun [u] make good judgments about things such well

1

the ability to as art, music, is valuable or

/'dis,tjard3; dis'tjard3/ verb

allow/force sb to leave

2 let liquid/gas leave 3 perform a duty 1

whether something

made

discharge 1

to tell

[T usually passive] to

/dis.tjurd^; dis'tja.:d3/ noun

1

when sb may

2

liquid/gas that leaves

••

4 act of firing weapon 5 payment of money owed 6 flow of electricity

leave

of duty

[C/U] a situation in which someone is allowed to leave an institution such as a hospital, a prison, or the army: +from Many patients require continued care after Jack was given an early discharge from the hospital. discharge from the army after being severely wounded in battle. 1a. a situation in which someone who has been accused of a crime is judged to be not guilty and officially allowed to leave prison or a court of law 2 [C/U] liquid or gas that comes out of a place, or the process of coming out into water or the air: +from The authorities are particularly concerned about discharges from nuclear power plants. + of a discharge of oil into the Missouri River 2a. a liquid that comes out from a part of someone's body when they are sick: a vaginal /nasal discharge 3 [U] the act of performing a duty or responsibility: You will be responsible for the efficient discharge of your 1

duties.

disburse-ment

and books and

2

3 carrying out

members

[t] to officially

dis-charge

in

together

dis-be-lief

disclosure

385

very unsuccessful: a disastrous dinner party dis«a«vow /.diss'vao/ verb [J] formal to say firmly that you have no connection with someone or something or that

•*

4 fire a weapon 5 pay what you owe 6 when electricity flows

be officially allowed or forced to

leave an institution such as a hospital, a prison, or the army: The child was taken to the hospital but was later discharged. discharge sb from sth After he was discharged from the army, he had intended to return to the world of teaching. 1a. if someone who has been accused of a crime is discharged, they are judged to be not guilty and officially allowed to leave prison or a court of law: Baker was discharged after the evidence against her was found to be flawed, lb. to allow or force someone to leave an official job or position: Judge Richard Groves discharged the jury after it had reached a verdict. Mr. Givens was discharged from the committee and replaced by

Mr. Benton. 2 [i/T] to allow liquid or gas to leave a place, especially when this has harmful effects: Many cities discharge their sewage into the ocean without treating it at all. The mercury had been discharged from a local chemical plant. 3 [J] formal to do everything that needs to be done to perform a duty or responsibility 4 [t] formal to fire a weapon 5 [J]formal to pay what you owe to someone: discharge a debt He died owing the bank $10,000, and his widow was unable to discharge the debt. 6 [i/T] science if something discharges electricity or if it is discharged, it flows out of that thing

4 5

6

[singular]/orma/ the act of firing a weapon [singularj/orma/ the payment of money that you owe [C/U] science the flow of electricity, for example from

a piece of equipment or during a storm diS'Ci'ple /di'saipl/ noun [c] 1 someone who admires a famous person such as a political or religious leader and is influenced by them: a disciple of the Nobel prize winner Andrei Sakharov 2 one of the twelve original followers of Jesus Christ, according to the Bible discipli-nari-an /dissph'nemn/ noun [c] someone who thinks that people should obey rules and punishes people who do not: a strict disciplinarian dis*ci*pli«nar*y /'disspli.neri; .diss'plinsri/ adj connected with the punishment of people who do not obey rules: Dr. Oliver could face disciplinary action after the case is heard. Three police officers face disciplinary proceedings for their part in the incident.

discipline 1

[

1

/'disaplm/ noun

•*•

U the practice of making people obey rules of behav]

ior and punishing them if they do not: He believes in impose discipline He reacted by imposing tough discipline and demanding better results. 1a. a strict set of rules that controls an activity or situation: the discipline of the market maintain discipline It is the teacher's job to maintain discipline, lb. the ability to control your own behavior: Their attention wandered and strict discipline.

they lacked the discipline to learn. [C] a subject that people study, especially at a university: academic disciplines

2

dis-ci-pline / 'disaplin/ verb [t] •• to punish someone for something they have done wrong: the role of parents in educating and disciplining children The strikers were disciplined by management. 2

discipline yourself to train yourself to behave in a particular way, especially to work regularly: He tried to discipline himself to read two books a week.

diS'Ci-plined /'dissplmd/

adj well organized and following rules or standards: the team 's disciplined approach 'disc jockey noun [c] a dj disclaim /dis'kleim/ verb [J] formal to say that you do not have any responsibility for something, knowledge of something, or interest in something diS'Clainver/dis'kleimsr/ noun [C] a written statement in which a company or person says that they do not take responsibility for something bad

disclose

/dis'klooz/ verb

[T]

••

to give information to people, especially information that was secret: Most of the people interviewed requested that their identity not be disclosed. + that They were reluc+ what /where/ tant to disclose that profits had fallen. how etc. Officials did not disclose where the explosives were alleged to have been planted. 2 mainly literary to allow someone to see something by 1

moving the thing

disclosure

that covers or hides

it

/dis'kloo3ar/ noun • [u] the process of giving information to people, especially information that was secret: +of Consumer groups are pushing for

| )

disco

1

dis-co /'diskoo/ noun 1

[C]

*

a place or event where people dance to popular

2 disco

or disco

strong beat that in the 1970s

is

music

a type of music with a easy to dance to, popular especially

dis-co 2 /'diskoo/ verb

[i]

[u]

to

dance

to disco

music

& J discog-ra-phy records

dis-cor-dant /dis'knrdnt/

not matching other things and therefore strange or unpleasant 2 formal in which there are a lot of disagreements: discordant marital relationships 3 discordant music sounds strange because it contains discords

discount

music

made

/di'skagrafi/ noun [c] a list of all the by a particular singer, musician, or group

dis-col-or-a-tion /dis,k.\b'reijn/ noun [u] the process of becoming discolored a. [C] an area on the surface of something that is discolored dis-col-ored /dis'kAbrd/ adj something that is discolored has changed in color and no longer looks new, clean, or healthy

— dis-col-or verb

dis-col-oured /dis'kAlard/

the

[T]

BrE

spelling of dis-

colored to

make

literary

a

dis-com-fort /dis'k\mfart/ noun slight pain: abdominal discomfort 2

1 [u] a feeling of [u] a feeling of being embarrassed: His behavior caused us great discomfort and annoyance. 3 [C] something that makes you feel slightly sick or uncomfortable

/,diskan's3rt/ verb [T] to make someone worried, confused, or surprised: Her sudden silence

dis-con-cert

disconcerted me.

dis-con-cert-ed

/,diskan's3rtad/ adj feeling worried, confused, or surprised: Victoria looked disconcerted for a

moment.

dis-con-cert-ing

/,diskan's3rtin/ adj making you feel worried, confused, or surprised: a disconcerting habit/ dis-con-cert- ing-ly adv tendency

—

dis-con-nect

1

/.diska'nekt/ verb 1 [t] to stop the supply of gas, water, or electricity, or the telephone service to a building: They arrived to find that the water had been disconnected. 2 [T] to stop a machine or piece of equipment from being connected to a supply of electricity, water, or gas: Disconnect all electrical appliances before attempting to clean them. 3 [l/T] to stop the telephone connection between two people or computers: Many people complained they were disconnected before even +from Click "Work Offline" to reaching the operator. disconnect from the Internet.

AmE

dis-con-nect 2

/,diska'nekt/ noun [C/u] y & difference, especially between two things that you would expect to be similar: There's a disconnect between the way the Arizona press and the national press view this man. 2 a feeling of not being loyal to a group or an institution: their disconnect from their community and from their schools

dis-con-nect-ed /.diska'nektad/ adj not organized in a way that makes sense: disconnected sentences dis-con-so-late /dis'kansalat/ adj extremely unhappy or disappointed

— dis-con-so-late-ly adv

dis-con-tent /diskan'tent/ or dis-con-tent-ment /.diskan'tentmant/ noun [u] the unhappy feeling you have when you are not satisfied with something: + with Public discontent with the government

is

growing.

dis-con-tent-ed / .diskan'tentad/ adj not

satisfied

with

something: discontented employees

dis-con-tin-ue/.diskan'tmju/verb [t] 1 to stop doing something that you were doing regularly: First the dose was reduced, then treatment was discontinued. 2 to stop providing a product or service: I'm afraid that product's been discontinued.

dis-con-tin-ued /.diskan'tmjud/ adj if a product is discontinued, it is no longer produced or sold: a discontinued line (=a particular product that people can no longer buy in stores)

discord

/'dis.kard/ noun 1 [U] formal disagreement between people 2 [C/u] a strange sound in a piece of music, made by playing an unusual combination of

notes at the

same time

1

ad)

**

1

/ 'dis.kaont/ noun [C] a reduction in the price of something: Bus and train discounts are available Customers can get huge discounts by for people over 60. making reservations in advance. + on /off Air Canada is currently offering a 10% discount on selected airfares. discount price/rate We offer many items at special discount prices. at a discount (=at less than the usual price) All tickets are now available at a discount.

dis-count 2 /dis'kaont/

•

verb [T] 1 to reduce the price of something: All sale items have been heavily discounted. 2 to consider that something is not important, possible, or likely: discount the possibility Police have discounted the possibility that this was a terrorist attack.

discount .card noun

[c] a plastic card that allows at a reduced price /dis'kaontad/ adj discounted prices or rates are lower than usual: discounted train and airfares discount rate noun [c] business the rate of interest that The Federal Reserve charges another bank that

someone

dis-com-fit /dis'kAmfit/ verb [T] literary someone feel embarrassed dis-com-fi-ture /dis'kAmfitJar/ noun [u] feeling of being embarrassed

feel

discover

386

full disclosure of product ingredients, a. [C] a piece of information that was previously secret: a series of disclosures that almost wrecked his career

to

buy goods or services

discounted

borrows from

dis-cour-age

it

/dis'kArid3/ verb

[t]

•

prevent something from happening, especially because you do not approve of it or think it is harmful: measures to discourage the use of cars in cities discourage sb from doing sth We hope the bad weather won't discourage people from coming along. 2 to make someone feel less confident or hopeful: What 1

to try to

she said didn't discourage me.

discouraged

/dis'kAnd^d/ adj feeling that it is useless to try to do something: He sounded discouraged by the lack of progress in the talks.

dis-cour-age-ment /dis'kAnd3mant/ noun 1 [u] the feeling you get when you have not achieved something and think it is useless to keep trying 2 [C] something that makes you feel that it is useless to try to do something 3 [u] the act of trying to prevent something from happening, especially because you do not approve of it or think it is harmful discouraging /dis'kAnd3in/ adj making you feel that

was

it is useless to try to do something: Their attitude very discouraging.

/'dis.kars/ noun • formal a long and serious speech or piece of

dis-course 1

[C]

1

writing on a particular subject: + on a powerful discourse on art la. [u] formal serious spoken or written discussion of a particular subject 2 [U] linguistics written or spoken language, especially when it is studied in order to understand how people use language: discourse analysis

dis-course 2 vb

[T]

/dis'kars/ verb dis course on/upon phrasal formal to talk for a long time about a particular

subject

discourse marker noun

[c] linguistics a word used in conversation, for showing a change in the way the conversation is developing or showing the other speaker how you are reacting to what they are saying. Typical discourse markers include "well," "oh," and "OK." a. words such as "however" or "furthermore" that provide a connection between ideas in written language dis-cour-te-ous /dis'k3rtias/ adj formal rude and lacking respect dis-cour-te-sy /dis'k3rtasi/ noun [C/u]/orma/ behavior

that

is

rude and lacks respect

discov-er

/di'skAvar/ verb

[t]

••*

1 to find out something that you did not know before: The two men decided to discover the truth for themselves. + (that) He became very friendly when he discovered that she was my sister. + whether Checks are made to discover whether applicants have a criminal record, la. to find a place, fact, or substance that no one knew about before: William Herschel discovered Uranus in 1781. New anti-

malarial drugs have been discovered. -> invent 1b. to find out about a place or activity that is new to you:

discovery

not spend a week discovering the beauty of Sri Lanka? / have only recently discovered the benefits of meditation. 2 to find someone or something that was missing or hidden: Police discovered his body on wasteland yes/ finally discovered the letter at the back of the terday. drawer. 3 [usually passive] to recognize the ability of someone

such as a writer or performer and help famous

to

make them

[

is

finding them by digging or searching in the

ground.

me know if you dig up anything about him. I unearthed some useful facts and figures. The facts

Let

came to light after a long investigation. We no stone unturned in our search for the truth. The book is a mine /goldmine of information. /

only left

think that this will prove a rich seam to mine for your research. It took me a long time to find it, but I finally struck gold /oil /pay dirt. You need to read a lot more: you've just begun to scratch the

surface.

KNOWLEDGE, SECRET

dis-cov-er-y /di'skAvari/ noun

of Lagerfeld's latest discoveries. 4 [U] legal the process of making evidence and other documents available to the people involved in a legal case 1

dis-cred-it /di'skredit/ verb [t] 1 to harm someone's reputation: She claims there was a conspiracy to discredit her. 2 to make people think that something is not true:

adj able to judge whether or not something is good or suitable: discriminating customers/ theater-goers

dis-crim«i«na-tion /di.sknmi'neijn/ noun [u] ** 1 unfair treatment of someone because of their religion, race, or other personal features: sexual /sex/ racial /age discrimination Ms. Howell claimed she had + against disbeen the victim of sexual discrimination. crimination against women + in The legislation would outlaw discrimination in employment, housing, and education. discrimination on the grounds of (^because of) Discrimination on the grounds of sex or race is unlawful. 2 the ability to judge whether or not something is good or suitable: Try to exercise discrimination when making

discrimi-na-to-ry

/di'sknmina.tori/ adj formal treating a particular group of people unfairly because of their religion, race, or other personal features: discriminatory policies/ practices

dis«cur«sive/di'sk3rsiv/adj including information that is not relevant to the main subject dis-cus /'diskas/ noun 1 [C] a heavy round flat object thrown as part of a sports event 2 the discus a sports event in which the competitors throw a discus as far as they can

discuss

to

[C]

[u]

someone

that causes a loss of respect

damaging

someone's reputation

dis-creet

/di'skrit/ adj

*

1 careful not to say anything that is secret or that could upset someone: She's very discreet and loyal. 2 unlikely to attract attention: They followed at a discreet

distance.

3

small and not very noticeable: discreet gold earrings

— dis'creet-ly adv discrepancy

/di'skrepsnsi/ noun [C/U] a difference between things that should be the same: There were some discrepancies in the statement he gave to the police. a discrepancy between estimated and actual spending

discrete

/di'skrit/ adj

formal separate

— dis-crete-ly

adv

discretion

•*

/di'skrejn/ noun [u] 1 careful and sensitive behavior that does not upset or offend people: The investigation will be carried out with the utmost discretion. 2 the right or ability to make a judgment or decision: exercise /use discretion Teachers must be allowed to exercise their own discretion in choosing suitable classroom materials. at sb's discretion (^according to sb's judgment or decision) Stores will exchange unwanted goods entirely at their discretion.

dis-cre-tion-ar-y /di'skrejn.eri/ adj based on someone's judgment of a particular situation rather than on a set of rules: a discretionary grant /award /payment

to discuss

to write or talk about a subject in detail: The causes of stress have already been discussed in Chapter 3.

Words

frequently used with discuss issue, matter, plan, proposal, question, subject, topic

dis-cus-sion /di'skAJn/ noun

1

••*

a conversation about something, usually something important: Preliminary discussions between the two leaders are now underway. + with Discussions with management have broken down. have a discussion We need to have a discussion about your school work. + about/ on an interesting discussion on Internet censorship discussions take place Discussions about the peace plan took place in Washington last week. hold discussions (=organize or have formal discussions) Parents and teachers will be holding discussions next month. 2 [U] the process of talking about something that is important: +of There should be wider discussion of these issues. be in discussion with They're in discussion with a German company about a possible takeover. be under discussion (=being discussed) Proposals for changing the existing system are currently under discussion. 3 [C] a piece of writing about an important or serious subject: +of What follows is a discussion of the merits of 1

/di'skreditsbl/ adj formal

•••

2

harm

that is done or something

[T]

why /whether etc. Union leaders are meeting how to deal with the factory closures.

nouns

/di'skredit/ noun 1

someone's reputation 2

/di'skAs/ verb

to talk about something with someone: We're meeting to discuss the matter next week. discuss sth with sb You should discuss this problem with your doctor. +how/ 1

attempts to discredit evidence

discreditable

religion,

things

[C/U] the process of learning something that was not before, or of finding someone or something that was missing or hidden: The award recognizes distinction in exploration, discovery, and research. Our country continues to lead the world in scientific discoveries. + of Police announced the discovery of the body late last night. + that the discovery that the universe is expanding make a discovery We made some interesting discoveries about our own family. 2 [C] something that is found or something new that is learned: This is one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the century. 3 [C] someone whose ability is recognized by another person who helps them to become famous: Gisela is one 1

discredit

]

your choice. 3 formal the ability to recognize the difference between

***

known

2

I

race, or other personal features: Employers are not allowed to discriminate on the basis of gender. + against Caulfield claimed they had discriminated against him because of his nationality. 2 [l/T] to recognize the difference between things: discriminate sth from sth It can be difficult to discriminate + between Long-range missile one sound from another. attacks simply cannot discriminate between military and

discrim-i-nat-ing /di'sknmi.neitin/

Discovering things such as facts and information

-»

dis'Crinvi-nate /di'sknmi.ncit/ verb * to treat someone unfairly because of their 1

civilian targets.

Metaphor like

disdain

387

Why

[C]

each method.

discussion group

noun [c] a group of people who meet regularly to exchange ideas on a particular subject a. a group of people who use the Internet to exchange ideas on a particular subject dis-dain 1 /dis'dem/ noun [u] the feeling that someone or something is not important and does not deserve any respect

dis-dain 2 /dis'dem/ verb [T] formal 1 to think that someone or something is not important and does not deserve any respect 2 if you disdain to do something,

:

disdainful you refuse to do it because you think it is unimportant dis-dain-ful /dis'dcmfol/ adj feeling or expressing disdain

•••

dis-ease

/di'ziz/ noun 1 [C/U] an illness that affects people or animals, especially one that is caused by an infection: liver/heart/

PJ

lung disease leading causes of heart disease + of a disease diseases of horses /cattle /sheep of the nervous system suffer from a disease Studies have revealed that vegetarians suffer less from heart disease. cause a disease Smoking can cause fatal diseases. contract a disease (=to become infected with it) Young people are most at risk of contracting the disease. combat disease the way that the body's immune system combats disease 1a. a condition like an illness that affects plants 2 [C] a serious problem in society or with someone's attitude

Words

1

—

from the body /.disim'baual/ verb [t] to kill someone by cutting open their stomach and removing their intestines

/.disim'paur/ verb

of control that

over their

[T]

to

reduce the

someone has over a situation or

dis-en-chant-ed / .dism'tjaentsd/ adj disappointed and no longer enthusiastic about someone or something

dis-en-chant-ment

/.dism'tjaentmsnt/ noun

[u]

the

feeling of being disenchanted

dis*en*fran*chise /.dism'fraen.tjaiz/ verb [T] to no longer allow someone to have the right to vote dis-en-gage /.dism'ge^/ verb 1 [i/t] if part of a machine disengages, or you disengage it, it is no longer connected to the main part of the machine: An electronic gear lever will automatically disengage someone or something from the person or thing that holds them 3 [i] formal if an army disengages, it stops fighting in an area the clutch.

in the

2

[T]

to separate

dis-ervgage-ment noun

disengaged

[U]

/.dism'geid^d/

situation or not affected

by

adj

not involved in a

it

dis-ervtarvgle /.dism'tseqgl/ verb [T] 1 to separate something from the thing that is holding it or is twisted around it la. to remove knots in rope, wool, etc. 2 to separate ideas so that they are no longer confused 3 to get yourself out of a situation that you no longer want to

be involved in

dis*e*quMib*ri*um / .disikwi'librism/ noun [singular/u] formal a situation in which there is more of one thing than another so that there is a lack of balance dis-es-tab-lish /.disi'staeblijV verb [J] formal to take away the official status of an institution or organization, especially a church dis-es-tab-lish-ment noun [u] diS'fa-vor /dis'feivsr/ noun [u] an attitude that shows or approve that you do not like of someone or something

—

dis-fa-vour /dis'feivar/the BrE dis-fig*ure of

spelling of disfavor

/dis'figjar/ verb [T] to spoil the

appearance

someone or something

dis-gorge

/dis'cprd3/ verb [J] formal 1 to force a large quantity of liquid, gas, or other substance out of something: a volcano disgorging red hot lava 2 to let a large number of people out of a place or vehicle at the same time: Buses were disgorging crowds of tourists downtown. 3 to vomit food from your stomach out of your mouth

dis-grace

1

/dis'greis/ noun 1 [U] the loss of other peobecause of something bad that you have done: in disgrace Holman was sent home in disgrace after ple's respect

bad or shock-

adj

— dis-

disappointed and an-

•

1

/dis'gaiz/ verb [T] something such as your feelings or intentions disguise his bitterness about what had happened. a thinly disguised attempt to embarrass the prime minto hide 't

[often passive] to make changes in the way someone looks so that other people will not recognize them: be disguised as sb/sth She arrived at his home disguised as a man. be disguised in sth The intruders were disguised in post office uniforms. disguise yourself as /in sth The soldiers disguised themselves as ordinary civilians. 2a. to make something look, sound, or seem like something else: little tape recorders disguised as cigarette packs

2

dis-guise 2 /dis'gaiz/ noun [c/u] 1 something that you wear to change the way you look so that people will not recognize you: She was wearing a disguise of a blonde wig and glasses. in disguise (=wearing a disguise) He often went out in disguise to avoid the ever-present jour-

life

mechanism

/dis'greisfal/ adj extremely

a disgraceful waste of taxpayers' money grace-ful'ly adv: They behaved disgracefully!

ister

by a disease

dis-em-bow-el

amount

this way.

ing:

He didn

/.disim'bark/ verb [I] formal to get off a ship or airplane dis-envbai-ka-tion / .disembar'kei Jn/ noun [U] dis-em-bod-ied /.disim'badid/ adj 1 a disembodied voice comes from someone you cannot see 2 separated

dis*em»pow*er

behaving

dis-grace-f ul

1

develop, diagnose, fight, get, prevent, suffer from, treat /di'zizd/ adj affected

/dis'greis/ verb [J] formal to harm the reputation of a person or group by doing something bad or immoral: disgrace yourself She has disgraced herself by

dis-guise

contract, control, cure, detect,

disembark

dis-grace 2

noyed about something

catch, cause, combat, conquer,

dis-eased

assaulting one of the other players. bring disgrace upon/ on sb/sth The scandal has brought disgrace on the entire department. 2 [singular] spoken someone or something that you should feel guilty or sorry about because they are very bad: Coach Hawkins described the team's an absolute /utter disgrace performance as a disgrace. The way he treats his dogs is an absolute disgrace. be a disgrace to (=to be so bad that you harm the reputation of the group you belong to) You're a disgrace to your family!

dis-grun-tled /dis'grwntld/

frequently used with disease

verbs

dish

388

2 something

that hides what something really it seem better than it is: His a disguise that hides the pain. in disguise The more artistic films are dismissed as "porn-

nalists.

is, especially by cheerful manner

ography

making

is

in disguise."-* blessing

dis-gust

1

/dis'gASt/ noun [U] 1 a very strong feeling of not liking something: The idea of eating meat fills me with disgust. 2 the feeling that you are going to be physically sick that you get when you see, smell, or taste something very unpleasant 3 a strong feeling of anger about something that is very bad or immoral: in (much) disgust Half the audience walked out in disgust. to sb's disgust To his disgust the couple left without even a word of thanks. dis-gust 2 /dis'gASt/ verb [t] 1 if something disgusts you, it is so bad or immoral that it makes you angry and upset: Your whole attitude disgusts me. 2 if something very unpleasant disgusts you, it makes you feel physically sick when you see, smell, or taste it

dis-gust-ed /dis'gAstad/adj 1 feeling very angry and upset about something that you do not approve of: +at/ by /about / was disgusted by the way he treated those women. +with I felt disgusted with myself for eating so much. 2 feeling physically sick because something is extremely unpleasant to see, smell, or taste

disgusting 1

/dis'gAStirj/ adj

•

extremely unpleasant: boxes offish that smelled abso-

lutely disgusting 2 very bad or shocking: It was a disgusting waste of The behavior of the crowd was quite dispublic money. dis-gust-ing-ly adv: a lifestyle that is disgusting. gustingly unhealthy

—

dish 1

/diJV noun

1 for

•*

cooking/serving food

2 prepared food 3 plates, etc. to be washed

4 sb sexually attractive 5 for radio/television

1 [C] an open container like a plate, but not as deep as a bowl, used for serving or cooking food: Place the fruit an ovenproof dish a pie dish in a large shallow dish. 1a. the food contained in a dish: +of Dishes of dried the counter. 1b. a container were placed on and nuts fruit shaped like a dish: a soap dish 2 [C] food prepared and cooked in a particular way: Do

dish is fried

a variety of seafood dishes [plural] the plates, pans, etc. that have to be washed after preparing and serving a meal: do /wash the dishes Who's going to do the dishes? 4 [singular] informal someone you think is sexually chicken.

3 dishes

attractive -> dishy

5 [C] a round piece of equipment that sends or receives radio or television messages: a satellite dish dish 2 /diJV verb dish the dirt informal to tell people what you know about someone, especially things that could damage their reputation dish out phrasal vb [T] 1 informal to give things to a number of people: Some doctors are dishing out drugs their patients do not need. 2 to serve food: He was dishing out a chicken stew. 3 informal if someone dishes out something such as criticism or punishment, they criticize or punish someone severely: He's always ready to dish out criticism. 3a. sb can dish it out but they can't take it informal used for saying that someone often criticizes other people but does not like being criticized dish up phrasal vb [i/T] to put food into dishes so that it is ready to be eaten

dis-har-mo-ny /dis'harmani/ noun

[u] formal a situation in which people are angry and arguing with each dis-har-mo-ni-ous /.dishar'moonias/ adj other

—

dish-cloth

/'diJ.klaG/ noun [C] a small cloth that you use in the kitchen for washing or drying dishes

dis-heart-ened /dis'hartnd/

no longer confident

adj

or enthusiastic about something

dis-heart-en-ing /dis'hartnin/

making you

adj

— dis-heart-en verb

confident or enthusiastic

less

[T]

di-shev-eled or di-shev-elled /di'Jevld/ adj with hair and clothes that do not look neat: His knee was Gray dishbleeding and he was dusty and disheveled. eveled hair concealed her face.

/dis'ansst/ ad] * willing to do things that are not honest, for example tell lies or steal things: They admitted that there were dishonest officers in the police dis-hon-est-ly adv: It's clear force, —opposite honest

dis-hon-est

—

to

me

disk brakes

389

Her favorite dish

you have any vegetarian dishes?

that they acted dishonestly.

dis-hon-es-ty

noun

/dis'onssti/

behavior that

[u]

involves doing things that are not honest: of dishonesty.

dis-hon-or

He was accused

dis-hon-or 2 /dis'anar/ verb [t] formal 1 to do something that makes people lose respect for you or the group that you belong to 2 to treat someone without

3

keep a promise or an agreement dis-hon-or-a-ble /dis'ansrsbl/ adj formal someone who behaves in a dishonorable way behaves in a way that other people criticize and think is wrong dis-hon-or-a-bly adv dishonorable discharge noun [c] an order for someone to leave the military because they have broken an important rule dis-hon-our /dis'ansr/ the Br E spelling of dishonor dish-pan /'dij.pasn/ noun [C] AmE a large plastic conto fail to

—

tainer that

you wash dishes

disillusioned with the democratic process.

dis-il-lu-sion-ment /.disi'lu^nmant/ noun [u] the disappointed feeling you have when you discover that someone or something is not as good as you had believed dis-in-cen-tive / dism'sentiv/ noun [c] something that makes you not want to do something dis-in-cli-na-tion /.dismkli'neifn/ noun [c/u] formal the feeling of being unwilling to do something disinclined / .disin'klamd/ adj formal unwilling to do something: reluctant dis-in-fect /.dism'fekt/ verb [t] to make something very clean by putting a substance on it that kills bacteria

disinfectant

/.dism'fektant/ noun [C/u] a chemical substance that kills bacteria and is used for making things very clean dis-in-for-ma-tion /.dismfar'meifn/ noun [u] false information that is intended to make people believe something that is not true dis-in-gen-u-ous / dism^enjuas/ adj formal not really honest or sincere, and only pretending to be dis-in-gen-u-ous-ly adv dis-in-her-it /.dism'hent/ verb [T often passive] to make legal arrangements so that a close relative, especially your son or daughter, will not receive any of your money or property when you die

—

dis-in-te-grate /dis'mti.greit/ verb [i] 1 to be completely destroyed by breaking into lots of very small pieces, for example as the result of an explosion: The rocket disintegrated when it re-entered the Earth 's atmosphere. 2 if an organization or society disintegrates, it stops working effectively and fails completely: By 1688, King James' regime was beginning to disintegrate. dis-in-te-gra-tion /dis.inti'greifn/ noun [U] dis-in-ter /,dism't3r/ verb [t] 1 to dig a dead body out of the ground 2 formal to start using something that has not been used or seen for a long time dis-in-ter-est /dismtrast/ noun [u] a lack of interest in something

—

disinterested /dis'mtrastsd/ adj

1

/dis'cinar/ noun [u] formal the fact that people no longer respect you because of something bad you have been involved in: bring dishonor on/upon What she had done had brought dishonor on the whole family.

respect

dis-il-lu-sioned/,disi'lu3nd/ad) disappointed because you have discovered that someone or something is not as good as you had believed: Disillusioned communists +with Voters are very helped bring down the regime.

something and therefore able

wash dishes

that

noun

-» C2

[c] 1

a machine that job is

2 someone whose

in a restaurant

/'dijwajin .likwid/ noun [u] & liquid soap that you add to water used for washing dishes

AmE

dish-wa-ter /'dijwatar/ noun have used for washing dishes / 'diji/ adj

fairly: impar-

connected

disk /disk/ noun

[c]

••

[u] dirty

-»

dull

water that you

1

informal old-fashioned sexually attract-

ive

dis-il-lu-sion /,disi'lu3n/ verb [T] to make someone disappointed by showing them that someone or something is not as good as they had believed

computer information

2 flat circular object 3 between bones of back

you

dish-wash-ing liq-uid

dish-y

it

you have invited to something that they are no longer welcome to come dis-joint-ed /dis'dsomtad/ adj confusing because the different parts seem not to be connected with each other dis-junc-tion /dis'd3.\nkjn/ noun [C/u] very formal lack of a connection between things that should be

use to dry dishes that have been washed: tea towel

to

not involved in

dis-in-vest-ment / .dism'vestmsnt/ noun [u] the act of taking money out of a particular country, industry, or business, and investing it somewhere else dis-in-vite /.disin'vait/ verb [t] AmE to tell someone

1 for

— picture -» C2

washes dishes —picture

1

judge

in

dish-rag / 'dif ,raeg / noun [C] Am E a dishcloth dish-tow-el /'dif.taoal/ noun [c] a large cloth

dishwasher /'difwajsr/

to

a disinterested witness and observer disinterested advice 2 not interested. Many people think that this use of the word is not correct, and prefer to use uninterested. tial:

4 record 5 CD

1 a small flat circular object in a square plastic case that can be used for storing information from a computer and can be easily moved from one computer to another: Remove the disk from the drive and press any key.

2

a flat circular object or shape: The dress was decorated with rows of copper disks, like coins. a round flat piece of a substance called cartilage between the bones in your back -» slipped disk 4 old-fashioned a record (=large flat circular piece of plastic on which music is recorded) 5 a cd or dvd

3

disk .brakes noun

[plural] a pair of small hard surfaces inside a car's wheel that press against a disk and stop the car from moving

|

disk drive the part of a computer that reads information from a disk or records information onto a disk

disk-ette

disorder

390

disk drive noun

[c]

/di'skct/ noun [C] a disk for storing

computer

information: floppy disk

disk jockey an Am E spelling of disc jockey dislike /dis'laik/ verb [T] *• to not like someone 1

something: Philip thoroughly disliked

her.

He

is

or widely

disliked at every level of politics. dislike doing sth Cats dislike getting their fur wet. —opposite like

Other ways of saying dislike not like to not have very positive feelings about someone or something. This is the most usual way of saying you dislike someone or something: I don't really like coffee. / don't like him - he's too indecisive. not be crazy about (informal) used for saying that you do not like something much, especially in situations where you do not want to sound rude: I'm not crazy about that wallpaper.

hate to dislike someone or something in a strong emotional way: / hate that man - he's always criticizing people. It's a small right-wing party that hates the idea of a multicultural society. Sometimes also used in spoken English, as an emphatic way of saying you something because it annoys you: / was just going out when the phone rang - I hate it when that dislike

happens. can't stand/can't bear to dislike someone or something so strongly that it makes you feel angry or upset: / can't stand all this noise! / really can't bear the patronizing way he talks to her.

detest/loathe used for emphasizing that you strongly someone or something, especially when you have no respect for them or regard them as morally bad: George was a man who detested all reporters. She loathed all the insincerity and evasions of her

dis-may 2

/dis'mei/ verb [t] to make someone very worried, disappointed, or sad: What dismayed me most about their behavior was their rudeness.

dis-mayed

dis-miss

immediate dislike to me. a. [C usually plural] something you do not like: likes and dislikes We were asked to list our top five likes and dislikes. dis«IO'Cate/'disb,keit/verb[T] 1 to do something that forces a bone out of its normal position in its socket: He had dislocated his shoulder in training. 2 to cause changes that spoil the way something usually works or happens— dis«lo«ca«tion/ .disla'keijn/ noun [C/U] dis-lodge /dis'lad3/ verb [t] 1 to force something out of its position or out of the position where it is fixed: Rescue crews were unable to dislodge the ice. 2 to force someone out of a position of power: a failed attempt to dislodge the military regime adj not loyal to someone you have a close relationship with or an organization that you belong to: Disloyal Democrats were welcomed into the Republican Party. +to She has no intention of being disloyal to his friends. opposite loyal dis«loyal*ly adv

dis-loy-al /dis'bial/

—

—

/dis'bialti/ noun [u] disloyal

behavior dis'inal /'dizmsl/ adj 1 making you feel unhappy and without hope or enthusiasm: depressing: dismal living conditions 2 very bad: a dismal performance / record

— dis-mal-ly adv

dis-man-tle

/dis'maentl/ verb [T] 1 to separate the parts of something such as a machine so that they no longer form a single unit: All the furniture is easy to dismantle and transport. 2 to end a political or economic system or get rid of an institution: There were fears that the new government would try to dismantle the state education system.

dis-may

1

very upset, disappointed, or

/dis'mis/ verb

[T]

••

to refuse to accept that

appeal.

Words

frequently used with dismiss

nouns

allegation, claim, idea, notion,

1

suggestion, theory

dis«miss«al/dis'misl/ noun •• 1 [C/u] an act of making someone leave their job: The investigation led to five dismissals.

dislike 2 /dis'laik/ noun [singular/u] * a feeling of not liking someone or something: +of She finds it hard to hide her dislike of small children. +for He has a dislike take a dislike to He took an for people in authority.

dis-loy-ahty

adj

something might be true or important: The senator dismissed claims that he had We should not dismiss these ideas just accepted bribes. because they are unfamiliar. dismiss sth as sth Their evidence was dismissed as completely worthless. * dismiss sth out of hand (=without considering it) The theory cannot be dismissed out of hand. 2 [often passive] to force someone to leave their job: Edwards claimed that he had been unfairly dismissed. dismiss sb for sth He was dismissed for gross misconduct. dismiss sb from sth Jackson was dismissed from her job because of the allegations. 3 to officially tell people that they can leave a place: Judge Helman dismissed the jury after they failed to reach a verdict. The class is dismissed. 4 if a judge dismisses a court case, they officially decide that the case should not continue: The case was dismissed because of a lack of evidence. The court dismissed his 1

dislike

fellow politicians.

/dis'meid/

annoyed about something surprising or shocking that has happened dismember /dis'membar/ verb [T] 1 to cut or pull someone's body into pieces 2 to take away important parts of a country, organization, or system so that it can no longer continue to exist or be successful: Keegan 's team is being slowly and painfully dismembered. — dis«mem»ber»ment noun [U]

/dis'mei/ noun [u) the feeling of being very worried, disappointed, or sad about something surprising or shocking that has happened: Local people to expressed their dismay at the cuts in social services. sb's dismay/to the dismay of sb He is leaving the department, much to the dismay of his colleagues.

2

[u] a refusal to accept that something might be true or important: the committee's dismissal of their complaints 3 [C/u] an order telling people that they can leave a place: the dismissal of jurors 4 [C/U] a decision by a judge that a court case should not continue

dis-mis-sive /dis'misiv/ adj reacting a way that shows you do not think it

to is

something in worth paying

attention to: +of Many scientists are dismissive of a link between mobile phones and cancer.

dismount

/dis'maont/ verb [i]/orraa/ to get off somedis-mount thing such as a horse or bicycle /'dis.maunt/noun [C] Disneyland /'dizni.laend/ trademark a large amusement park based on the characters and stories in the movies of Walt Disney. People sometimes use Disneyland to mean an imaginary world where everything is extremely pleasant.

—

Sports teams and players sometimes say "I'm going to Disneyland" to mean they have just won a championship event. This is because it is a tradition to send the MVP of the team who wins the SuperBowl to Disneyland as a reward.

disobedience

/ ,dis9'bidi3ns/ noun [u] someone's behavior when they do not obey orders or rules

— Opposite OBEDIENCE disobedient

/.disa'bidisnt/ adj deliberately doing the opposite of what someone in authority has told you to do, or deliberately not obeying rules: a disobedient dis-cbe-di-ent'ly adv opposite obedient child

—

—

diso-bey

/.disa'bei/ verb [i/t] to deliberately do the opposite of what someone in authority has told you to do, or deliberately not obey a rule: If you continue to disobey the rules, you will be punished. They knew he was too weak to disobey, —opposite obey

/.diss'bla^in/ adj mainly Br E formal refusing to help or do what someone asks you to do dis-or-der/dis'ordar/noun •• 1 [u] a situation in which things are not neat: in disorder Everything was in disorder, but nothing seemed to

disobliging

have been taken.

disordered

something

dis-or-dered /dis'ordsrd/

1

adj

not

neat

or

not

arranged in an organized way: a disordered filing system 2 suffering from an illness: mentally I behaviorally dis-

dis-pen«sa«ry /di'spensari/ noun [c] a place in a hospital where you can get medicines and drugs dis-pervsa-tion /.dispon'seijn/ noun 1 [c/u] formal permission to do something that people are not normally allowed to do, especially from a religious authority: special dispensation He was given special dispensation from a local rabbi to work on the holiday. 2 [u] formal the process of providing a supply of something, official

especially officially: the dispensation of justice

ordered children

dis-or-derly

display

391

[C/U] medical an illness or medical condition: He had treated her for a stomach disorder. 3 [U] a situation in which people behave in a noisy or violent way in public, often as a protest against

2

behaving in a noisy or violent way: She admitted conducting herself in a disorderly manner. drunk and disorderly (=behaving badly because of having drunk too much alcohol) He was fined $100 for being drunk and disorderly. 2 not neat: The books were stacked in a disorderly pile on his desk. dis, orderly 'conduct noun [u] legal the crime of being /dis'ordsrli/ adj

1

too noisy or violent in a public place

3

[C] very

formal a political or religious system in use at a particular time

dis-pense

/di'spens/ verb [t] 1 if a machine dispenses something such as food, drink, or money, it gives it to you 1a. to provide or supply something, especially officially: dispense justice the failure of the country's authorities to dispense justice 2 to prepare medicines and give them to people

spense with phrasal vb [T]/orma/ [dispense with sb/sth] no longer use someone or something because you no longer want or need them: dispense with the formalities (=to not do things usually done in a social situation in order to do something more important immediately) / think we all know each other, so we can dispense with the dispense with sb's services (=stop employformalities. ing them) We have reluctantly decided to dispense with Porter's services after a series of poor results. dispens-er /di'spensar/ noun [C] a machine or container that gives you a particular type of thing di

dis-or-gan-ized /dis'orga.naizd/

adj 1 not arranged according to a clear plan or system 2 someone who is with things in a clear or disorganized does not deal

way

sensible

dis-o-ri-ent /disbriant/ verb [T] 1 to make someone confused about where they are or what direction they are moving in 2 to make someone unable to think clearly or make sensible decisions: The fame that did dis-ocome his way only served to disorient him. ri-en-ta-tion /dis.orisn'teijri/ noun [u] dis-o-ri-en-tate /dis'Drian.teit/ BrE to disorient

—

someone dis-o-ri-en-tat-ed /dis'orisn.teitad/ Br E disoriented dis*o*ri*ent*ed /dis'ori.entad/ adj 1 confused about where you are or what direction you are moving in 2 unable to think clearly or make sensible decisions dis-own /dis'oon/ verb [T] to say that you no longer want to be connected with someone or something, for example because you are ashamed of them: / think my parents would disown me if I ever got a tattoo. dis-par-age /di'spend3/ verb [T] to say unpleasant things about someone or something that show you have no respect for them — dis-par-age-ment noun [u] dis-par-ag«ing /di'spend3irj/ adj showing that you have no respect for someone or something: disparaging comments

dis-pa-rate

/'disparat; di'sperat/ adj formal disparate things belong to very different groups or classes

dis-par-i-ty /di'sperati/ noun [singular/ u] formal a difference between things: +in There is still a disparity in salaries among people doing the same job.

dis-pas-siorvate

/dis'paefnst/ adj formal able to make judgments or decisions that are not influenced by personal feelings: detached dis*pas*sion»ate»ly adv fair

—

dispatch

1

formal 1 to send someone or something somewhere: The goods are dispatched from a warehouse. 2 to kill a person or animal 3 to get rid of someone or something in a fast and /di'spsetj/

verb

[T]

effective way dis-patch 2 /di'spaetf/ noun

[C] 1 a report that a military officer sends from a battlefield (=a place where a battle is being fought) or a government official sends from a foreign country 2 mainly journalism a report that a reporter sends to a newspaper office

mentioned in dispatches Br E

a soldier is mentioned in dispatches, a senior officer sends a report to say that the soldier has fought well and should receive a medal with dispatch very formal as soon and as fast as possible dis'patch box noun 1 [singular] the place where a senior government minister stands when speaking in the British parliament 2 [c] a red case that a minister in the British government uses for carrying documents dis-patch-er /di'spaetjar/ noun [c] someone whose job is to send vehicles where they are needed dis-pel /di'spel/ verb [T] to get rid of unpleasant feelings or false beliefs: He was keen to dispel any illusions we might have had. if

AmE

dispervsa-ble

/di'spensabl/ adj if someone or somedispensable, you do not need them and can get

thing

is

rid of

them

if

you want

to

to

dis-per-sal /di'sp3rsl/ noun

[u] the process of spreading things or people in different directions over a wide area

dis«perse/di'sp3rs/ verb

[i/t]

*

a crowd of people disperses, or someone disperses it, the people separate and go in different directions: Soldiers fired tear gas to disperse the crowds. 2 to spread or make things spread in different directions over a wide area: Birds disperse a large proportion 1

if

of the seeds.

dispersion

/di'sp3r3n/ noun [u] the process of dispersing something dis*pir«it«ed/di'spint3d/adj someone who is dispirited does not have the hope, enthusiasm, or interest that they had earlier dis-pir-it'ing /di'spintin/ adj making you lose the hope, enthusiasm, or interest you had earlier

dis-place

/dis'pleis/ verb [T] 1 to force someone to leave their own country and live somewhere else 2 to take the place of someone or something: Investment in the nationalized industries has simply displaced private investment. 3 to force something out of its position or space: The device displaces the air inside the container.

displaced person /.displeist 'p3rsn/ noun [c] someone who has been forced to leave their own country and

live

somewhere

else, for

example because there

is

own country dis-place-ment /dis'pleismsnt/ a war in their

noun 1 [u] the process of forcing something out of its position or space 2 [u] a situation in which a person is forced to leave their region or country and go and live somewhere else 3 [C/U] the amount of water that a ship displaces

dis-play /di'splei/ noun [c] ••• 1 an arrangement of things for people to look at: a window display + of a unique display of ancient artifacts 1

2 a performance that is intended to entertain people: a fireworks display + of a display of woodworking skills 3 an occasion when someone shows a particular feeling, quality, or attitude: + of Displays of emotion disgusted her. a very public display of Anglo-American unity 4 [usually singular] a computer screen or similar piece of equipment that shows information on display in a place that is able to be seen by many place/put people: Her work is on display at the gallery. sth on display The costumes were placed on display in the museum.

display 2 /di'splei/ verb

[t]

•*•

something in a particular place so that people easily: She displayed some of her paintings at the local art exhibit. Could you display this poster in your window? 2 to show a feeling, quality, or attitude by the way you behave: From an early age he displayed a talent for 1

to put

can see

singing.

it

I

£

display case 3

to

message

is

screen: An error displayed if invalid information is entered.

display .case noun

[c] a box with a glass lid, or a cabinet with glass doors that contains objects for people to look at, for example in a store or a museum

dis-please /dis'pliz/ verb [J] formal to annoy someone or make them angry, for example by making a mistake dis-pleased /dis'plizd/ adj formal annoyed or angry, usually because something is not very good or someone has made a mistake: not displeased (=very satisfied or pleased) He was not displeased to find himself the center of \

PM

attention.

dis-pleas-ure /dis'ple33r/ noun [u] formal the feeling of being annoyed or unhappy dis-port /di'sport/ verb [T] disport yourself oldfashioned to enjoy yourself, especially in a makes other people notice you

way

that

adj * something that is is designed to be thrown away after you have used it once or a few times: a disposable razor/ camera/ lighter disposable income noun [u] money that you have left to spend after you have paid your bills dis»pos*al /di'spoozl/ noun **

dis*pos*a*ble /di'spoozabl/ disposable

1 [U] the process of getting rid of something: +of the disposal of nuclear waste at sea 2 [C] E a garbage disposal

Am

at

A

your disposal available for you to use at any time: car and driver were placed at my disposal.

dis-pose /di'spouz/

verb

*•

pose of phrasal vb [T] 1 [dispose of sth] to get rid of something that you no longer need or want: Please dispose of all litter in the containers provided. 2 [dispose of sth] to remove something such as a problem by dealing with it successfully: Most complaints can be disposed of pretty quickly. 3 [dispose of sb] to kill someone 4 [dispose of sb] to defeat someone in a game, competition, etc.: Tim Henman disposed of Pete Sampras in

dis

straight

sets.

disposed

/di'spoozd/ adj formal 1 [+to] likely to behave or think in a particular way: He was a man of good character and was not disposed to violence. 2 [+to] used for describing what type of attitude you have toward someone: well/favorably/kindly etc. disposed to sb The press in the United States is generally well disposed to Blair.

be disposed to do sth to be willing to do something: He repeated that he would also be disposed to stay. dispo-si-tion /.dispa'zijn/ noun 1 [singular] the way that someone normally thinks and behaves, that shows what type of person they are: He is not known for having a warm and friendly disposition. of a nervous disposition This movie

is

not suitable for viewers of a nervous dis-

2 [singular] a tendency to behave in a certain way: a disposition towards criminal behavior* have /show a disposition to do sth Mowbray has shown a disposition

position.

unnecessary risks. 3 [C/U] the order or arrangeof something: the size and disposition of the security 4 [C/U] legal the process of giving property or

to take

ment force

money

to

someone

dispossess

/.dispa'zes/ verb [J] formal to take something valuable such as land away from someone

dis-pos-sessed / .disps'zest/ ad\ formal people who

are

dispossessed have had something valuable such as their land taken away from them a. the dispossessed people who are dispossessed

dis-pro-por-tion /.dispra'porjn/ noun [C/U] formal a situation in which things are not equal, or bigger or smaller than they should be in comparison to each other

dis»pro*por*tion*ate /.dispra'porfnat/

adj if something is disproportionate, it is bigger or smaller than it should be in comparison to something else: I've been given a disproportionate share of the work. +to The size of the fine was disproportionate to the scale of the offence.

— dis'pro-por-tiorvate-ly

adv:

his

disproportionately

large head

dis-prove /dis'pruv/

verb [T] to prove that something not correct or true: Until now no one had been able to disprove the theory. is

disrespect

392

show information on a computer

dis-puta-ble

/di'spjutabl/ adj not accepted as true or

correct by everyone dis-pu-ta-tion /dispjoteijn/ noun (C/U) very formal a discussion in which people disagree strongly

dis-pute

*••

1

/di'spjut/ noun [c/u] a serious disagreement, especially one between groups of people that lasts for a long time: + between a territorial dispute between rival gangs + over a dispute over pay + with Monroe's behavior eventually led to a dispute with the

umpire.

beyond dispute impossible to disagree with: The main part of his argument was beyond dispute. in dispute 1 involved in a public disagreement about something: + over We are in dispute over the terms and conditions of his employment. +with Clerical workers found themselves in bitter dispute with the hospital management. 2 if facts are in dispute, people disagree about them: The facts in this case are not in dispute. It is not in dispute that Mr. Turner has suffered serious injuries. open to dispute if something is open to dispute, people disagree about it

dispute 2

/di'spjut/ verb

•

say that something such as a fact is not true or correct: They do not dispute the fact that the company is in trouble. He disputed claims that the drug had not been 1

[T]

to

adequately

tested.

2

argue about something: The outcome of the

[I/T]

to

was immediately disputed by the other party. diS'put-ed /di'spjutad/ ad] 1 a disputed area is one election

that different countries claim belongs to them, so that there is a disagreement or war between them: disputed region/ territory I waters 2 a disputed fact, statement, or judgment is one that many people argue about: hotly disputed (=argued about with strong feelings) The importance of Bower's contribution has been hotly disputed for years.

disqualif ication

/diskwahfi'keijn/ noun [c/u] a which someone is not allowed to take part something because they have committed an offense or done something that is not allowed by the rules dis-qual-i'fy /dis'kwali.fai/ verb [T often passive] to not allow someone to do something because they have committed an offense: disqualify sb from doing sth He was disqualified from voting because he did not satisfy the situation in in

residency requirement, a. to not allow someone to take part in a competition, or to force them to leave it, usually because they have done something that is not allowed by the rules: disqualify sb from sth He was disqualified from the championship after he tested positive for

drugs.

dis-qui»et /dis'kwaist/ noun [u] formal a feeling of being very worried or nervous disqui-et-ing /dis'kwaiatin/ adj formal making you feel very worried or nervous disre-gard 1 / disregard/ verb [t] to not consider something important or pay any attention to it: Please disregard

my previous

message.

dis-re-gard 2 / disregard/ noun [singular/u] the attitude of someone who does not respect something or consider it important: + of /for What we are seeing is disregard of complete /blatant/ reckless disregard for This the law. decision shows a blatant disregard for the current residents. dis-re-pair /.disn'per/ noun [u] formal a broken or damaged state: The place is in such a state of disrepair that it is dangerous, fall into disrepair We've made a study of the number of school buildings falling into disrepair. disrep-u-ta'ble /dis'repjatsbl/ adj not respected, and

considered dishonest or

illegal:

The house was

in

a

dis-

reputable neighborhood.

disrepute

/.disn'pjut/ noun [u] formal a situation in

which people have no respect for someone or something: bring sth into disrepute The president brought his office into disrepute and betrayed the people's trust.

disre-spect

1

/.disn'spekt/ noun [u] the attitude or behavior of someone who does not respect someone or something: treat sb/sth with disrespect No one deserves to

be treated with this level of disrespect.

(to) used before you say something that might offend someone, to show that you do not intend

no disrespect

disrespect

—

2

dis-re-spect /.disn'spekt/ verb

to treat

[t]

it

someone

without respect

dis-robe /dis'roub/

verb

[I]

very formal to take

your

clothes off

dis-rupt /dis'rApt/ verb [T] * to interrupt something and prevent it from continuing by creating a problem: dis-rup-tion /dis'rApJsn/ noun [C/u] * 1 a situation in which something cannot continue because of a problem: + of The train strikes caused major disruption of the morning commute for thousands ofpeople. 2 a problem or action that interrupts something and prevents it from continuing dis-rup-tive /disiwptiv/ adj causing difficulties that interrupt something or prevent it from continuing: dis-

— dis-rup-tive-ly adv

dissatisfaction annoyed feeling you good as you expected

/dis.saetis'fekfsn/ noun [u] the get when something is not as it to be: + with Teachers expressed

dissatisfaction with the proposed contract. dis-sat-is-fied /dis'saetisiaid/ adj * annoyed because something is not as good as you expected it to be: + with

He had been feeling

very dissatisfied with his

life

in recent

months.

dissat-is-fy

/dis'ssetis.fai/ verb [T] if

satisfies you,

it

annoys you because

you expected

it

to be

dissect

/di'sekt; dai'sekt/ verb [T]

something disnot as good as

it is

1

to cut the

body

of a dead person or animal into parts in order to examine them 2 to think about or discuss the details of something in order to understand it completely dis-sec-tion /dl'sekjsn/ noun [C/U]

dis-sem-ble /di'sembl/

verb [i/T] literary to hide real thoughts, feelings, or intentions: dissimulate

your

dis-sem-i-nate

/di'semi.neit/ verb [J] formal to make something such as information or knowledge available to a lot of people: spread dis-sem-i-na-tion /disemi

—

'neijn/noun

[u]

dis-sen-sion /di'senjan/ noun [C/U] formal strong disagreement about something, especially within a group of people dis-sent 1 /di'sent/ noun [u] strong disagreement, especially with what people in authority think or what the majority of people think: He banned political parties and crushed dissent, a. [C/l)]AmE an official statement in which a judge states that they disagree with the other judges in a legal case

dis-sent 2

/di'sent/ verb [i] formal to express strong disagreement, especially with what people in authority think or with what most people think a. Am E to officially disagree with the judgment made by the other judges working with you on a legal case dis-sent- ing adj: a dissenting voice I view I opinion

—

dis-sent-er /di'sentar/ noun [c] someone who strongly disagrees with something dis-ser-ta-tion /.disar'teijfi/ noun [C] a long piece of writing on a particular subject that you do as part of a university degree

dis-serv-ice

/di's3rvis/ noun [singular] formal do sb/sth a disservice/do a disservice to sb/sth to have a bad

on someone or something dis-si-dent / 'disidant/ noun [C] someone who disagrees publicly with a government, especially in a country where this is not allowed a. someone who disagrees publicly with the policy of an organization they belong effect

especially a political party views

to,

— dis-si-dent adj: dissident

dis-sim-i-lar /di'simitar/ ad] different from someone or something else: two very dissimilar languages +to a weaving technique not dissimilar to the way fishermen

make

their nets

dissimilarity /di.simi'lersti/ noun which two people or things are

[C/U] the way in different from each

other

dissimulate

/di'simp.leit/ verb [i/T] formal to hide feelings, or intentions

your real thoughts,

dissipate

gradually disappear by becoming less strong, or to make something do this: a material designed to dissipate heat 2 [T] to waste something such as time, money, or supplies by not using it in a sensible way: The benefits of smaller wage increases for workers have been dissipated by the Government. /'disi,peit/ verb

dis-si-pat-ed too

Protesters tried to disrupt the meeting.

ruptive pupils

distance

393

to offend them: / mean no disrespect to the team, but dis-re-spect-ful adj wasn't their best performance.

formal

1

[i/T] to

/'disi.peitod/ adj old-fashioned spending physical pleasures that

much time and money on

are not good for your health

dis-si-pa-tion /.disi'peijn/ noun [u] 1 old-fashioned | the practice of spending too much time and money on physical pleasures that are not good for your health 2 formal the process by which a substance, a feeling, or energy gradually disappears by becoming less strong 3 formal the act of wasting something such as time, money, or supplies by not using it in a sensible way dis-so-ci-ate /di'sooji.eit/ or disassociate /,diS3'sooJi,eit/verb[T] 1 formal to consider two people or things to be separate, different, or not connected to each other: / was making movies while I was still a pop singer and it was difficult to dissociate the two. 2 [dissociate yourself/sb from] to show clearly that someone is not connected with someone or something: Senators urged the administration to dissociate itself dis-so-ci-a-tion /di.souji'eijn/ from the war.

—

entirely

noun [u] dis-so-lute /'diss.lut/ adj formal spending too much time and money on physical pleasures in a way that most people consider immoral dis-so-lute-ly adv dis-so-lu-tion /.disa'lufn/ noun [U] 1 the process of officially ending the existence of a group or organization la. the process of formally ending a legislature 1b. the process of officially ending a marriage or other legal agreement 2 the process of gradually getting weaker or smaller and then disappearing

—

dis-solve /di'zalv/ verb

**

a solid substance dissolves in a liquid, it is into the liquid so that it becomes included in it: + in salt dissolves in water la. [T] to mix a solid substance into a liquid so that it becomes included in it: dissolve sth in sth Dissolve the sugar in one tablespoon of water over low heat. 2 [i/T] if a group or organization dissolves, or if someone dissolves it, it stops existing: The Soviet Union was dissolved in 1991. 2a. [T often passive] to formally end a legislature 2b. [T usually passive] to officially end a marriage or other legal agreement: Their marriage was dissolved in 1938. 3 [i/T] to disappear or stop existing, or to make something do this, especially a feeling: After four days, her 1

[i]

if

mixed

hopes offinding Ben began

to dissolve.

dis solve into phrasal vb [T] [dissolve into sth] if you dissolve into something such as tears or laughter, you begin to cry or laugh in an uncontrolled way

dis-so-nance

/'dissnsns/ noun [C/U] 1 formal a situation in which ideas or actions are opposed to each other 2 technical an unpleasant sound created when musical notes played together are not in harmony dis-so-nant adj

—

dis-suade

/di'sweid/ verb [t] formal to persuade someone not to do something: Campbell tried in vain to dissuade Paton from quitting. dis-sua«sion/di's\vei3n/

—

noun [u] dis-taff /'di.staef/ noun [C] a small stick used in the past for winding wool around when spinning

on the

distaff side old-fashioned on the a family

dis-tance

1

*•*

woman's

side of

/'distsns/ noun 1 [C/U] the amount of space between two people or things: +from // is important to consider distance from +to They public transportation when buying a house. started to walk the short distance to the camp. +of a distance offive miles long distances He's used to driving long distances. some /a good /a considerable distance His parents live some distance away. at a distance of Altair, at a distance of 17 light-years, is one of the closest of the bright stars. 1a. [C/u] the amount of time between two points in time: A definitive cure is still some distance away. 1b. [u] the fact that two people or things are far

distance

I

1

distinctive

394

apart from each other: The distance has never been a problem for our relationship. 2 [u] great differences between two people or things: the social distance between farmers and farm workers 3 [singular/u] if there is a distance between two people, their relationship is not friendly or close 3a. a way of speaking or behaving that is not very friendly and does not encourage other people to talk to you: It was his

distaste

distance toward me that was so upsetting. 4 [u] the amount of progress that needs to be made in order to solve a problem: There's still some distance to

dis-temper

go.

at/from a distance 1 at/from a place that is not close: I've only ever seen him from a distance. Tim followed him at a distance (=keeping a long way behind him). 2 at/ from a much later point in time: From a distance I

suppose it'll seem funny. go the (full) distance informal 1 to compete in a race or game until the end, continuing to try to win 2 to continue doing what is necessary until you achieve your goal in/into the distance at/to a place that is very far from where you are, although you can still see or hear things there: The peaks of the Pyrenees could be seen in the distance. His gaze shifted, and he stared into the distance. keep sb at a distance to not let someone become friendly

with you

keep your distance 1 to avoid going near someone or something 2 to avoid becoming friendly with someone put some distance between 1 to go away from a person or place, especially in order to avoid a dangerous or unpleasant situation 2 to say or do something that shows that you are not connected with or do not approve of something: The strategy is to put some distance between the liberal and conservative branches of the party. 3 to deliberately

make

a relationship less close or friendly:

My

instincts warned me to put some distance between us. a safe distance far enough away from someone or something not to be in danger: At a safe distance from the action, General Lewis was directing troop movements. within walking/ driving etc. distance possible to reach by walking /driving, etc.: +of The house was within walking distance of the university. The village is within commuting distance of New York.

-» SPIT

1 ,

STRIKE

diS'tance

1

2

/'distans/ verb [T] distance yourself from way that shows you are not connected with someone or something, usually because you do not approve of them: The company is trying to distance itself from remarks made by the former director. to act in a

distance 3

/'distans/ adj [only before noun] consisting of or taking part in races in which people run or swim a long distance: the nation's best distance runners

distance learning noun dents work at home with

a system in which stuthe help of television and radio broadcasts and send work to their teachers by mail or e-mail

dis-tant /'distant/

adj

[u]

**

1 [usually before noun] far away from the place where you are: I could faintly hear the distant rumble of traffic. Her eyes scanned the distant hills. The castle was four miles distant, la. far away in time: The elections are still five weeks distant. in the distant past/future (=a long time ago/a long time in the future) One day, in the distant in the not too future, I might go and live in Europe. distant future (=fairly soon) / expect to return in the not too distant future. a distant memory (^something you

cannot remember very well because it happened a long time ago) That lovely summer on Hilton Head already felt like a distant memory. 2 someone who is distant seems unfriendly or does not

show

their feelings: Violet was cold and distant. 3 showing that you are thinking about something else: He nodded slowly, a distant look in his eyes. 4 [only before noun] related, but not in a close way: a distant relative /cousin

dis-tant-ly /'distantli/ adv 1 mainly literary far away: / heard dogs barking distantly in the hills. 2 without any real feeling, usually because you are thinking about something else: At this Ivan only smiled distantly. 3 not in detail or exactly: Helen thought she could distantly recall having seen him somewhere before.

be distantly related to sb if two people are distantly related to each other, they are relatives, but not close relatives /dis'teist/

noun

someone or something

[u]

that

a feeling of dislike for

you do not approve of

distastef ul

/dis'teistfal/ ad) unpleasant in a way that Many people have complained that they found the pictures distasteful.

upsets or offends you:

/di'stempar/ noun

[u]

1

tious disease that affects animals, 2 thick paint used for painting walls

dis-tend-ed /di'stendad/ dis-til /di'stil/the Br

E

adj

a serious infecdogs

especially

formal swollen

spelling of distill

distill /distil/ verb [i/T] 1 to make a liquid more pure by heating it until it becomes a gas and then making it colder so that it becomes a liquid again 1a. to use this process to make an alcoholic drink such as whiskey 1 b. to obtain liquid from a plant using a similar process 2 to produce a summary that contains only the most important ideas or pieces of information dis-til-

—

la«tion/,disti'leiJn/noun[C/U]

dis-till-er /di'stilar/ noun [C] a company that strong alcoholic drinks such as whiskey

makes

dis»till*er*y /di'stibri/ noun [c] a place where strong alcoholic drinks such as whiskey are made

distinct

/di'stinkt/ adj

••

separate and different in a way that is clear: They were classified into two distinct groups. -f from The region's 1

linguistic

and

cultural identity

is

quite distinct

from

that

of the rest of the country. 1a. as distinct from used for showing that you want to consider something separately from something else: The company, as distinct from its shareholders, should be liable for any debts. 2 able to be clearly seen, heard, smelled, or tasted: As dawn broke, the outline of a building became distinct against the sky. There was a distinct smell of burning coming from downstairs. 3 [usually before noun] definite and obvious: a distinct change of emphasis / had the distinct impression that he did not like me.

dis-tinc-tion /di'stinkfan/ noun ••• 1 [C] a difference between two things: In

practice, these

distinctions are often blurred (=not made very clear). + between Do other countries have the same distinction

between amateur and professional athletes that we do? make /draw a distinction Medical literature does not always make a distinction between the two terms. a clear/ sharp distinction This would lead to a clear distinction between management and the workforce. [singular] an unusual achievement or feature that makes someone or something different from other

2

people or things: have/hold/gain the distinction of She holds the distinction of having been the first woman editor This country has gained of the Harvard Law Review. the dubious distinction of being one of the world's most dangerous places for reporters. 3 [u] formal the excellent qualities, skills, or features that someone or something has: of (great) distinction We are fortunate that so many people of distinction and talent are present. 4 [C/u] BrE an honor given to a student who has achieved a very high standard, or a grade that shows this: Kevin graduated with distinction in history and law. get/gain a distinction She got a distinction in her piano exam. 4a. [C] BrE formal an honor given to someone who has achieved a very high standard in their work or helped many people

with/without distinction in a way that

is

recognized

as being extremely good/bad: He fought with distinction in World War One. without distinction (of sth) used for saying that something affects or includes everyone: The aim is to guarantee the rights of all citizens without distinction of nationality, sex, education, or status.

dis-tinc-tive /di'stinktiv/ adj ** easy to recognize because of being different from other people or things of the same type: individual: a smooth, rich coffee with a distinctive flavor a distinctive feature Good visuals and diagrams are the magazine's most distinctive features. dis-tinctive'ly adv, dis*tinc*tive*ness noun [U]

—

distinctly

Lucy felt

distinctly uncomfortable.

dis-tin-guish /di'stingwij/ verb

***

1 [I/T] to recognize the differences between things: differentiate: He learned to distinguish a great variety of + between They concluded birds, animals, and plants. that even three-year-olds are able to distinguish between distinguish sth from sth It's very difcauses and effects. ficult to distinguish satire from other types of comedy. [T] to be a feature that makes someone or something clearly different from other similar people or things: distinguish sb/sth from sb/sth There is very little to distinguish it from the hundreds of other Web sites devoted

2

to this subject.

3

[T]/orma/ to be able to hear, see, smell, or taste something clearly: / could not distinguish her face in the darkness.

distinguish yourself to do something very well so that people notice and respect you

dis«tin«guish«a'ble/di'stingwij3bl/adj 1 clearly different from other people or things of the same type: Desktop publishing allows you to achieve results that are barely distinguishable from those achieved by professional publishers. 2 easy to see, hear, smell, or taste: She was numb with cold, and her words were hardly distinguishable.

distinguished

/di'stingwift/ adj • successful and respected by many people: the distinguished painter known as Grandma Moses a distinguished career in the diplomatic service 2 looking impressive and as if you deserve respect. This word is not usually used to describe young people: a very distinguished silver-haired man 1

dis-tin-guish-ing /di'stingwijin/ adj a distinguishing feature, mark etc. makes someone or something clearly different from other similar people or things

distort

/di'stort/ verb [t]

*

change something such as information so that it is no longer true or accurate: The paper was accused of distorting the truth. The program presented a distorted 1

to

picture of her life. 2 to change the way something looks, sounds, or behaves so that it becomes strange or difficult to recognize: Electronic faults can distort the radio signal. Her face was distorted by pain.

dis-tor-tion /di'storfn/ noun [C/u] * 1 a change that makes something no longer true or accurate: This is clearly a distortion of the facts. 2 a change in the way something looks, sounds, or behaves so that it becomes strange or difficult to recognize: Practically all these early recordings suffer from distortion.

dis-tract /di'straekt/ verb [T] • to get someone's attention and prevent them from concentrating on something: She was distracted by the sound of running water. distract sb from sth We must let nothing distract us from our purpose. distract (sb's) attention from sth to do something in order to stop someone from paying attention to something: They tried to distract attention from the crisis.

dis-tract-ed /di'straektad/ adj not able to concentrate on something:^// that summer Rosie seemed distant and distracted.

— dis*tract«edly adv

dis-tract-ing

/di'straektin/ adj preventing you from concentrating on something: I find it too distracting to

work with the television on. dis-trac-tion /di'straekfan/ noun * 1 C/ U something that gets your attention and prevents you from concentrating on something else: We have work to do and it is essential that there are no distractions. 2 [C] formal an activity that you can do for fun or entertainment [

district court

395

distinct-ly /di'stinktli/ adv 1 in a way that is clear to your senses: distinctly hear/see/smell etc. He distinctly heard her sigh. 1a. in a definite and clear way: distinctly remember sb/sth / distinctly remember his putting the money in his pocket. 1b. carefully, so that what you say is easy to hear and understand: speak distinctly When she spoke again it was slowly and distinctly. 2 extremely:

]

drive sb to distraction to annoy someone so much that they become angry or upset: She was driven to distraction by his constant whistling.

dis-trait /di'strei; 'distrei/ adj very formal not able to concentrate on something because you are worried about something else: distracted distraught /di'strDt/ adj extremely worried, upset, or confused 1 dis-tress /di'stres/ noun [u] •• 1 a feeling that you have when you are very unhappy, worried, or upset: / wouldn't want to cause her any distress. in distress She'd arrived on Gina's doorstep in obvious distress, la. great pain 2 a situation in which a ship, aircraft, etc. is in great danger and likely to sink or crash: a distress call/ signal/ flare in distress a message from a ship in distress 3 an unpleasant and difficult situation caused by a lack of money, food, or other basic things: in distress In some regions, people are in genuine economic distress.

dis-tress 2 /di'stres/ verb [T] * to make someone feel very unhappy, worried, or upset: It distresses him to think that he has no hope of changing things.

distressed

/di'strest/ adj 1 very unhappy, worried, or upset 1a. suffering great pain 2 a distressed fabric or surface has been deliberately made to look like it is old 3 mainly BrE old-fashioned suffering great difficulties because of a lack of money, food, or other basic things

distressing

/di'stresin/

adj

making

you

feel

extremely unhappy, worried, or upset: distressing news

**

dis«trib«ute/di'stri,bjut/verb [T] 1 to give something such as food, clothes, or money to a group of people, especially so that each person gets an equal share: The two men were convicted of distributing antigovernment leaflets. distribute sth to sb We distributed beans and corn to the refugees, la. to share an available supply of something such as money among people or organizations: A committee decides how the money is distributed.

2 to supply goods from one central place to stores: Most of Japan 's manufacturers distribute their products through separate wholesale companies. 3 to spread something over an area: Water beds distribute body pressure much more evenly than conventional beds.

dis-trib-ut-ed /di'stnbjatsd/ adj • 1 spread or shared in a particular way: randomly distributed data Red squirrels are widely distributed throughout the woodlands. a distributed computer system involves the use of several computers rather than one central

2 computing

computer diS'tri'bU'tion /.distn'bjujn/ noun ** 1 [C/u] the process of giving something such as food, clothes, or money to a group of people, especially so that each person gets an equal share: + of The Red Cross organized the distribution of food and clothing in the disaster area.

2 [C/U] the way in which an available supply of something such as money is shared among people or spread over an area: +of Brazil has a very unequal distribution of income and wealth. 3 [U] the process of supplying goods from one central place to stores: +of plans for the marketing and distribution of the new software [C/U] the process of spreading something over an area or the way in which it is spread: + oiBees are largely responsible for the distribution of pollen. diS'trib-u-tor/di'stnbjator/ noun [c] * 1 the part of a car engine that sends electricity to the SPARK PLUGS 2 a company or person that supplies goods to stores

4

district /'distnkt/ noun [c] •*• 1 an area of a town or country: They live in one of the most exclusive districts of Paris. the new financial district 2 one of the areas into which a town or country is divided for official purposes: Schools in the district continue to perform badly. a district judge .district attorney noun [C] * a lawyer who works for a state or county government in the U.S. and whose job is to bring people accused of crimes to trial

.district 'court noun [c] a court in the U.S. that deals with cases in a particular national or state district

|

ft

"

distrust dis-trust

1

something: Most people distrust

not trust someone or politicians,

—compare

MISTRUST

distrust 2

noun [u] a feeling that you cannot trust someone or something: +of a deep distrust of the judicial system compare mistrust distrust-f ul /dis'trAStfsl/ adj a distrustful person does not trust a particular person or thing or people in general: They were profoundly distrustful of anything new. dis'trust'fuMy adv /dis'trASt/

—

—

disturb

/di'st3rb/ verb

[T]

••

1 to interrupt someone and stop them from continuing what they were doing: / didn want to disturb you in the 't

middle of a meeting. Sorry to disturb you, but do you know where Miss Springer is?* Her sleep was disturbed by a violent hammering on the door. 2 to upset and worry someone a lot: Ministers declared themselves profoundly disturbed by the violence. to make something move A soft breeze gently disturbed the surface of the pool. 3a. to frighten wild animals or birds so that they run away 4 to do something that stops a place or situation from being pleasant, calm, or peaceful: Not even a breath of wind disturbed the beautiful scene.

3

:

disturb the peace legal to commit the illegal act of behaving in a noisy way in public, especially late at night do not disturb a sign that you hang on a door, especially in a hotel, to say that you do not want to be interrupted

Words nouns

balance, calm, concentration, equilibrium, peace, sleep, thoughts, tranquillity

4

We have a

lot to

do

nightclub. 3 [C/U] the act of making something move: Any disturbance of the seabed would be disastrous for the fish. 4 [C/U] a situation in which someone's mind or body develops a problem and stops operating in its usual way: emotional/ behavioral/ psychiatric disturbance

*

help. adj

*

making you

feel

extremely worried or upset: I found the book deeply disturbing images of war and death disturbing. dis'turb-ing-ly adv: The crimes were disturbingly

—

similar.

disu-nit-ed / .disjs'naitsd/ adj not agreeing or working together to achieve a goal dis-u-ni-ty /dis'junsti/ noun [u] a situation in which people are not in agreement or not working together to achieve a goal dis-use /dis'jus/ noun [u] a situation in which something is not being used: fall into disuse The old bridge fell into disuse.

/dis'juzd/ adj not used anymore: a disused

quarry adj

linguistics

disyllabic

ditch 1

/ditjV noun [C] a long narrow hole dug along the side of a road or field, usually so that water can run into it

ditch 2

[i/t] if an aircraft ditches, or if the it comes down in the ocean in an informal to get rid of someone or something because you no longer like or need them: The

/ditjV verb 1

pilot ditches

it,

emergency 2

[T]

—

colors

dit-sy /'ditsi/ another spelling of ditzy 1 dit*to /'ditoo/ adv spoken used for saying that you agree with what someone has just said or that your feelings or wishes are the same as theirs: "I'm having the cheese

and tomato

pizza. " "Ditto.

same

ditto (for) sb/sth used for saying that the

is

true

about or affects someone or something else: The salad will have to be washed and chopped. Ditto the vegetables. 2 dit'to /'ditoo/ noun [C] the symbol " written under a

word

in a list to

dit*ty

/ 'diti/

show

noun

you want to repeat that word humorous a short simple song informal silly and not reliable that

[C] often

dit'Zy / ditsi/ ad] di-uret-ic /.daijs'retik/ noun [C] medical a substance that makes your body produce more urine di*u*ret*ic

known

to

have a diuretic

effect.

2

adj 1 very formal happening every technical a diurnal animal is awake and

di-va /'diva/ noun

[C]

— opposite nocturnal

a famous and successful female

singer, especially of opera

Divali

/di'vali/ another spelling of

Diwali

di-van /di'vaen/ noun [C] a bed consisting of a mattress on a solid base a. a long comfortable seat with no back or arms for two or more people

dive 1 /daiv/ jump

(past tense dived

ordove/doov/) verb

[I]

**

4 jump sideways/forward 5 lose value quickly

water 2 swim underwater 1

into

3 move downward

jump into water with your head first and with your arms stretched out in front of you: He hesitated for + into /in Paul dived into the a second and then dived. pool. Don dive in without looking! + off She dived off 1

to

't

extremely upset and worried: / am very disturbed by the complaints that have been made against you. 2 affected by mental or emotional problems, usually because of bad experiences in the past: These are very 1

disyl-lab-ic /.daisi'laebik/ words have two syllables

'ditf.watar/see dull

active during the day

we don't want any disturbances. 2a. [U] the interruption of a pleasant, calm, or peaceful situation: We are concerned about disturbance to residents from the

disturbed children who need dis-turb-ing /di'st3rbin/

/

1

/ 'di&sr/ verb [i] to be unable to make a decision about something: She was dithering about what to wear. dith*er*er noun [C] 2 dith«er /'difor/ noun be (all) in a dither informal to be nervous or excited and unable to concentrate on anything or decide what to do dith-er-ing /'didarin/ noun [u] computing the process of creating new colors on a computer screen by changing the patterns of the small spots that make up the

day: daily

today, so

/di'st3rbd/ adj

dith-er

di*ur»nal /dai'3rnl/

in a noisy or violent way in a public place: There were serious disturbances in Israel last summer. 2 [C] something that interrupts you and stops you from

disturbed

man.

ditch-water

adj: Caffeine is

dis-tur-bance /di'st3rbans/ noun ** 1 [C] an occasion on which people behave

continuing what you were doing:

was ditched after the star of the show quit. He ditched the gun in a bin as he ran away. 2a. informal to end a sexual or romantic relationship with someone in a sudden and unkind way: She ditched Ryan for a younger series

—

frequently used with disturb

dis*used

dive

396 /dis'tr,\st/ verb [T] to

the top board. 2 to swim underwater, usually using special equipment so that you can breathe: go diving We both went diving when we were on vacation. +for young men diving for pearls 2a. to move downward through water: She dived down to the floor of the pool.

3

to

move quickly and suddenly toward

from the

4

air:

The plane dived

to the

the ground

ground.

jump sideways or forward, so that your body moves toward the ground: Jones dived on the ball a yard from the end zone. 4a. to move very quickly in to

a particular direction or into a particular position, especially to avoid something: He dived out of the way, reaching for his gun. They dived into a doorway. 4b. if a player dives, they deliberately fall to the ground in order to pretend that an opponent has made them fall 5 to lose value very quickly: Earnings per share dived

from

$1.95 to $1.08.

,dive 'in phrasal vb [l] informal 1 to start doing something in a very enthusiastic way: Sometimes you've just got to take a chance and dive in. 2 to start eating in a very enthusiastic way: Food's on the table, just dive in!

dive 2 /daiv/ noun 1

jump

into

[c]

*

water

2 movement downward 3 sudden fall in value

4 sudden movement 5 in sports

6 unpleasant bar/club

1 a jump into water with your head first and your arms stretched out in front of you 1a. a dive into water from a high board, making skillful movements in the

air before entering the water

dive-bomb

an opponent made them

6

is dirty,

verb [i/t] 1 to attack someone or something by flying quickly down at them 2 to jump into water with your body curled up into a ball

dive-bomber

noun [C] a military aircraft that can fly low in order to drop bombs div«er /'daivsr/ noun [C] 1 someone who swims under water, especially as their job: Police divers are searching the river bed. 2 someone who dives into water, for example as a sport

di«verge/dai'v3rd3/verb [I] 1 to start to go in separate directions: The two roads diverge at the entrance to the woods. 2 to develop and become different after being the same: +from Their views on foreign policy diverge consistently from ours. divergence /dai'v3rd3ans/ noun [c/u] a difference in the way two or more things develop from the same thing: + of a wide divergence of opinion on this issue /dai'v 3rd33nt/ adj things that are divergent are different from each other r

di'vers /'daivarz/ adj an old word meaning "various" di*verse /di'v3rs; dai'v3rs/ adj ** very different from each other: The newspaper aims di*verse«ly adv of issues.

—

diversifica-tion

to

cover a diverse range

/di,v3rsifi'keifn; dai,v3rsifi'keijn/

noun [u] business the process of developing new products or business activities: a costly diversification into electronics and aerospace

diversified /di'v3rsi,faid; dai'v3rsi,faid/ adj consisting of many different parts or people: The region possesses a highly diversified

and

skilled workforce.

/di'v3rsifai; dai'v3rsifai/ verb 1

ness to develop

[i/t] busi-

new products

or activities in addition to the ones you already provide or do 2 [i] to develop into something different: Faced with a changing environment, most organisms will adapt and diversify.

di-ver-sion /di'v3r3n; dai'v3r3n/ noun • 1 [C] something intended to take someone's attention away from something you do not want them to concentrate on or notice: create a diversion You create a diversion and I'll run for the door! 2 [C/U] a change in the use or purpose of something: This would result in a massive diversion offunds. 3 [C]formal an activity that you do for fun: sightseeing, museum visits, and other pleasant diversions

4

[C]

a DETOUR

diver-sion-ar-y

dai'v3r3n,eri/

/di'v3r3n,eri;

adj

intended to take attention away from something

diversi-ty

/di'vsrssti; dai'v3rssti/ noun [singular/ u] *• the fact that very different people or things exist within a group or place: We value the rich ethnic and

cultural diversity of the group.

di-vert

/di'v3rt; dai'v3rt/ verb [T]

*

make something move

or travel in a different direction: divert sb/sth from sth Police are trying to divert 1

to

away from the trouble spot. something for a purpose that is different from original or main purpose: divert sb/sth from sth In an emergency, workers will be diverted from less urgent tasks to help out. divert sb/sth to sth Teachers called on the government to divert the extra money to schools. 3 to do something to take people's attention away from something that you do not want them to concentrate on or notice: divert sth from sb/sth Cooper claims that the state used the investigation to divert attention from its financial problems. traffic

2

to use

its

di«vert«ing/di'v3rtin; dai'v3rtin/adj/orma/ interesting or enjoyable

di*vest

example by selling it di-vide /di'vaid/ verb 1

/di'vest; dai'vest/ verb [T] formal to take away someone's power, rights, or authority

••• 5 separate into two 6 when cells separate + PHRASES

separate/be separated

1

2 be in between 3 in mathematics 4 cause disagreement

inexpensive, and

dive-bomb

divergent

divest yourself of sth very formal 1 to take off something you are wearing 2 to get rid of something, for

fall

informal a bar or club that

unpleasant

di'versi'fy

dividend

397

a quick sudden movement toward the ground from the air: The plane lost control and went into a dive. 3 a sudden fall in the value of something: take a dive (=fall) The share price took a percent dive last year. 4 a sudden movement in a particular direction: Bond made a dive for the gun lying on the floor. 5 a deliberate fall by a player who is pretending that

2

1 divide or divide up [T] to separate people or things into smaller groups or parts: Divide the dough and roll divide sth into pairs /groups /parts etc. out one part. to have separate Divide the class into three groups. 1a. parts or form into separate groups: +into The movie divides into two distinct halves. 1b. [T] to separate something into smaller parts and share the parts between people: Work out how you would like to divide the money. divide sth between/among sb After his death his property was divided among his children. 2 [T] to keep two or more areas or parts separate: the wall that divides the playground and the playing field divide sth from sth The railroad divides their family's land from the plains below. 3 [l/T] to do a mathematical calculation to find out how [

l

]

many

times a number contains a smaller number. This usually shown by the symbol - divide sth by sth Divide 5. 10 divided by 2 is 5. + by Add 50 to your original number, then divide by six. 4 [T] to be the cause of disagreement between people, especially within a group: a subject that divided the nation The ruling class was divided by internal conflicts. -» divided 4a. [I] to disagree and form smaller groups: divide along party/religious/ethnic etc. lines (=according to your political party, religion, race, etc.) The Senate looks certain to divide along party lines. 5 [I] if a road divides, it separates into two roads: fork: is

:

9 by

When

6

[I]

into

the road divides, take the left-hand route. a cell in a plant or animal divides, it separates

if

two

cells so that

a

new

cell is

formed

divide and conquer to keep control over people who might oppose you, by encouraging disagreement or fighting among them: The empire was maintained through a strategy of divide and conquer. divide into phrasal vb [T] [divide sth into sth] to do a mathematical calculation to find out how many times a smaller number will fit into a larger number: Divide 3 into

9.

[T] to keep one area separate from another: the fence that divided off the women's section divide up phrasal vb 1 [T] same as divide i: + into Divide the children up into groups offour. a secret Soviet-German pact for dividing up Europe in 1940 2 [l] same as divide' [T] same as ia: +into Let's divide up into groups now. 3 divide ib: The money will be divided up among five dif-

divide off phrasal vb

1

1

ferent charities. 2

di-vide /di'vaid/ noun

[C] 1

[usually singular]

an impor-

tant difference or disagreement between two people or groups: The ideological divide between them has deepened. a racial /cultural /political divide + between There's a clear divide between the two parties on the issue of taxation. 2 E an area of high ground that separates the areas from which water runs into two different rivers or

Am

oceans

divided

/di'vaidid/ adj if a group, organization, or divided, there are major disagreements people in it: Wilson now found himself leading a weak and divided party. over/ as to Traders are divided deeply/ as to how the market will react to this news. bitterly /sharply divided Opinion on Kosovo is deeply

country

is

among the

divided.

di.vided 'highway noun [c] AmE a road with two or more lanes (=lines) of traffic going in each direction, with a narrow piece of land down the middle to separate them

divi'dend /'dividend/ noun

[c]

•

1 a share of the profits of a company, paid once or twice a year to the people who own the company's stock 2 technical a number that is going to be divided by

another number

pay dividends informal if something that you do pays dividends, you begin to gain benefits from it: This diet has started paying dividends.

|

ft

divider

a

di-vider

/di'vaidar/ noun [c] something used to mark the place where one thing ends and another begins: a room divider colored subject dividers

di-vid-ers /di'vaidarz/ noun [plural] a piece of equipment used for measuring or drawing lines and angles, consisting of two pieces of metal with pointed ends that are joined together at the top

di-viding line

9J

/di'vaidin ,1am/ noun [singular] something that clearly shows the difference between one idea, subject, or issue and another: + between the dividing line between popular fiction and serious literature

divination

/.dm'neijn/ noun [u] the practice of finding out about the future by receiving signs from the spirit world 1

divine /di'vam/ adj

*•

like a god, or relating to a god: The calm on their faces seemed almost divine. the many divine beings in the Hindu tradition la. done, sent, or provided by a god: divine intervention inspiration /justice 2 informal old-fashioned extremely good or pleasant: 1

WONDERFUL 2

di«vine /di'vain/ verb 1 [T]formal to guess something to search for underfrom what you already know 2 ground water using a Y-shaped stick called a divining rod di*vin*er /di'vamar/ noun [c] someone who finds out about the future by receiving signs from the spirit [

I

]

in the past, the idea ruled because of a right given by 1

[singular]

that a king or queen God so that they could not be opposed or removed from power 2 a right that you think you have to do what you want, even if it harms or upsets other people: They seem to think they have a divine right to stage the next Olympics.

div*ing /'darvin/ noun [u] 1 the activity, job, or sport of swimming deep under water, especially using special equipment to carry oxygen 2 the sport of jumping into water with your head first and your arms stretched out in front of you a large metal container that is shaped like a bell and contains air, used by people [c]

working under water

diving board noun

a long narrow board at the edge of a swimming pool that people can dive from picture [c]

—

-ABOARD di*vin*i«ty/di'vm3ti/noun 1 [u]thestateofbeingagod 2 [u] old-fashioned the study of religions and religious belief: theology 3 [C] literary a god di'viS'i'ble /divizabl/ adj capable of being divided by another number: + by Seven is not divisible by four. division /di'vi3n/ noun

•••

1

6

[C/u] the process by

animals divide

to

separation into groups

2 disagreement 3 difference within group

form new

cells in plants

and

cells

di-vision-al /di'vi.pnl/ ad| [only before noun] relating a division of an organization: She was offered a job

to at

the divisional headquarters.

division of labor noun [singular] the way work that needs to be done is divided so that

that the different

people are responsible for different parts of it divisive /diVaisrv/ adj likely to cause arguments between people: a divisive issue

divisor

/di'vaizar/ noun [C] technical in mathematics,

the number by which another number is divided di-vorce /di'vors/ noun [C/u] ** a legal way of ending 1

a marriage: / wanted a divorce. get a divorce Is it true Tom's getting a divorce? end in divorce Both of her marriages ended in divorce. grounds for divorce ( =a good reason for it) Does he have grounds for divorce? di-vorce 2 /di'vors/ verb 1 [I/T] to take legal action to end your marriage. If two people agree to stop living together, but do not legally end their marriage, they separate: She still refuses to divorce him. Paula 's parents divorced when she was only a child. 2 [T usually passive] to completely separate one thing from another so they are not connected in any way: Politics should not be divorced from the lives of ordinary

•*

4 part of organization 5 in mathematics 6 separation of cells

[C/u] the process of separating people or things into smaller groups or parts: + of Civil war eventually led to a permanent division of the country'division of sth into sth Many parents opposed the division of the classes into different sets. 1a. the process of separating something into smaller parts and sharing it among two or more people: + of the division of the land after the previous owner died division of sth between/among sb a fair division of responsibilities among the members of the committee 2 [C/U] a disagreement between people, especially between people who belong to the same group: The argument revealed deep divisions in the ranks of the Republican Party. 3 [C] a difference in the way that people within the

di-vor-ce /di

vor'sei/

noun

same community or country live, how much money they have, how educated they are, etc.: the growing division between rich and poor 4 [C] one of the parts into which a large organization is divided: the company's electronics division 4a. a large section in a military force that consists of several smcdler units: armored divisions 4b. one of the groups of sports teams in a league 5 [C/U] a calculation in mathematics of how many times a number is contained in a larger number -> long

[c]

a

man who

is

divorced

**

divorced

/di'vorst/ adj no longer married because the marriage has been legally ended: a divorced mother of three get divorced (=legally end your marriage) After they got divorced, she never remarried.

di-vor-cee

/di.vor'sei/

noun

[c]

woman who

a

is

divorced

di-vulge

formal to give information about something, especially something that should be kept secret: Pm not allowed to divulge information about

my

/di'v.\ld3/ verb [1]

clients.

div-vy

/'drvi/ verb divvy up phrasal vb divide or share something

[I/T]

informal to

Di-wa-li /di'wali/ noun [C/u] an important festival in the Hindu religion that takes place in October or

November Dix-ie

/'diksi/ noun [singular] informal the southern states of the U.S.. that fought against the northern states during the Civil War

not just whistling Dixie Am E informal serious about something you threaten to do Dix-ie-land /'diksi.laend/ noun [u] a type of jazz with a strong beat, originally developed in New Orleans in the early 1900s and usually involving a large group of musicians who improvise together

diz-zy

/'dizi/adj 1 feeling

if you or the things around you are spinning, especially when you think you are going to fall: I felt dizzy and had to sit down. The dizzy spells (=periods when you feel dizzy) have

as

1

DIVISION

which the

people.

world

divine right noun

diving bell noun

dizzying

5

stopped completely. 2 feeling or making you feel excited or confused, espe-

because everything changing very fast: the

cially is

dizzy pace of modern life We were dizzy with exciteinformal silly, careless, and not interested in dizzy

ment. 3 serious things

the dizzy heights (of sth) humorous an important or successful position. This is often used to show that the position is not really very impressive: Now that you've reached the dizzy heights of assistant principal, I suppose diz-zi-ness noun you won't be talking to us anymore!

—

[u]

diz-zy-ing /diziin/

adj

making you

feel

confused or a dizzying

dizzy: My studies continued at a dizzying pace. view from the thirtieth floor

"

DJ DJ

/'di,d3ei/

noun

disc jockey: records in a club, etc. 1

[C]

someone who la. someone

plays CDs and who introduces and plays music on the radio DINNER JACKET

DJ

2

2 BrE a

/'di,d3ei/ (present participle DJing; past tense and past DJed) verb [i] to work as a DJ

participle

D.Litt.

/

di

'lit/

noun

1

Doctor of Letters 2 Doctor of

Literature

DM abbrev Deutschmark DMV, the

/,di

em

"vi/

AmE

Vehicles: an office where licenses and license plates

DNA /,di

Department of Motor you can apply for drivers'

en

'ei/

noun

[u]

*

all

a chemical substance that and contains

living things,

DNA fingerprinting di DNA profiling en /

en

ei

'fmgar.pnntin/ or

'proofailin/ noun [u] ei / ,di the scientific examination of DNA from body cells, especially in order to find out who committed a crime

DNA

testing noun [u] the scientific examination of someone's DNA to find out whether they are someone's whether they have committed a crime, etc. DNA .test noun [C]

father,

—

1

person singular does I weak daz; strong dAz/; past tense did /did/; past participle done/dAn/) verb

/du/

(3rd

***

Do

While I'm in Norway, I want to do some skiing. nothing to do There's nothing to do around here - it's really boring. 4c. informal to take part in an activity with others: do lunch/a movie/dinner etc. Call me and we'll do lunch. 4d. to perform or complete a job or a piece of work: Have you He's just doing a few jobs around the house. done your math assignment yet? He did his Ph.D. at Harvard. do the washing/ironing/cooking etc. / do the cooking, and Peggy washes the dishes. do business The Russians were not ready to do business with American companies. 4e. to perform a play, song, dance, etc.: To start with, we'd like to do a song from our first album. 4f. to take action in order to deal with a situation: Don just stand there, do something! do sth about sth What is the government going to do about the growing crisis in the healthcare system? 4g. what sb does (for a living) someone's job or profession: I'm not sure what she does. I think she works in a bank. "What did your Dad do for a living?" "He was a teacher." 5 make things clean or neat [T] 5a. informal to clean something, or to make a place neat: A man comes in once a week to do the yard. / want to do the living room and the bedrooms before our guests arrive. do the dishes/ 't

is found in the cells of genetic information

do

do

399

1

can be used in the following ways:

as an auxiliary verb, especially for forming questions and negatives in the simple present or simple past tense (followed by an infinitive without "to"): Did you enjoy the party? She does not understand. In conversation and informal written English the

following negative short forms of the auxiliary verb are used: doesn't, don't, and didn't.

as an intransitive verb that replaces or refers to an ordinary verb in the simple present or simple past tense that was in a previous clause or sentence: You know as much as I do (=as much as I know). as an auxiliary verb to form a tag question in the simple present or past tense (when there is no auxiliary or modal verb in the main clause): You teach English, don't you? (where do is used in the main clause): They don't believe us, do they? He did well, didn't he?

as an ordinary transitive verb:

He always did

his

duty.

as an ordinary intransitive verb: J need something sharp. That screwdriver will do.

When do is an ordinary transitive or intransitive verb, questions and negatives are formed by using the auxiliary verb do with it: What do you do in your spare time? He didn't do his homework. 1 used for forming a question or negative [auxiliary used before another verb for forming a question or a negative: Do you drive? We do not need another cat! What did the doctor say? Didn't they tell you I was coming? Max doesn't live here any more. Don't believe what he tells you. 1a. used in a question tag at the end of a sentence when you are asking someone to agree with you, or when you are asking for information: Bill played well, didn 't he?* You didn 't see my keys lying around anywhere, did you? 2 used for referring back to a previous verb [l] used instead of repeating the same verb that was used earlier in the sentence, or in a previous sentence: "You promised to come with me. ""No I didn t. She doesn 't travel around as much as I do. * I like Chinese food, but George doesn't. "I enjoyed our trip to New Orleans. " "So did I. 3 used for emphasis [auxiliary verb] 3a. used for emphasizing the meaning of a positive statement: Your garden does look nice. My memory isn't very good, but I do remember what she was wearing. 3b. used when you are politely trying to persuade someone to do something: Do stay and have dinner with us. Do be quiet! 4 perform an action, activity, or job [T] 4a. to perform an action: / hope you're sorry for what you've done. He shouldn't have thrown the bottle - it was a stupid thing to do. do sth for sb Is there anything I can do for you? 4b. to take part in an activity: / do yoga twice a week. Are you doing anything this weekend?

verb]

"

windows/floors etc. Here, let me help you do the dishes. 5b. do your hair/nails etc. to arrange your hair/paint your fingernails etc. She was sitting in front of the mirror doing her hair. 6 used for talking about health or success [l] 6a. [always progressive] used for talking about someone's health or their general situation: Sam! I haven't seen you in a while - how are you doing?* be doing well/fine etc. Grandpa's not doing too well - we had to take him to the hospital last night. 6b. used for talking about how someone is progressing or how successful they are: How's Monica doing? Has she graduated yet? do well/ badly/all right etc. He did well in the test. I'm afraid the business is doing pretty badly - profits are way down. 7 have an effect [T] to have a good or harmful effect: It's amazing what a little encouragement can do. Frost can do a lot of damage. do sth to sb/sth Can't you see what all this stress and uncertainty is doing to our family? do good/harm The doctor gave him some special medicine, but it didn't do a lot of good. How much harm did the oil crisis do to our economy?* do sb/sth good/harm The fresh air will do you good. 8 spend time [T] informal to spend an amount of time doing something: / did two years in the navy. 9 make sth [T] 9a. to draw or paint a picture or decoration: All these paintings of Venice were done by Canaletto. Who did the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel? 9b. to prepare a particular kind of food: I'm doing chicken for dinner tonight. 10 act like sb [T] informal to copy someone's voice, manner, or way of moving, in order to entertain people: impersonate: You should see him do Elvis Presley. I I move a particular distance or at a particular speed [T] 11a. used for saying how far someone or something succeeds in traveling: We did 32 miles that day, marching over rough mountain roads. 11b. used for saying what speed someone or something achieves: The Toyota MR2 will do 130 mph. 12 change in a particular way [l] informal used for talking about how something may change: / wonder what the weather's going to do. It all depends on what interest rates do over the next twelve months. 1 3 use drugs [T] informal to use illegal drugs: He doesn 't drink or do drugs, but he smokes. 14 visit a place [T] informal to visit a famous place as a tourist: After we'd done the Pyramids we went back to the Cairo Museum. 15 provide or sell [T] to provide or sell a particular service or product: We do sandwiches and other snacks in the bar. Southwest is doing a really cheap fare to Chicago. 16 have sex [T] informal to have sex with someone :

do as you're told spoken used for telling a child to obey you do your best/utmost to try as hard as you can: I'm not sure

if I

can win

this race,

but

I'll

do

my

best.

do it informal to have sex. This phrase is used when you want to avoid saying this directly: She says they spent the night together but they didn t actually do it. that does it spoken used for saying that someone or

m

do

You don't need to do up the top button. 3a. [I] if clothes do up in a particular way, they fasten in that way: The dress does up in the back. 4 [T] BrE to fix up an old building, car, boat, etc.: We spent our weekends doing up vintage cars. 5 [T] BrE to wrap something in paper or cloth in an attractive way: He held a small package done up in colored paper and ribbon. 'do with phrasal vb [T] could do with sth spoken used for saying that you want or need something: / could do with a cup of coffee right now. I'm sure James could do with some help. have nothing to do with sb 1 used for saying that someone or something is not connected with or involved in a particular fact or situation: I'm quite sure Nancy's resignation has nothing to do with her health. Reynolds has always claimed that he had nothing to do with her disappearance. 2 used for saying that something is personal and private and there is no reason for anyone else to know about it: What I do on my own time has nothing to do with you. have (sth /anything) to do with to be connected with someone or something: Most of the articles have to do with America's role in the world since the end of the Cold War. Did the dispute have anything to do with safety laces.

I'm calling the police. that's done it Br E spoken used when something goes wrong for saying that you are going to be in trouble: Well, that's done it. There's no way we can stop him finding out now. that will do spoken used for telling someone, especially a child, to stop talking or behaving badly what is sb/sth doing. .? spoken used for asking why someone or something is in a particular place because you think they should not be there: That's my diary, but what's it doing on your desk? What are you doing wandering around the school at this time of night? .

I

1

what's doing? mainly Br E spoken used for asking what events are taking place: So what's doing back in the village these days? will do 1 used for saying that something is enough or is appropriate for a particular purpose: If you haven't got a proper bandage, any strip of clean cotton or linen will do. "I suppose we ought to tip the waiter, but I've + as /for (=be only got 20 francs left." "That'll do." suitable to be used as something) An empty box will do will do sb (=will be good enough for for a table.

someone)

"All I've got to offer you is instant coffee." "That'll do me just fine." 2 spoken used for telling will do what they have asked: "Could you read through this report for me?" "Will do."

regulations?

what does sth have

someone that you

someone like Joe. would do well to do sth used for advising that someone should do something: You're still only a junior employee in this business, and you'd do well to remember that. do a way with phrasal vb [t] 1 [do away with sth] to get rid of something: A lot of the restrictions on imports have been done away with. 2 [do away with sb] informal to murder someone: There were rumors that Doug had done

away with his wife. 'do for phrasal vb [T] informal [do sth for sb] to make someone feel interested or excited: Ken wants to buy a new Porsche, but sports cars don't do anything for me. be done for

1 informal to be likely to be punished, hurt, or killed: If the guards see us, we're done for. 2 informal if something is done for, it is in such bad condition or so badly damaged that it cannot be used: We're going to have to buy a new photocopier - this one's done for. 3 to be so tired that you cannot continue: After this next batch I'm afraid I'll be done for. do 'in phrasal vb [T] 1 [usually passive] spoken to make someone feel very tired: exhaust: It was climbing that last hill that really did them in. I'm completely done in after all that running around. 2 informal to murder someone: I figure someone did her in to get her money. do 'out of phrasal vb [T] informal [do sb out of sth] to stop someone from getting or having something that they should have, especially in a way that is unfair or dishonest do 'over phrasal vb [T] informal 1 [do sth over] Am E to do something again from the beginning, especially because you did it badly the first time: OK, we'll do it over, but try to sing the right words this time. 2 to decorate a building or room again in a completely different way: Can we afford to have the apartment done over? 3 Br E to attack someone and hit and kick them 'do to phrasal vb [T] 1 [do sth to sth] to make changes in something: What have you done to your hair?* They did something to the central heating and now it doesn 't work. 2 [do sth to sb] to treat someone in a way that harms them: I'll never forgive him for what he did to me. They did terrible things to some of the prisoners. 3 [do sth to sb] to affect someone in a way that makes them happy, sad, or excited: When I hear that song, it always does something

me. 'up phrasal vb 1 [T usually passive] to tie or arrange your hair in a particular way: Her shiny dark hair was done up in a ponytail. 2 [T usually passive] to dress someone in special clothes or put make-up on them: She had spent hours doing herself up for the party. (all) done up Angle was done up in a silky black dress and fishnet stockings. 3 [T] mainly BrE to fasten something: Do up your shoeto

to do with. .? used for asking, an angry way, how two people or things are connected or why someone is interested in something: What do her personal problems have to do with my vacation plans?* As a matter offact I do have a boyfriend, but what does that have to do with you? what sb does with sth 1 used for asking what arrangements someone makes for something: What do you usually do with the cat when you 're away? 2 used for asking where someone puts something: "What have you done with my calculator?" "I put it on your desk. "3 used for asking how someone uses something: What am I going to do with all this food if no one turns up? what sb does with themselves used for asking how someone spends their time: He won't know what to do with himself while Julie is gone. What are you going to do with yourself during summer vacation? what is sb doing with sth? spoken used for asking why someone has something: What are you doing with my CD player? I never said you could borrow it. what sb is going to do with sb spoken used for asking how you are going to make someone behave better: / don't know what we're going to do with you, Tony. You're always in trouble. do without phrasal vb [l/T] [do without sb/sth] to succeed in living or working without someone or something: There's no milk for the cereal, so you'll just have to do without. *Now that they have a regular income, they should be able to do without any help from us. You'll be gone for six days? I think we can do without you for that long. .

often in

won't do/wouldn't do spoken used for saying that a particular situation or way of behaving is not sensible or appropriate: It wouldn't do for you to be seen with

do

doc.

400

something that has been annoying you has finally made you so angry that you will do something: That does it!

,

can/ could do without sth spoken used for saying that something is annoying you and causing problems for you: I could do without all these interruptions. a hairstyle: Here /du/ noun [C] informal 1 comes Louise and she's sporting a new do. 2 mainly Br E a social event such as a party: We're having a big do to

do 2

celebrate

AmE

Pam

's

birthday.

and don'ts instructions and warnings about what you should and should not do in a particular situation: Here is a list of do's and don'ts for anyone planning to do's

start a business.

do 3 /dou/

noun musical scale

[C]

the

first

or eighth note in the sol-fa

DOA

/ ,di oo 'ei/ adj 1 dead on arrival: used for describing someone who is dead by the time they arrive at the hospital 2 informal something that is DOA has not been successful, usually because it did not exist long enough to develop: Congressional leaders declared the president's budget DOA.

do-a-ble /'duabl/

adj

informal able to be done:

take some organizing, but I think

it's

It will

doable.

d.O.b. abbrev date of birth doc /dak/ noun [C] spoken a doctor. Also used to talk or about a doctor: We usually go to Doc Fletcher. doc. abbrev document

to

docile

Dodge

401

City

docile /'dasl; 'du,sail/ ad] well-behaved, quiet, and do-cil-i-ty easy to control: Ann was a shy docile child. /da'sibti/noun[U]

doc-tor-ate /'daktarat/ noun [c] the highest degree given by a university: ph.d.: He was awarded a doctorate

/dak/ noun •* an enclosed area of water in a port, where ships stay while goods are taken on or off, passengers get on or off, or repairs are done: wharf 1a. docks [plural] the area in a port where the docks are: These men had always worked on the docks. 2 the dock the part of a court of law where the person who is accused of a crime stands or sits 3 [C]AmE a raised area for loading trucks and trains and removing goods from them dock 2 /dak/ verb 1 [i/T] if a ship docks or someone docks it, it arrives at a dock 2 [l/T] if a spacecraft docks or someone docks it, it joins to another spacecraft

doc-tri-naire / .duktn'ner/ adj formal basing your opinions on very fixed political beliefs, without considering whether they are practical: their doctrinaire opposition

—

dock 1

1

[C]

while they are still in space 3 [T] to take money out of someone's salary, especially as a punishment: They dock your wages if you're late more than twice. 4 [T] to cut an animal's tail very short dock-er /'dakar/ noun [C] mainly BrE a longshoreman

AmE

dock-et

/'dakat/ noun [C] 1 a list of cases that are waiting to be considered in a court of law 1a. Am E a list of business to be discussed or things to be done, especially at a meeting 2 a document that gives information about what is inside something such as a

/'dakiq .steifn/ noun [c] computing a piece of equipment to which you can connect a portable computer temporarily, for example when you are traveling between different offices so that you can use like a pc

DOCKS

dock-side /'dak.said/ noun

[singular]

the area next to a

dock-yard /'dakjard/ noun

[C] a place where ships are built or repaired: shipyard: a naval dockyard

Doc Mar-tens /, dak or boots with thick

'martnz/ trademark strong shoes

flat

soles

1

doc-tor /'daktar/ noun

doc-u-dra-ma /'dakju.drama/ noun

[c]

program or movie based on events that

From

the

first

part of

a television

really

happened

documentary, combined with

drama.

doc-u-ment

1

/'dakjamant/ noun

[C]

***

a piece of paper or a set of papers containing official information: He refused to sign the documents. Documents relating to his private life were stolen in the burglary. A secret policy document was leaked to the newspapers. 2 computing a computer file that you can write in: The program will automatically save any documents you have 1

open.

/'dakja.ment/ verb [t] • 1 to record something in writing or on film: Her report documents the effects of climate change. 2 to support something with evidence: Their allegations are very fully documented.

/,dakja'ment(a)ri/ noun

*

[C]

a

movie or television program that deals with real people and events: + about/on She made a two-part documentary about the war in Kosovo. a documentary on Brazilian soccer

[c]

•*•

dence

is

When

is

instructions about how to use a computer or computer program: / am sending the software and documentation.

2 written

doc-u-soap /'dakju.soop/ noun program

before trying these exercises.

From the

the highest degree given by a university: a doctor of theology The research team is headed up by Doctor Beth Levinson.

what the doctor ordered something that is exactly what you need or want: Our vacation in Tahiti was just what the doctor ordered.

just

American and

British

example family doctors, surgeons (=doctors who perform operations on people), dentists (=doctors who take care of people's teeth), and veterinarians (=doctors who take care of animals). In the U.K., you use the

title Dr. only for family doctors. Surgeons, veterinarians, or dentists use the titles Mr., Mrs., or Miss.

doc-tor2

/'daktar/ verb 1 [T] to change something, especially facts or numbers, in order to make people believe something that is not true: Experts suspected the police evidence had been doctored. 2 [T] to add a substance to food or drink, especially a harmful substance: We suspected that the horse's feed had been doctored with drugs. doctor up (^improve) / had to doctor up the soup

AmE

a little to make it taste better. 3 [l /T] informal to cure or treat a person or an illness: He's been doctoring for over 40 years. adj [only before noun] related to

studying for a doctorate: She completed her doctoral thesis at Stanford.

[C]

BrEa

television

series about the lives of real people

the first part of documentary, combined with part of soap opera.

first

DOD, the

/,di

oo

Department of Defense: a

"di/

U.S.

government department

dod-der

/'dadar/ verb [i] to shake slightly when you are walking or moving, especially because you are old or injured

dod-der-ing /'dadanrj/

In the U.S., all medical doctors use the title Dr., for

doc-tor-al /'daktaral/

•

relevant documentation.

2 someone who has

Differences between English: doctor

[u]

documents used for proving that something is true: The insurance company claims that he failed to provide the 1

someone whose job

injured.

/,dakja'ment(a)ri/ adj [only before movie or program deals with 2 documentary proof or eviin the form of documents

noun] 1 a documentary real people and events

doc-u-men-ta-tion /.dakjuman'teifn/ noun

is to treat people who are sick or written as a title, the abbreviation of Dr. A doctor who performs medical operations is called a surgeon. Someone being treated by a doctor or nurse is called a patient: Hannah had always wanted to be a doctor. Doctor Jones specializes in heart problems. go to /see a doctor Have you seen a doctor yet? ask/ consult a doctor If you are overweight, consult your doctor

1

[C/u] * a set of principles or beliefs, especially religious or political ones: the Christian doctrine of resurrection

doc-u-men-ta-ry 2

DOCK

doctor

trine

doc-trine /'daktnn/ noun

doc-u-men-ta-ry 1

dock-land /'dakbnd/ or dock-lands /'dakbndz/ noun [C/U] mainly Br E the area of a town or city around its

a doctrinaire Marxist to publicly run healthcare doc-tri-nal /'daktrml; dak'traml/ adj relating to a doc-

doc-u-ment 2

package

dock-ing station

it

in mathematics.

ad)

shaking slightly when you

are walking or moving, especially because you are old

dodge

1

/dad3/ verb 1 to avoid someone or something by moving quickly, especially so that something does not hit you or someone does not see you: Shoppers had to dodge flying glass when the bomb exploded. cyclists dodging through traffic —picture -> next page 2 [t] to avoid doing something in a clever or dishonest way: He tried to dodge the question. They get smart accountants to help them dodge taxes. dodge 2 /dad3/ noun [C] 1 a dishonest way to avoid doing something unpleasant: He keeps his money overseas as a tax dodge. 2 a quick movement to avoid something [i/t]

'dodge ball noun

[u] a game played by children standing in a circle using a large rubber ball that one child throws at another, who tries to avoid being hit

.Dodge City

a place where there is a and not enough control by the police

lot of fighting

From the name of the U.S. city in Kansas where during the 19th century people often fought with guns in the streets.

1

dodger

dogleg

402 / invested in

an

Internet startup but

it

turned out

to

be a

real dog.

4

a HOT DOG

dog eat dog a situation in which people compete very hard and will do anything to be successful: It's dog eat dog in the television industry. every dog has its/his day used for saying that every person will have a time during their life when they are important, lucky, or successful give a dog a bad name Br E used for saying that once someone has a bad reputation, people will blame them for everything going to the dogs informal if a place or organization is going to the dogs, it is not as good as it was in the past: He's always saying that the country is going to the dogs. it's a dog's life spoken used for saying that life is not fair and is full of troubles like a dog with a bone informal not willing to stop until you have finished dealing with something, especially a

problem that is worrying you put on the dog Am E old-fashioned are are

more

to pretend that you intelligent, important, or rich than you really

-> RAIN 2 SLEEP'. TAIL .

dog 2 /dog/ verb

1 .

TEACH. TOP DOG

[Tj 1

[often passive] to

cause trouble for

someone over a long period of time: He has been dogged by persistent back problems. * These rumors had dogged the president for years. 2 to follow someone closely in a way that annoys them: Photographers dogged the princess all her adult life. 3 dog or dog on Am E very informal to criticize someone in a continuous and annoying way dog-and- pony show noun [c] Am E an event that is intended to impress people, often used as a selling a product

dodge

dodg-er /dad33r/ noun

someone who

illegally

dog

avoids doing something such as paying a tax: He's a well-known tax dodger. fare dodgers on the subway -> DRAFT DODGER

dog

[C]

adj BrE informal 1 dishonest, crimor not reliable: a dodgy builder Don 't get involved anything dodgy. 2 not operating correctly: He has a dodgy knee. 3 dangerous or not certain: His position is rather dodgy. 4 of bad quality or not very fashionable: a dodgy haircut

dodg-y /dad5|/ inal, in

do«do /doudou/ noun exist

[C] 1

a large bird that does not fly 2 informal a stupid

any more and could not

person

dead as a dodo not existing, relevant, or important anymore: After three weeks, the campaign was as dead as (as)

a dodo.

doe /dou/

noun [C] a female deer or the female of some other animals such as a rabbit. The male of these animals is called a buck. DOE, the /,di ou 'i/ Department of Energy: a U.S. government department doe-eyed /dou 'aid/ adj someone who is doe-eyed has big attractive eyes and looks as if they do not have much experience of life do-er /duar/ noun [C] someone who is active and achieves things: He considers himself more of a doer than a thinker.

does 3rd

person singular of the present tense of do / d\znt/ short form the usual way of saying or writing "does not." This is not often used in formal 1

does-n't writing.

doff /daf/

verb

[T]

mainly

literary' to

take off a piece of

clothing, especially a hat

/dog/ noun [c] ••* an animal kept as a pet. for guarding buildings, or A young dog is called a puppy: Have you

dog 1

1

for hunting. fed the dog?

Out on the street, a dog began to bark. dog food biscuits 1a. a male dog or a male animal that belongs to the same group of animals as dogs, such as a male wolf or fox: a dogfox 2 used for describing a person of a particular type: He's a lucky dog. 2a. offensive someone who is not attractive, especially a woman 2b. offensive an unpleasant man 2c. Australian informal someone who gives information about people to the police or to another authority 3 something that is of bad quality or very unsuccessful:

biscuit noun

[c]

way

of

a type of hard dry food given to

dogs

collar noun [c] 1 a collar around a dog's neck that you can fasten to a lead (=a long piece of rope, leather, etc.) 2 a tight decorated band that you wear around your neck as a decoration 3 a white stiff round collar worn by priests in the Christian church

dog days

noun [plural] literary' 1 the hottest days of the year 2 a period when nothing much happens: + of American cars have made a rousing comeback since the dog days of the early 1980s. dog-eared / dag ird/ adj a dog-eared page or book has been used so much that the corners or edges have

become damaged or torn dog-fight /dog, fait/ noun

[c]

1

a situation in which

people argue or compete, especially in an unpleasant way 2 a fight between military aircraft 3 a fight between dogs that has been organized for people to

watch

dog-fish fish

/ dog.fif/ noun [c] a small shark (=a type of with very sharp teeth)

dog-ged /dogsd/ adj

determined to achieve something and continuing to try despite difficulties: tenacious: Their success was due to the dogged determination of their coach. — dog-ged-ly adv, dog-ged-ness noun [u] dog-ger-el / dog(3)r3l/ noun [u] bad poetry, or poetry that is intended to be funny rather than serious dog-gie / dogi/ another spelling of doggy dog-gone /dog.gon/ adj AmE informal old-fashioned used when you are annoyed or surprised: / can 1 get this doggone machine do what it's supposed to do. dog-gy or dog-gie /dogi/ noun [c] informal a dog. This word is used by or to children. doggy bag noun [c] a bag or box that you take home from a restaurant, containing the food that you did not finish eating

dog handler

noun [c] a police officer who trains and works with dogs dog-house / dog ,haus/ noun [c] AmE a small building for a dog to sleep in. Br E kennel in the doghouse informal if you are in the doghouse, someone is angry with you because you have done something wrong dog-leg /dog, leg/ noun [C] a bend in a road. path. etc. where it completely changes direction

dogma dog-ma

belief or set of beliefs

that people are expected to accept without asking questions about them: Their opposition to the reforms is based on pure dogma. political/ religious dogma dog-mat-ic /dog'maetik/ adj so sure that your beliefs and ideas are right that you expect other people to accept them: The party is rigid and dogmatic and unlikely dog-mafically/dog'maetikli/adv to change. dog-ma-tism /'dogmo.tizom/ noun [u] the attitude of someone who is dogmatic do-good-er / ,du 'godor/ noun [C] someone who always tries to help people, especially people who are poor or in trouble. This word is used as a criticism, to suggest that their help is unnecessary or inappropriate. 'dog paddle noun [singular] informal a way of swimming like a dog, in which you move your arms quickly up

—

and down 'dog ,sled noun

a vehicle pulled by dogs that

[c]

for carrying people or things over

is

used

snow

AmE

'dog ,tag noun

[C] a small piece of metal that people in the military wear around their necks, marked

name and number

with their

dog-tired

ad]

informal extremely tired

,

dogwood

/'dog wod/ noun [C/U] a bush or tree with large white or pink flowers, or the wood of this tree

d'oh /doo/ that

interjection informal

you have been

silly

or

used when you realize stupid mistake

made a

Made famous by Homer Simpson

in the television

cartoon series The Simpsons.

DOH, the

/

ou

di

Department of Health: a U.S.

'eit J7

government department doi-ly /'doili/ noun [C] a round piece of paper or cloth with a pattern of holes that you put on a plate before putting cakes, sandwiches, etc. on it or that you put on a table or piece of furniture as a decoration

doing / 'duirj / noun be sb's doing to be someone's fault: We're very

late,

and

it's

all

your doing.

take some doing used for saying that something will be very difficult to do: It will take some doing to finish this before five o'clock.

do-ings

/'duinz/ noun

[plural]

the things that people do:

Have you heard about their latest doings? do-it-your self noun [u] the activity of making or repairing things yourself instead of paying someone to do it for you

doldrums, the / 'dooldramz;

'daldramz/ noun [plural] a situation in which there is a lack of success, activimprovement: or He's just the player the team needs to lift it out of the doldrums. in the doldrums After years in the doldrums, the market is finally picking up. 2 a state of feeling sad or bored dole 1 /dool/ verb dole 'out phrasal vb [T] informal to give something, such as food or money, to a particular group of people or to every person in a group: The government has agreed to dole out an additional $5 million 1

ity,

in education grants.

dole 2 /dool/ noun

[U] BrE unemployment compensation be on the dole Br E to receive money from the government because you do not have a job dole-fill /'doolfol/ adj looking sad: a doleful expression

— dole-ful-ly adv 1

doll /dal/ noun [C] [C]

•

AmE

doll

2

/dal/ verb doll 'up phrasal vb [T] informal [doll sb up] to make someone or yourself look attractive for a special occasion: We used to doll ourselves up and go into

for talking about the value of U.S. money, especially in comparison with that of other countries 2a. used for talking about U.S. economic power: the mighty dollar

dollars and cents used for saying that someone is considering an issue in a financial way only: It's not simply a matter of dollars and cents. From a dollars-andcents angle, the idea -» bet million

noun

is

very good.

1

,

'dollar ,sign noun

an amount

[C]

the symbol

$,

used to show that

in dollars

is

Am E informal to think only about how much money something or someone is worth see dollar signs

doll-house

/'dal.haos/ noun

[c]

AmE

a toy house

where children put dolls and toy furniture

dollop

/'dalop/ noun [C] informal 1 a large lump of a soft substance, especially food: +of a dollop of cream/ mashed potato 2 a large amount of something: +of You '11 need a big dollop of luck to succeed.

doll's house noun [C] dol-ly /'dali/ noun [C]

BrE a

dollhouse

a flat structure with wheels for moving heavy loads or for supporting a movie camera 2 informal a doll 3 a wooden stick used for washing clothes in a tub, especially in the past 1

dol*men/'dalmen; 'doolman/noun

[C] an ancient stone structure consisting of a large flat stone on top of two or more upright ones, built above the place where

someone was buried dol-phin /'dalfin/ noun

*

[C] a large ocean animal, similar to a fish, with a long nose. Dolphins are known for being intelligent and friendly.

dolt /doolt/ noun

[C]

do-main /doo'mem/

a stupid person

noun

[C]

**

1 a particular area of activity or life: This is a subject that has now moved into the political domain, la. an area of activity considered as belonging to or controlled by a particular person or group: the common idea that engineering is a male domain Organic foods are no longer the sole domain of health fanatics. The garden has always been Al's domain. -> public domain literary 2 an area of land owned and controlled by a particular person, especially in the past 3 technical in mathematics, a range of possible values 1

Of a VARIABLE

4 computing a domain name do'main name noun [C] an address on the Internet dome /doom/ noun [c] 1 a roof shaped like the top half of a ball: The zoo's main feature is a jungle setting under a glass dome. the huge dome of St. Paul's Cathedral 2 mainly literary an object shaped like the top half of a ball

domed /doomd/ adj fitted with or shaped like a dome: a domed forehead

do-mes-tic 1 /da'mestik/adj

***

relating to people's homes and domestic chores a program that gives some insight into the domestic life of the Victorians 1a. [only before noun] used in or designed for the home: domestic appliances such as freezers and 1

[usually before noun]

family

life:

a cozy domestic scene

dishwashers

2

relating to the country being talked about, and not other countries: domestic politics The domestic economy You go to the same terminal for domestic and international flights. 3 enjoying activities relating to your home and family, for example cooking and taking care of children 4 a domestic animal is one that is kept as a pet or on a farm: the habits of the domestic cat opposite wild do-mes-tic 2 /da'mestik/ noun [C] someone whose job is to cook and clean in a house, hospital, etc.

—

do-mes-ti-cate animal

town.

doMar/ 'da.br/

2 the dollar used

showed no improvement.

a children's toy in the shape of a small person informal old-fashioned an attractive woman. This word is now usually considered offensive. 3 [singular] informal a nice person: Be a doll and bring me my sweater. 1

2

domesticated

403

/'dogma/ noun [C/U] a

[c]

*••

1 the unit of money used in the U.S. and in several other countries such as Canada and Australia. Its symbol is $: a coat costing one hundred dollars a multimillion dollar deal la. a banknote or coin worth a dollar: a dollar bill

to live

/do'mesti.keit/ verb

with or work for

[T]

to train

an

humans

do-mes-ti-cat-ed /da'mesti.keitod/

adj

1

a domes-

ticated animal has been trained to live with or work for humans: When did dogs first become domesticated? domesticated animals such as sheep and horses 2 enjoying or good at activities relating to your home, such as

cooking and cleaning

-

domesticity

domesticity.

domestic 'partner noun [c) the person you are living with and having a sexual relationship with but are not married to. Domestic partners can be of the same sex or different sexes.

do mestic 'science

noun

home

[u] old-fashioned

eco-

'M

do, mestic service noun

the work of being a servant in someone's house, especially in the past

do mestic 'violence place in the

[u]

noun [u] violence that takes family members, especially

home between

adults: a helpline for victims of domestic violence

domicile one's

ruled by one person or government

/'dami.saild/ adj formal be domiciled in a particular place

to be living in

donvi'CiM'ar'V/.dami'sili.eri/adj very formal supplied to or taking place in your home, usually because you are sick or old dominance /'dammans/ noun [u] • a situation in which one person or thing has more influence or power than any other: the party's growing dominance in the north of the country +of With this victory, the team has +over maintained its dominance of European football. The males try to establish dominance over their rivals. frequently used with

dominance

achieve, assert, challenge, confirm, ensure, establish, maintain, retain

dominant/ 'dominant/ adj ** 1 more important, powerful, or successful than the other people or things of the same type: The company cannot preserve its dominant position in the market. The issue of climate change was the dominant theme of the conference. 1a. a dominant person or animal is stronger than others in a group and wants to control them: It is a dominant easy to spot the dominant wolf in the pack. personality 1b. more noticeable than the other parts or dominant color aspects of something: Red is usually the

Dominion .Day national holiday in

science a

dominant gene causes someone

with particular genetic features because than other genes— opposite recessive

to

it is

be born stronger

1 [l/T] to control something or someone, often in a negative way, because you have more power or influShe ence: As a boy, he was dominated by his mother. He had been a domitends to dominate the conversation. nating figure in her life. 2 [T] if an object dominates a place, it is so big or high that it is easy to notice: a little room dominated by a huge fireplace* Chicago's skyline is dominated by the country's tallest skyscraper.

be the most important issue, activity, problem, a particular situation: The earthquake once again dominated the news. Don 't allow the computer to dominate your child's life. Constitutional issues have become the dominating concern over the last few months. 4 [l/T] to play much better than your opponents in a game or sport: The Dodgers completely dominated the first half of the game. [

I

/T] to

etc. in

dom-i-na-tion /.dami'neijn/ noun [u] * control or power over other people or things: male domination in the workplace the end of two centuries of domination by the Ottoman Empire

domi-na-trix /.dami'neitnks/ noun controls tionship

what happens

[c]

a

woman who

in a sadomasochistic sexual rela-

domineering

/.dami'ninn/ adj trying to control other people and make them obey you: an unpleasant domineering personality

Do-min-i-can /ds'mmiksn/ noun [C] 1 a priest, monk, or nun who belongs to a Christian religious group started by St. Dominic. 2 someone from the Dominican Republic

name

the old

for

Canada day, a

Canada

a small piece of plastic or wood with spots on it, used in the game of dominoes a. dominoes [plural] a game in which players take turns to try to place each domino on a table next to another with the same number of spots on it

noun [singular] a situation in which one event causes a whole series of events to happen one

don

1

/dan/ verb

— Do-min-i-can

adj:

[T]

mainly

literary to

put on a piece of

clothing

don

2

/dan/ noun

[C]

mainly

BrE someone who

at a university, especially at

Dominican folk art

teaches

Oxford or Cambridge

/'dou.neit/ verb • 1 [l/T] to give something such as money or goods to an organization, especially to a school, hospital, political party, or charity: The center was bought with money donated by former Beatle, George Harrison. + to Many big corporations donate to political parties. donate sth to sth Would you be willing to donate some of your time to a good cause? 2 [T] to allow blood to be taken from your body for use in blood transfusions 2a. to allow sperm or eggs to be

do-nate

taken from your body and used in fertility treatments for other people 2b. to allow an organ to be taken from your body and used to treat someone else or for medical research do-na-tion /dou'neijn/ noun ** 1 [C] money or goods that you give to an organization, especially one that helps people: The bank has promised a donation of $24 million toward the disaster fund. 1a. [u] the act of giving money or goods to an organization

2

[C/U] the process of giving blood, sperm, or a part of

your body to help someone who needs sperm donation

Words

frequently used with

adjectives

it:

organ/ blood/

donation

generous, handsome, large,

1

substantial 1 /dAn/ 1 the past participle of do 2 used by some people instead of "did," for example in sentences such as "He done it last week." This use is not considered correct. 2a. spoken used by some people as an

done

dominate /'dami.neit/ verb ••

3

[C]

flat

in his paintings.

2

3 Dominion

old-fashioned a country that belonged to the British Commonwealth in the past

after the other

domiciled

verbs

[\j]formal control or the right to rule over something: At that time the island was under foreign dominion. 2 [C]formal an area that is 1

'domino effect

/'dami.sail; 'damisl/ noun [C] formal some-

home

Words

do-min-ion /do'minjon/ noun

dom-i-no / 'daminoo/ (plural dom*i*noes) noun [C]

nomics

m

dongle

404

do-mes-tic-i-ty / doome'stissti/ noun [u] the activities relating to your home and family life: I'm not cut out for

1

auxiliary verb for saying that something has already happened, for example in sentences such as "I done shot him." This use is not considered correct.

done 2 /dAn/ adj

[not usually before noun]

•

finished doing

something or using something: I'm almost done. +with Are you done with that pen? a. if a job is done, it has been finished: That's the first bunch done. The beds are done (=they have been made neat), b. cooked long enough to be eaten all done spoken used for saying that you have finished doing something: "OK, all done!" the dentist said. be the done thing/be done to be the correct or appropriate thing to do or be the way that people think you should behave: Going to college seemed to be the done In those days, arguing with a teacher thing, so he went. wasn done. be done with it informal to have finished dealing with something, so that you do not have to think about it anymore: Let's just give them what they want and be done

just

with

't

it.

done in very informal very tired: Poor Tom was done in when he got home. done 3 /dAn/ interjection used for saying that you will accept the price or offer: "Let's say $75." "Done!"

done

'deal noun [C usually singular] something that has already been decided and cannot be changed: He talks about it as if it were a done deal. don-gle /'dangl/ noun [C] computing a piece of equipment that must be connected to a computer before a particular program can work

Don Juan Don Juan /,dan who

is

man

C12

donkey

2

is

the symbol of the Democratic

/'danki,w3rk/ noun [u] BrE informal part of a job consisting of hard, boring work: grunt WORK

BrE

/'daniJV adj

serious,

intelligent,

and

mainly interested in academic issues do-nor /'doonsr/ noun [c] • 1 someone who gives blood, sperm, eggs, or a part of their body to be used in the medical treatment of someone else: a blood donor The hospital is searching for a bone marrow donor for the child, la. [only before noun] used about a body part that a donor has given: a

donor heart /kidney /liver

2 someone who

gives things such as money or goods an organization, especially one that helps people: The donor. +to a major donor to the Democratic Party 'donor card noun [C] a card that you keep with you giving permission for your organs to be used after you to

museum was saved by an anonymous

die to help

someone

else

don't /doont/

short form 1 writing "do not." This is writing: / don't believe you! a way of saying "does not." correct: He don 't care!

the usual way of saying or not often used in formal Don't tell anyone. 2 spoken This use is not considered

know

noun [C] mainly journalism someone who does not answer "yes" or "no" to a question, especially a question about political opinions: Over 30% of our sample were don knows.

.don't

't

do-nut /'doo.nAt/ noun

[c]

a doughnut

AmE

doo-dad

/'du.daed/ noun [C] informal used for referring to something that you cannot remember the name of: a multimedia computer with all the usual doodads

doo-dah

doodle

BrE a

/'duda/ noun

doodad

1

/'dudl/ verb [I] to draw patterns or pictures because you are bored or thinking about other things

doo-dle 2 /'dudl/ noun [C] a pattern or picture you draw when you are bored or thinking about other things doo-dle-bug / 'dudl.bAg / noun [c] Br E informal a flying bomb used by the Germans for attacking Britain in World War II

doo-doo /'du,du/ noun the body. This

word

is

[C/U] informal solid waste from to children.

mainly used by and

in deep doo-doo informal in serious trouble

doo-fus /'dufss/ noun [C] informal a stupid person doo-hick-ey /'du,hiki/noun [C] informal used for referring to something such as a small object or tool that you cannot remember the name of: I'm completely confused by all these gadgets and doohickeys.

doom

1

/dum/ noun

a bad event, usually death, destruction, or complete failure, that will happen in the future and cannot be avoided: He predicted doom for any country that did not act immediately. meet your doom (=die in an unpleasant way) the famous castle in Denmark where Hamlet met his doom impending doom (=likely to happen soon) A sense of impending doom hung over the [u]

meeting.

doom and gloom

a feeling that a situation is very bad and without hope: Despite all the doom and gloom on Wall Street, there are still some bright spots in the stock market. spell

doom for to cause the end,

death, or destruction of someone or something: The arrival of the home computer spelled doom for the typewriter. -» prophet

doom 2

/dum/

doom-say-er /'dumseior/ noun someone who always says that bad

Dooms-day some people

verb [T usually passive] to make someone or something certain to fail, be destroyed, be extremely unhappy, etc.: doom sb/sth to sth The invention of the train doomed the canals to extinction. doom sb/sth to do sth She felt she was doomed to work in an office all her life.

AmE

informal things will happen [C]

/'dumz.dei/ the time in the future believe the world will end

when

Doomsday scenario an extremely

serious or dangerous situation that could end in death or destruction till/until Doomsday informal for a very long time: You can wait till Doomsday to be served in this place.

door /dor/ noun

informal a stupid person

don-key-work don-nish

be doomed to failure These schemes are always doomed to failure.

noun [c] • 1 a gray or brown animal similar to a horse, but smaller and with long ears. In some countries it is used for riding and for pulling or carrying heavy loads. The sound a donkey makes is called braying, —picture -»

don-key /'danki/

In the U.S., the Party.

door

405

'wan; ,dan 'hwan/ noun [C] a very successful at having sex with women

[C]

••*

1 a large flat object you open when you want to enter or leave a building, room, or vehicle: a little house with a red door The door creaked slowly open. There was a

coming from under the door. open/close/shut the door The police officer told him to open the car door. Shut the door - it's cold in here! knock on the door (=so that someone knows you are there) / knocked on the door and

draft

"

be at the door (=be outside a voice answered "Come in. the door to someone's house) There's someone at the door. answer/ get the door (=go to your door to see who is there) Go and answer the door, will you?* bang/slam the door (=close it noisily) He ran out, slamming the door behind him. + to /into The door to the kitchen was open. back/front/side etc. door Be sure to lock the back door bedroom /shed /car etc. door The when you leave. bathroom door was shut. la. the space created when you open a door: doorway: A strange figure suddenly came through the door. come in the door I'd just come in the door when the phone rang. out the door Anne got out the door as quickly as she could when she saw him there.

— picture -» ci

2 an opportunity to do something or a possibility that something will happen: + to For these young men, a sports career can be a door to fame and fortune. open doors (for sb) (=create opportunities) This new job has really opened open the door to sth (=make it a lot of doors for her. possible) This decision could open the door to higher costs. close /shut the door on sth (=make it impossible) The government is reluctant to shut the door on these proposals. 2a. as /when one door closes, another one opens used for saying that even though you have lost an opportunity to do one thing, an opportunity to do something else has appeared close/shut the barn /stable door after the horse is gone used for saying that something has been done too late because the problem it should have prevented has already happened (from) door to door 1 used for talking about the total length of a trip from the place where you start to the place where you arrive: The flight itself is only two hours, but it takes about five hours door to door. 2 going to all the houses in an area, for example trying to sell things or asking for information or votes get your foot/toe in the door to get an opportunity to start working in an organization or business, especially when this will give you more opportunities in the future on the door at the entrance to a place, selling tickets, or welcoming or checking the people who want to come in

open its/the doors

if a building, organization, or doors, it allows people to enter, especially for the first time: + to The country has slowly opened its doors to new immigrants. out of doors outside: He spends a lot of time out of doors. show sb the door informal to tell someone to leave, especially in a rude or angry way shut/slam the door in sb's face 1 to close a door violently when someone is about to come into a room 2 to rudely tell or show someone that you are not interested in listening to their opinion or in helping

country opens

its

them to your door if a company delivers things to your door, it delivers them directly to your house: Simply order from our Web site and we '11 deliver the goods to your door within 24 hours.

two/a few,

etc.

doors down/up/along used for saying or houses you need to count before

how many rooms you come

to the room or house you are talking about: His office is three doors down from mine. -» CLOSED

doorbell /'dar.bel/ noun [cl a button near the front door of a house that you press to make a sound to tell the person in the house that you are there —picture -» ci

do-or- die

adj [only before noun] willing to take great risks in order to achieve something a. making you take great risks in order to achieve something: a do-or-die situation

door-jamb /'dor d^xm/ noun [c) a doorpost doorkeep-er dor kipar/ noun [c) someone whose job /

guard the main door of a building doorknob /darnab/ noun [c] a round handle on a door that you turn to open and close the door door-knock-er /'dar nakar/ noun [c] a metal ring or bar on the door of a house that you use for knocking when you want someone to open the door: knocker door-man /'darman/ (plural door»men /'darman/) noun [C] someone whose job is to be in charge of the main entrance of a building, such as a hotel or an apartment house, and help people when they go in or come out door-mat / 'dor mst/ noun [c] 1 a piece of material on which you clean the soles (=bottoms) of your shoes before you go into a building 2 informal someone who is to

allows other people to treat them badly and does not

complain

doornail

/ dar.neil/ noun (as) dead as a doornail informal completely dead: The plants are all dead as a door-

nail.

door-plate /'dar,pleit/ noun [c] a piece of metal with someone's name on it that is attached to a door to show who lives or works there

doorpost / pieces of

dar.poost/ noun

wood

[c]

one of the two upright

at the sides of a door: doorjamb

doorstep /'dar .step/ noun

a small step outside the main door to a house or building —picture -» ci [C]

on your doorstep very

close to where you live: You're lucky to have the school right on your doorstep.

door-stop

/'dar.stap/ noun [c] 1 a heavy object that to keep it open 2 a piece of rubber or plastic attached to a wall that stops a door from hitting the wall when you open it

you put against a door

doorto- door

going to all the houses in a particular area, for example, in order to sell something or ask for information or votes: a door-todoor salesman a door-to-door collection for a conservation fund 2 taking someone or something directly from one place to the place they need to go to: a door-to-door adj [only before noun]

1

delivery service

door-way when

dot

406

doorbell

/'darwei/ noun you open a door

[C]

••

the space created

doo-wop /'duwap/

noun [u] a type of rock and roll consisting of small groups of singers singing in harmony and often without musical instruments

doo-zy

/'duzi/ noun [C] informal something that extremely unusual or special

dope /doop/ 1

is

a stupid person 2 [u] an illegal drug, especially marijuana a dope dealer 3 the dope all the information or latest news about someone or something: +on What's the dope on Kate's

noun informal

1

[C]

:

new boyfriend?

dope 2 /doup/ verb

Do-ri-an

Gray

/dorian urei/ an imaginary' character who leads a bad life in a novel by Oscar Wilde. Every time he does something evil, a picture of him changes and begins to look older and more evil, while he remains

young and

Doric

attractive.

/'dank/

ad| built in

a plain ancient Greek build-

ing style: Doric columns

dork

/dark/ noun [C] informal an insulting word for is stupid because they behave or dress in a way not considered fashionable dork-y wearing this really dorky shirt. adj: He was

someone who you think

—

dorm /darm/ noun [c] informal a dormitory dormant /'darmant/ adj something that is

dormant

is

not active or developing now, but it may become active or develop in the future: The plants remain dormant all winter. a dormant volcano lie dormant (^remain dormant) The virus can lie dormant for up to ten years.

— dor-man-cy noun [U] dormer /

darmar/ or

dormer window noun

upright window in a sloping roof dormi-to-ry /'darmitari/ noun

[c]

an

a large room where a lot of people sleep, for example in a school or army camp 2 Am E a large building in a college or university, where students live [c]

1

dormitory town

noun [c] a place from which people travel to a city to work

dor-mouse /dar.maus/

(plural

many

dor-mice /darrnais/)

noun [c] a small European animal similar to a mouse but with a furry tail dorp /darp/ noun [C] South African a village or small

town dor-sal

/

darsl/ adj technical connected with the back of

a fish or animal: the shark's large dorsal fin

DOS /das/ trademark Disk Operating System: the basic software in a computer that makes it work and allows you to use a program. It is usually used only in older computers.

dos-age / dousids/ noun [c/u] the amount of a medicine or drug that you take at one time 1 noun [c] 1 an amount of a drug that has been measured so that you can take it: +of If you are in pain, increase the dose a small /low dose Taking a low dose of of painkillers. aspirin can help prevent heart attacks. a fatal /lethal dose (=an amount that will kill you) a lethal dose of

••

dose /dous/

morphine-* medicine

2 [+of] an amount of a particular quality-: Marcus added a healthy dose of skepticism to the discussion. 2a. [+of] an amount of something bad that happens to you: I've just had a nasty dose offlu. Local people were exposed to high doses of radiation. in small doses in small amounts or for short periods of time: / can only put up with Dave in small doses. dose 2 /dous/ verb [t] dose or dose up to give a measured amount of a drug to someone

dosh /daJV noun doss /das/ verb

Br E informal money doss or doss down Br E informal to spend the night somewhere where you do not normally [u]

[i]

sleep, especially on a chair or the floor /'dasi.ei/ noun [c] a set of documents about a person or situation: + on The FBI had a dossier on him.

dos-si-er

informal 1 dope or dope up to give someone a drug to take away their pain or make them sleep: They've doped her quite heavily because she was in such pain. 2 to give a person or an animal a drug so that they run faster in a race: Tests revealed that the horse had been doped. [T]

dope-head /'doophed/

noun [C] informal someone takes a lot of illegal drugs such as marijuana or COCAINE

who

dop-ey

/ doopi/ adj informal 1 stupid: He's a reallykid. 2 feeling tired and not able to think quickly, especially because you have been given drugs to take away your pain or make you sleep: He had the operation this morning, so he's still feeling a little dopey.

dopey

dop-pel-gang-er /'dapl.gaerjar/ noun [c] 1 someone who looks like someone else 2 a spirit that some people believe looks like someone who is alive dop-y / doupi/ another spelling of dopey

+ of a dossier of police evidence

dost \vea
ted line / .datad

'lam/ noun [c] a line of small spots of ink that are very close together: Cut along the dotted line.

sign on the dotted line to sign a contract or other legal

agreement

much

•••

1

/'dAbl/ adj consisting of two things or parts of the same type: He went through the double doors. Place the bacon on a double layer of paper towels, la. involving two things happening at the same time: a double murder He had suffered a double tragedy, losing both parents within a few days of each other, lb. with two different uses or features: The measures should achieve the double benefit a of protecting the environment and reducing traffic. double meaning (=two different meanings) She suspected his words might have a double meaning. 2 containing or consisting of twice as much of something as normal: double chocolate chip cookies a double whiskey a double portion /helping a double portion of french fries 2a. lasting twice as long as normal: Sometimes I would work a double shift, which was 16 hours. 3 large enough for two people or things: a double room a double bed a double garage 1

mainly Br E spoken used when spelling a word or giving a number, to say that a letter or

double t/m/8/9

number

is

etc.

repeated:

My

last

name

is

Reed. That's r -

double e-d.

dou-ble

*

twice usual size

two people

2 room/bed

for

3 sb looking

like

sb else

4 twice as much money 5 in baseball

6 two successes together 7 game played in pairs 8 in bets on horse racing 9 in games with darts/dice + PHRASES

an amount of a strong alcoholic drink that is twice the usual amount: Two brandies please, and make 1

[C]

mine a double. 2 [C] a room or bed for two people to sleep

in: I'd

reserved two single rooms, but all they could offer us a double. [C]

someone who looks very similar

to

was

another

person: sb's double He's his father's double. 3a. an actor who takes the place of another actor when making difficult or dangerous parts of a movie 4 [u] twice as much money: Whatever he's offering, we'll

pay you double.

5

in baseball, a situation in which someone hits the enough to be able to run to second base two victories or successes that you achieve at the same time or one after the other: score a double Beck also scored a double, winning best male artist and best album. go for the double (=try to win two competitions) After his victory in Paris, he's going to go for the double at

2

6

[C]

[C]

Wimbledon.

dot'ty / 'dati / adj informal old-fashioned 1 slightly crazy 2 [+about] mainly Br E loving someone or something very

/'dAbl/ noun

a drink

ball far

letters

double

1

3

doth /dA0/

come from: We doubled back

/'dAbl/ verb

*•

7 doubles [u] a game such as tennis played between pairs of players. Singles is the word for a game played between individual players: The Williams sisters are Who's your hoping to reach the finals of the doubles. doubles partner? 8 [C] informal a bet on a horse race in which any money that you win on one race is risked on a second race 9 [C] in a game using dice, a throw in which two dice show the same number 9a. [C] a throw in the game of darts, when a player wins twice as many points by throwing a dart so that it lands in a small area near the edge of the board on the double Am E very quickly

dou-ble 4

/'dAbl/

adv*

bent double bent a long way forward, for example because you are in pain or laughing a lot fold sth double to fold something so that is has two layers of equal size see double to have something wrong with your eyes, so that one object looks like two

dou-ble 5

•

twice as much or twice /'dAbl/ determiner It'll cost you double what you paid last time. double the amount/number/size etc. He now earns double the amount he used to. double that (=double that amount) There are only fifteen children in the class at the moment but it could be double that next term.

as

many:

1 [I] to become twice as big, twice as much, or twice as many: The number of people out of work has doubled in the last five years. double in size /amount/ price etc.

double or nothing Am E used when betting money on a game, to say that you will either win twice as much

Their house has doubled in value since they bought it. [T] to increase something so that it is twice as big, twice as much, or twice as many: The government is threatening to double the tax on liquor. 2 double or double over [t] to fold something so that it has two layers of equal size 3 [I] in baseball, to hit the ball far enough so that you can run to second base

BrE two people who perform two entertainers, or a performance by these two people .double agent noun [c] someone who finds out secret information for a government but also for that government's enemy

1a.

double your fists Am E to bend your fingers tightly so you are ready to fight with someone double as or double up as phrasal vb [T] [double (up) as sth] to have another use or job as something: In the corner was an old couch that doubled as Simon 's bed. .double back phrasal vb [l] to turn and go back in the that

money

double

or lose

all

of

,act noun

it

[c]

together, especially

double-barreled

/,dAbl 'baerald/ adj 1 a doublebarreled gun has two parts that bullets come out from 2 mainly journalism a double-barreled attack or plan has two parts

.double bass noun

[c] a large musical instrument shaped like a violin that you rest on the floor and play standing up by pulling a bow across its strings. A

double bed double bass

double bed

double feature

a movie of two movies one after the other

noun

[c]

a bed for two people —picture -»

bill noun [c] a

other

double-glazed

double 'bind

noun [c] a difficult situation in which you have two choices, but each one will have a bad result

layers

ad] science

a double-blind test involves

two groups of people, only one of which is really being tested. None of the people in the two groups and none of the scientists performing the test knows which people belong to each group. 'bluff noun [c] a situation in which you tell someone the truth but hope that they will not believe you because they will think you are lying .double 'boiler noun [c] a deep pan with a second pan on top of it. You boil water in the lower pan in order to heat or cook the food in the pan above it.

double

double-book table, or

room

[i/t] to promise the same two different people

verb

to

seat,

/.dAbl 'brestsd/ adj a doublebreasted jacket or coat has two parallel lines of buttons down the front when it is fastened

double- check

verb [l/T] to check something for a second time so that you are certain it is right a layer of fat on someone's neck look as if they have two chins

'chin noun

makes them

double- click

[C]

computing to give an instruction to a computer by quickly pressing the mouse twice dou«ble click noun [C] with your finger double-cross verb [T] to cheat someone, usually when doing something illegal or planning to cheat someone .double cross noun [C] else together .double 'date noun [c] an occasion when two people .double-date verb and their partners go out together [I]: Jane and I double-dated with two brothers. .double-dealing noun [u] behavior by which you cheat someone, especially by pretending to do one thing while doing the opposite .double- dealer noun [C] dou-ble-deck«er /,dAbl 'dekar/ noun [c] 1 doubleverb

[l/T]

—

—

—

—

or double-decker sandwich a sandwich consisting of three pieces of bread separated by two layers of food 2 double-decker or double-decker bus a bus that has both an upper and a lower level where people

decker

between

10

adj

AmE

a

double-digit

number

is

and 99

.double 'digits noun

AmE

[plural] the numbers 10 to 99: the double digits Spending increases this year were in

the double digits.

verb [l/T] AmE to get income such as a pension and a salary from two different places at the same time, usually illegally: They were effectively doubledipping by collecting from two former employers. double- dip 2 noun [C] 1 a cone (=a container made of thin dry cake) with two balls of ice cream inside it 2 an act of double-dipping double dutch or double Dutch noun [u] informal 1 Am E a game of skipping rope (=jumping over a rope) in which two ropes are used at the same time 2 speech or writing that is impossible to understand double-edged /,dAbl'ed3d/ adj 1 a double-edged knife or sword has two sharp sides 2 a double-edged comment or remark can have two completely different meanings -» sword .double-edged sword noun [singular] a situation or decision that has both positive and negative aspects double entendre / ,dubl an'tandra/ noun [c] a word or phrase that you use deliberately, knowing that it has two meanings, one of which is rude or funny because

double- dip

1

AmE

it

BrE double

digits

BrE

adj

glass:

The

having windows with two

whole [u]

house

double-glazed.

is

BrE windows

or doors that

.double in'demnity noun

[c/u] legal a section in a life insurance agreement that says the insurance company pay double the amount of money if the person who bought the insurance dies in an accident rather than because of illness or old age .double jeopardy noun [u] legal a situation in which someone is accused of a crime for a second time after they have already been to trial for that crime will

double-jointed of your

adj able to bend your joints (=parts body where two bones meet) backward as well

as forward

.double life noun [c] a completely separate way of life that you have some of the time and keep secret from other people: She led a double

life:

she was a teacher

during the day and at night a singer. .double 'negative noun [c] a sentence

in

which two

negative words such as "not," "don't," or "no one" are used when only one would be correct, for example in the sentence "I don't want no dinner."

double-park

verb [l/T] to park your car parallel to another car that is already parked at the side of the road .double 'play noun [c] AmE a situation in which two players in a baseball team are both out (=made to leave the field) at the same time double-quick 1 adv BrE informal very quickly .double-quick 2 adj BrE informal in double-quick time very quickly double-sid-ed /,dAbl 'saidad/ adj able to be used on both sides dou«ble«speak /'dAblspik/ noun [u] double talk .double 'standard noun [C] a rule or principle that is applied to some people but not others, in a way that is

unfair

sit

.double-digit

in

that consists

have two layers of glass, so that the building will be warmer and quieter .double-header noun [c] two games, especially in baseball, played one after the other

,

double-breasted

double

of

— .double-glaze verb [T]

.double 'glazing noun

double- blind

can

[plural]

show

first noun [C] Br E a university degree in which you have studied two subjects and have received the highest grade for both subjects

movie or theater show that consists of two movies or performances one after the

that

[c]

double

.double

,

noun

.double figures noun

BED

">

doubly

408

a type of stringed instrument, —picture -» STRINGED INSTRUMENT is

refers to sex

[C] in tennis, a situation in which a player loses a point by doing two bad serves one after the other

.double fault noun

dou-blet /'dAbbt/ noun [C] a man's short tight jacket worn from the 14th to 17th century .double 'take noun [C] do a double take to react after a slight pause, because you are surprised by what you have just seen or heard [u] a way of saying things that make impossible for people to understand, used by people in official positions when they want to hide the truth

'double .talk noun it

double-think opposing ideas

/'dAbl,9ink/ noun

[u]

belief in

two

same time

at the

.double 'time noun [u] 1 double the amount you normally earn, paid when you work on days or at times when most people do not work 2 Am E a fast speed at which people march in the military .double 'vision noun [u] a medical condition in which you see a single object as two

objects

double wham-my/

d\bl 'wasmi; ,dAbl 'hwasmi/noun [C] mainly journalism a set of two bad events or situations that have an effect at the same time

/'dAbl.waid/ noun [C] AmE two mobile homes (=small homes that can be moved on highways) that are joined together to create one larger home .double .yellow 'line noun [c] 1 AmE two yellow lines painted down the middle of a road to tell drivers not to cross to the other side 2 BrE two yellow lines along the side of a road that mean you are not allowed to park your vehicle there dou-bly /'dAbli/ adv 1 by a much greater amount or to a much greater degree than usual: doubly sure/

dou-ble-wide

doubt

lectual.

doubt

***

1

/daot/ noun [c/u] a feeling of not being certain about something: + about/as to There seems to be have no /little some doubt as to whether this is legal. there is doubt that / have no doubt that he will succeed. little/no doubt that There's little doubt that the measures cast doubt on sth (=make will be extremely unpopular. you uncertain about it) New evidence casts doubt on

murder conviction. raise doubts (=make you have doubts) The accident raised doubts about the safety of the nagging /lingering doubts Nagging doubts aircraft. about her story do remain. grave/serious doubts / have serious doubts about whether this system will work. his

be in doubt 1 if you are in doubt about something, you do not know what to do about it: He is still in some doubt about whether to go or not. 2 if something is in doubt, it is not certain whether it will succeed or continue to exist: The future of the company is still in doubt. beyond (any) doubt 1 in a way that is completely certain: His ability to succeed has been established beyond any doubt. 2 if something is beyond doubt, it is completely certain: What is beyond doubt is that he is utterly incompetent. (a) reasonable doubt legal to a degree that the law considers to be satisfactory for making a decision: The prosecution cannot prove beyond all reasonable doubt

that she intended to kill him.

have your doubts (about) to have reasons why you do not feel certain about someone or something if/ when in doubt if you are not certain: used when giving advice or instructions: If in doubt, get someone

to

help you.

no doubt

used for emphasizing that something seems certain or very likely: No doubt she'll tell me everything when she's ready. 2 used for showing that you accept something is probably true, but this does not change your opinion: No doubt she's very nice, but I just don't like her. 3 no doubt about it used for emphasizing that something is definitely true: No doubt about it, we've 1

got problems. open to doubt not definite,

and perhaps not even likely without (a) doubt very definitely: used for emphasis: She is without a doubt one of our most talented students. /daot/ verb [T] •• 1 to think that something is probably not true or that it probably does not exist: Some people doubt my story but I will prove them wrong. No one doubts the need for improvement.

2

-t-(that)

/ don't doubt you're right, but I

disagree.

think that something is unlikely: "Do you think they'll win?" "I doubt it." -t-(that) He promised to come but I doubt he will. + whether /if I doubt very much whether we can change it now. 3 to feel that you cannot trust or believe someone: How could you have doubted me? 3a. doubt sb's word to believe that someone is probably not telling the truth to

doubt yourself to think that you mistake doubt-er noun [C]

doubtful

/'daotfsl/adj

may

be making a

**

not certain or likely to happen or be true: Already the whole project was looking doubtful. it is doubtful (that) /whether /if /how It is doubtful whether he will survive. 1a. mainly journalism unlikely to be doing something, especially playing in a game: Kirkwood is doubtful for tonight's game. 2 [usually before noun] not satisfactory or acceptable: dubious: documents of doubtful authenticity 3 [not usually before noun] not feeling certain about something: You still seem a little doubtful. + about He was doubtful about the accuracy of the results. +(that)/ whether/ if The board was doubtful that her estimates were realistic. doubt-ful-ly adv 1

own fault.

douche

I dull noun Id a method of washing inside a part of someone's body, especially a woman's vagina, using a narrow stream of liquid a. the object used to perform a douche dough /doo/ noun 1 [C/U] a mixture of flour, water, shortening, etc. that is baked to make bread or pastry 2 [U] informal money

dough-boy U.S. soldier

dough-nut

/'doo.nAt/ noun

AmE War

[C]

often in the shape of a ring, that

dough in

old-fashioned a

I

a round sweet food, is made by cooking

oil

do doughnuts to make your car spin on ice

in tight circles,

especially

dough-ty

/'daoti/ adj mainly journalism determined

and not easily frightened

dough-y /'dooi/ adj soft and easily stretched dour /daor; dor/ adj 1 very serious, and not smiling or friendly 2 BrE not pleasant, interesting, or exciting: city

douse /daos/ verb [T]

1 to cover something or someone with a liquid, especially water or fuel 2 to make a fire stop burning by pouring water over it dove 1 /dAv/ noun [C] 1 a white bird often used as a sign meaning peace 2 a politician who wants to use peaceful methods to solve problems rather than fighting

— opposite HAWK

dove 2 /doov/ Am E the

past tense of dive

1

/'dAv.koot/ or dove-cot /'dAv.kat/ noun [C] a small house for doves or pigeons 1 dove-tail /'dAV.teil/ verb [i/T] to fit together or work together well dove-tail 2 /'dAv.teil/ or .dovetail joint noun [c] a type of joint used for fitting two pieces of wood tightly together dov-ish /'dAVijV adj preferring to use peaceful methods opposite to solve problems rather than fighting HAWKISH

dove-cote

—

/'daosd33r/ noun [c] 1 a woman who has or property because her dead husband belonged high social class 2 informal an impressive older woman, especially one who is rich dow-dy /'daodi/ adj not attractive or fashionable dow-el /'daosl/ noun [C] a thick pin made of wood, metal, or plastic, used for holding two pieces of wood, a

—

doubling Thom-as someone who

/,daotirj 'tamas/ noun [c] will not believe something unless they

see definite proof In the Bible, the apostle Thomas did not believe Jesus Christ had risen from the dead until he saw his

title

to a

metal, or plastic together

Dow Jones Av-er-age, the/, dao 'd3oonz ,aev3nd3/ or Dow Jones Index, the trademark a number that represents an average of the share value of important companies in the U.S. It goes up or down every day according to activity on the stock market, and is used as a sign of how well the economy is performing. The Dow Jones Average is often simply called the Dow Jones or the Dow.

down

[not usually before noun]

wounds.

/'doo.boi/ noun [C] fought in World

who

dow-a-ger

1

doubt 2

still

/'daottas/ adv • used for saying that you are certain that something is true or will happen although you have no definite proof: It was doubtless his

doubt-less

gloomy: a dour industrial

beyond

-» BENEFIT

down

409

important/ difficult 2 for two reasons or in two ways: He was doubly disadvantaged as a foreigner and an intel-

1

Down

/daon/

function

word

***

can be used in the following ways:

as a preposition (followed by a noun): She

walking down the

adverb (without and fell asleep. as an

was

street.

a following noun): She lay

after the verb "to be": Oil prices are

down

down.

as an adjective: I've been feeling rather

down

lately.

to or toward a lower place la. moving toward a lower place or position: Someone pushed him and he fell down the stairs. Snowflakes floated down through the cold night air. Tears were rolling down his cheeks. We watched the sun go down. lb. from a higher place to the ground: Their airplane came down in a field beside the highway. Get down off that roof it's dangerous. 1c. looking, pointing, or leading to a lower place: We paused for a moment, gazing down into the valley below. steps leading down to the beach the down escalator 1d. used for saying that you put something you are carrying onto a 1

1

down

l

'

south coast. 7 when sth is reduced 7a. at or to a smaller amount, lower level, etc. than before: The government is determined to bring down unemployment. * +\a House prices have come down to a more reasonable level. +by Overall demand for heating energy last winter was down by about 10 +from Crime is down 15° o from last year. 7b. used for saying that something becomes less strong, less violent, or less loud: The storm had died down by evening. .

Turn down the

radio.

8 when sth is damaged used for saying that something is damaged or destroyed and falls to the ground: The opera house burned down in 1990. It's been more than ten years since the Berlin Wall came down. 9 when you write sth used for saying that you write something on a piece of paper or in a book: I copied down his address and phone number. Let me write that down before I forget it. 10 when sth is fastened used for saying that something is fastened or stuck to a surface: The lid on the jar was screwed down tight. when sth is cleaned thoroughly used for saying 1 that all of a large object is cleaned from top to bottom: We need to wash down the walls before we can start

painting.

2 when you

eat or drink sth when food or drink goes goes from your mouth to your stomach: Lunch consisted of a chicken pot pie washed down with a glass of milk. He gulped down his dinner and got up from the 1

down,

it

table. 1

downfall

410

lower surface: Put the box down on the table. 2 in a lower place in a lower place or at a lower level: It was dark and cold down in the cellar. Your name's farther down the list. down below We could hear noises coming from down below. 3 into or in a sitting or lying position 3a. moving your body into a sitting, bending, or lying position: Why don t you sit down and rest your legs? / crouched down behind some bushes. 3b. remaining in a sitting, lying, or bending position: The headache was so bad she spent the rest of the day lying down. The tape has exercises you can do while you are sitting down. 4 along a road, river, etc. 4a. moving or looking along a road. path, etc.: / was walking down the street with a couple of friends. James looked back down the driveway to see if anyone was following him. 4b. moving or looking along a river in the same direction as the current: We sailed down the Yellow River toward the ocean. 4c. at a point somewhere on a road. path. etc. in a direction away from you: They live somewhere down Park Avenue. 100 yards/2 miles, etc. down sth The nearest hotel is five or six miles down the main road. 4d. at a point farther along a river in the direction of the current: There's another bridge farther down the river. 5 at or to a place that is near 5a. spoken at or to a place that is near you: I'm going down to the library - do you want me to take your books back?* I saw him down at the station this morning. 6 south 6a. going toward the south: My mom and dad go down to Florida every winter. 6b. in a place that is to the south of where you are: Xewhaven is down on the

3 when sb is sick used for saying that someone has illness: be/come down with sth Poor Susan comedown

an

with flu just before Christmas. 14 for the people who live after you used for saying that something is given to the next generation (=people who are alive after you die): hand/pass down The ancient creation stories have been handed down from generation to generation. 15 unhappy informal unhappy or sad: be /feel down He's been feeling very down since his wife went away. get sb down All these problems are getting her down. 1 6 chosen or expected to do sth if you are down for a particular job. it has been arranged that you will do it: + for I've got Tim down for babysitting on Monday night, and Jackie for Friday. 17 losing a game if a player or team is a certain number of points down, that is the number of points they need in order to reach their opponent's score: At +by the end of the first half we were down three points. The Nuggets were down by 12 at the end of the third period. 1 8 when a computer is not working if a computer

system

is

down,

it is

not working

19 already done used for saying how many things you have dealt with and how many more still need to be dealt with one/two, etc. down and one/two, etc. to go Well, that's

20

paid

another class over. Two down and four to go. used for saying that you pay an amount

now

of money immediately when you buy something and will pay the rest later: Right now you can buy the VCR for no money down and six monthly installments of just $49.99.

down on informal to dislike or not approve of someone or something: / always get low grades. Why is the teacher so down on me? be down to sb Br E if something is down to someone, they are responsible for dealing with it or making be

decisions about

it

be down to your last sth used for saying that you only have a particular amount of money, food, fuel. etc. left: We were down to our last traveler's check when we got back to the airport.

down with sth Am E very informal to accept or agree something to 1 used for emphasizing that everything or everyone is included, even the smallest thing or the least important person: Everything had been carefully planned, right down to the last detail. The changes will affect everyone from the CEO down to entry-level employees. 2 used for saying how long someones hair is or how long their clothes are: I'm going to grow my hair down to my shoulders. She wore a long skirt that came down to her ankles. 3 Br E used for saying that something is caused by something else: put sth down to sth (=think that something is caused by something else) He's always been bad-tempered. I put it down to his unhappy childhood. down with. spoken used for showing that you are opposed to a leader, government, etc. and you want to get rid of them. People shout this when they are be to

down

.

.

protesting.

down 2

/daun/ noun 1 [ul the small soft feathers of a 1a. soft short hairs: the soft down of her cheek [plural] areas of low hills covered with grass, especially in southern England

bird

2 downs

down 3

/daun/ verb [t] 1 to drink or eat all of something quickly: He downed his beer and left. 2 mainly journalism to make an aircraft crash to the ground by attacking it while it is flying: The jet was downed by a surface-to-air missile. 2a. to make someone or something fall to the ground: Lewis downed his opponent with a punch to the jaw. 3 mainly journalism to defeat a player or team

down- daun/ prefix lower in position, amount, quality, or importance: used with some nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs .floating downriver* a downturn in sales

down-and- dirty and

1

adj

slightly shocking in a

down-and-out

1

adj

not fair or honest 2 direct way that people like

very poor, with nowhere to live

and no job

down-and-out2

[c] mainly BrE someone who has nowhere to live and no job or money down-at- heel adj 1 looking old and no longer in good condition: down-at-heel offices 2 wearing old clothes, because you do not have enough money to buy new ones

down-beat

1

The President

-oun

/'daun.bit/ adj 1 not happy or hopeful: tried to rally

downbeat supporters. 2 calm

and relaxed

down-beat2

/'daun.bit/ noun (cj 1 the first beat of

music in a bar 2 any type of electronic music that is for listening to instead of dancing to down-cast /'daun kaest/ adj 1 sad or upset 2 downcast eyes are looking downward, especially because you are sad. embarrassed, or shy /'daunsr/ noun informal 1 [singular] something that makes you feel sad or disappointed 2 [C] a drug that makes you feel relaxed or helps you sleep opposite upper

down-er

—

on a downer

1

feeling sad. negative, or disappointed

2 experiencing a period of failure down-fall /'daun.fbl/ noun [singular]

1 a sudden loss of power, status, or success: bad investments that led to the company's downfall 2 something that causes the

downgrade his downfall.

/'daon.greid/ verb [t] • 1 to treat something in a way that shows that you think it is now less important than it was: The United States had no intention of downgrading its relations with

down-grade

China. to move someone to a job that is less important and has less pay, or change a job so that it is less important and has less pay 3 to give someone a lower grade for an examination than they received at first —down-grade noun [C] down-heart-ed /.daon'hartad/ ad] sad and feeling that things will not get better: dejected down-hill 1 /.daon'hil/ adv toward the bottom of a hill or slope: The car started to roll downhill.

2

go downhill

to get

worse: This area 's been going downhill

for years.

down-hill a

hill

2

/'daon.hil/ adj going toward the bottom of or slope: the downhill path

downhill/be downhill all the way 1 to be easy after the difficult things you have just done: There was much celebration as it is all downhill from here. 2 to be

all

become worse: chapter

it's

After the beautiful imagery of the first

all downhill. 3

down-hill / 'daun hil/ noun [u] a type of skiing in which you race down a hill or slope a. [C] a downhill race or competition in skiing

'down-home traditional

adj

AmE relating

to the countryside or

ways of life

Down-ing Street

/'daonirj ,strit/ noun [u] the prime minister or the government of the U.K.: Within an hour, Street issued another statement.

Downing

From

the street in

London where the Prime Minister

lives.

down-light-er / daon.laitar/ noun [c] Br E a light in a room that shines downward over a small area down-load 1 /'daon,lood/ verb [i/t] computing to move information to your computer from a computer system or the Internet: You can download this software for free. Wait until it's finished downloading.

down-load

2

/'daon,lood/ noun computing 1 [u] the process of downloading information to your computer: The download failed. 2 [C] a downloaded computer file

down-market adj Br £ inexpensive and of low quality: Much has

been written about the product's down-market

—

down-market adv noun [c] a first payment that you make when you are buying something and are going to pay the rest later image, —opposite upmarket

down 'payment

down-play /'daon.plei/ verb

make

a situation seem less serious or important than it is: play down: The senator is downplaying the significance of the to deliberately

[T]

issue.

down-pour

/'daon.por/ noun

a large

[c]

amount

of

rain that falls quickly

down-right

1

/'daon.rait/ adv informal completely or extremely: used for emphasizing how bad someone or something is: She was downright rude!

down-right2

/'daon.rait/ adj informal complete: used

for emphasizing right lie.

how bad something

down-riv-er / .daon'nvar/ adj, adv that is farther along a river as of the ocean opposite uprtver

—

down-scale

/'daon.skeil/

ad],

it

is: It

at or

was a down-

toward a place

flows in the direction

adv

AmE

inexpensive

and of low quality /'daonjift/ verb [i] 1 Am E to change to a lower gear when driving a car 2 to change to a different job or way of life, so that you have less money and responsibility but more satisfaction and happiness

down-shift

— down-shift noun [C/U] down-side

/'daon.said/ noun [singular] the disadvantage or negative aspect of something —opposite UPSIDE

down-size

downwardly mobile [C] AmE a pipe on

411

downfall of a person or group: His political ambition was

/'daon.saiz/ verb [i/t] business to make a company or organization smaller by reducing the number of workers

down-spout

/'daon.spaot/ noun

the side of a building that carries rain water the roof to the ground: drainpipe —picture ->

down from ci

Down's .syndrome noun [u] down syndrome down-stage /'daon,steid3/ adj, adv toward or at the front of the stage in a theater —opposite upstage down-stairs 1 /.daon'sterz/ adv •• to or on a lower floor of a building, especially the floor at ground level: They / ran downstairs to see if he had come home yet. were all downstairs, —opposite upstairs —down-stairs /'daonsterz/ adj [only before noun]: They got in through a downstairs window. down-stairs 2 /daon'sterz/ noun [singular] the floor of a building that is at ground level: Their kitchen was bigger than the whole of our downstairs, —opposite UPSTAIRS

down-state

AmE

1

toward or in /,daon'steit/ adj, adv the southern part of a state: She had gone to visit her family downstate somewhere, —opposite upstate

down-state 2

/ daon.steit/ noun [u] part of a state —opposite upstate

down-stream

Am E the southern

1

/daon'strim/ adv in the direction that a river or stream is flowing— opposite upstream 2 down-stream /'daon.strim/ adj 1 relating to or happening at a later stage in a process: downstream effects/ costs 2 in a position farther along a river or stream as it flows in the direction of the ocean down-swing /'daon.swin/ noun [c] 1 a reduction in economic or business activity 2 the movement that golf players make when they bring the club down to hit the ball

Down syndrome

noun

a medical condition that

[u]

someone is born with, that makes them develop mentally and physically in a different way from most people down-tem-po /'daon.tempoo/ noun [u] downbeat music down .time noun [u] 1 time when a computer or other machine is not working 2 time when you can relax and not work down-to-earth ad] practical and sensible

down-town

/'daon.taon/ adj, adv * in or near the center of a town or city, especially the business or shopping areas: the streets of downtown Las Vegas Let's opposite uptown go downtown. 1

—

down-town 2

/'daon.taon/ noun [c/u] the center of a the business or shopping areas —opposite uptown down-trend /'daon.trend/ noun [c] business a general reduction in the level or amount of something, espe-

town or

cially

city, especially

economic activity

down-trod-den

/'daon.tradn/ ad] treated in a cruel in a position of power down-turn /'daon,t3rn/ noun [c] a reduction in economic or business activity: a severe economic downturn + in a sharp downturn in demand .down under 1 adv informal to or in Australia or New Zealand down under2 noun [u] informal Australia or New Zealand down-ward 1 /'daonward/ adv * toward a lower place or level: He looked downward. or unfair

way by someone

face downward 1 lying on the front of your body: He found her lying face downward on her bed. 2 lying on the side that normally faces up: She placed the photo face

downward on the table. from sb downward used

for

emphasizing that some-

thing affects all the people in an organization or group, including the most important person: Everyone, from the managing director downward, has to attend the weekly meeting.

— opposite upward

down-ward 2

/'daonward/

adj

[usually before noun]

*

going toward a lower place or level: a downward slope/ movement a downward trend in interest rates downward spiral The region has been in a downward economic spiral since then, —opposite upward down-ward-ly mo-bile /.daonwardli 'moo bail/ adj humorous moving to a lower social class and becoming poorer— opposite upwardly mobile

—

I

to

downwards

drag

412

down-wards /'daonwordz/ adv downward down-wind /daon'wmd/ adj, adv in the rection that the

wind

is

draft 2 /draft/ verb

same

di-

moving

down-y

/'daoni/ ad] covered in very soft small hairs or feathers

dow-ry

/'daori/ noun [C] money and property that, in some cultures, a woman's family gives to her husband when they get married dowse /daoz/ verb [I] 1 to search for water underground using a special stick that moves when you are near the right place 2 another spelling of douse /doi'en/ noun [C] formal the most respected and in a group or profession

famous man

doy-enne

/doi'en/ noun [C] formal the most respected in a group or profession

and famous woman

doz. abbrev dozen

doze /dooz/ verb during the day

Am

Words

frequently used with draft agreement, bill, constitution, document, legislation, letter,

to sleep for a short time, especially

/'dAzn/ (plural doz*en) determiner * 1 a set of 12 things or people: a dozen red roses half a dozen (=six) We need half a dozen eggs for the cake. 1a. a set of about 12 things or people: A few dozen protesters waved placards. half a dozen (=about six) There were only half a dozen people at the party. 2 dozens [plural] lots of things or people: / must have mentioned him dozens of times in my letters. Nine people were killed and dozens were injured in street clashes. dozens and dozens I've talked to dozens and dozens of people and they all agree it's wrong.

doz-en

/'douzi/

adj

1

2 Br E informal

feeling tired

and

likely to go to

stupid

dpi

/,di pi 'ai/ abbrev dots per inch: a measurement of the ability of a computer screen or printer to produce a clear image

Dr. abbrev

1

doctor

drab /drab/ brown

2

money used

dra-co-ni-an /dra'koonian/ ad] formal extremely strict and severe Dracu-la /'drakjab/ a character from a 19th-century novel who is a vampire (= someone who sucks the blood out of other people's bodies)

draft 1 /draft/ noun 1 cold air

of plan/letter etc. in

sports

[c]

•• 5 amount of 6 bank draft

liquid

+ PHRASES

into military

cold air that blows into a room and makes you feel uncomfortable: I feel a draft coming in from under the 1

door.

2 something such as a plan, letter, or drawing that may have changes made to it before it is finished: + of / showed David a draft of the letter and he suggested a few changes, first/final draft My publisher wants to see a first draft by the end of next week. 2a. [only before noun] not in a final form and likely to be changed: draft legislation 3 AmE a system in some sports in the U.S. by which a professional team can choose college students to play for their team 4 the draft Am E a system in which people are ordered to join the military, for example because there is a war. BrE conscription: dodge the draft (=avoid joining the military) His political opponents accused him of dodging the draft during the Vietnam war. 5 formal an amount of liquid that you swallow at one time 5a. literary a medicine that you drink 6 BrE a bank draft on draft beer that is on draft is served directly from a barrel rather than in bottles or cans

is

build 2 Am E someone who draws things drafts-man-ship / 'draftsmanjip/ noun [u]

the ability

to draw well draf t-y / 'draefti/ ad]

fortable because 1

it

drag /drag/ verb

drive

unit of

draft beer is served in bottles 2 a draft

used for pulling heavy things draft dodger noun [c] AmE someone who avoids joining their country's military when they are officially ordered to draft-ee /draefti/ noun [C] Am E someone who has been officially ordered to join their country's military drafts-man /'draftsman/ (plural draftsmen /'drafts man/) noun [C] 1 someone whose job is to draw the plans for something that someone is going to make or

animal

pull

a drafty room or building is uncomhas cold air blowing through it

•*

with difficulty

2 pull sb against will 3 make sb do sth 4 touch ground

not colorful or interesting: his drab Their lives seem so drab.

Greece

2 3 4

because of an injury.

draft 3 /draeft /adj [only before noun] 1 directly from a barrel rather than

adj

clothes

have drafted in sports personalities to boost their bid host the Olympics. draft sb into sth Tsai was drafted Taiwan team after the regular player was omitted

1

drabs /drabz/ see dribs and drabs drach-ma /'drakma/ noun [c] the in

to

into the

the television.

sleep

proposal, speech, treaty .draft in phrasal vb [T often passive] mainly BrE to bring someone into a team or group of people in order to help them do something: draft sb in/draft in sb to do sth Both sides

[I]

— doze noun [singular]

,doze off phrasal vb [i] to start to sleep, especially during the day and without intending to: / dozed off in front of

do-zy

••

1 to write something such as a legal document, speech, or letter that may have changes made to it before it is finished: The government's first task was to draft a new constitution for the country. 2 [often passive] Am E to order someone to join the military, for example when there is a war: All her sons were drafted. + into He was drafted into the army in 1942. 3 E to make someone a member of a team of players

— dows-er noun [C]

doy-en

[t]

5 when time seems slow 6 in computing 7 search water with net + PHRASES

1 [T] to pull something or someone along with difexample because they are heavy: drag sth/ sb down/along/through sth She dragged her suitcase to drag sth/sb to/into/onto sth He jumped into the the car. river and dragged her to safety. 1a. to pull part of your body along the ground because you are injured: The bird walked slowly, dragging one wing along. 1b. to pull something somewhere strongly or quickly: I scarcely had time to drag a comb through my hair. 2 [t] [drag sb along/to/into sth] to pull someone strongly or violently when they do not want to go with you: Xavier grabbed his arm and dragged him over to the ficulty, for

window. [t] [drag sb out of/away from/off sth] to make someone leave or go to a place when they do not want to: I'm sorry to call so early, I hope I didn 't drag you out of bed. You drag me away from my meeting just to tell me this! drag yourself away /up /down etc. If you can manage to drag yourself away from the TV you can help. 4 [i] [+along/in/on] if something drags on the ground, it touches the ground when someone or something is moving along, for example because it is too long or too heavy: / heard a chain dragging along the ground. 5 [I] if time drags, it seems to pass very slowly, usually because you are bored: The first hour of the movie really dragged. 6 [t] computing to move something across a computer screen using the mouse: Drag the file into a folder. 7 [T] to try to find something in an area of water by pulling a net along the bottom of it: The police are dragging the river near where he was last seen.

3

drag your feet/heels to do something very slowly because you do not really want to do it drag sb/sth into the 21st century /the modern world

make a person or organization do things in a more modern way drag sb kicking and screaming to make someone do to

drag

drama

413

something that they do not want to do: You'll have to drag him kicking and screaming to the talks. drag sb/sb's name through the mud to say unpleasant things or tell unpleasant secrets about someone in

dra-goon 2

public

drag race

drag sb through the courts to start a legal case against someone who does not want this to happen -» CAT

drag 'by phrasal vb [l] if time drags by, it seems to pass very slowly drag down phrasal vb T] 1 to cause someone's social position or standards of behavior to become worse, so other people lose respect for them: If you're not careful Don't let he'll end up dragging you down with him. yourself be dragged down to his level. 2 to make someone feel unhappy or less hopeful: / don't mean to drag you

/dro'gun/ noun [c] a soldier in the past who rode a horse and used a gun drag queen noun [c] a man who wears women's clothes as an entertainer

noun [C] a race between long and very drag racing noun powerful cars over a short distance

—

[U]

drag-ster

/'drregstar/ noun [c] a car used in

drag

race 1

drain /drein/

verb

**

[

down with

all

my problems.

the project, so don 't try and drag me in. ,drag into phrasal vb [T] [drag sb into sth] 1

to start talking

who is not connected with what you are How dare you drag my mother into this. 2 to

about someone discussing:

make someone become involved they do not want

to:

The

U.S.

in a situation

when

was afraid of being dragged

into the war.

drag on phrasal vb [l] to continue for longer than you want or think is necessary: +for Some cases drag on for years.

.drag out phrasal vb [T] to make something continue for longer than necessary: They dragged the meeting out endlessly.

drag out of phrasal vb persuade someone to

[T] [drag sth out of sb] to force or tell you something when they do not want to: He only told me her name, and I had to drag that out of him. .drag 'up phrasal vb [T] to start talking about something when it is not necessary, usually something unpleasant that happened in the past and that other people want

to forget:

drag

2

1

Must you drag up

/draeg/ noun

that old

charity.

3

[C] an act of breathing in smoke from a cigarette: He took a quick drag on his cigarette then spoke. 4 [singular] something that makes something else develop or progress more slowly: + on High interest rates are a drag on the housing market. 5 [U] the force that slows something down when it moves through air or liquid -» MAIN DRAG

.drag-and-drop

computing to move something across a computer screen using the mouse and place it where you want it to be drag-net / 'dneg.net/ noun [c] 1 a very thorough search by the police 2 a net pulled along the bottom of an area of water to collect things verb

[T]

drag-on / 'draegan/ noun that has

[C]

a large animal in old stories tail and breathes out

wings and a long pointed

fire

drag-on-fly /'draegan.flai/ noun [c] an insect with a long narrow brightly colored body and two pairs of transparent wings

dra-goon /drs'gun/

7 use too much money

all

[T]

away

liquid in sth

etc.

until tired

away from something:

to let liquid flow

After the All water

pasta is cooked, drain it and serve immediately. tanks and pipes should be drained. drain sth from sth Drain all the syrup from the cans. 1a. [I] if liquid drains from something, it flows away: + away /off Put the sausages on a rack to let the fat drain off Rainwater causes flooding when it can't drain away. picture -» C2 2 [T] to get rid of the water in an area of land so that it can be used for farming or building on: The marshes have now been completely drained. 2a. [I] if land or soil drains, water flows out of it so it is not too wet 3 [T] to drink all the liquid in a container: They all rose and drained their glasses. 4 [T] to use so much of someone's energy or strength, etc. that they feel very tired or weak 5 [I] if a feeling drains from you, it goes away so that you do not feel it any more 6 [I] if the blood or color drains from someone's face, their face quickly becomes very pale, for example because they are shocked 7 [T] to use so much of something such as money or supplies that there is not enough available for other things: Fighting legal battles is draining the company's

—

resources.

Words

frequently used with drain

nouns

finances, funds, profits, reserves,

7

resources

drain 2 /drem/ noun 4 sth that slows progress 5 force that slows

1 [singular] informal something or someone that is boring or causes small annoying problems: Work is a real drag at the moment. I'm sorry to be a drag, but could you check this again?* It's such a drag having to take the bus to school. 2 [U] women's clothes worn by a man or men's clothes worn by a woman, usually as part of an entertainment: a drag artist /act /show in drag They went out in drag to

money for

3 drink

argument?

*

sth/sb boring/annoying

2 clothes of opposite sex 3 breathing in smoke

raise

5 when feeling goes away 6 when face becomes pale

flow

4 use energy 1

.drag in phrasal vb [T] 1 to start talking about something that is not connected with what you are discussing and that other people do not want to talk about: He seemed determined to drag in irrelevant details about my personal life. 2 to make someone become involved in a situation when they do not want to: / don't know anything about

2 remove water from land

1 let liquid

1

[C]

*

a pipe or passage through which water or waste

liquid flows away: The drain's blocked again. 1a. the drains [plural] the system of pipes and passages that take away water or waste liquid in a town or city 2 [singular] something that uses a lot of something such as money or supplies: +on The war was becoming a serious drain on the nation 's resources. 3 [singular] a situation in which a lot of people or things leave a country or organization: +of The government pledged to stop the drain of capital overseas. 4 [C] medical a tube that carries liquid away from your body, for example one that carries blood away from an injury: a chest drain

down

the drain informal completely lost or wasted: / hate to think of all that hard work going down the drain!

drain-age /'dremid3/ noun [u] 1 the process of taking away water or waste liquid from somewhere 2 a system of pipes and passages that take away water or waste liquid from an area

drain-board / 'drem.bord/ noun [c]Am E the place to the sink in a kitchen

dry —picture

next

where you leave wet dishes

to

-» C2

drained /drcmd/

adj feeling as though you have no mental or physical energy left drain-pipe /'drein.paip/ noun [C] 1 a pipe that takes away waste water or liquid from inside a building 2 a pipe on the side of a building that carries rainwater down from the roof to the ground drake /drcik/ noun [C] a male duck dram /draem/ noun [C] Scottish a small amount of an

alcoholic drink, especially whiskey

dra-ma /'drama/

noun

***

1

verb dragoon .into phrasal vb [T] [dragoon sb into sth] to make someone do something that they do not want to do

a play for the theater, television, or radio: a television drama about nurses 1a. [u] the study of plays: He teaches drama. a drama class 1

[C]

^

/

drama queen crowd had gathered

make as

a

to

watch the drama unfold.

drama out of sth

if it is

more serious or

drama queen

noun

[C]

to treat a particular situation exciting than it really is

informal someone

who

tends

to treat situations as more serious or exciting than they really are. This word shows that you are annoyed by

people like

this.

- dramatic /dro'mstik/

PM

adj

••*

1 sudden and surprising or easy to notice: a dramatic increase in sales The change in him was dramatic.

2 3

exciting and impressive: a dramatic game relating to the theater or plays: dramatic techniques dramatic behavior is done to impress other people: Don 't be so dramatic! She put a hand to her head with a dramatic gesture. dra«mat'i-cally/dr3'm£etikli/adv

4

—

dramatic

'irony noun [u] a situation in which an audience knows more about what is happening in a play or movie than the characters do dramatics /dra'maetiks/ noun 1 [u] the activity of performing plays: amateur dramatics 2 (plural] informal the behavior of someone who shows a lot of emotion that is not necessary or sincere dramatis personae /.draematis p3r'soo,nai/ noun [plural] all

the characters in a play

drama-tist /'dramatist/ noun

someone who

dramatize

/'draema.taiz/ verb 1 [T] to make a book or story into a play 2 [i/t] to treat a situation as more dranva-ti-za'tion serious or exciting than it really is /.draemati'zeijn/noun [c/u]

drank the past tense of drink drape /dreip/ verb [t] 1 to put something made of cloth over or around something: He wore a long scarf draped around his neck. 2 to put a part of your body on or over something in a relaxed way: She sat with one leg draped

arm

of the chair. -» drapes drap-er /'dreipar/ noun [C] mainly BrE old-fashioned someone who sells cloth and things made of cloth

drap-er«y /'dreip(3)ri/ noun 1 [c/u] cloth that hangs somewhere as a decoration 2 [U] cloth and things made from cloth 2a. [C/u] mainly BrE a. business that sells cloth and things made of cloth drapes /dreips/ noun [plural] AmE curtains made of heavy cloth draS'tic /'drsstik/ very big

adj

a drastic action or change has a have warned that cases of food

effect: Scientists

poisoning will increase unless drastic action is taken. The company will be taking drastic measures to reduce its debt.

— dras'ti -cal ly

drat that

/

'draestlkli/

adv

/draet/ interjection old-fashioned used for

showing

you are annoyed

draught /draft/ the Br E spelling of draft draughts /drafts/ noun [u] BrE the game 1

draw

1

/dro/

/dron/) verb 1

(past tense

drew /dru/; past

2 move slowly/smoothly 3 pull sth 4 get information from 5 choose sb/sth 6 compare two things

move something somewhere with a pulling move-

ment: Ellie drew a hand across her forehead. 3d. to pull out a gun, sword, or other weapon so that it is ready to use 3e. to pull out a tooth 4 [T often passive] [draw sth from sth] to get ideas, information, or knowledge from somewhere: She drew inspiration for her stories from her childhood. The evidence presented to you has been drawn from many sources. 5 [T often passive] to choose a card or ticket in a game, without seeing what is on it: / drew the ace of diamonds. 5a. to choose a person or thing from a group: Our advisers have been drawn from a wide range of experts. 5b. to choose one player to compete against another: Sampras has been drawn to play Martin in the first round. 6 [T] to consider the ways in which two things are different or similar: A comparison was drawn with Canada, where more women were succeeding in business. draw a line /distinction /boundary The law draws a distinction between children and adults. draw a parallel/ analogy/ comparison The writer drew parallels between the two societies. 7 [T] to get a particular reaction from people: draw praise/criticism The new exhibit has been drawing a lot of criticism. draw a reaction /response Her remarks drew a furious reaction from Terry. draw a refusal/denial The claims drew an immediate denial from the President's

8

[T often passive] to make someone notice something: sb's attention /eye /gaze Our attention was drawn by the sound of gunfire. + to My eyes were drawn to a painting hanging over the fireplace. 8a. draw attention to yourself to make people notice you: We have to try and get in without drawing attention to ourselves. 9 [T] to take money from a bank account: Customers can draw up to $250 a day from most accounts. +out I'll need to draw out more cash tomorrow. 9a. to receive an amount of money regularly: She wasn't old enough to

draw

draw

drawn

7 get particular reaction

8 make sb notice sth 9 take money 10 persuade sb to say

sth

+ PHRASES

1 [i/t] to create a picture by making lines with a pen or pencil: Someone had drawn a map of the island. + with The kids had drawn on the sidewalk with some chalk. la. to be able to make pictures in this way: can t draw at all. Can you draw faces? 2 [i] to move somewhere slowly or smoothly: draw near/ close As we drew nearer, I noticed that the front door was open. draw apart Ruth held him for a long time before

they drew apart. draw to a halt/standstill/stop A taxi was drawing to a halt outside the hotel. 3 [T] to pull something across a space in order to close or open it: draw the curtains The curtains were still drawn at noon. 3a. to pull a vehicle: The carriage was drawn by a small pony. 3b. to pull something gently from somewhere: He drew a handkerchief from his pocket.

benefit.

10 [T usually passive] to persuade someone to tell you something: / asked her if a decision had been made, but she would not be drawn (=would not tell me). draw sb on sth Reporters tried to draw him on the subject of his wife.

draw a blank

to fail to find

something you are looking

for

draw blood but

make someone bleed The cat bit me draw blood. 2 to do something that makes 1

to

didn't someone suffer or it

blood when she

draw breath that

you can

won

:

makes them

upset: King first drew

the opening set 6-1.

to temporarily stop rest

draw comfort

doing something so

you draw comfort from something a bad situation, it makes you feel less sad or if

good in worried draw a conclusion/an inference to decide what to believe about something after you have considered the facts:

of checkers

participle

•••

create picture

3c. to

office.

[c] formal

writes plays: playwright

over the

draw

414

2 [C/U] something unusual or exciting that happens: a game full of drama a drama unfolds (=takes place) A

from

Readers are invited

to

draw

their

own

conclusions

the report.

draw a crowd if an event draws a crowd, a large number of people come to watch it draw level to become equal to someone in a competition when they had previously been winning draw the line informal to say that you will definitely not allow or accept something: + at We draw the line at acts of violent protest. draw lots to make a decision by choosing one of several pieces of paper with different choices written on them literary if the time when something will happen draws near or nigh, it is nearly that time draw a raffle to take a ticket out of a container to see who has won a prize draw to a close/an end to end: As the evening drew to a close, Hillary thanked everyone for coming. draw water to take water from a well (=a deep hole in the ground)

draw near/nigh mainly

1

-» VEIL 3a phrasal vb [l] to move away from a person or place: People started waving as the train drew away. + from Ann suddenly drew away from me. draw back phrasal vb 1 [l] to move away from someone: She drew back in horror. 2 [T] to pull something such as

draw a way

draw

dread

415

a curtain into an open position: They heard the sound of a bolt being drawn back. draw in phrasal vb 1 [i] when the nights or days draw in, it becomes dark earlier in the evening because it will soon be winter —opposite draw out 2 draw in or draw into [I/T] to arrive in a place: The train drew into the station. 3 draw in or draw into [T often passive] to involve someone in a conversation or situation, often when they do not want to be involved: We do not want to get drawn into a long and bloody conflict. 4 draw in or draw into [T] to take something such as air into your body: She drew the smoke deep into her lungs. ,draw off phrasal vb [T] to take some of the liquid out of

1

something

draw on

phrasal vb [T] 1 draw on or draw upon to use something that you have gradually gained or saved: As an actor, you often draw on your own life experiences. Your body draws on its reserves of fat during the times when you are fasting. 2 to breathe in smoke from a

cigarette

3

[often passive]

[draw sth on

sth] to

take

money

from a bank account by writing a check: He paid with a check drawn on his company's account. 4 literary to put on a particular piece of clothing ,draw 'out phrasal vb 1 [T] to make something continue longer than usual: This action could draw the dispute out for another six months. People with southern accents tend to draw out their vowels. 2 [I] to move out of a place: Slowly the train drew out of the station. 3 [T] to encourage someone to talk more by making them feel more relaxed and confident: It wasn't easy to draw him out. 4 [I] when the days draw out, it remains light for longer because opposite draw in it will soon be spring .draw up phrasal vb 1 [T] to prepare and write something such as a document or plan: Guidelines have been drawn up for dealing with emergencies. 2 [I] to arrive at a place and stop: A taxi drew up outside the hotel.

—

draw up the boundaries to decide where the edges of an area will be: New electoral boundaries have been drawn up.

draw up a chair to move your chair so that you are sitting closer to someone or something draw yourself up to stand up very straight so that you look as

tall

as possible, because you

want

to

impress or

frighten someone draw upon phrasal vb have to draw upon all

same as draw on i: She would her courage and determination.

draw 2 /dro/ noun

*

[C]

[T]

1 a way of choosing something such as a name or number by chance 1a. a game in which a ticket with a name or number on is taken out of a container in order to choose who will win a prize: a prize draw 1 b. a way of choosing which teams or players will compete against each other by taking names out of a container 2 an event or performer that a lot of people will come

to see

3

4

the process of sucking in smoke from a cigarette mainly BrE a game that ends in a tie

-» LUCK

1

draw-back /'dro.biek/ that

makes

it

noun [C] a feature of something than it could be: + of /to The

less useful

main drawback of the scheme

is its

draw-bridge / 'dro,bnd3/ noun

expense.

a bridge that can be pulled up to let ships pass or to stop people from getting into a castle [c]

draw-er/dror/ noun [c] ** a part of a piece of furniture that slides in and out and is used for keeping things in.

A

piece of furniture with a lot of drawers is called a chest of drawers or a bureau: The pictures are in the top drawer of my desk, —picture -» C2 draw-ers /drorz/ noun [plural] old-fashioned panties or UNDERWEAR -» CHEST OK DRAWERS draw-ing/'droin/ noun 1 [C] a picture that someone has drawn: + of The children did drawings of themselves. 2 [u] the activity or skill of making pictures with a pen or pencil: I'm not very good at drawing. 'drawing board noun [c] a large board or table on which designers put their paper when they are working

•*•

back to the drawing board to try to think of a completely new idea because the one you tried before was not successful (go)

copy

'drawing card noun that

[c]

makes people want

to

AmE come

a feature of an event to

it

'drawing pin noun [c] BrE a thumbtack 'drawing room noun [C] old-fashioned a living room drawl /drol/ noun [singular] a slow way of speaking, 1

with long vowel sounds: a southern drawl drawl 2 /drol/ verb [i/T] to speak in a drawl drawn 1 /dron/ adj someone who looks drawn has a thin face and looks very tired, sick, or worried drawn 2 /dron/ the past participle of draw drawn-out adj continuing for a long time so that you become bored: a long-drawn out explanation draw-string /'drD.stnn/ noun [C] a string through the top of a bag or a piece of clothing, used for pulling the edges together dread 1 /dred/ verb [T] to feel very worried about something that might happen or is going to happen: She dreads going to the dentist. Politicians are dreading that

We had the visit voters will lose faith in the President. the police that all parents dread. / dread the day she dread doing sth She started to dread seeing him.

from

finds out.

I dread to think spoken used for saying that you are worried about a situation: / dread to think what the

operation will

dread 2

cost.

[singular/u] fear of something bad happen or is going to happen: fill sb with dread The thought of making a speech fills me with dread. + of It was his dread of accidents that prevented him from

/dred/ noun

that might

flying.

dread

dread 3

/dred/ ad] old-fashioned dreaded dreaded /'dredod/ ad| frightening or worrying: He would have to deal with questions from his dreaded fatherin-law. a. humorous used about someone or something that annoys you or makes you embarrassed: the dreaded family photos

dreadful

13 ™M

/'dredfsl/ adj

dream-er

:

dream-i-ly

/'drimili/ adv in a

dread-locks

/'dred.laks/ noun [plural] twisted lengths of hair that hang down to someone's shoulders, worn especially by Rastafarians —picture hairstyle

-

dread-nought

/'dred.not/ noun [C] a ship with guns, used in wars at the beginning of the 20th century dream 1 /drim/ noun [c] 1 something that you experience in your mind while

***

you are sleeping. A dream in which frightening things happen is called a bad dream or a nightmare: have a dream / had some very strange dreams last night. in a dream The idea came to him in a dream. 2 something good that you hope you will have or achieve in the future: +of She watched her dreams of success slip away before her eyes. 2a. [only before noun] used about things that are the best you can imagine: a dream job/ vacation/ home beyond your (wildest) dreams much better than you imagined or hoped: The amount of money we raised was beyond our wildest dreams. a dream informal someone or something that you like very much: Driving this car is a dream. a dream come true something that happens that you have always hoped for: Meeting you is a dream come true for me. in a dream mainly

BrE not paying attention to what is happening around you because you are thinking about something else in your dreams humorous used for saying that something is unlikely to happen like a dream 1 very well or very successfully: The interview went like a dream. 2 very strange, like the things that happen in dreams not/never in your (wildest) dreams used for saying that something is much better than you expected or hoped: Never in my wildest dreams did I think this would happen. of your dreams used about someone/something that you think is perfect: Into the bar walked the girl of his dreams. sb's dream what a particular type of person wants more than anything else: It's every teenager's dream to be a big rock star. He was a cute kid, an advertiser's dream.

/drim/

(past tense and past participle

dreamed

or

**

dreamt /dremt/) verb [i/t] 1 to experience things in your mind while you are sleeping: + about / was dreaming about a black cat. + (that) He dreamed that he saw Rosa. 2 to think about something that you hope to have or achieve: dream of doing sth She had always dreamed of going to Africa. He sometimes dreamed of leaving his dull + about They had the kind of house we life behind him. could only dream about. + oil dreamt of a career in music.

dream on humorous used

for saying that

something

is

unlikely to happen

never dreamed (that) used for saying that you are very surprised by something and did not expect it or intend it: / never dreamed anyone would be offended. not dream of doing sth used for emphasizing that you would definitely not do something: / wouldn't dream of telling you how to do your job. dream up phrasal vb [T] to think of a new idea or plan, especially one that is silly or unusual I

dream-boat someone who

/'drim.boot/ noun very attractive

is

way

[C]

old-fashioned

a

lot of

shows you

that

are thinking about pleasant things rather than paying attention

dream-land /'drimhcnd/

noun [u] informal 1 sleep a pleasant situation that exists only in your imagination

2

is

sleep with

no dreams

dream-like / 'drim,laik/ adj

strange, like the things

you

experience in dreams

dreamt

mainly

BrE a

past tense and past participle of

dream

dream team

fully.

2

who has

/'drimor/ noun [c] someone ideas but not very sensible ones

dream-less / 'drimhs/ adj dreamless sleep

••

very unpleasant dreadful news The trip was dreadful. [only before noun] used for emphasizing how bad something is: It's a dreadful shame that you can't go. dread-ful-ly /'dredfoli/ adv 1 extremely: John felt dreadfully tired. 2 very severely: His head ached dread1

2

dream

dress

416

be/live in dread of to be continuously afraid of someone or something: He lives in dread of meeting her again.

noun

[C]

a perfect team

made up

of the

best players

dream

ticket noun

a particular group of people, especially in politics, who are likely to work well together and to be successful 2 a perfect opportunity

'dream .world noun

[c] 1

[c]

a pleasant situation that exists

only in your imagination

dream-y

/'drimi/ adj 1 extremely pleasant or attractive: the dreamy delights of a Mediterranean beach 2 a dreamy look, expression, etc. shows that you are thinking about something pleasant rather than paying attention: a dreamy smile 3 someone who is dreamy has a lot of ideas but is not very sensible

drea-ry /'driri/ adj making you feel bored or unhappy: dark and dreary weather life in a dreary town dredge 1 /dred3/ verb [T] 1 to remove dirt and sand from the bottom of a river or lake 1a. to look for something at the bottom of a river or lake using a dredge 2 to shake something such as sugar or flour over something dredge up phrasal vb [T] 1 to manage to remember something that you learned or knew long ago 2 to tell people about something that someone did in the past that they would prefer to keep secret: Details of his previous affairs were dredged up by the media. dredge 2 /dred3/ noun [c] AmE a boat with equipment for removing dirt and sand from the bottom of a river or lake

dredg-er

/'dred33r/ noun

[c]

a dredge

dregs /dregz/ noun

[plural] 1 the small amount of liquid solid pieces left in the bottom of a container: dregs of coffee /tea /wine 2 informal the least important or valuable part of something, especially of a group of people: the dregs of society

and

drench /drentJV verb [T] to make someone or something very wet

drenched

/drentjt/ adj 1 thoroughly wet: We got comdrenched by the rain. 2 something that is drenmuch of the liquid on it: a salad drenched in olive oil

pletely

ched in a liquid has too

dress 1

[I]

1

/dres/ verb

to put

on

•**

clothes. This verb

is

common

in writing,

when you

are speaking it is more usual to say that you get dressed: It only took her ten minutes to shower dress. and 1a. [T] to put clothes on someone: We wash dress yourself the children and dress them for school. Our youngest boy can already dress himself. 1b. [l] to put on clothes of a particular type: +in He tends to dress in dark colors. +as The nurses had decided to dress as clowns for Halloween. 1c. [T] to choose or design the clothes that someone wears: He dresses many of Europe's most glamorous women. 1d. [I] [+for] to put on clothes that are appropriate for a particular occasion or event: They / would suggest that you dress for cold weather. dressed for dinner every night (=put on formal clothes for the evening meal). 2 [T] to clean an injury and cover it with a piece of soft cloth called a dressing 3 [T] to add flavor to a salad by putting a mixture of liquids such as oil and lemon juice on it. The mixture is called a dressing. 4 [t] to prepare something such as a chicken or crab (=an ocean animal) by cleaning it and taking out the parts that you cannot eat

but

dress sb's hair formal to

make someone's

hair look

dress

drift

417

especially attractive by arranging

it

in a style

and

putting decorations in it dress (up) to the nines to put on extremely fashionable or formal clothes, usually to go to a special event

dress down phrasal vb 1 [l] to wear clothes that are more informal than the clothes you usually wear 2 [T] [dress sb down] to speak in an angry way to someone who has

done something wrong dress up phrasal vb 1 [l] to put on clothes that make you look like someone else, for fun: All children love dressing up. + as They had dressed up as princes and princesses. la. [T] [dress sb up] used about other people: For her birthday party, they dressed her up as a ballerina. 2 [l] to put on clothes that are more formal than the clothes you usually wear: Jonah had obviously made an effort to dress up for the occasion. 3 [T] to make something seem more impressive than it really is: He tries to dress it up, but he's basically a waiter.

3 someone whose

to take care of an actor's clothes and help them to dress for a play 4 Br E a large with and cabinets at the furniture drawers piece of

job

is

bottom and open shelves on top /'dresin/ noun • 1 [C/U] a mixture of liquids such as oil and vinegar that you pour over salad 2 [C/U] AmE a mixture of food that you put inside meat before you cook it: stuffing 3 [C] a piece of material used for covering and pro-

dressing

tecting a skin injury

down noun give sb a dressing-down to speak angrily to someone because they have done some-

dressing-

thing wrong 'dressing gown noun in

[c]

formal a robe that you wear

your house

'dressing .room noun [c] 1 a small room in a clothing store for trying on clothes 2 a room used by a performer or sports players for preparing for a performance or game 3 a small room next to a bedroom where someone keeps their clothes and gets dressed dressing .table noun [C] a piece of bedroom furniture consisting of a table or set of drawers and a mirror:

get dressed

VANITY

dress-mak-er makes women's

/'dres.meikar/ noun [c] someone who clothes, especially as their job dress-

—

making noun [u] dress re hearsal

noun [C] 1 an occasion when performers practice their full performance in exactly the same way as it will be performed for an audience 2 an event that is a practice for a more important event in the future

dress .sense noun

[u] the ability to choose clothes that look good or combine well together [c] a shirt that men suit or tuxedo (=a black or white jacket

'dress .shirt noun

wear under a worn on very

formal occasions)

dress .uniform noun

uniform that members of

[c/u] a

the military wear on formal occasions dress- up noun [U] AmE the children's

putting on different clothes

dress 2

***

/dres/ noun a piece of clothing that covers a woman's body and part of her legs: a blue cotton dress I'd never seen her in a dress before. picture -> C4 2 [U] the clothes that someone usually wears: He has an unusual style of dress. 2a. the clothes that are typical of a particular place, time in history, or occasion: The children were wearing traditional Norwegian dress. They performed the play in Victorian dress. 1

[C]

—

dres-sage /dra'sa3/ noun

[u] an activity or competition which the rider of a horse makes the horse perform particular movements

in

dress

activity of

and pretending

to

be

someone else dress-y /'dresi/

ad] 1 dressy clothes are worn on formal occasions 2 someone who is dressy likes wearing formal clothes

drew the dribble

past tense of

draw

1

1

/'dnbl/ verb 1 [i] if you dribble, saliva (=the liquid in your mouth) comes out onto your chin: The baby was dribbling, la. [i/T] if a liquid dribbles or you dribble it, it flows slowly in small drops: Water was

dribbling out from the tap. Dribble some melted chocolate over the cake. 2 [i/T] to move forward with a ball by bouncing or kicking it in games such as basketball and picture -> ci4, cis soccer

—

2

.circle noun

the seats in the front part of the upper floor in a theater. The whole of the upper floor is often called the mezzanine and the lower floor is called the orchestra. [c]

'dress .code noun [c] a set of rules about what you should wear in a particular place or at a particular event

*

dressed

/drest/adj 1 wearing clothes of a particular type: +in She was dressed in a black suit. + as He went to the party dressed as a cowboy. well /badly/ neatly etc. dressed Emma was

immaculately dressed. 2 someone who is dressed minute, I'm not dressed yet.

is

wearing clothes: Just a

dressed to

kill informal wearing very attractive clothes that will make people notice you get dressed to put your clothes on: / got dressed and went downstairs.

.dressed up

adj

1

wearing formal clothes: He was

all

dressed up, like he was going somewhere fancy. 2 something that is dressed up is made to look better than it really is [c] 1 Am E a piece of bedroom furniture with a lot of drawers 2 a person who dresses in a particular way: Uncle Frank is a stylish dresser.

dress-er / 'dressr/ noun

drib-ble / 'dnbl/ noun 1 [u] liquid that has come out of your mouth 1a. C a small amount of liquid a dribble of cream 2 [C] the action of moving the ball by bouncing or kicking it in games such as basketball and soccer dribs and drabs / .dnbz an 'drsbz/ noun in dribs and drabs gradually and in small amounts or numbers: The guests began arriving in dribs and drabs. [

]

:

dried /draid/ adj * dried substances such as food, milk, or flowers have had the water removed from them dri-er / 'drair / another spelling of dryer 1 drift /drift/ verb [I] *• 1 to be pushed along very slowly by the movement of air or water: The boat started to drift out to sea. Thick

smoke from a snow or sand

forest fire drifted across the town. 1a. if the wind blows it into a large pile

drifts,

2 to move somewhere slowly as though you do not know where you are going: People were drifting around the conference center. 2a. to go

without realizing

it:

He was

from one

drifting in

state to

another

and out of con-

sciousness. 3 to do something or

happen in a way that is not planned: The conversation drifted toward the subject of money. I just drifted into nursing really. drift a part phrasal vb

[l]

if

two or more people

their relationship gradually ends

drift apart,

|

)

drift [l]

to start to sleep: /

was just

drifting

off and suddenly the door slammed. 2 drift /drift/ noun

•

snow or sand formed by the wind: a deep snow drift. informal the meaning that someone is trying to express: the general drift Well, anyway. I'm sure you get the general drift. get/ catch sb's drift ^understand the basic meaning) Do you get my drift? 3 [singular] a slow and gradual change from one situation or opinion to another: the drift away from socialism 4 [singular] a gradual movement of people from one place to another: the population drift to the cities 1

a large pile of

[C]

The car was stuck

2

drip-feed

418

drift off phrasal vb

in

[singular]

[c] 1 someone who does not do the same job or stay in the same place for long 2 a boat that has a net that floats next to it, used for catching fish

drift-er /'dnftar/ noun

net noun

drift

a very large net for catching fish that hangs upright in the sea [C]

drink to phrasal vb [T] [drink to sb/sth] to wish for health, happiness, or success for someone or something, then lift your glass and drink from it: drink a toast to sb We will now drink a toast to the bride and groom. I'll drink to that spoken used for saying that you strongly agree with what someone has said drink up phrasal vb [l/T] to drink all of your drink: Drink up, everyone, it's time to go. / gave the cat some milk and she drank it all up.

drink 2 /dnrjk/ noun 1 [C] an amount of

*•• liquid that

/'drift wod/ noun [u] wood that ocean or has come out of the ocean 1 noun drill /dnl/ •

is

floating

in the

1 tool for

2 way 3 type

making hole

of teaching/training

2

an alcoholic drink: Hector ordered drinks at the go have /for a drink Would you like to go have a drink after work? 2a. U the habit of drinking alcoholic [C]

bar.

4 line in earth for seeds 5 correct way

—

them repeat it several times: grammar drills 2a. a way of training people so that they know what

[C/u] to do

when there

is an emergency: afire drill 2b. [u] military training that involves practicing things such as marching or holding weapons 3 [C/u] a type of strong cotton cloth 4 [C] a line in the earth in which seeds are planted 5 drill or the drill old-fashioned the correct or usual way of doing something

1

2

/dnl/ verb* make

hole with tool

2 soldiers practicing 3 teach by repeating

4 5

kick/hit ball hard

plant seeds

in lines

make

a hole using a special tool or machine: drill sth in sth Drill two holes in the wall. + through They had to drill through the mountainside. drill for oil/gas They are drilling for oil in the area. 2 [I/T] if soldiers drill or if they are drilled, they practice things such as marching or holding weapons 3 [T] to teach someone by making them repeat something many times: drill sb in /on sth Trainers will be drilling new members of the cabin crew on safety pro1

[I/T]

to

drinkable

/'dnrjksbl/ adj 1 safe to drink

2

tasting

good

drink-er /'dnrjkar/ noun

of strong cloth

[C]

drill

]

drinks: After the accident she turned to drink.

the drink humorous a large area of water, especially the ocean

a tool used for making a hole in something. A drill that uses electricity is called an electric drill and a drill that works when you turn a handle is called a hand drill: the sound of a dentist's drill picture -> tool 2 [C/U] a way of teaching people something by making 1

Cassie

all day.

[

drift-wood

someone drinks:

always had a drink and a snack when she got home from school. + of / need a drink of water. 1a. [C] a particular kind of liquid for drinking: What drink would you like? 1b. [u] drinks in general: They had had no food or drink

[c]

1

someone who often

drinks alcohol: Sam is a very heavy drinker. 2 someone who often drinks a particular drink: tea I beer I wine drinker

drink-ing/'dnrjkirj/noun

••

[u] the activity of drinking alcohol: Andy goes out drinking every Friday. have a drinking problem (=regularly drink too much alcohol) She vehemently denies that she has a drinking problem.

drinking fountain noun

[c] a piece of equipment in a public place that produces water for people to drink: WATER FOUNTAIN

'drinking water noun [u] water that is safe to drink drip 1 /drip/ verb 1 [I] if a liquid drips, it falls in very small drops: Red paint had dripped on the floor. Sweat was dripping down his face. la. [T] if you drip a liquid, you make it fall in very small drops: Drip some wax onto the paper to make a seal. 2 [l] to produce small drops of liquid: The faucet was dripping. be dripping with sth to have a lot of a particular quality or thing: a comment dripping with irony She's always dripping with jewelry.

cedures.

4

[T]

5

[t]

mainly journalism to kick or hit a ball hard to plant seeds in lines

sergeant

noun [c] someone of low rank in the job is to train soldiers to march and do other military exercises drill team noun [c] a team of people who dance or march together to form patterns drill

?G3^Q

army whose

dri'ly / drain/ adv in a way that expresses appearing to be serious

drink

gush

drip

humor while

1

/dnrjk/ (past tense drank /dnerjk/; past participle drunk /dr.\rjk/) verb [l/T] 1 to take liquid into your body through your mouth: Everyone stood around drinking cups of coffee. Drink your orange juice, Thomas. + from /out of Rosie drank thirstily from her canteen. 2 [I] to drink alcohol, especially regularly or too often: My parents don't drink. The young man had been out drinking with his friends. drink and drive (=drive after drinking alcohol) The campaign against drinking and driving will continue.

••*

drip 2 /drip/ noun

1 [singular] the sound or action of a liquid falling in drops: All I could hear was the drip, drip of water, la. [C] one of the small drops of liquid that fall from something: There were drips of blood on the floor. 2 [C] a piece of equipment used in a hospital for putting a liquid such as medicine directly into your body: be on a drip He was on a drip for two weeks after the accident. 3 [C] a small amount of something such as information that you get regularly: a steady drip of data suggesting that the economy is improving 4 [C] informal someone who you think is very weak or boring 1

drink sb under the table informal to drink more alcohol than someone else without becoming as drunk as they do drink in phrasal vb [T] to experience something with great enjoyment: They sat out on the terrace and drank in the stunning view.

drip-dry drip-dry2

adj

drip-dry clothes do not need ironing

verb [i/t] to hang up clothes when they are wet so that you do not need to iron them, or to dry in this way: Let this shirt drip-dry. 1

drip- feed verb

[T] 1

someone who

is ill

to

medical to give food or medicine through a special piece of equip-

drip-feed

'drip-,feed slowly,

driveway

419

ment with a tube that goes into their body something to someone slowly, little by little 2

noun

little

by

[c]

2

to give

a system of supplying something

little

drip-ping /'dnpin/ adj very the storm, dripping and cold.

wet: She stumbled in from dripping wet The towel is

dripping wet.

AmE

drip-pings

oil /'dripinz/ noun [plural] that is produced by meat when it is cooked

and liquid

drive out phrasal vb [T] to force someone or something to leave a place: Government forces have driven the rebels out of the eastern district. drive up phrasal vb 1 [i] if a vehicle or driver drives up, the vehicle moves near to a person or place and stops: A huge limousine drove up. 2 [T] to make a price or amount rise to a higher level: The government's policies are driving up interest rates.

drive 2 I draw I noun

drip-py / 'dripi/adj very informal someone who is drippy is very weak or boring drive 1 /draiv/ (past tense drove /droov/; past participle driven /'drivn/) verb 1

control vehicle

2 3 4 5

provide

6 7 8 9 +

push sth

to hit sth else

force sb to leave force sb into bad state

make sb determined hit/kick ball hard

1

make animals move make sb work/try hard

airport.

PHRASES

car.

[l/T]

for 15 years and I've never had an accident, lb. [i] to get somewhere by driving a car: We usually drive to Florida, but this year we're flying. 1c. [T] to take someone somewhere in a vehicle that you are driving: Dad will drive us. drive sb to/from sth Lee drove me to the airport. 1d. [T] to drive a particular type of vehicle regularly: She drives a bus for a living. 2 [T often passive] to provide the power that makes something move: The pump is driven by an electric motor. 3 [t] to push something using a lot of force, so that it enters or hits something else: He drove the nail into the I've been driving

wall.

4

[T] to force someone to leave a place, usually the place where they live: drive sb from /out of /off /away from sth The rising flood waters had driven her out of the village. Thousands of people have been driven from their homes by the fighting. 5 [T] to force someone into a bad situation or state: drive sb to do sth Desperation finally drove her to ash for help. drive sb to sth People are being driven to violence by police action. drive sb out of business Supermarkets are driving small stores out of business. 5a. [T] informal to annoy someone by doing something: drive sb crazy/ mad /up the wall Will you stop that humming, you're driving me crazy.'* drive sb to desperation / despa r Driven to desperation, he began to steal from his employer. drive sb to drink (=make someone feel very upset or annoyed) i

It's

6

enough

[T]

to

want

to

to drive

you

to drink.

make someone determined

to

do something: We

find out what drives a successful businesswoman like Sylvia. Douglas was driven by a need to learn the truth.

7

[l/T] to hit or kick a ball hard in a particular direction: She drove the ball into the top corner of the goal, tying the score, —picture -» ci4 8 [T] to make a group of animals move somewhere 9 [T] to make someone work or try very hard: The coach really drives his team, but he gets good results. drive yourself We think you've been driving yourself too hard.

drive a hard bargain to be very firm

when you

are

making an agreement vb [T] driving at what someone

'drive at phrasal

what sb

is

say: / can see what you're driving drive a way phrasal vb [T] to make

something or stop wanting

to

is

really trying to

someone stop wanting be with someone: Increas-

back phrasal vb [T usually passive] if you are driven back by something, it forces you to stop trying to reach a person or place and move back .drive 'down phrasal vb [T] to make a price or amount fall to a lower level: Fierce competition among restaurants has .drive

down prices.

.drive off phrasal vb 1 [I] if a vehicle or driver drives off, the vehicle starts moving and leaves 2 [T] to force someone to go away, especially when they are attacking

or threatening you

7 hard hit/kick of ball 8 power that turns wheels 9 wide path for car

a trip in a car: I

The

hotel

set off

is

go for a drive

on the 30-mile drive

to the

only 10 minutes' drive from the drive in Jack's new

We went for a

2 Drive used

in the names of streets: 25 Ocean Drive computing the part of a computer that sends or receives information from a disk: disk /hard /CD-ROM drive Insert the disk into your disk drive and follow the

3

[C]

instructions.

4

[C]

a big effort to achieve something, especially by a is launching a

company or government: The company

major recruitment drive. +for the region's drive for independence a drive to do sth The company has embarked on a drive to improve its image. 5 [C] a feeling that makes you act in a particular way: instinctual desires

6

and

drives

the energy and determination that makes you try achieve something: As a student she was full of drive and ambition. 7 [C] a hard hit or kick of a ball 8 [U] the power from an engine that turns the wheels of a vehicle: four-wheel/fear-wheel /front-wheel drive 9 [C] a DRIVEWAY [U]

hard

to

1

'drive-.by

someone 'drive-.by

used for describing a situation in which moving car: a drive-by shooting noun [C] the act of shooting someone from a

adj is 2

shot from a

moving car 1

'drive-,in adj used about a place where you can have a meal or watch a movie without leaving your car: a drive-in diner 2

noun [C] a restaurant where you can have a meal without leaving your car a. a movie theater where you can watch a movie without leaving your car driv-el /'dnvl/ noun [u] stupid and unimportant things that someone says or writes driv-en 1 / 'drivn/ adj always trying very hard to achieve things and be successful

'drive-.in

driv«en 2 the past participle of drive -driven /drivn/ suffix used with some nouns to make adjectives meaning strongly influenced or caused by 1

something: a market-driven economy /'draivar/ noun [c] 1 someone who drives a vehicle, especially as their job: a taxi driver 2 computing software that controls a piece of equipment connected to a computer: a printer driver 3 a golf club with a wooden end for hitting the ball 'driver's .license noun [c] an official card that you need in order to drive. Br E driving licence

driver

***

AmE

AmE

'driver's .seat noun [c] the seat where you when you are driving a car —picture -> cs

sit

at.

ing prices will only drive customers away.

driven

[C]

hospital.

to control a vehicle so that it moves somewhere: You will drive carefully, won't you?* Usually, my sister + along /down /through etc. drives and I read the map. He drove along for several miles before he saw anyone. along /into etc. He drove his truck into a wall. drive sth 1a. [l/T] to know how to drive a vehicle: Can't you drive? 1

6 determination

2 used in street names 3 part of computer 4 effort to achieve sth 5 feeling causing action

***

power to move

***

car

1 trip in

be in the driver's seat

to be the person

who

is

con-

trolling a situation

'drive .shaft noun [c] the part of a vehicle that carries power from the engine to the wheels drive- .through 1 adj a drive-through restaurant, bank, etc. is one where you are served through a window without leaving your car drive- .through 2 noun [c] a restaurant, bank, etc. that serves you through a special window so you do not have to leave your car drive-way /'draiv.wei/ noun [c] a wide path for a car that joins someone's house to a street —picture -» ci

^

driving

driving licence noun [c] BrEa driver's license driving range noun [c] a place where people practice hitting golf balls

driving .school noun people

how

[c]

a

company

that teaches

to drive a car

driving /test noun

the official test that you must pass before you can drive a car alone: I'm taking my driving test next week. [c]

1

driz>zle /'dnzl/ verb 1 [i] to rain in a very light way 2 [t] to pour a small amount of liquid over food that you are preparing 2 driz-zle /'dnzl/ noun [singular/u] very light rain driz*zly /'dnzli/ adj with very light rain falling droll /drool/ adj funny in an unusual way drone 1 /droon/ verb [i] to make a low continuous noise .drone on phrasal vb [I] to talk about something for a long time in a very boring way drone 2 /droon/ noun [c] 1 a low continuous sound: the drone of the airplanes overhead 2 a type of male bee that does not do any work 3 someone who does boring work for very little money 4 an aircraft that does not have a pilot but is controlled from the ground dron«go /'drangoo/ noun [C] Australian informal someone who is boring and stupid drool /drul/ verb [I] 1 to let saliva (=the liquid in your mouth) come out of your mouth 2 to look at someone or something with great pleasure: / saw him - he was literally

droop

drooling over her!

/drup/ verb

[I]

1

to

were drooping in the heat.

hang downward: The leaves to become tired, weak, or

2

unhappy

droop-y

/'drupi/ adj hanging

drop /drop/ verb 1

1

let

yourself

let fall

downward

fall

from aircraft

8 end relationship with sb 9 take sb/sth somewhere 10 say sth in indirect way win points

11

not continue with sth

12 take illegal drug 13 slope downward + PHRASES

not include sth/sb

[T]

to deliberately let

fail

something

to

fall:

drop sth

floor.

to quickly

move downward

or

let

yourself

fall

downward: + into/to/down Teresa dropped into the chair, exhausted. Doyle dropped to a crouch and peered in through the mail slot. 2a. [T] to move part of your body downward: He dropped his head into his hands and sighed. 2b. [I] if someone's jaw drops or their mouth drops open, their

mouth opens suddenly because they are

[i/T] if you drop your eyes or your you look downward to let something fall from an aircraft: The UN is

very surprised 2c. gaze,

3

[T]

if

illegal drug, espe-

the ground drops,

it

slopes

drop the ball Am E mainly journalism to make a mistake, often by failing to continue with something drop dead informal 1 to die suddenly and unex-

He dropped dead of a heart attack at the age of 2 used as an angry reply to someone who has said something that you do not like drop sb a line/note to write a short letter to someone ready to drop informal to be very tired

trying to drop supplies into the area. 3a.

[l]

->

BOTTOM

1 ,

FLY

2

1

off sth

The children were dropping stones off the bridge. drop He dropped a few coins into my hand. 1a. [T] to let something fall without intending to: Lucas dropped the ball. drop sth down /into sth / dropped my keys behind the couch. drop sth onto/over sth You've dropped crumbs all over the floor. 1b. [l] to fall to the ground or into something: Everyone cheered as the ball dropped into the hole. She took off her jacket and let it drop to the [I]

13 drop or drop away downward

swallow an [i]

drop around phrasal vb [l/T] informal same as drop by drop a way phrasal vb [l] 1 drop away or drop off to become weaker or smaller in amount: Support for him has begun to drop away. 2 same as drop 13: The land drops steeply

sth into sth

2

12 [T] very informal to cially acid

31.

reduce/get less

stop talking about sth

dropped after complaints from the public. drop the act (=stop pretending) Oh, drop the innocent act! 5a. to decide not to continue studying a school subject: / decided to drop chemistry and take biology instead. 5b. to decide not to continue with a court case: The charges against him were dropped due to insufficient evidence. Her family wanted her to drop the suit. 5c. to stop what you are doing in order to do something else: He told me to drop everything and come over right away. 6 [T] to not include something: He asked us to drop the word "liar" from our headline. The controversial clauses of the contract were finally dropped. 6a. to not include someone on a team: Rogers is injured and has been dropped. 6b. to not pronounce a letter when you say a word: She has a tendency to drop her h's. 7 [i/T] to stop talking about something, especially because it is embarrassing someone: Let's drop the subject, OK? let sth drop She kept asking me about his wife and wouldn 't let it drop. 8 [T] informal to end a relationship with someone, especially suddenly 9 drop or drop off [T] to take someone to a place in a car, usually without getting out of the car yourself: I'm driving into town anyway; can I drop you somewhere? drop sb at/ in Can you drop me at the corner of the street? 9a. to take something to a place and not stay there very long: Can you drop these magazines at Nora's house on your way home? 10 [T] to say something in an informal or indirect way: drop a hint Ferguson dropped a broad hint that he would soon be retiring. 1 1 [T] to fail to win points in a game, competition, or test: / think I dropped ten points on the last question.

pectedly:

•**

1 let sth fall

2 3 4 5 6 7

drop

420

driv-ing /'draivnj/ adj • used about people or things that influence something strongly or make it happen: Williams was the driving force behind the business. driving snow/rain snow or rain that falls very fast

to fall into

an area from an aircraft, especially using a parachute 4 drop or drop back [i] to fall to a lower amount or value: Infant mortality has dropped dramatically in the last 50 years. +from/to The rate on the bond dropped to + below In the winter the temperature often 5 percent.

drops below freezing. +by European sales have dropped by over 30%. 4a. [T] to reduce something to a lower amount or value: We had to drop the price of our house to sell it. Be sure to drop your driving speed in wet weather. 4b. [i/T] if you drop your voice or if your voice drops, you speak less loudly 4c. [i] if the wind drops, it becomes less strong 5 [T] to not continue with something: The ad was

away into a small valley. drop back phrasal vb [l] 1 same as drop

4: +to Economic 2 drop back or drop behind to move into a lower position in a race or competition: He dropped back toward the end of the race and finished in sixth place. 2a. to move more slowly than other people so that you are behind them: Alex dropped back to let me pass. drop behind phrasal vb [l] same as drop back 2: Mary Jensen has dropped dropped behind to walk with Sam. behind into last place. drop by or drop in or .drop around phrasal vb [l/T] informal to make a short visit somewhere: Why don't you drop by for coffee some time? drop off phrasal vb 1 [T] same as drop 9: Can you drop the kids off at school this morning? 2 [T] same as drop 9a: Can I drop the documents off to you later?3 [I] informal to start to sleep: He usually drops off while watching television. 4 same as drop away 1: Her popularity has dropped off recently. drop out phrasal vb [I] 1 to leave something such as an activity, school, or competition before you have finished what you intended to do: She was injured in the first round and had to drop out. + of Too many students drop out of college after only one year. 2 to decide not to have an ordinary job or life because you do not want to be part of society: He decided to drop out and spend his life

growth

will

drop back

to

3%

1

this year.

1

1

traveling.

drop 2 /drop/ 1

small

noun

amount

••

of liquid

2 fall in amount/value 3 distance to ground 4 small amount of quality 5 when aircraft drops sth

6

small round candy

7 leaving sth somewhere

8

liquid

medicine

+ PHRASES

drop-box [C]

the night.

a distance down to the ground from a high place: A* the edge of the cliff is a 100-foot drop. 4 [singular] informal a small amount of a particular quality + of She didn 't have a drop of imagination. 5 [C] an occasion when something or someone is dropped from an aircraft: Air drops offood were made in

3

[C usually singular]

:

the region.

6

[C] a small round candy: chocolate/ mint/ lemon drops 7 [C] the act of leaving or delivering something in a place that has been agreed, especially something secret or illegal: The kidnappers gave them instructions about

where

to

drum

421

a very small amount ofliquid with a round shape: +of I felt a drop of rain on my a tear /rain /dew drop There were drops of blood on his shirt. 1a. [singular] face. informal a small amount of a drink: +of He asked for a drop of brandy. Would you like a drop more tea? 1b. not touch a drop spoken to not drink any alcohol at all 2 [C usually singular] a fall in the amount or value of something: +in The company announced a 15% drop in There was a sharp drop in temperature during profits. 1

make

the drop.

8 drops [plural]

medicine that you put into your

liquid eyes, ears, or nose

at the drop of a hat immediately or in a way that shows that you have no doubts about doing something a drop in the bucket/ocean a very small amount that will not have much effect: This money is just a drop in the ocean compared to what's needed. not touch a drop spoken to not drink any alcohol at all drop-box noun [C] a container where you can leave letters, documents, or packages when an office is closed, to be dealt with when it opens again drop cloth noun [c] a large piece of cloth that covers the floor and furniture in a room while you are painting drop-dead 'gorgeous adj informal extremely attrac-

3 drown

menu noun [c] computing a list of choices

on your computer screen that stays there until you choose one

drop-kick

/'drap,kik/ noun [C] a kick in football or rugby where a player drops the ball and kicks it as it

comes up from the ground drop-let /'draptat/ noun [c] a very small drop ofliquid 1

drop-off noun

[C]

We

of something:

a reduction in the

amount or

level

often see a drop-off in business in the

—

drub-bing / drAbinV noun someone

drop-off2

adj used about the time or place that you deliver something somewhere: a drop-off point/ zone

drop-out

/'drap.aut/ noun [C] 1 someone who leaves school or college without finishing their course of study 2 someone who does not live like most people because they do not agree with society's values

drop-per

/'drapar/ noun [C] a small glass tube with a rubber piece at one end that you squeeze to let out single drops of liquid drop-pings /'drapinz/ noun [plural] the feces (=solid waste) of animals or birds 'drop shot noun [c] a shot in tennis in which the ball falls suddenly so your opponent cannot reach it easily drop-sy /'drapsi/ noun [u] old-fashioned the medical condition edema dross /dras/ noun [u] something that is of very poor quality: I'd rather turn the radio off than listen to this dross.

drought /draot/ noun there

is little

[C/u] a long period of time or no rain and crops die

1

drove the past tense of drive drove 2 /droov/ noun 1 [C] a

when

1

large number of animals, especially cows 2 droves [plural] large numbers of people: in droves People came in droves to see the show.

drown /draun/ verb •• 1

[I]

to sink

under water and

nearly drowned. 1a.

[T] to kill

die: He fell overboard and someone by pushing them

under water

2

[T]

to cover

especially in a flakes in milk.

something completely with a liquid, that spoils it: He drowned his corn-

way

[C]

informal a defeat in which

loses very easily

drudge

/dr.\d3/ noun [c] of boring and unpleasant

someone who has work

to

do a

lot

drudg-er-y /'drAd33ri/ noun [u] boring and unpleasant work that you have to do drug 1 /drAg/ noun [c] •** 1 an illegal substance that affects someone physically or mentally when they take it (=put it into their body): take/use drugs She had never taken drugs in her life. be on drugs Otake drugs regularly) He acted like he was on drugs. 1a. [only before noun] involving drugs or taking drugs: drug addict/ user/ dealer Intravenous drug users are at risk from the HIV virus. drug trafficking/smuggling The government has pledged to fight drug smuggling. 2 a substance that doctors put into someone's body to treat a disease or medical problem: Your doctor may prescribe drugs for this condition. a new anti-cancer drug

Words

frequently used with

nouns

drug

abuser, addict, dealer, smuggler, user peddle, sell, smuggle, supply,

verbs

take,

drug 2 /drAg/ verb

1

1

use [t]

*

1 to give a drug to someone so that they will go to sleep or become unconscious: She claimed that the hospitals were drugging patients against their will. There were stories of tourists being drugged and robbed. 2 to put a drug in food or a drink so that someone will

swallow

it

without knowing: She had drugged his wine.

drug abuse

noun

[u]

the use of illegal or dangerous

drugs

drug baron noun [c] a drug lord drug ,czar noun [c] an official employed government

winter.

sound from

to prevent a

adv

AmE

'drop-down

[T]

being heard by making a louder noise: The music almost drowned the sound of his voice. drown your sorrows to get drunk in order to try to forget your problems drowse /draoz/ verb [i] to be in a light sleep or to feel that you are going to sleep drows-y /'draozi/ adj feeling that you want to sleep: Some cough syrups can make you feel drowsy. drows-i-ly

AmE

tive

drown out

or

by a national drugs

to try to stop the trade in illegal

who

uses

someone who

pre-

drug-gie or

is

/'drAgi/ noun [C] informal someone addicted to illegal drugs

drug-gist pares and

/'drAgist/ noun [C]

AmE

sells medicines. The place where they work a druggist's or a drugstore. BrE usually chemist: PHARMACIST is

drug

,lord noun

[C]

a powerful person in an organ-

ization that deals in illegal drugs

drug .runner

noun

from one country

[c]

to

'drug squad noun whose job is to try

someone who takes

illegal

drugs

another

BrE

the part of the police force to stop the trade in illegal drugs [c]

AmE

/'drAg.stor/ noun [c] • a store that medicines, beauty products, and other goods. Br E usually chemist

drug-store sells

Dru-id

/ 'druid/ noun [C] 1 a priest in the ancient Celtic religion 2 a member of a modern religious group with similar beliefs to the ancient Druids

drum

1

/drAm/ noun

••

a musical instrument consisting of a tight skin stretched over a round frame that you hit with your hands or a stick. Someone who plays a drum is a 1

[C]

drummer. -» drum 'n' bass, picture -» percussion 2 [C] a large round container for liquids such as fuel and chemicals: an oil drum 2a. a circular part of a machine such as a washing machine 2b. a circular object that you wind wire or rope around 3 [singular] [+of] the sound of something continuously hitting a surface: the steady drum of raindrops on the roof bang/beat the drum to publicly show your support for something or someone

'

drum 1

[ I

]

drum 2 [i/T]tomake surface: He drummed

to play a

a continuous sound by hitting a his fingers on the desk phrasal vb

into

[drum sth into sb] to

[T]

make

someone learn or understand something by repeating it many times: Latin isn't an easy language to learn. You have to drum it into students.

drum out

phrasal vb

[t]

[drum sb out of

sth]

to

force

someone to leave an organization because they have done something bad: She risks being drummed out of the

)1

army.

drum up

phrasal vb [T] to try to make people support you or buy something from you: Advertisements should help to

drum up some

business.

drum-beat /'drAm,bit/ noun

a continuous series the steady beat of music

[c] 1

2

of things such as complaints

played on drums

drum ,kit mainly BrEa drum set drum major noun [c] the leader of a military marching band

drum major ette

noun

[c]

a girl or

woman who

walks

in front of a marching band, spinning a stick called a

baton

drunvmer drums

/'drAmar/ noun

in a

[c]

Am E

band 2

someone who plays

1

old-fashioned a traveling

salesman

drumming

/'dr\min/ noun [u] 1 the sound of something continuously hitting a surface: The only sound was the drumming of the rain on the roof. 2 the action or sound of playing drums: Drumming could be heard as the

procession began.

drum 'n' bass /, drAm

an 'beis/ noun

[u]

jungle music,

especially a style influenced by jazz or ambient

drum-roll /'drAm,rool/ noun [C] a continuous series of beats of a drum that shows that something exciting or important

is

going to happen

AmE

drum

a set of drums and cymbals ,set noun [C] (=round metal plates that you play by hitting them with a stick)

drum-stick

/'drAm.stik/ noun [c] 1 the lower part of the leg of a chicken or other bird, cooked and eaten as food 2 a stick used for playing a drum —picture -» stick

drunk

**

1

/drArjk/ adj [not usually before noun] 1 unable to control your actions or behavior because you have drunk too much alcohol: get drunk (on sth) She had gotten drunk on vodka. blind/roaring drunk (=very drunk) Andrew came home blind drunk, —opposite sober 2 [+with] feeling something so strongly that you do not behave normally: She felt drunk with rage.

drunk as a skunk

informal very drunk

drunk 2

/drAnk/ noun [c] someone who has drunk too much alcohol or who regularly drinks too much alcohol

drunk 3 the

past participle of drink

1

drunk-ard /'drAnkard/ noun [C] someone who frequently drinks too much alcohol drunk 'driving noun [u] Am E driving when you have drunk too much alcohol: She was arrested in California on a drunk-driving charge. /'drAnkan/ adj [only before noun] a drunken person is drunk. This word shows that you do not like people being drunk, a. involving or caused by someone being drunk: a drunken brawl / rage I stupor drunk-en-ly adv, drunk-en-ness noun [U] druth-ers /'drAdarz/ noun [plural] AmE informal have your druthers to be in a situation where everything is

drunk-en

—

perfect

dry

••*

1

/drai/ adj

1

with no water in/on

it

2 without rain 3 hair/skin: rough 4 food: with little liquid 5 joking in serious way 6 writing: boring/serious

7 8 9 10 +

thirsty

alcohol: not

sweet

used about

a child

without alcohol PHRASES

something that is dry has no water in it or on it: Is enough to mow?* Vegetables should be stored in a cool dry place. wipe/towel /pat sth dry Rinse the fish and pat it dry. 1a. used about a liquid such as paint 1

the grass dry

when

has become hard or

it

the concrete before

it

—

.

drum

dry goods

422

drum 2 /drAm/ verb

was

dry.

Someone walked on 1b. as dry as a bone

solid:

completely dry opposite wet 2 dry weather is when there is no rain: The weather is usually dry and sunny at this time of year. 2a. used about periods of time: Tomorrow will be mostly dry. 2b. used about regions: warm dry places like southern Spain

—opposite wet 3 dry hair or skin feels rough because it does not have enough moisture in it— opposite greasy 4 dry food contains little or no liquid, such as fat or juice: The chicken was overcooked and dry. All they gave me was some dry bread (=with no butter or anything else on it). 5 dry humor involves saying funny things in a serious

way 6 very

serious and boring: The style was too pompous children's book. feeling thirsty: Can I have a drink? I'm really dry. 7a. if your mouth is dry, it contains very little saliva, for example because you are nervous 8 dry alcoholic drinks are not sweet: dry white wine 9 a child that is dry does not need to wear a diaper because they can control when they urinate dry country does not allow any alcohol to be sold

and dry for a

7

10a

there

not a dry eye (in the house) spoken used for saying that something makes everyone in a place feel strong emotion dryness noun [U]

—

dry2 /drai/ verb

••

remove the water from something by wiping it, or blowing air onto it: We washed and dried Dry your hands on this towel. 1a. [l] to all the sheets. become dry: / usually let my hair dry naturally. 1b. dry or dry up [i/T] to wipe the water off dishes after they 1

[T]

it,

heating

to

have been washed: Whose turn is it to dry? 2 [I] if a liquid such as paint dries, it becomes hard or solid: Leave the varnish to dry overnight. 3 [T usually passive] to remove the water from food or plants as a way of preserving them: dried fruit/ herbs/ flowers 4 [I] to stop talking because you have forgotten what

you were going to say dry your eyes spoken a kind way

of telling

someone

to

stop crying

vb [i/T] if something dries off or you dry all the water dries or is wiped from its surface: the salad and leave it to dry off. dry yourself off He got out of the shower and dried himself off. ,dry out phrasal vb [l/T] 1 if something dries out or is dried out, some or all the water comes out of it: Water the ground regularly to stop it from drying out. 2 informal to give up drinking alcohol, or to help someone do this,

dry

'off phrasal

it off,

Wash

especially by getting medical treatment dry up phrasal vb 1 [l/T] if something dries up or is dried up, all the water comes out of it: The land had dried up and no crops would grow. 2 [i] to stop being available: What will happen to the project when the money dries up? 3 [I] to stop talking because you do not know what to say 3a. spoken used for rudely telling someone to stop

talking

dry-ad

4

[l/T]

same as dry 2

/'drai,asd;

lb

'draiad/ noun [c] in ancient who lives in trees

Greek

literature, a female spirit

'dry battery noun chemicals

[c]

a battery that contains no liquid

dry-clean

verb [t usually passive] to clean clothes using chemicals rather than water ,dry 'cleaner's noun [singular] a store where you take your clothes to be dry-cleaned 'dry dock noun [c] a place where a ship or boat can be taken out of the water and repaired /'drair/ noun [c] a machine that dries things such as clothes or hair dry-eyed /,drai 'aid/ adj not crying, although you are in a very sad situation ,dry 'ginger noun [u] a drink that tastes of ginger and is often mixed with alcoholic drinks 'dry goods noun [plural] 1 Am E things made of cloth, for example sheets and curtains 2 BrE goods such as tea, coffee, and flour that contain no liquid

dry-er

"

dry ice ,ice noun [u] solid carbon dioxide that is used for keeping things cold and for producing white smoke in plays and at concerts

dry land noun

rather than the ocean, a river,

duck 2

dry-ly

/ draili/ another spelling of drily adj cooked in an oven without any oil ,dry rot noun [u] a disease that destroys wood ,dry run noun [c] something that you do as a practice for an important event dry-stone Wall noun [c] a wall built from pieces of stone that fit together without mortar a hard substance dry-wall /'draiwol/ noun [u] used for making the inside wall of a building

dry-roast-ed /drai roustad/

AmE

D.S.T. abbrev daylight saving time abbrev desktop publishing noun delirium tremens: a condition caused by drinking too much alcohol in which your body shakes and you see things that are not there

DTs, the

ti

'pi/

/,di

take to sth like a duck to water to learn a new activity very easily, as if you have been doing it for a very long time -» WATER 1

[u] land,

or a lake

DTP /,di

due

423

dry

tiz/

du-al /'dual/ adj [only before noun] * used about things that have two similar aspects, parts, or functions: This

/dAk/ verb* 1 [i/T] to lower your head or head and body quickly, in order to move under something or to avoid being hit: Young children can just duck under the gate and avoid paying. He ducked the punch and came up swinging. 2 [T] to force someone's head under water for a short time, often in rough play 3 [T] to avoid something such as a difficult question, issue, or duty: Stop trying to this?

4

way

that

is

in a not noticed by other people: She ducked out

duckbilled platypus d\kbild plastipas/ noun a small furry Auswide flat beak and tail. It lays eggs and feeds milk to its young.

/

[C]

tralian animal with a

a divided highway /'dua.lizam/ noun [u] formal the belief that something has two aspects or parts du-al-i-ty /dju'aelati/ noun [c/u] formal the fact that something has two aspects or parts dub 1 /dAb/ verb [t] • 1 mainly journalism to give someone or something a

duck-boards

dualism

[u]

an electronic type of music based

dubious /'dubias/ ad] •

—

[u]

formal relating to a duke duc-at /'dAkot/ noun [c] a gold coin used in some adj

European countries

[c]

a

woman who has the same

position as a duke a. the wife of a duke

duch-y

/"dAtfi/ noun [c]

an area of land belonging

[C] a young duck noun [u] Am E informal old-fashioned something that is very easy to do duck-weed /'d\k,md/ noun [u] a plant that grows in rivers and ponds duck-y 1 /d\ki/ ad] Am E old-fashioned very good. This word often shows that you are annoyed about something bad that has happened: Well, isn't that just ducky, we're

duck soup

t

out of gas!

duck-y 2

/'dAki/ noun [u] BrE old-fashioned used for talking to someone you like

[C] 1 a pipe or tube in a building that carries something such as air or protects wires: airconditioning ducts 2 a narrow tube that carries liquid inside your body or in an animal or plant: tear ducts a bile duct

due-tile /'d\ktl; dAk.tail/ adj science ductile metals are metals such as copper and aluminum that can be pressed or pulled into different shapes

duct tape is

noun [u] strong and very sticky cloth that often used for covering cracks or holes in pipes

dud

/dAd/ noun [C] 1 informal someone or something that is very disappointing 2 a bomb or other explosive object that fails to explode

/dud/ noun [c] Am Every informal a man a. inman from a city in the eastern U.S. or Canada who goes on vacation to a western ranch (=a place where

dude

you ride horses)

b.

used for talking in a friendly or

way to a man you do not know dude ranch noun [c] a very large farm in the western threatening

to a

DUKE Or DUCHESS 1 /dAk/ noun 1 [C] a water bird with short legs, webbed feet (=with skin between the toes), and a large flat beak 1 a. a female duck. The male is called a drake. 1b. [u] the meat of a duck: roast duck 1c. [only before noun] relating to ducks: duck feathers —picture -» ci2 2 duck or ducks [c] BrE spoken used for talking to someone you like: How are you, duck? break the duck to be successful again after a series of

duck

on

duck-ling /d\klin/ noun

duck

formal a

in the past

duch-ess / 'dAtJas/ noun

/'dAk,bordz/ noun [plural] long wooden boards that you put across muddy ground for people to walk

duct /dAkt/ noun

1 not sure about the truth or quality of something, or whether you should do something: + about I'm very dubious about his ability to do the job. We were dubious about signing the deal. 2 not completely good, safe, or honest: / hear he has a dubious reputation in the business. The story seemed a bit dubious to me. 3 used for saying that something is the opposite of the good thing you are describing it as: a dubious honor/ pleasure/distinction / had the dubious pleasure of meeting him last night. du-bi-ous-ly adv, du-bi-ous-ness noun

du-cal /'dukl/

that

for a smoke.

nationality

/dAb/ noun on reggae music

who paid

duck out of phrasal vb [T] to avoid doing something you were intending to do or promised to do duck out phrasal vb [i] to leave a place, especially

dual carriageway BrE

dub 2

issue -

to move quickly into or behind something, especially to avoid being seen: He ducked behind the wall. 4a. to go quickly into a place for a specific purpose: Judith ducked under a store awning to get out of the rain. [i]

car is fitted with dual exhaust. dual purpose/function a dual-purpose exercise which develops strength and flexibility a. someone who has dual nationality or dual citizenship has the legal right to be a citizen of two particular countries: a teacher with dual British-Irish

particular name or description, often a humorous one: The press have dubbed her "the Silent Star. 2 to change an existing tape or recording by adding new sound to it 2a. [usually passive] to replace the soundtrack of a movie with one in a different language, so that the actors seem to be speaking the other language: It was an English movie dubbed into German. 2b. to make a copy of a tape or recording 3 to give a man a knighthood (=a title given by a king or queen)

duck the

you for

••

failures

get (all) your ducks in a row to prepare something carefully so that you make no mistakes

U.S. or Canada where people go on vacation to ride horses and do activities such as hiking (- walking in the

countryside)

dudg-eon

/'d\d3an/ noun literary' in high dudgeon angry because someone has said or done something to upset you

duds

Idxdzl noun

[plural]

AmE

informal old-fashioned

clothes

due

1

/du/adj

•••

1 [never before noun] if something is due to happen, it is expected to happen or should happen: due to do sth The case is due to go to court next month. + on/in/at A new

*

due

is

due: Her baby

is

due

in

May.

When are you due?

[never before noun] if money is due, it is time for it to be paid: The rent is due on the first day of each month. You must repay the loan, and any interest that is due on

due to her under clause 5. 1 of her contract. according to the usual standards or rules: A driver has to have due regard for the safety of other road users. The committee reached its decision after giving due consideration to the views of the public. 4 [not usually before noun] if something is due to someone, they should receive it: / have been given a lot of support by my colleagues, for which thanks are due. +to Some credit is due to the government for this improvement. + to $10, 000

it.

3

is

[only before noun]

due course formal later when it is the right and not before: We will announce the results of our in

time. inves-

due course. due respect used when you are going to disagree with someone or criticize someone, in order to sound more polite: With due respect, is that question relevant?* +to With all due respect to the school, I think the results could have been better. -* DUE TO tigation in

with

(all)

Words

frequently used with

nouns

due

acknowledgment, allowance,

3

care, consideration, notice,

regard, respect

due 2 /du/ noun

someone's due is something that they have a right to receive: At last she has the justice that is her due. 2 dues [plural] money that someone has to pay regularly, for example to be a member of a club or union 1

duffel coat or duffle coat /d\fal ,koot/ noun [c] a coat made from heavy cloth that has long buttons and a hood (-a piece that covers your head)

duff -er / d \far/ noun [c] informal someone who is stupid or who does something very badly

dug the

[singular]

duke

tense and past participle du«eledordu«elled) verb [l] 1 to fight using guns or swords 2 to compete skillfully in a sport

game du-eled an or

Am E past tense and past participle of duel du-el-ing an Am E present participle of duel

AmE

noun [u] legal the correct way of dealing with a legal trial or other legal matters, that makes sure that peopled rights are protected

du»et

/du'et/ noun

[c]

a piece of music sung or played

1

make

ready

fists

to fight

duke 2 /duk/ verb Am E informal to fight duke-dom / dukdam/ noun [c] 1 the area that a duke [i]

owns or rules over 2 the social position of a duke dul-cet /'dAlsat/ adj mainly literary a dulcet sound soft and pleasant

is

sb's dulcet tones humorous the sound of someone's voice as they speak

dul'Ci-mer / d\lsimar/ noun [c] 1 a musical instrument with strings that you hold across your knees, often used for playing folk music 2 a musical instrument with a lot of strings that you play by hitting the strings gently with two hammers 1

dull /dAl/

adj

••

1

boring

6

2

not bright/shiny

7 not sharp

3 not able to react

4 weak and continuous 5 low and not clear

3

/du/ adv due north/south/east/west directly toward the north, south, east, or west: The farm is about due east of the town. due date noun [singular] the date on which something is planned or expected to happen, for example when money must be paid or when a pregnant woman expects to have her baby 1 du-el /'dual/ noun [C] 1 a fight between two men with guns or swords, used in the past by men of high social status to defend their honor after being insulted 2 a close competition between two people or teams 3 an argument between two people: a duel of words 2 du-el /'dual/ (present participle du«el«ing or du*el*ling; past

1

A

his due, he did apologize afterward.

five miles

[C]

where team members

/duk/ noun 1 [c] a man with a very high social position, just below that of a prince. woman who has the same social position as a duke, or who is married to a duke, is called a duchess. 2 [C] a man who ruled a very small country or region in Europe in the past 3 dukes [plural] old-fashioned hands that are closed to

due used when you are going to say something good about someone, after you have been criticizing them: He really upset Lydia, although give him

due process

d\g,aot/ noun

a small shelter by the sit during a 1a. a hole or tunnel in the ground used as a shelter by soldiers during a battle 2 dugout canoe a boat made by cutting out the inside of a log (=long piece of wood from a tree) duh /d3r/ interjection informal used for saying that you think that something someone has said or done is stupid DUI / di ju ai/ abbrev Am E Driving Under the Influence: the crime of driving after you have drunk too much alcohol /

game when they are not playing

to give sb their

due

past tense and past participle of dig

dug-out

side of a sports field

2

9*

dumb

424

version of the software is due in the next couple of weeks. + for The prisoners are not due for release until next year. I'm due for a raise, la. if you are due somewhere, you are expected to be there: I'm due at a meeting in ten minutes. 1b. something that is due at a particular time or date must be completed by that time or date: Students' term papers are due next Monday. 1c. if a baby is due, it is expected to be born. You can also say that the mother

not intelligent

8 not busy + PHRASES

1 boring or not interesting: a dull lecture Life in a small town can be very' dull. 2 not bright or shiny: a dull color hair that looks dull and lifeless 2a. if the weather is dull, there are a lot of clouds and it is dark 3 not able to understand or react to what is happening: She had a dull expression on her face. 4 a dull pain is not very strong but continues for a long time: I felt a dull ache in my stomach. 5 a dull sound is low and not very clear: There was a dull thud from the apartment above. 6 not intelligent: He really is one of the dullest boys in

the class. 7 a dull blade is not

8

sharp business or trade is dull,

it is not busy dishwater /ditchwater very boring never a dull moment humorous used for saying that a lot of exciting things are happening 2 dull /d.vl/ verb [T] 1 to make a feeling weaker: The drug can dull the pain, but not completely eliminate it. 2 to make someone's mind slower or less able to understand, think, hear, etc. Fatigue had dulled her mind. His senses were dulled by alcohol. 3 to make a sound weaker or less clear: The carpet dulled the sound of their footsteps. duli-ard /'dvlard/ noun [C] old-fashioned someone who

if

(as) dull as

:

by two people

due to / 'du

tu/ preposition

•*• because of something:

losses were due to poor manHe almost died due to lack of oxygen. largely The negative image of immigrants is largely due to ignorance. partly due to/ due in part to The workforce was reduced, partly due to budget pressures. -» owing to duff 1 /d.\f/ noun [C] 1 AmEinformal someone"s bottom 2BrEa type of cake

The company's financial

agement.

due

to

up the duff impolite pregnant

duff

2

BrE useless,

broken, or poor in quality duf'fel bag /'dvfal ,baeg/ noun [c] a large bag made from strong cloth that has a circular bottom and is pulled together at the top with a string /d.\f/ adj

is

not intelligent

/'duli/ adv formal 1 in the way that you expect or think is appropriate: The guests were all duly impressed with Jack's cooking. 2 at the correct or arranged time: Murphy was duly elected vice president the following June.

dU'ly

dumb

1

/d\m/adj

•

informal stupid: She's so dumb she can't even figure You gave him your phone out her answering machine. number? That was a dumb thing to do. 1a. play /act dumb to pretend to not know or understand something: Don 't play dumb with me - I know you took the money. 1

— dumb 2 mainly

temporarily unable or unwilling to speak, especially because you are very shocked: Some of the passengers were dumb with terror. be struck dumb / was struck dumb by the clerk's rudeness. 2a. old-fashioned permanently unable to speak. This word is now usually considered offensive. The more usual word is speech impaired, —dumb-ly adv 2 ld\ml verb .dumb 'down phrasal vb [T] to make something simpler and easier to understand in a way that reduces its quality animal noun [c] any animal. This word is used especially for emphasizing that people have a moral duty to protect animals. literary

dumb dumb

dumb-ass

AmE

impolite stupid /'dAm.bel/ noun [c] 1 a short metal bar with a weight at both ends that people lift in order to develop their muscles 2 Am E informal a stupid person adj

dumb-bell

dumb

a woman with blond hair who is considered to be sexually attractive but not very intelligent. This word is usually considered offensive,

'blond noun

especially

[c]

by women.

dumbf ounded or dunvf ound-ed /dAm'faondad/ Am E adj

so surprised that you do not

— dumb-found verb

or say

know what

to

do

[T]

AmE

dumb

'luck noun [u] informal the way in which something good happens completely by chance, without being planned or deserved dum-bo /'dAmboo/ noun [c] informal a stupid person

dumb-struck

/'dAm.strAk/ adj so surprised or so you cannot speak

full

of admiration that

dumb-wait-er/'dAm.weitar/ noun [C] a piece of equipment like a small elevator used for moving food and dishes up and down between the floors of a restaurant dum-dum /'dAm.dAm/ noun [c] a type of bullet that breaks into small pieces as it hits someone

dum-my

1

model 2 model 1

3

/'dAmi/ noun

[c]

of sb's

body

unintelligent person

dump

dump

4

computing the process of copying information stored inside a computer to another part of the same computer or onto something such as a disk

(down) in the dumps informal feeling unhappy or without hope: Some Mondays I just feel down in the dumps. take a dump impolite to go to the toilet to get rid of solid waste dumping ground /'dAmpin .graond/ noun [C] 1 a place used for getting rid of things or people that are no longer wanted 2 a place where large amounts of waste are taken and left dump-ling /'dAmplin/ noun [c] 1 a small solid lump of cooked food made from flour and water, sometimes eaten with meat or added to soup 2 a sweet food consisting of pastry filled with fruit Dump-ster /'dAmpstar/ AmE trademark a very large metal container used in the construction industry for waste. It is carried away by a truck when it is full. 'dump .truck noun [c] a truck with a large metal container that can be raised at the front end so that the sand, stones, or other material in it falls out at the back

1

pay what they owe you, sometimes

5BrE

movement

6 Br E

in a sports a baby's pacifier

game made

to trick

someone

[only before noun] designed to look real but in fact not real: Whitman established a dummy corporation in order to hide his investments.

dummy 'run noun [c] a test of something in which you practice using or doing real situation

dump

1

/dAmp/verb

[T]

it

before using or doing

rid of

in a

*•

place sth carelessly

2 get

it

sb/sth

3 leave sb with sb else 4 end relationship

5 sell goods at low 6 copy information

price

1 informal to put something somewhere in a careless way, especially something that is heavy: She dumped her bags on the floor and flopped onto the bed. 2 to get rid of someone or something that you no longer want or need: Over 150,000 tons of waste are dumped annually along the coastline. Nolan was angry at being

dumped from

the team.

informal to leave

someone

in the care of

someone

because it is convenient for you, although it may not be for them: dump sb with sb else They dumped the kids with her parents while they went shopping. 4 informal to end a sexual or romantic relationship with someone: Brady's really upset because his girlfriend's else

dumped him. business to sell goods at a very inexpensive price in a foreign country in order to keep prices higher in your

just

5

own country

dun 2 /dAn/ adj noun

between brown and gray in color

dun

[u]

dunce

/dAns/ noun

stupid person

2

[C]

offensive

old-fashioned 1 humorous a someone, especially a child,

who has difficulty learning things dun-der-head / 'dAndar hed / noun

[c]

informal a stupid

person

/dun/ noun

[C]

a hill of sand on a beach or in a

desert: sand dune

dune buggy noun [c] a small vehicle used for traveling across sand

dung

/dArj/ noun [u] waste from the body of a large animal such as an elephant or a cow dungarees /.dAnga'riz/ noun [plural] 1 AmE old-

fashioned pants made of strong cloth, usually blue denim OVERALLS

2BrE

dun-geon

/'dAnd3sn/ noun [c] a dark underground was used as a prison in the past Dungeons and Dragons trademark a game in which players pretend to be in dangerous situations in which they may have to find secret objects or destroy frightening enemies dunk /dArjk/ verb [T] 1 to put something into liquid for a short time before taking it out again 1a. to put a piece of cake, bread, etc. into a drink before eating it 2 Am E to push someone's head and shoulders under water as a joke 3 to throw the ball downward into the basket during a game of basketball -* slam-dunk —picture -> cis dunk noun [C] dun-no /da'noo/ a way of writing "don't know" that shows how it sounds in informal conversation dun-ny l'd\x\\l noun [C] Australian informal a toilet du-o /'du.oo/ noun [C] 1 two people who sing, play music, or perform together: a comedy duo 1a. informal two people who work together or who often do things

room

+ PHRASES

again to

in a threatening

way

dune

dum-my 2 /'dAmi/ adj

3

computing to copy information that is stored inside a computer to another part of the same computer or onto something such as a disk dump on phrasal vb [T] informal 1 [dump on sb] to treat someone in an unfair way, especially by criticizing or blaming them for something 2 [dump sth on sb] to give someone an unpleasant or difficult job to do instead of doing it yourself or helping them with it 2 /dAmp/ noun [c] • 1 a place where large amounts of waste are taken, usually from a number of towns: garbage dump 2 informal a place or building that is dirty or unpleasant 3 a place where military equipment such as weapons are stored for a short period of time: an ammunition

dump-y /'dAmpi/ adj informal short and fat dun /dAn/ verb [T] to ask someone again and

something that is made to look like a real object, used either for practicing something or for tricking people 2 a model of someone's body, used especially for measuring clothes that you are making or for showing clothes in a store 3 informal someone who is not very intelligent or who does not have much imagination 4 cards that someone places on the table during a game of bridge so that the other players can see them

1

6

end

4 in card game 5 movement to trick sb 6 for baby to suck

of object

1

a

duo

425

in a castle that

—

together:

My father and

his business partner were a for-

duodenal

C

dusk-y pink 2

du-op-o-ly /du'apali/ noun [C] business a situation in which two companies, people, or groups control some-

dust

thing such as a business activity or industry a. two companies, groups, or people who control something such as a business activity or industry

— du-pat-ta /du'pAts/ noun [C] Indian English a long scarf

™M

Dutch

426

midable duo. 2 a duet for two instruments duodenal /duo'dinl; du'adnal/ adj medical affecting the top part of your small intestine that is called the duodenum: a duodenal ulcer

woman wears around

her head or shoulders /dup/ verb [T] to trick someone into believing something that is not true or into doing something that is stupid or illegal: Many voters now feel duped by the that a

dupe

1

government. dupe sb into doing sth Henson duped the couple into letting him into their home.

dupe 2

/dup/ noun

[C]

someone who

is

tricked into

believing or doing something stupid or illegal

AmE

du-plex

a house that is Br E semidetached house 2 an apartment that has rooms on

/'du.pleks/ noun [c] 1 joined to another house on one

side.

two levels du-pli-cate /'dupli.keit/ verb [t] 1 to make an exact copy of something such as a document: Digital images 1

can be duplicated in seconds. 2 to create a situation that is exactly like another one: We hope to duplicate the success of last year's auction.

du-pli-cate 2 /'duplikat/ adj made as an exact copy of something else: a duplicate form du-pli-cate 3 / 'duplikst/ noun [C] an exact copy of something: Please submit a duplicate of your application.

in duplicate if something such as a document exists in duplicate, there are two copies of it du-pli'ca-tion/.duph'keijn/noun [u] 1 a situation in which one thing has the same purpose or effect as another and is therefore not necessary: We're hoping the new procedures will avoid duplication of effort. 2 the process of making an exact copy of something: printing and duplication costs du-plic-i-tous /du'plisitas/ adj formal behaving dishonestly in order to trick someone du-plic-i-ty /du'plisati/ noun [u] formal dishonest

behavior that is intended to trick someone du-ra^ble/'durabl/adj 1 able to stay in good condition for a long time and after being used a lot: durable high quality steel 2 continuing to exist or work for a long time, even if the situation changes: Finding a durable solution will not be easy. du-ra-bil-i-ty /.dura'bibti/

—

noun

[U]

[plural] AmE things you do not buy often because they are expected to last for a long time, for example cars, furniture, and appliances (=machines used in the home) du-ra-tion /du'reijn/ noun [c/u] formal ** the period of time during which something continues to happen

durable 'goods noun

or exist: Treatment of the disease depends on its severity and duration. +of The duration of the movie is 110 minutes. for the duration of sth Passengers are requested not to smoke for the duration of the flight. in duration The solar eclipse was roughly two minutes in duration. for the duration informal until a period of time ends: We don't know how long the building work will last, but we'll be staying with friends for the duration.

du-ress /do'res/ noun [u] formal force or threats that make someone do something they do not want to: under duress Some witnesses claim they signed their statements under duress.

during /'donn/

preposition

**•

Tutu. all

of a period of time: During the summer Many creatures live under-

season, all the hotels are full. ground during daylight hours.

dusk

/dAsk/ noun

[u]

the day just before dusk.

it

sidered offensive.

•*

1

very small pieces of dirt /dASt/ noun [u] that cover surfaces inside buildings like a powder: The dictionaries were covered in dust. a. very small pieces of dry earth or sand that are like powder: There were clouds of dust in the distance as the truck approached, b. very small pieces of something such as wood or metal that form a powder: rock /gold I coal dust the dust settle to allow a situation to become calm or normal again after something exciting or unusual has happened leave sb in the dust Am E informal to be more suclet

than someone someone you are competing with cessful, intelligent, etc.

and with a

lot of energy turn sth to dust to completely destroy something

-» BITE

1 ,

GATHER

1

dust 2

/dASt/ verb • 1 [I/T] to wipe the dust off the surface of something such as furniture: I'll just dust the table. Elaine has already mopped the floor and dusted. 2 [T] to put a thin layer of powder on something: dust sth with sth Dust the pan with flour.

,dust down phrasal vb [T] surface of something

Br E

to

wipe dust or

dirt off the

dust yourself down same as dust yourself off ,dust off phrasal vb [T] 1 to get something ready to use that you have not used for a long time: I'm dusting off my old skills and returning to work. 2 to wipe dust or dirt off the surface of something: Would you dust off the shelves?

dust yourself off to not get upset after a problem or but quickly try again or continue to do what

failure,

you were doing [c] BrE a garbage can noun [C] a region where there are a lot of dust storms because the earth has become dry because of a lack of rain 'dust bunny noun [C] informal a soft ball of dust that has collected somewhere, for example under a bed 'dust .cover noun [c] a dust jacket 'dust devil noun [C] a small whirlwind (=strong circular wind) that is common in hot dry parts of the U.S. Dust devils are much smaller than tornadoes and do not usually cause damage. dust-er/'dAStar/ noun [c] 1 a cloth or brush for remov-

dust-bin /'dASt.bm/ noun

'dust

bowl

AmE

ing dust from the surfaces of furniture 2 Am E a light coat that you wear to protect your clothes from dust

dust jacket noun

[c] a loose paper cover for a book that protects the hard cover

dust-man

/'dAStman/

(plural

dust'men/'dAStman/) noun

[C]BrE a garbage collector 'dust mite noun [C] a type of very small insect that lives in houses and causes allergies in some people

dust-pan that

/'dASt.paen/ noun [c] a small flat container floor and brush dust into

you put on the

storm

noun [C] a storm during which a very strong wind blows a lot of dry soil around 'dust ,trap noun [c] a place where a lot of dust gathers

'dust

'dust-, up noun

[c]

BrE

informal a fight, usually a short

one

dust-y

/'dASti/adj

•

covered with dust: a dusty old

violin case

or sand: A dusty trail led through the forest. 3 used for describing a color that is not bright because it has some gray in it: a dusty pink Dutch 1 /dAtJV adj 1 someone who is Dutch is from the Netherlands 2 relating to the Netherlands, or to the language and culture of the Netherlands

2 covered with dry earth

if people go Dutch, each of them pays for their meal, drinks, entertainment, etc. when they go

the period of time at the end of

go Dutch

becomes dark: The park

own

closes at

else, especially

make the dust fly informal to do something very quickly

1

1 at one point within a period of time or a process: Fournier was killed in action during World War I. During his visit to South Africa, the president met Archbishop

2 through

coming

/'dAski/ adj literary 1 not very bright: a dusky dark, because of shadows or because night is 3 with dark skin. This word is now often con-

somewhere together

Dutch

Dutch /dAtJV noun 1 [U] the language that people speak in the Netherlands 2 the Dutch [plural] the people of the Netherlands Dutch 'auction noun [C] a sale in which the price of something gradually goes down until someone agrees to

buy

it

.Dutch 'barn noun no walls that

[c] a farm building with a roof but used for storing hay (=dried grass used

is

.Dutch 'cap noun

[C]

BrE

a diaphragm that a

woman

uses to prevent her from getting pregnant .Dutch 'courage noun [u] informal a feeling of confidence that comes after drinking alcohol

.Dutch 'elm dis ease noun

[u]

a serious disease that

elm trees

Dutch-man

/'dAtJman/ (plural Dutchmen /'dAtJman/) the Netherlands .Dutch 'oven noun [C] a large metal pan used especially for cooking meat and sauces .Dutch 'uncle noun [c] informal someone who advises or criticizes a younger person in a severe way du-ti-ful /'dutifol/ adj formal careful to do things that other people ask or expect you to do: Tom was a loving du-ti-ful-ly adv and dutiful son. du-ty /'duti/ noun *** 1 [C/U] a legal or moral obligation: He has a duty under the terms of his contract to pay rent. be sb's duty to do sth It is your duty as a parent to protect your children. owe /have a duty to sb The company has a duty to its shareholders. sense of duty He has a strong sense of noun

[C)

a

man from

—

do your duty / was simply doing my duty as family duty. a good citizen, la. duties [plural] things that you have to do as part of your job: He was too unwell to carry out his administrative duties.

Police officers are often injured

in the course of their duties.

2

you must pay on something, especially something you bring into one country from another country: +on The duty on imported vodka has been raised. customs/ import duty Imports from many [C/U] a tax that

other countries carry a customs duty.

do duty BrE to be used instead of something else, for a purpose that is not the usual purpose off duty not working at that moment: / was off duty when they called me in. on duty working at that moment: The nurse on duty called for a doctor. on emergency/sentry/guard duty He fell asleep while on guard duty. -»

TOUR

1

duty-bound

adj

formal legally or morally responsible We felt duty-bound to challenge the

for doing something: decision. 1

.duty- 'free adj duty-free goods cost less than the usual price because you do not pay any tax on them: duty-free cigarettes .duty- free adv: You can buy as much beer as you want duty-free. 2 .duty- 'free noun [u] goods such as cigarettes and alcohol that you buy without paying tax on them a. [C] a store that sells duty-free goods 'duty .officer noun [c] an official who is responsible for dealing with problems or requests during a period of time when other officials are not working du-vet/du'vei; 'du,vei/noun[c] mainly fir £ a comforter for your bed /,di vi 'di/ noun [C] ** an object like a CD that has a movie or television program recorded on it. You

—

DVD

play a

DVD

DVT /di

in a

machine

called a

DVD player.

noun [u] deep vein thrombosis dwarf /dworf/ (plural dwarves /dworvz/ or dwarfs) noun [C] 1 an imaginary creature in children's stories that looks like a very small old man 2 old-fashioned an offensive word for a person affected with the medical condition of dwarfism 3 science a very small star that does not shine brightly dwarf2 /dworf/ adj a dwarf tree, plant, or animal is much shorter or smaller than others of the same type dwarf 3 /dworf/ verb [T often passive] 1 to make something seem small or unimportant: Our small investment has been dwarfed by what the private sector has put in. 1

vi 'ti/

2

to

make someone seem

small: At over six feet in height,

she dwarfs her opponents.

dwarf -ism / 'dworf.izom/ noun [U] medical the condition of being much smaller than an average person and having arms and legs that are short compared to the body dweeb /dwib/ noun [C] offensive someone who you think is boring or weak and who wears clothes that are not

fashionable

for feeding animals)

kills

dynamism

427

2

dwell /dwel/

(past tense and past participle dwelled or dwelt /dwelt/) verb [l] literary 1 to live somewhere 2 if something such as a feeling dwells in a place, it exists and is very noticeable there

dwell on or dwell upon phrasal vb [T] [dwell on/upon sth] to spend a lot of time thinking or talking about something unpleasant: He tends to dwell on the negative aspects of his performance.

dwell-er /'dwebr/ noun

[C]

someone who

lives in a

particular type of place: a city /country /cave dweller

noun [C] formal * a house, apartment, or other shelter in which someone lives a past tense and past participle of dwell DWI/,di dAblju 'ai/abbrevArai? 1 driving while intoxicated: the crime of driving after you have drunk too much alcohol: dui: increasingly severe DWI laws 2 driving while impaired: the crime of driving after you have used a drug such as alcohol or marijuana that makes you less able to use your judgment dwin-dle / 'dwmdl/ verb [I] to become gradually less or smaller over a period of time until almost nothing remains: Resources are dwindling. +to Water supplies + away have dwindled to their lowest level in ten years. Her hopes for success dwindled away to nothing. dye 1 /dai/ noun [c/u] a substance used for changing the color of something such as clothing or your hair dye 2 /dai/ (present participle dyeing; past tense and past participle dyed) verb [T] to change the color of something such as clothing or your hair using dye dyed-in-the-wool / daid in 5s 'wol/adj unwilling to change your opinions or beliefs because you are certain they are correct: dyed-in-the-wool conservatives

dwelling /'dwehn/ dwelt

dy-ing

1

/'daiirj/ adj [only before noun]

*

not likely to live much longer: Attempts to save the dying man failed. 1a. done or spoken just before death: his dying words 2 a dying tradition, industry, activity, etc. is not likely to exist much longer 2a. a dying light or fire has almost stopped burning or shining 1

a dying breed someone with qualities that most people no longer have the dying moments/seconds of sth the period of time just before something ends to/until sb's dying day used for saying that someone will always remember or feel something: To my dying day I'll never forget the look on his face.

dy-ing 2

dyke

the present participle of die

/daik/ noun

[C] 1

offensive

an offensive word

for

a lesbian (=woman who is gay) 2 another spelling of dike dy-nam-ic /dai'naemik/ adj 1 very lively and enthusiastic, with a lot of energy and determination: Profits have doubled under his dynamic leadership. We're looking for someone positive and dynamic. 2 continuously changing, growing, or developing: The IT sector is fast-growing and dynamic. A relationship between two people is a dynamic process. 3 science relating to the forces in nature that produce movement dynamically /dai'naemikli/ adv dy-nam-ic 2 /dai'naemik/ noun 1 [C] the set of forces that exist in a situation, especially a relationship, and affect how it changes or develops: There's a very supportive dynamic between the members of the group. + of the complex dynamics of the workplace 2 dynamics [plural] science the scientific study of movement: fluid dynamics 1

**

—

dy«na«mism/'daino,mizom/noun

[u] 1

energy, enthu-

siasm, and determination to succeed: People responded positively to Ruth's cheerfulness and dynamism. 2 the

I

dynamite

dy-na-mite

1

/

'dama.mait/ noun

[u] 1

dynamism

a substance used

for causing explosions, especially for breaking rock into pieces: sticks of dynamite 2 informal someone or something that is very impressive or exciting: Their new shortstop is dynamite. 2a. mainly journalism something exciting and shocking that could cause a lot of problems: Her revelations look like being political dynamite.

dy*na»mite

WM

2

/'daina.mait/ verb thing using dynamite

dy«na«mite 3 /'dain3,mait/adj

[T]

to destroy

some-

informal very impressive or exciting: a dynamite performance dy-na-mo /'daina.moo/ noun [C] 1 informal someone with a lot of energy and determination 2 a piece of equipment that changes the movement of an engine or machine into electricity 2a. BrE a piece of equipment on a bicycle that changes the movement of the wheels into electricity to make the lights work dy-nas-ty /'damasti/ noun [c] 1 a family whose members rule a country or region for a long period of time: the Tudor dynasty 1a. a period of time during which members of the same family rule a country or region: a vase dating back to the Ming dynasty 2 a family whose members are very successful in business or dynas-tic /dai 'aestik / politics for a long period of time

—

adj

dystrophy

428

quality of always changing or developing: the of the global market

dys«en«ter«y /disntcri/ noun [u] a serious disease that affects your bowels and makes you go to the toilet very frequently and become very weak dysfunction /dis'l'AnkJon/ noun [c/u] 1 medical any medical condition in which a part of your body does not work normally: symptoms of neurological dysfunction 2 mainly journalism a failure to work well: This problem is

the result of a dysfunction of bureaucracy.

dysfunctional

/dis'fAnkJanl/ ad] 1 dysfunctional relationships do not work normally and are not happy or successful: a dysfunctional family 2 not working normally: dysfunctional brain cells a dysfunctional gov-

ernment dys-lex'i-a /dis'leksia/ noun

[u]

dition affecting the brain that

someone

to read

dys-lexic 1

and

spell

medical a medical con-

makes

it

difficult for

words correctly

/dis'leksik/ adj medical affected by dyslexia

2

dys-lex'ic /dis'leksik/ noun

[C]

medical someone

who

has dyslexia

dyspepsia

/dis'pepsia; dis'pepjs/ noun [u] medical

INDIGESTION

dys-pep-tic /dis'peptik/ adj 1 medical affected by dyspepsia 2 old-fashioned in an angry or unpleasant mood dyS'tro«phy /'distrafi/ noun [u] medical a condition in which a part of your body gradually becomes weaker

* MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY

[C/u] the fifth letter l'\l (plural e's) or E (plural E's) noun 1 of the English alphabet. E is a vowel. 2 E [C/u] the third note in the musical scale of C major 3 E [C/u] informal the illegal drug ecstasy, in the form of a pill 4 E [C] BrE a grade that a teacher gives to a student's work to show that it is very bad 5 E [C] informal an e

e

NUMBER E. abbrev 1 East 2 Eastern 3 science energy 4 earth (=a wire in a piece of electrical equipment)

e- /i/

prefix

nouns

for

BrE

on or using the Internet: used with some

making new words:

e-business

e-finance

e-

I'levn/ noun [C] a document that allows living in the European Union to receive free health treatment in another European Union country /

,i

\v.\n

someone

each

/itJV function

word

***

Each can be used in the following ways: as a determiner (followed by a singular countable noun): in each corner of the room as a pronoun: three windows, with a different view from each (followed by "of): / want each of you to fill out an application, (after a plural subject): They each did their part, (after a plural object or a number): / gave them each a copy of the script. The cassettes are on sale for $6.00 each, (after a modal or auxiliary verb, or after the verb "to be"): We can each choose our own subject for research. Sampras and Agassi had each won two games. in the other.

eager to please willing to do anything that other people

want only too eager to do sth very eager to do something, especially so eager that it causes problems: Some patients are only too eager to tell you exactly how they feel. ea«ger'ly adv: the most eagerly awaited film of the year ea*ger*ness noun [u]: Sam fell over in his eagerness to reach the telephone.

—

noun [c] informal someone who is extremely enthusiastic and enjoys working extremely hard eagle /'igl/ noun [C] * a large bird that kills other birds and animals for food ea«gle-eyed /,igl 'aid/ adj able to see or notice things that are very difficult to see Eagle Scout noun [c] in the U.S., a boy scout (=a member of an organization for young boys that teaches them to develop physical and personal skills) who has reached the highest level ea-glet /'iglst/ noun [C] a young eagle Ea-ling come-dy /,ilin 'kamsdi/ noun [c] one of a series of humorous British movies produced during the

eager beaver

learning

E111

eager to do sth He's so eager to learn that he stays late +for The girls were bored and seemed eager for new experiences. every evening.

phrase each other:

We always

try to help

each

1950s

From

ear 1

When each

part of the subject of a sentence, it is used with a singular verb, except when it follows a plural subject: Each man hunts alone. They each do their share of the work. is

In formal writing, a pronoun or possessive adjective that refers back to a noun subject with each is usually singular: Each student has his or her own place in the library. However, in conversation and informal writing these pronouns and possessives are often plural, although some people consider this incorrect: Each student has their own place in the library.

used for referring to all the people or things in a group, especially when considering every one separately: Each request will be given careful consideration. The gallery contains work by 5 artists, each with his or her own individual style. As each day dawned, his smile greeted her. Each program in the series will be introduced by a well-known musician. Marble columns stand on each side The United States, Russia, and Germany of the entrance. each won 2 gold medals. + of Each of us has a job to do. She kissed each of her children. one /two /half etc. each Water was scarce we were only allowed 1 quart each per day. $1 /£2 etc. each New batteries cost $1.99 each. each one When it was time to bring the cows in, he would call each one by name. each and every one (=used for emphasizing that you mean every person in a group) It is the duty of each and every one of us to protect the environment.

.each 'other pronoun

**

1 used for saying that each person or thing does something to the other or others: The women looked around at each other and smiled. They talk to each other on the

phone every night. 2 used for saying that each person or thing

is

related

in the same way to the other or others: Dozens of suitcases were piled on top of each other. Victor and Laurie were sitting next to each other.

the Ealing Studios in

London where the

films

were made. /ir/

noun

***

one of the two parts at the sides of your head you hear with: He whispered something in her ear.

[C]

that

—picture

-> head [singular] the ability to hear and judge sounds: She has a very good ear for music. 3 [C] the part at the top of a plant such as wheat that contains the grain: ears of corn

2

ears informal ready to pay attention to what someone has to say be out on your ear informal to be suddenly removed from your job or your place in an organization close your ears (to) to not listen to what someone is saying or not listen to a sound grin/smile from ear to ear to smile a lot because you are very happy have/keep your ear to the ground to pay attention to what is happening, so that you know about any changes all

in a situation

have nothing/cotton between the ears

offensive to be extremely stupid have sb's ear to know someone with power or authority who will listen to you: He has the director's ear. have sth coming out of your ears informal to have a lot of something, or more of it than you need: We have information coming out of our ears and we just need time to sift through it. keep your ears open to pay attention to what is happening, especially in order to find out something lend an ear to listen to someone talking about their problems play sth by ear 1 to deal with a situation without having a plan, by reacting to things as they happen 2 to play music by hearing and remembering it, not by reading it reach sb's ears to be heard by someone: Rumors of her

resignation reached his ears.

sb couldn't believe their ears used for saying that someone is very surprised by something that they hear: / couldn believe my ears when he told me we had to leave. sb's ears are burning used for saying that people are talking about someone sth goes in one ear and out the other informal used for saying that someone does not remember what you say or pay attention to it 't

You can use one another with the same meaning

as

each other.

each way

adv

BrE an

each way bet

is

an across-the-

board bet

ea-ger

**

very enthusiastic about doing something or enthusiastic about something that will happen: She looked at the eager faces waiting for her news. /'igar/ adj

-* SYMPATHETIC, UP

earache

1

/ir.eik/ noun [c/u] pain in your ear, usually caused by an infection

'o

ear drops

it

earful

/'ir.fol/

noun

[singular]

informal a

lot

of talk

from someone, especially someone who is angry or complaining earl /3rl/ noun [c] a man with a very high social position in the U.K.

earl-dom /'3rldom/ noun [c] 1 the land belonging to an earl 2 the social position of an earl earlier / '3rli3r/ adv ••* used for referring to a time 1

before the present or before the time you are talking about: A few days earlier, he had assured me that he didn 't want to come. 2

**

happening before the present ear-li-er /'3rli3r/ adj time or before the time you are talking about: an earlier period in history earliest, the /'3rli3st/ noun the earliest time that something can happen or be done: The earliest we could be there is 7:30. at the earliest / can get it done by Monday

of your

early

1

/'ir.loob/ noun [C] the soft part at the picture -> head ear

—

/'3rli/adv

bottom

•••

before the usual or expected time: / don't get up very The flight arrived ten minutes early. the beginning of a period of time: Let's meet again early next week. + in These simple plants appeared very early in the history of life on Earth. 2a. near the beginning of someone's life: His genius as a musician was shown very early. +in She was widowed very early in life. 2b. near the beginning of an event or activity: + in It's best not to rush things this early in your career. 3 near the beginning of a piece of writing: +in This point was discussed earlier in the chapter. 4 soon enough to avoid problems: If we begin the treatment early, we have a better chance of success. 1

early.

2 near

early on in the early part of a process or activity: Mr. Wood decided pretty early on that he was not right for the job.

— opposite LATE

early 2 /'3rli/ adj

••*

time that something is expected or arranged to happen: My train was ten minutes early. +for You're a little early for the party. 1a. before the time that something usually happens: Spring was unusually early that year. Let's have an early lunch and then go to the movies. Is it too early to call them? 1b. as early as at a time that is sooner than people expect: We may announce the winners as early as tomorrow. 2 [usually before noun] near the beginning of a period of time: The plants flower in early spring. The temperature drops to below freezing in the early evening. In the early 1980s, several thousand jobs were lost. 2a. used about periods in someone's life: Julia is in her early thirties. From an early age, memories of my early childhood Chaplin believed in his talents. 2b. used about the first part of an activity, process, or event: The project is still It is too early to predict whether in its very early stages. in the early days the unemployment rate has peaked. (=soon after something began) We didn't think much about the environment in those early days. 2c. used about periods of history: in the early Middle Ages 3 used about the first people or things of a particular type: The early settlers used to heat their cabins with wood. before

1

the

early editions of the novel

4

early crops or flowers are ready to be picked before others of the same type: early peaches /roses

the early hours the period of time between midnight and the very early morning: The attack happened in the early hours of Sunday morning. an early night a night when you go to bed earlier than you normally do: I think I'll make this an early night. an early start an occasion when you start something early in the morning it's early in the day mainly spoken used for saying that it is too soon to know whether someone or something will be successful Opposite LATE-* EARLIEST, OPPORTUNITY

—

early bird noun [C] informal 1 someone who gets up early in the morning 2 someone who arrives somewhere or does something before other people do the early bird catches the worm used for saying that if you arrive somewhere or do something before other people, you will have more chance of succeeding early retirement noun [u] a situation when someone leaves their job before the usual age for stopping work. If you do this, you take early retirement.

early warning noun [C/u] warning of a future event that comes early enough for you to prepare for it a. [only before noun] relating to a system of defense, called an early warning system, that gives warning of a nuclear attack by another country and begins preparations to defeat

it

earmark

1

/'ir.murk/ verb

thing, especially

money,

[T] to decide to use somefor a particular purpose: Some

funds are earmarked for anti-drug programs. earmark 2 /'ir.mark/ noun [c usually plural] quality or feature that thing

typical of

is

earmuffs / 'ir.mAfs/ noun your ears

earn

keep them

to

/3rn/ verb

AmE

a

someone or some-

a pair of round pieces band that you wear over

[plural]

of cloth or fur connected by a

at the earliest.

ear-lobe

earpiece

430

'ear .drops noun [plural] liquid medicine that you put in your ear to treat an ear infection eardrum / ir.drAm/ noun [c] a piece of tightly stretched skin inside your ear that vibrates when sound reaches

warm

•••

1 [I/T] to receive money for work that you do: She doesn't earn much money, but she enjoys the work. Most people here earn about $60,000 a year. His illness has affected his ability to earn. la. [T] to make a profit from business or from money that you have in the bank: The company earned profits of $22 million in the last year. Interest earned in this country is subject to tax. 2 [T] to get something as a result of your efforts or your behavior: His fielding has earned him a place in the starting lineup. We had a fantastic lunch, but we'd earned it. earn respect/ praise Your employees' respect has to be earned.

earn your keep 1 to pay for the things that you need by earning money or by working for the people you live with 2 if something earns its keep, it is useful or produces an income earn your living to earn enough money to pay for everything you need: Everyone should have the means to earn their

own

living.

earned income

noun

[u]

business the

money

that

your salary, expenses, and any other payments— compare unearned

you earn

for doing

your

job, including

INCOME [c] 1 someone who earns money by working: high/low earner High earners should not be

earn«er /'3rn9r/ noun

penalized by the tax system. wage earner There are two wage earners in the family. 2 something that earns money: Sugar and tourism are their top foreign exchange earners.

earnest

1

determined, and serious, /'3rnist/ adj earnest say: an earnest young man discussions ear*nest«ly adv, ear-nest-ness noun [U]

meaning what you

—

earnest 2 or with

/'3rnist/ noun in earnest 1 more seriously more energy and determination than before:

She was crying in earnest now. After the rainy season, building work can begin in earnest. 2 serious and meaning what you say: When I said I wanted to help you, I was in earnest. ear'nest money noun [u] AmE money that you pay to show you intend to do what you have promised to do

earnings /'3rninz/

**

noun [plural] business of money that you earn: Over the last The calculation decade, earnings rose faster than prices. is based on your average earnings during this period. 2 the profit made by a company: The company reported that earnings were down last quarter. foreign exchange 1

the

amount

earnings [plural] business a number a company pays its stockholders for every share in the company that they own earphones /'ir.foons/ noun [plural] a piece of electronic equipment with parts that you wear over your ears to listen to recorded music: headphones earpiece /'ir.pis/ noun [c] 1 the part of a telephone receiver that you put to your ear and listen to 1a. a

.earnings per 'share noun that expresses

how much

earplug

ease

431

small piece of electronic equipment that you put in your ear in order to listen to something, especially recorded music 2 one of the parts of a pair of eyeglasses that fits over your ears ear-plug /'ir,pl.\g/ noun [c] a small piece of plastic or rubber that you put in your ear to keep noise or water out ear-ring /'inn/ noun [c] * a piece of jewelry you wear on your ear picture -> jewelry

earth-shattering

a piece of equipment that fits into your ear and is connected to a telephone or computer, allowing you to make telephone calls without using your hands earshot / ir Jot/ noun out of earshot too far away for

earth-y

—

ear-set

/

ir

set/

noun

[c]

hear within/in earshot close enough for you to hear ear- splitting adj extremely loud earth 1 /3r0/ noun ••• 1 Earth or earth [singular U] the planet on which we the Earth The Moon goes around live: the planet Earth

you

to

on Earth They studied life on/from the face of the earth on from the whole of the earth: These magnificent animals had vanished from the face of the earth. 2 the earth the land on which we live: They felt the earth shaking beneath their feet. 2a. [u] the substance in which plants grow that covers most of the land: soil: a The floor was bare earth. pile of damp earth 3 [C] a hole in the ground where an animal such as a fox lives the Earth s surface on Earth in all its forms. 1a. the Earth.

4

[singular]

Br E ground

in

an

electrical

system

bring sb back down to earth (with a bump) to make someone suddenly remember the real situation or things they have to do. after they have been so happy or excited that they forgot come down back to earth to start normal life again after a time of great excitement or happiness cost /pay the earth Br E informal to cost pay a very large amount of money on earth 1 used for emphasizing

that

someone or

something is the best, worst, biggest, etc. in the world: The Great Wall is the largest man-made structure on earth. 2 nothing nowhere etc. on earth used for adding emphasis to negative statements: Nothing on earth could get me to speak to her. There is no reason on earth why we shouldn't just leave. 3 what/why/how/where on earth spoken used for adding emphasis to questions: What on earth do you mean?* Why on earth would I want to work for you 4 like nothing on earth informal very good or very bad: The sound effects are like nothing on earth. -» END

1

earth 2 /3r9/

verb

[T]

Br E

to

ground a piece of electrical

equipment

earth-bound /'3re,baond/ adj 1 2 mainly literary very practical and

unable to fly without much

imagination

earth-en /sritan/ adj 1 made of clay: an earthen pot 2 made of dirt: an earthen floor earth-en-ware /'srGan wer/ noun [u] bowls, cups, etc. that are made of baked clay earth-ling /'3r0lm/ noun [c] a human. This word is used in science fiction stories by creatures from other planets.

earth-ly/'3r9li/ad] 1 used for giving emphasis to negative statements or to questions: There's no earthly reason why we should pay their expenses. It's no earthly use talking to him. 2 literary relating to life on earth rather than to heaven

earth mother noun

[c]

a

woman who

prefers natural

methods and styles of living and likes to take care of people, for example by cooking meals for them earth-mov-er /'3r6,mu\3r/ noun [c] a large road vehicle for digging large holes and moving large quantities

of earth

earth-quake / '3r6 kweik/ noun

[C]

• a sudden shaking

movement of the ground earth science noun [C/u] a science

studying the Earth, for example geography or geology

and

surprising

important

earth-ward /srOward/

adj, adv toward the earth: a meteor hurtling earthward /'3r8,w3rk/ noun [cl a wall made from a pile of dirt, built in the past to defend a place against attack earth-worm /'3r6 W3rm/ noun [c] a type of worm that

earth-work

lives in soil

warm

/'3r8i/ ad]

looking or smelling like earth:

1

an earthy smell 2 showing an

earthy colors

atti-

tude to sex and the human body that is honest, direct, and sometimes considered not very polite: her earthy-

humor ear trumpet noun [c] an object that people used the past to help them hear, shaped like a tube that wide

at

in

in is

one end

ear-wax

/'ir.waeks/ noun [u] a

dark yellow substance

your ears

ear-wig

/'ir wig/ noun [c] a brown insect with a pair of curved parts at the end of its body 1

ease

/iz/verb

••

make less severe 2 move slowly & carefully 1

3 about rule/punishment 4 make process easier

5 about bad weather 6 become more relaxed + PHRASES

1 [t] to make a problem, bad situation, or pain less severe: Sometimes a mild painkiller is enough to ease the pain. Colleagues are trying to ease the pressure she is under at work. 1a. [i] to become less severe: In the following two weeks tensions eased somewhat. 2 [it] to move somewhere slowly and carefully: + into/ out of/ up etc. She eased into the seat behind the desk. ease yourself Joseph eased himself off the bed. ease your way / eased my way through the crowd. 2a. [T] to move something somewhere slowly and carefully: +out of/ away from Monica slowly eased the cork out of the cham-

pagne

bottle.

3

[T] to make a rule or punishment less severe: Sanctions against the country should be eased. 4 [T] to make a process easier: These ideas helped to ease our transition to democracy.

5

[i]

if

bad weather such as wind or rain eases,

becomes

6

[I/T]

to

it

less strong

become more relaxed or

less tight, or to

make

something do

this: Slowly his grip on her shoulder eased. / waited until the child's breathing eased.

ease your conscience/mind to guilty worried

make you

feel

less

go more slowly or try less hard: Ease off a bit as you go around the bend. 2 ease off or ease up if something unpleasant or annoying eases off. it becomes weaker: If the rain eases off overnight. we'll leave in the morning. The pain should ease off after

ease off phrasal vb

[i]

1

to

a couple of hours.

ease out phrasal vb [T] to make someone leave a job or position without saying anything publicly: Senior party sources say Liddell will be eased out during the next few weeks.

ease up phrasal vb [i] 1 to become less severe toward someone: +on Government forces appear to be easing up on the rebels. 2 same as ease off :: They waited nearly four hours for the storm to ease up. /iz/ noun [u] 1 the ability to do something easily: with ease Young We children seem to master computer games with ease. completed the climb with relative ease (=fairly easily). For to do: +of the fact that something is easy 1a. maximum ease of use the materials are arranged in groups. 2 behavior that is relaxed and natural: He was a compassionate doctor blessed with natural ease.

ease 2

••

and relaxed: He was more at ease in feel at ease the classroom than on a political platform. / did my best to make him feel at ease. 2 an order to soldiers to stand with their feet apart and their hands

at ease 1 confident

behind their backs ill at ease not confident or relaxed put sb at (their) ease to make someone who feel

that involves

extremely

ad]

more relaxed

take your ease old-fashioned to rest or relax -> mind'

is

nervous

II

b

easel ea-sel

•**

1

without

2 3

for saying sth

4 more often than usual 5 in confident/relaxed way

difficulty is likely

definitely

without difficulty or effort: / could easily manage without a car. You could go there and back in a day 1

To her surprise

easily.

the hey turned easily in the lock.

/ don't think she's easily impressed.

2 used

for saying that something is likely to happen or be true: The situation could easily get worse. 3 definitely: This is easily his best album in years. 4 more quickly or more often than is usual or normal: Some babies cry more easily than others. 5 in a confident and relaxed way: He moved easily between traditional and modern jazz. Sam and Luke had met before and chatted easily.

used for saying that something often happens, especially something bad: Feelings of resentment can all too easily turn to anger. the direction that is in front east 1 /ist/ noun [u] all too easily

***

of you

when you are facing the rising sun, and

at the right

on a map: driving from

is

usually

east to west a. the

east the part of a country, region, or place that is in Most of the the east: They live in the east of the city. region's forests are in the east.

Am

E the eastern part of the U.S., especially the East 1 the states east of the Mississippi and north of Washington, D.C. 2 the eastern part of the world, especially China and Japan 3 the countries in the eastern part of Europe

east 2

easy

432

noun [C] a frame used for supporting the paper or board that you are painting or drawing on easily /'izsli/ adv /'izl/

adv toward the east: Drive east until you come Her house faces east. east of (=at a distance to the river. to the east) She lives 40 miles east of Chicago. 3 east /ist/ adj 1 in the east, or facing toward the east: East Africa 2 an east wind the east side of the house blows from the east /ist/

east-bound

/'ist.baond/ adj going toward the east: an

eastbound train

East 'Coast, the

the eastern part of the U.S., along

the Atlantic Ocean

East-End-ers

/.ist'endarz/ trademark a British television soap opera about a group of people who live in an imaginary part of east London

/'istar/ noun [C/u] • a Sunday in March or April when Christians celebrate the time when Jesus Christ died then returned to life according to the Bible a. the holiday period that includes Easter day: The kids get two weeks off school at Easter. Easter 'bunny, the an imaginary rabbit that children believe brings candy on Easter Easter egg noun [c] 1 an egg that children decorate in celebration of Easter

East-er

Children often go on Easter egg hunts to find eggs that have been hidden around their home by the Easter bunny.

2 a chocolate egg that you give to someone as a present on Easter 1 east-er-ly /'istarli/ adj 1 an easterly wind blows from the east 2 toward or in the east 2 east-er«ly /'istarli/ noun [c] a wind that blows from the east

east-ern

/'istsrn/ adj

***

in or

from the east of a

eastern Arizona country or place: an eastern accent the eastern shore of Lake Michigan .Eastern 'bloc, the the group of countries including Russia, Poland, East Germany, and Czechoslovakia that

were controlled by the Soviet Union until 1989 Eastern 'Conference, the a group of professional basketball teams from the eastern part of the U.S. east-ern-er /'istsrnsr/ noun [C] someone who lives in or was born in the eastern part of a country a. someone from the eastern U.S., especially the northeastern part of the country

east-ern-most

'istarn.moost/ adj farthest toward the east: the easternmost Caribbean islands /

Sunday

Easter

noun [c/u] the Sunday in March or April that Easter is celebrated on 1 east-ward /'istward/ adv toward the east: traveling eastward on the highway east-ward 2 / 'istwsrd/ adj toward or in the east: a long eastward journey east- wards /'istwardz/ adv eastward East-wood, Clint /'istwod, klmt/ a movie actor known for playing characters who do not say much but fight or shoot very well

easy

1

/'izi/adj

*•*

not difficult to do, or not needing much work: Finding somewhere to live in New York isn't easy. easy to do This cake is very easy to make. It's a pretty easy game to learn. it is easy to do sth It is not always easy to find good teaching materials in this field. an easy way to do sth The easiest way to get to Hartford is on the train. make sth easy We all thought computers would make our jobs quite/fairly/relatively easy I'll show you how to easier. work the register - it's quite easy. la. not difficult to know, understand, or believe: Here's an easy question to start with. easy to do His explanations are clear and easy it is easy to see It is easy to see why she likes to follow. him. 1b. used about something that is easy to do but may not be the best thing to do: It's no good just making easy answer There are no a few quick easy decisions. easy answers to the problems of our cities. 1c. an easy time is one when you have very few problems or worries: have an easy day/week/year Luckily, I'd had an easy day at the office, so I wasn't tired. have an easy time (of it) Jill hasn't had an easy time of it since her 1

divorce.

2 an easy way of behaving shows that you are happy, confident, and not worried about anything: He'd always admired Doug's easy charm. 2a. be/feel easy (in your to feel confident and not worried: / won't be easy until they're safe at home. informal old-fashioned someone who is easy has a lot of sexual partners

mind) in

my mind

3

get/be given an easy ride informal to experience no problems in a situation that is normally difficult or unpleasant easy money/pickings money that you get without working hard. This expression sometimes shows that you think the money is obtained dishonestly. easy on the eye/ear informal nice to look at /listen to: The book 's layout is easy on the eye. an easy target or easy prey 1 [+for] someone who it is easy to criticize, cheat, or steal from: Military officers Tourists are often easy make easy targets for the press. prey for criminals. 2 an animal that can be attacked

and

killed easily

the easy way out an easy way of doing something or dealing with a problem, but not the right way or the best

way

I'm easy spoken used for saying that you will accept any choice or decision that someone else makes it is all too easy (for sb) to do sth used for saying that it is very easy to make a mistake or to do something that will cause problems: For most people it is all too easy It is all too easy for someone in authority to put on weight. to think that they are better than everyone else. easy (for sb) to do sth used for saying that someone thinks a situation is simple, when it is really very complicated or difficult: It's easy for people in cities to It is easy to forget think that small towns have no crime. that many problems remain to be solved. on easy street informal rich that's easy for you to say spoken used for telling someone that although something may be easy or simple for them, it is not easy or simple for you within easy walking/ driving distance close enough to walk/drive to in a short time: Parking is available within eas-i-ness noun [u] easywalkingdistanceofthemuseum. it is

—

1

-» FREE OPTION eas-y 2 /'izi/ adv ,

••*

breathe/rest easy to relax and stop feeling worried: Just three more questions and then you can breathe easy. / won't rest easy until I get my passport back. sth comes easy (to sb) used for saying that

it is

not

hard for someone to do something easier said than done informal used for saying that something is a good idea but will be difficult to achieve

easy-care

spent

it

easy does it spoken used for telling someone to do something carefully or gently, especially when they are moving something large go easy on sb mainly spoken to not be very angry or severe when you are dealing with someone go easy on/with sth mainly spoken used for telling someone not to use, eat, or drink too much of something: Didn't the doctor tell you to go easy on the salt? take it easy 1 informal to rest and not do things that will make you tired 2 spoken used for telling someone to be calm when they are upset or annoyed 3 spoken used for saying goodbye to someone easy-'care adj easy-care clothes do not need to be ironed after they are

easy chair

washed

noun

eas*y*go*ing

[C]

a large comfortable chair

/.izi'gooin/ adj relaxed, calm,

and not

getting easily upset about things

eas*y lis*ten*ing

relaxing music without complicated tunes or a strong beat

eat

noun

/,izi 'lisnin/

[u]

/it/ (past tense ate /eit/; past participle eat«en/'itn/) verb

***

to put food into your mouth and swallow it: sat on the grass and ate our sandwiches. Don't talk I've eaten too much. while you're eating. Finish your you've hardly eaten anything, a. to eat a parlunch ticular type or amount of food: Do you eat meat /fish/ eggs? It's hard to persuade my family to eat healthy foods. eat well/healthily/sensibly (=eat food that is good for eating you) Many people who live alone don't eat well. habits /patterns (=what someone eats, and when they eat) It will take time to change your children's eating habits, b. to have a meal: We don't eat breakfast together, except on weekends. Beth ate her evening meal in the hotel. Are you ready to eat? +at We ate at a small Chinese restaurant several blocks away. something to eat (=food) Where can we get something to eat? a bite to eat (=a quick meal) Do you want to grab a bite to eat before [l/T]

We

we go? eat sb alive 1 eat sb alive /for breakfast /lunch to defeat or deal with someone easily 2 if insects eat you alive, they keep biting you: We were being eaten alive by mosquitos. eat like a bird to eat very little eat like a horse informal to eat a lot eat sb out of house and home humorous to eat too much of someone's food when you are a guest in their house eat your heart out humorous used for saying that you are doing something much better than a famous person

does eat

it

your words informal

to

admit that you were wrong

about something have sb eating out of your hand to make someone like or admire you so much that they agree with everything that you say what's eating sb? spoken used for asking why someone is

ebb

433

easy come, easy go spoken used for saying that someone has spent money quickly, after getting it easily, and often that they should not worry because they have

annoyed or unhappy

-»

crow

1

eat away phrasal vb [T] eat away or eat into to gradually destroy something: Within a few years inflation had eaten away all the economic gains. eat away at phrasal vb [T] to make someone feel more and more unhappy or worried: You could see that jealousy

was eating away at

something so much that you want to hear or see more: The press argued over the book, and the public was eating it up. eat

it

up informal

to like

Other ways of saying eat

have breakfast/lunch/dinner to eat a particular meal: Have you had breakfast yet? He called while we were having lunch. have something to eat to eat something or to have a meal: We'll stop and have something to eat when we get into town.

snack/have a snack to eat something small between your main meals: We usually have a drink and a snack around 11. No snacking, now! grab a bite (to eat) (.informal) to eat a snack or small meal when you do not have much time: Maybe we could grab a bite at Charlie's before the movie. eat up to finish all the food you have been given: Eat up! There's plenty more.

nibble (at) to take very small bites from your food: She nibbled at her sandwich politely, waiting for the others to arrive.

chew

(on) to use your teeth to break food up slowly your mouth: He was chewing on a piece of celery. munch to eat something noisily and enthusiastically: The kids were munching potato chips in front of the in

TV. stuff yourself (informal) to eat so much that you feel sick or uncomfortable: I'm not surprised you feel lousy, the way you stuffed yourself last night.

eat-a-ble / 'itabl/ adj good enough to eat or safe to eat eat-er /'itar/ noun [C] 1 someone who eats in a particular way: a messy/noisy eater a healthy/big/hearty eater (=someone who eats a lot) He's small, but he's a healthy eater. a picky eater (=someone who does not like many foods) They have a four-year-old child who is a very picky eater. 2 a person or animal that eats a particular type of food: a meat eater eat»er«y /'itsri/ noun [c] mainly journalism a restaurant eat-ing apple /'itirj ,aepl/ noun [C] an apple that you eat raw, not a baking apple eat-ing dis-or-der / itin disprdsr/ noun [c] a medical condition such as anorexia or bulimia in which someone does not eat enough or eats too much, and wrongly

believes that they are too fat

eats /its/ noun a social event:

informal food or meals, usually at won't cost anything, except for booze and

[plural]

It

eats.

eau-de-co-logne/oo da ks'loon/noun

[c/u] a liquid with a pleasant smell that you put on your body. It does not smell as strong as perfume. eaves /ivz/ noun [plural] the bottom edge of a roof that continues out over the walls

eaves-drop

/'ivz.drap/ verb people's conversation without are listening

[I]

to

listen

them knowing

to

other

that

you

her.

eat 'in phrasal vb [i] to have a meal at home instead of in a restaurant —opposite eat out 'eat .into phrasal vb [T] [eat into sth] 1 if an activity or cost eats into your time or money, it uses more of it than you intended 2 same as eat away: The river had eaten into the bank, and part of it had collapsed. eat out phrasal vb [I] to have a meal in a restaurant instead of at home opposite eat in eat 'up phrasal vb 1 [l/T] mainly spoken to eat all of something: Come on, eat up your broccoli. Eat up, and we'll go for a walk. 2 [T] to use large amounts of your available time or money: Having children eats up a lot of a family's income. 3 [T] [eat up sth] to travel a particular distance easily and steadily: They drove on, eating up the distance between themselves and home.

/^

—

be eaten up by /with sth to

a negative emotion so strongly that it is difficult to think about anything else: Paula was eaten up by guilt for days. feel

a

Ieavesdrop

ebb

1

/eb/ noun

[singular] 1

ebb

or

ebb

tide the process

which the ocean level on a coast becomes lower 2 a period when something gradually becomes smaller or less: an apparent ebb in the fighting in

B

ebb (a)

low ebb

to

be in a very small, weak, or

unsuccessful state: My confidence was at its lowest ebb. the ebb and flow 1 the way that a situation keeps

changing between two states, for example in a game, fight, or argument: the constant ebb and flow of popular opinion 2 a situation in which something keeps becoming larger or stronger, and then smaller or weaker: the ebb and flow of their political power ebb 2 /eb/ verb [i] mainly literary 1 if the tide ebbs, the ocean's level on a coast gradually becomes lower. A more usual word is go out. 2 to gradually become smaller or less

ebb and flow 1 to keep becoming smaller or weaker and then larger or stronger: Enthusiasm for reform ebbed and flowed. 2 to keep changing between two states: The battle ebbed and flowed around them. E-bo-la /i'bools/ or E'bola virus noun [u] a serious disease that causes you to bleed from all parts of your body and usually results in death Ebonics or e-bon-ics /I'baniks/ noun [u] a type of English spoken by some African-Americans in the U.S. eb«on«y 1 /'ebani/ noun 1 [c] a tree with hard dark wood 1a. [U] the wood of an ebony tree 2 [u] mainly literary a dark black color eb'Oivy2 / 'ebani/ ad] mainly literary dark black in color: a starless ebony night /'ebsni/ a U.S. monthly magazine for African-

Eb-on-y

e-book

noun

[C]

computing a book published on the

Internet

e«buMient/i'bulJ9nt/adj/orma/ very happy and enthue*buMience noun [u] siastic e-business noun business [u] business done on the Internet a. [C] a company that operates on the Internet:

—

DOT.COM

EBV EC /,i

/

i

bi 'vi/ abbrev Epstein-Barr virus

'si/

for the

abbrev European Community: the old or European Union

name

EU

cash noun [u] money that exists in electronic form and is used to pay for things over the Internet ec«cen«tric /ik'sentnk/ adj someone who is eccentric often behaves in slightly strange or unusual ways: an e-

1

eccentric, difficult

She's regarded as being rather

genius

used about actions, decisions, or things that people make that are strange or unusual: a rather eccentric decision by the referee an eccentric family tradition eccervtri-cal'ly adv 2 ec*cen*tric /ik'sentnk/ noun [C] someone who behaves in an eccentric way eC'Cen-triC'i'ty /.eksen'tnssti/ noun [u] strange or unusual behavior: Mrs. Morton was well known for her eccentric,

a.

—

eccentricity,

a.

[C]

an

strange or unusual:

idea,

Oh

or habit that is one of Carol's little

action,

that's just

eccentricities.

ec-cle-si-as-tic /iklizi'aestik/ noun

[C]

formal a Chris-

tian priest, minister, etc.

ecclesiastical

/iklizi'aestikl/

or

ec-cle-s-

i-as'tic /i,klizi'aestik/ adj relating to the Christian

church

ECG

mainly Br E an ekg ech-e-lon /'ejs.lan/ noun [c] 1 one of the levels of status or authority in an organization, or the people in that level: upper/ lower echelons the upper echelons of /,i si

'd3i/

noun

[C]

power 2 an arrangement of soldiers, ships, or aircraft in which each one is slightly to the right or left of the one in front e-chid-na /I'kidna/ noun [C] a small Australian animal that eats ants and other insects ech*i*na«ce*a /.eks'neija/ noun [u] a plant used in some medicines that help your immune system fight illness

echo

1

/'ekou/ verb

•*

a noise echoes, it is repeated because the sound hits a surface and returns: + around/through Her question echoed around the room. + across The howl of a coyote echoed across the canyon, la. if a building, space, or room echoes, noises are repeated there because it is large and empty: She led him along deserted echoing corridors. 1b. [+with] if a place echoes with a particular [i]

if

sound,

with that sound: The theater echoed with laughter. 1c. echo in your mind/head if something that you have heard echoes in your mind, you seem to keep hearing it 2 [T] to say the same words that someone else has said 2a. to express the ideas or feelings that someone else has expressed: Her feelings are echoed by other parents whose kids have left home. Blake echoed the views of it

is filled

many players.

3

[T]

theme

to repeat a quality or situation: The Victorian is echoed in the furnishings. This pattern of

increased sales

was echoed across Europe.

ech«o 2 /'ekoo/

(plural

ech«oes)

noun

[C]

•

1 a noise that is repeated because the sound hits a surface and returns: the echo offootsteps in the alley 2 an idea or phrase that is like one that has been expressed before: His argument contains clear echoes of 1980s free-market philosophy. 2a. something that is very like a thing that happened or was produced before: the violence of the past and its recent echoes 2b. find an echo (in) if an idea finds an echo in a group or country, people there agree with it

e-clair /ei'kler/ noun [c] a type of cake shaped like a tube with chocolate on top and cream inside e-clat /ei'kla/ noun [u] literary very great success that everyone knows about

cclec-tic

/i'klektik/ adj formal an eclectic group of things, or ideas is interesting or unusual because it consists of many different types: an eclectic mix/collection/variety The song displays an eclectic mix e*clec*ti*cal»ly /I'klektikli/ adv, eclecof influences. ticism /I'klekti.sizsm/ noun [u]

people,

Americans

1

e-commerce

434

be at/reach

—

1

/i'klips/ noun 1 [C] a short period when all or part of the Sun or Moon becomes dark, because of the positions of the Sun, Moon, and Earth in relation to each other. A total eclipse is when the Sun or Moon is completely covered. An eclipse of the Sun is called a solar eclipse, and an eclipse of the Moon is called a lunar eclipse. 2 [singular/u] a time when someone or something starts to seem less successful or important, because another person or thing has become more successful or important than they are: The rise of one aristocratic family usually meant the eclipse of another. be in eclipse Their political power was in eclipse at the

e-clipse

time. 2

e-clipse /i'klips/ verb [T] 1 to make someone or something seem less successful or important, by becoming more successful or important than they are: This tragic accident has eclipsed the two railroad disasters last year. His performance was eclipsed by Francisco's winning home run. 2 to make the Sun or Moon become partly or completely dark because of the position of the Sun, Moon, and Earth in relation to each other

eco- /ekou/

prefix relating to the environment: used with some nouns and adjectives: eco-sensitive management an eco-disaster (=an accident that causes great harm to the environment) eco- friendly ad] designed to cause as little harm as possible to the environment: a new eco-friendly engine

ec-o-log-i-cal /,ek3'lad3ikl/ adj [usually before noun] * 1 relating to trie environment and the way plants, animals, and humans live together and affect each The earthquake has other: worldwide ecological changes caused an ecological disaster. 2 working to protect the environment: It is known as one of the country's leading ecological groups. ,

o-log-i'cal-ly / ek3 lad3ikli/ adv: an ecologically ecologically sensitive areas

— ec-

sound

i

product

/i'kabd3ist/ noun [c] 1 a scientist who studies the environment and the way plants, animals, and humans live together and affect each other 2 someone who believes that protecting the environ-

ecolo-gist

ment is important e«col«o«gy /i'kabd3i/ noun • [u] the study of the environment and the way plants, animals, and humans live together and affect each other a. [C usually singular] the relationship between the plants, animals, and the environment in a particular area: the ecology of the wetlands e-commerce noun [u] buying and selling goods on the Internet

economic particular country or region: Economic growth is slowing factors that hinder economic development 1a. relating to business, industry, and trade: an attack on the government's economic policies New opportunities will emerge as the economic climate improves. 1b. relating to money: Such projects offer social and economic benefits to

our local communities. 2 not costing or spending much money: economical: We must assist our clients in the most economic way. 3 making satisfactory profit from business activities: We are going to have to make some cutbacks in order to to

be economic.

ec-o-nom-i-cal /ika'namikl; .eka'namikl/adj • 1 not spending or costing much money: It would

be

more economical

to switch the machine off at night. the most economical way to run your new business la. used about something that is not expensive to make, buy, or use: The material is an economical substitute for plastic or steel. Of course, the car is not the most economical form of transport. 1b. used about someone who is careful about spending money: He always was economical when it came to buying presents. 2 not wasting anything: a beautifully economical process 2a. an economical movement is done with as little effort as possible: an economical gesture 2b. an economical way of speaking or writing does not use more words than are necessary: Garland's prose is economical

and expressive. be economical with the truth informal to say things that are not true, or not tell everything you know

ec-o-nomi-cally

.eks'namikli/

/.ika'namikli;

adv

•• 1

way, so that there

is

very

little

waste:

The average domestic heating system could be run much more economically. 1a. in a way that does not cost much money: cheaply: You can equip yourself with the necessary tools quite economically.

2

relating to economics or to the economy of a particular country or region: They dismiss the idea that high tax rates are economically harmful. Politically and economically, the country is going through some enormous changes. an economically important industry

economically depressed / devastated / disadvantaged (=experiencing a lot of economic problems) help for some of the country's economically depressed communities 2a. in ways relating to money: The project is both technically and economically feasible. Is your life going to be economically better than your parents' lives?* He was still economically dependent on his mother. economically active people (=who are earning money)

.economic 'cycle

noun [C] the changes that are repeated continuously in a country's economy

.economic 'migrant

noun [c] legal someone who goes to a new country because living conditions or opportunities for jobs are not good in their own country. This used by governments to show that a person is not considered a refugee (^someone who has been forced is

to leave their

[U]

*•

.eks'namiks/ noun the study of the way goods and services are

produced and sold and the way money is managed: Dillon studied economics at Northeastern University. 1a. [only before noun] relating to economics: an economics teacher/ student/ class 2 [plural] the conditions that affect the economic success or failure of a product, company, country, etc.: The simple economics of the case are easy to explain. These new developments radically changed the economics of the newspaper industry. 'scale noun

economies of

[plural]

reductions in the

cost of making and selling products that are possible because a business is very large

e-con-o-mist /I'kanamist/ noun

[c]

made

•

1 an expert in economics, especially one who advises a government department, business, or organization 2 someone who studies or teaches economics e-con-o-mize /I'kans.maiz/ verb [I] to use something such as money or fuel very carefully, so that you waste

as

little

choice

as possible: + on Economizing on food

we

have.

-» economies of scale

it.

2c. (a) false

economy something that seems to save money but will really make you spend more: Buying cheap tools is false economy. 3 [u] the cheapest seats on a plane [only before noun] e'Con-O'iny 2 /I'kanami/ adj 1 economy goods are less expensive than normal goods, usually because you are buying larger quantities: an economy package of paper towels Try the new economy size. 2 economy travel is the least expensive type of air

travel available

e'conomy

.class noun

— e'conomy

class

the cheapest seats on a

[u] adj,

adv

e'conomy class .syndrome

noun

[u]

informal deep

vein thrombosis

e'conomy spend

less

.drive noun

[c]

a period

when you

is

the only

try to

money than usual

eco-sys-tem

/'ekoo.sistam/ noun [c] science all the plants and animals in a particular area, considered as a system with parts that depend on one another

eC'O'tenror-ist/'ekoo.teranst/ noun tries to stop or

damage organizations

—

[c]

someone who

that cause

harm

environment ec«o«terTor«ism noun [u] eoo-tour-ism /'ekou.tonzam/ noun [u] the business of creating and selling vacations that give people the chance to learn about a natural environment, and cause as little damage to the environment as possible eco'tour-ist noun [C] ec-ru /'ekru/ adj very pale brown to the

—

ec»sta«sy

/'ekstasi/ noun [C/u] 1 a feeling of great happiness and pleasure, often sexual pleasure 2 mainly literary an extreme emotional religious state during which you do not realize what is happening around you

be in ecstasies or go into ecstasies to talk in a very excited way about something that you like or admire Ec*sta*sy /'ekstasi/ noun [u] an illegal drug that young people take, especially in nightclubs. Ecstasy

country for political reasons).

economics /.ika'namiks; 1

able to afford

plane

in a careful

word

/I'kunami/ noun •*• 1 [C] the system by which a country's trade, industry, are organized: a modern, industrial economy money and the high-growth economies of Southeast Asia a market/ capitalist/ planned economy 1a. the whole of a country's business, industry, and trade, and the money that they produce: Between 1982 and 1988 the economy grew at an boost/stimulate/ average of about 3 percent per year. revive the economy (=make it stronger) The government has promised to boost the flagging economy. 1b. a country considered as an economic system: three of the fastestgrowing economies in the Asia-Pacific region 2 [u] the careful use of money, products, or time so that very little is wasted: In those days, fuel economy was a central factor in car design. The audit will concentrate on the economy and efficiency of production. 2a. [u] the use of the smallest number of words or movements needed to express or do something well: +of The play achieves its effects with a terrific economy of language. 2b. economies [plural] ways of saving money: make economies I'm sure, if we make a few economies, we'll be

e-con-o-my 1

down.

continue

Edam

435

ec*o*nom*ic /.ikonumik; .eks'namik/adj *** 1 [usually before noun] relating to the economy of a

is

often

called E.

eostat-ic /ik'ststik/ adj extremely happy or pleased ecstafi'caMy ik staetlkli/ adv

ECT

/,i

si

'ti/

abbrev electroconvulsive therapy:

a

medical treatment for serious mental illness in which electricity is passed through your brain eC'top-ic /ek'tapik/ adj medical an ectopic pregnancy is one in which a baby starts to grow outside its mother's womb e-cu /'ekju/ noun [C] European Currency Unit: a unit of money used by businesses that trade in Europe. It was replaced by the Euro. ec-u-men-i-cal /.ekja'menikl/ adj encouraging different Christian churches to work and worship together ecze-ma /'eksama; ig'zims/ noun [u] a medical condition that makes your skin dry, sore, and itchy ed. abbrev 1 editor 2 edition 3 education: used in the names of some courses of study involving education: Sharon teaches Special Ed. in an elementary school. E-dam /'idom; ida-m/ noun [C/u] a round, light yellow cheese covered with red wax, made in the Netherlands

eddy ed'dy

/'cdi/ noun [c] a current of water or air that against the main current in a circular pattern

moves

ed-dy 2 it

/

edi/ verb

[i]

if

a current of water or air eddies, in a circular pattern

moves against the main current

e-de-ma

/I'dima/ noun [u] medical an illness in which parts of your body become swollen because they contain too much liquid

E-den

/ idn/ noun 1 Eden or the Garden of Eden in the Bible, the beautiful place where the first humans, Adam and Eve, lived 2 [C] a beautiful peaceful place: The city is a remote and beautiful Eden.

edge

1

editorial

436 1

/ed3/ noun

•••

ed-i-ble /'edabl/

adj

food that

is

enough is

safe or good The food in the cafeteria

edible

is

to eat: edible mushrooms barely edible (=it tastes very bad).

e-dict /'idikt/ noun [C] formal an official order given by a government or person in authority ed-i-fi-ca-tion /.edifi'keijn/ noun [u] formal for sb's edification done in order to increase someone's knowledge or improve their character ed-i-fice /'edafis/ noun [C] formal 1 a large impressive building 2 a complicated system or policy ed«i«fy / 'eda.fai/ verb [T] formal to teach someone something that increases their knowledge or improves their character

1 part farthest out

2 sharp side 3 advantage

of blade/tool

4 strange quality 5 angry tone invoice + PHRASES

the part of something that is farthest from its center: Bring the two edges together and fasten them securely. + of A new mall is to be built on the edge of town. Victoria was sitting on the edge of the bed. 2 [C] the sharp side of a blade or tool that is used for cutting things: the knife's edge 3 [singular] an advantage that makes someone or something more successful than other people or things: give sb/sth an/the edge over sb/sth Training can give you the edge over your competitors. 4 [singular] a strange quality that something such as a piece of music or a book has that makes it interesting or exciting: There is an edge to his new album that wasn't 1

[C]

there in the last one.

5 [singular] a quality in the way someone speaks that shows they are becoming angry or upset: +to/in Had she imagined the slight edge in his voice?

on the edge to have a life with many dangers and risks, especially because you like to behave in an extreme and unusual way on edge nervous and unable to relax because you are live

worried on the edge or close to the edge so unhappy or confused that you are close to doing something silly or becoming mentally ill on the edge of sth nearly in a particular state or condition: He seemed to be poised on the edge of Hollywood success. She hovered on the edge of sleep. on the edge of your seat/chair very excited and interested in something because you want to know what

happens next take the edge off sth

make a

strong feeling less strong: Aspirin will usually take the edge off the pain. The thought briefly took the edge off her enjoyment. -» TOOTH to

edge 2

/ed^/ verb 1 [i/t] [+toward/ away/ along etc.] move somewhere slowly, carefully, and with small movements, or to make something do this: / looked over and saw Michael edging toward the door. She edged the to

car out into the street. 2 [i] [-t-up/higher/down/lower] mainly journalism if a number or price edges higher or lower, it moves up or down a little at a time: Food prices edged up by 0.2 percent in November. 3 [T] to form the edge of something, or to put something around the edge of another thing: A breeze shook the tall trees that edged the lawn. 4 [J] E to beat someone by a small amount in a sport or competition In Monday 's games, the Dodgers edged the Mets 2-1.

Am

:

edge out phrasal vb [T] to beat someone in a competition by a small amount .Eileen Petersen edged out Victor Frazer by 27

votes.

edge-ways / 'ed3,weiz/ or edge-wise / 'ed3,waiz/ adv

ed-i-fy-ing /'eda.fanrj/ ad) formal teaching you something that increases your knowledge or improves your character

Ed- in

burgh

Fes-ti-val,

tival of theater, dance,

the /.ednbara

not get a word in edgeways to not manage to say something because another person is talking a lot /'ed3ip/ noun [u] something that forms the edge of something else: table linen with lace edging edg-y /'ed^i/ adj 1 in a bad mood because you are worried or nervous: irritable 1a. used about a situation when it is difficult to feel calm because people are angry or upset: Talks between the nations were reportedly edgy today. 2 music, movies, books, etc. that are edgy are strange in a way that is interesting or exciting

edg-ing

a

fes-

year in Edinburgh, Scotland 1 ed-it /'edit/ verb [t] *• 1 to make a book or document ready to be published by correcting the mistakes and making other changes: Her original text has been heavily edited. 1a. to make changes to a computer file on screen: The program enables you to copy and edit files in the usual way. 1b. to make changes to a movie, or to a television or radio program before it is shown or broadcast: The segment, once edited, ran 12 minutes. 1c. to make changes to a piece of film or a video, taking out the parts that you do not want 2 to be the editor in charge of a newspaper or magazine: She edits a prestigious medical journal. 2a. to produce a book by choosing, arranging, and explaining things that other people have written: the collection of essays edited by Frank Palmer He edited the letters of

Matthew Arnold. edit out phrasal vb [T] to remove parts of a movie, television, or radio program that are not wanted before it is

shown or broadcast 2

/'edit/ noun 1 [C] the process of editing something such as a book, document, or movie: The text is very messy and needs a close edit. 2 U a menu in some computer programs that allows you to cut, copy, or move parts of a document or file, or look for particular

ed-it

[

words in it ed-it-ed /'editad/

adj

]

an edited account of an event

is

not exactly true or accurate

e-di-tion /i'dijn/ noun [C] ** a set of copies of a newspaper or magazine that are published at the same time: The letter appeared in the Sunday edition of the local newspaper. a copy of the latest edition of our magazine the December edition of Better Homes and Gardens a. a set of copies of a book that are published at the same time. A new edition of a book is different in some way

from the edition before. A set of copies that are exactly the same as the set before is called a reprint: He had an entry in the 1993 edition of the Guinness Book of Records. This remark did not appear in revised editions of the work.

editor /'editar/

*•*

noun [c] 1 someone whose job is to be in charge of a newspaper ormagazine:£/zeedzforo/^eLosAngelesTirnes 1a. someone whose job is to be in charge of a particular section of a newspaper, magazine, or news organization: the CNN's Tokyo editor political /sports /fashion editor -» EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

2 someone whose job is to edit books, documents, or movies She worked as a script editorfor years. 2a someone who produces a book by choosing, arranging, and explaining things that other people have written: the editor of thefour-volume History of Literature 2b. someone whose job is to produce books for a publisher by finding writers and working with them 3 a computer program used for writing or editing documents, files, or programs ed-i-to-ri-al /.eda'tarial/ noun [C] a newspaper article in which the editor gives their opinion on an issue in .

:

sideways: Pack the plates edgeways with plenty of paper between them.

festivl/

and music that takes place every

1

the news 2 ed«i«to«ri«al /.eda'tarial/ adj relating to the editing of ed-i-to-ri-aMy adv books, magazines, newspapers, etc.

—

editorialize

Ed-ward-i-an /ed'wordion/

editorship / 'edatarjip/ noun

eek /ik/

:

,

effect

437

ed-i-to-ri-al-ize /.eda'tDm.laiz/ verb [i] 1 to let your opinions show in a piece of writing where you should only be giving facts: Inexperienced reporters are often tempted to editorialize. 2 Am E to express an opinion in an editorial The Wall Street Journal and the Washington Times have editorialized against the current U.S. policy. editor-in-chief noun [c] the most senior editor working on a newspaper or magazine who decides what will be printed in it editor of a

EDT

[u]

the job of being the

newspaper or magazine

abbrev Eastern Daylight Time: the time used in the eastern U.S. from April to October edu / 'ed33/ abbrev educational institution: used in Internet addresses di

/,i

'ti/

educate /'ed33,keit/ verb •*

[t often passive] to

teach

someone, usually for several years, especially at a school, college, or university: She was educated at Smith College and Yale Law School. More and more parents are choosing to educate their children at home. educate sb in

and sciences. someone necessary or useful knowledge: a TV miniseries that will both educate and entertain educate sb about sth The mining museum was built to sth All the children were educated in both arts a.

[I/T]

to give

educate people about their local history. educate sb to do sth Our job is to educate young people to think about the environment.

Someone who teaches students about particular subjects, usually in a school or university, educates them: He was educated at a school in Paris.

The government spends more on weapons than on educating its children. Someone who takes care of their children until the children are adults and who teaches them about life raises them: / was raised in the city. My parents raised me to always tell the truth.

ed-u-cat-ed

/'ed33,keit3d/ adj an educated person has received a good education and has a lot of knowledge: a dating service for educated, professional people a. used about the standard to which someone has been educated: Interpreters should be highly educated as well as well educated The people who work here are well fluent. educated and open-minded, b. used about the place or way in which someone was educated: He is a Princetoneducated lawyer. traditionally educated students c. an educated guess a guess that is likely to be right because it is based on knowledge of the situation

ed»u«ca«tion /,ed33'keijn/ noun [u] the activity of

1

•••

educating people in schools,

col-

and universities, and all the policies and arrangements concerning this: the state's record on education and

leges,

training

the Secretary of Education 1a. [C usually singular]

someone's experience of learning or being taught / came :

complete my education. the responsibility of parents in the education of their children have /get an education He wants his children to have a good education. a college education She was the first in her family to get a college education. 1b. [only before noun] relating to education the government 's education policies 1c. U the activity of teaching about a particular subject: religious/ science/ sex education + in education in art and design 2 [u] the process of providing people with information about an important issue: public education about legal problems the development of a health education policy to

Canada

to

[

:

]

be an education (to/for sb) used for saying that an experience makes someone change or develop their ideas: Seeing India firsthand was a real education for me. ed-u-ca-tion-al /,ed33'keij3nl/ ad] ••* relating to education: better educational opportunities women educational achievements /qualifications giving people useful knowledge: We found the program educational and informative. an educational video ed-U'ca-tiorval'ly adv 1

for

2

—

ed-u-ca-tion-al-ist /,ed33'keij3nlist/ noun BrE an expert in education ed«u-ca«tor /'ed33,keit3r/ noun [c] • 1

someone who teaches or who

is

[C]

mainly

involved in running

a school

2 someone who is an expert in education ed-u-tain-ment /,ed33'tcmmont/ noun [u]

television

programs, videos, software, etc. that entertain you while they teach you something

the styles that were popular in the U.K. at the time of King Edward VII: Edwardian furniture

EEC, the

EEG

/,i

i

name

the old /,i

si/ the European Economic of the European- union

'd3i/

i

adj in

noun

[C]

machine that records

1

Community:

electroencephalograph: a

electrical activity in the brain a medical test of electrical

2 electroencephalogram: activity in the brain

interjection often humorous used for showing or pretending that you are frightened eel /il/ noun [C] a long thin fish that looks like a snake and can be eaten e'en /in/ adv literary even legal equal employment opportunity: EEO abbrev the U.S. government policy that everyone should have the same chance to get a job and the same pay, conditions, and treatment at work, whatever their race, national origin, sex, age, religion, or physical condition EEOC /,i ou 'si/ Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: a U.S. government organization that makes sure people can get jobs without being treated in an unfair way because of their race, sex, religion, or age e'er /er/ adv literary ever ee«rie I'm I adj strange and mysterious, and sometimes frightening: There was an eerie resemblance between them. ee-ri'ly adv: The forest was eerily silent.

AmE

i

—

ef«face

/ifeis/ verb

[T] literary

disappear 2 to remove a one's

1

memory

to

make something

or feeling from some-

mind

efface yourself to make yourself so that others won't notice you

seem

less

important

ef-fect /ifekt/ noun •** 1 [C/u] a change that is produced in one person or thing by another: an adverse/beneficial effect (=a bad/ good effect) East German companies were suffering the adverse effects of German economic union. + on /upon 1

Scientists are studying the chemical's effect on the environment. have an effect on sth Any change in lifestyle

will have an effect on your health. effect The agreement has

have some /little /no

NAFTA had little effect on the of most Americans. reduce /counter the effect(s) of sth Relaxation can reduce the negative effects of stress on lives

the

immune

system.

2

[C] an appearance or reaction that is deliberately produced, for example by a writer, artist, or musician: The bold colors in this room create a dramatic effect. That's exactly the effect I wanted. get/produce/achieve an effect Students should learn how they can achieve dif-

ferent stylistic effects in their writing. 2a. effects [plural] special artificial images and sounds created for a movie: special effects: / didn't think much of the plot, but the

were amazing. 2b. [C usually singular] an artificial to a surface or to an object: marbleeffect wallpaper 3 [C usually singular] technical something that regularly happens, according to a law, for example in science: the Doppler effect what economists call "the multiplier effect" 4 effects or personal effects [plural]/orma/ the things that belong to you effects

appearance given

come into effect if a new rule or law comes into effect. it starts to be used: The law came into effect on New Year's Day. +from The tax came into effect from April 1st. for effect if you do something for effect, you do it in order to impress people in effect 1 used for giving a summary of what you think the situation really is: In effect, this means we'll all have to work longer hours for the same pay. 2 if a law or rule is in effect, it is operating: There's still a flood watch in effect across much of southwestern Ohio. put/bring/carry sth into effect to start to use a plan or idea so that it becomes real and has practical results: / hope the government will put the report's main recommendations take effect 1

into effect.

to start to produce the results that were intended: Try to relax for a couple of hours until the pills take effect. Measures to reduce costs are beginning to take effect. 2 if a new rule or law takes effect, it starts to be used: The new schedule will take effect from the beginning of May.

I

effect to the effect that or to this/that effect used for showing that you are giving a general idea of what someone said instead of their actual words: Harry murmured something to the effect that they would all meet Margaret soon enough. Then Sally said, "Who is this then?" or words to that effect. to good/full/little etc. effect used for saying what kind of result something has: He has used my advice to good The concerto's slow movement was used to memoeffect. rable effect in the movie 2001. He turned the key in the ignition but to no effect. with effect from formal used for saying when something will start: Trade sanctions have been imposed with effect from April 1. / am resigning from the party with

immediate

- SIDE

effect.

EFFECT

Words

frequently used with effect

adjectives

adverse, beneficial, cumulative, damaging, detrimental, dramatic, harmful, immediate, major, negative, positive, profound,

1

serious, significant, substantial

effect 2

/ifekt/ verb [T] formal * to make something happen: carry out: If correctly administered, such drugs can effect radical cures.

*••

ef-fec'tive/i'fektiv/adj 1 someone or something that is effective works well and produces the result that was intended: Humor is often far more effective than shouting. You need effective communication within the organization. The troops should be deployed where they will be most effective. against The new vaccine is highly effective against all -i-

strains of the disease. effective way /method /means This is a very effective way of controlling pests and weeds. 1a. attractive or impressive, and producing a definite effect: The decorations are easy to make, yet very effective.

2 formal when a law

or agreement becomes effective, it begins to be used: +from Government ministers reached a 30-month agreement, effective from July 1. 3 [only before noun] used for saying what the situation really is, although its appearance or official description might be different: The U.S. military is in effective control of the entire region. 3a. used for saying what is really having a particular effect, although other things may be involved in a situation: the effective agents in the spread of the disease ef*fec*tive*ness noun [u] officially

—

Words

frequently used with effective

nouns

deterrent, intervention,

mechanism, method, treatment,

means,

1

strategy,

way

ef -f ec-tive-ly /ifektivli/ adv ••* 1 in a way that works well and produces the result that you intended: a system that could deliver services to local communities more effectively 2 used for saying what the situation really is, although its appearance or official description might be different: With Australia 24 points ahead at halftime, the game was effectively over.

Effectively the loan is interest-free.

ef-fec'tu-al /ifektjual/

adj

formal producing the

effect

that you intended: effective: Nothing could be more effectual in calming her mind than silence. ef*fectu*al*ly

—

adv

ef-fec«tu«ate /ifektju.eit/ verb [T] very formal to make something that you have planned happen: carry out ef -fem-i-nate /ifeminat/ adj an effeminate man looks, behaves, or speaks like a

ef-fer-vesc-ent

woman

an

siastic:

noun

—

[U] /I'fit/ adj

mainly

literary

not strong or brave, or

moral character a. used about a man who looks or behaves like a woman ef*fete*ly adv efficacious /.efi'keijas/ adj formal producing the effect that you intended: effective ef*fi*ca*cious*ly

weak

in

—

—

adv

effi«ca«cy

effi-cien-cy

/I'ftjnsi/

noun

••

1 [u] the ability to work well and produce good results by using the available time, money, supplies, etc. in the most effective way: the search for lower costs and greater efficiency The inspectors were impressed by the speed and efficiency of the new system. improve/increase efficiency new technology aimed at improving efficiency and customer service

2 [C] Am E an efficiency apartment efficiency apartment noun [c]AmEa small

apart-

ment

that usually already has furniture and has no separate bedroom, and only a very small bathroom and kitchen

ef «f i-cient /I'fijnt/ adj ••• something that is efficient works well and produces good results by using the available time, money, supplies, etc. in the most effective way: The new machine is far more efficient than the efficient way/method The most efficient way to old one. plan is to put your tasks in order of priority. make efficient use of sth This process makes efficient use of limited resources, a. someone who is efficient works well and quickly and is good at organizing their work in the way that gets the best results: The hotel staff is friendly and efficient. highly efficient He became a highly efficient

General Secretary.

— ef*fi*cient*ly adv

ef f i-gy / 'efid3i/ noun [c] a model of someone, especially one destroyed in a protest against them /'efin/ adj, adv impolite used for emphasizing what you are saying, especially when you are angry or annoyed, but want to avoid the more offensive word

effing

"fucking"

ef flu«ent

/'efluant/ noun [c/u] liquid waste such as sewage (=human waste) or waste from a factory ef fort /'efart/ noun •** 1 [C/U] an attempt to do something that is difficult or involves hard work: an effort to do sth The restructuring was part of an effort to boost company profits. in an effort to do sth Detectives are talking to other witnesses in an

corroborate her confession. make an effort to do Make a conscious effort to drink less tea and coffee. make little/no effort The drivers made no efforts to check

effort to

sth

their vehicles.

was trembling

an effort of will/imagination/memory She violently, but with a determined effort of

despite sb's efforts The man died despite the doctors' efforts to revive him. a concerted/joint effort effort by the nations of the world to protect our environment 2 [singular/u] physical or mental energy needed to do will she stopped.

(=made together) a concerted

something: The aim is to obtain maximum reward for minimumeffort.+physical mental effort The sheer physical effort of shopping is a burden to most of us. take/ require effort Writing a book requires a lot of time and put effort into sth Mary put a lot of effort into this effort. project. with an effort Nathan controlled his temper with

an

effort.

[C] the activities of people who are working together achieve a particular goal: international relief efforts 4 [C] informal something that someone produces or creates, often something of poor quality: His first effort in 1991 was a collection of short stories. *As smiles went it was a poor effort.

3

to

be an effort mainly spoken to be difficult, tiring, or boring to do: It's sometimes a real effort just to get up in the morning. make the/an effort (to do sth) mainly spoken to do something even though you do not want to or you find it difficult: / wish you'd make the effort to get along with her.

Metaphor

efbr'vesnt/adj 1 producing a lot of fizzy 2 lively and enthueffervescence effervescent personality /

small bubbles of air or gas:

effete

effort

438

/'efikasi/ noun [u] formal effectiveness in producing the result that you intended

When you like

put a

lot

of effort into doing something,

it

is

using a part of your body.

Does she have the backbone to stand up to them? Or They only succeeded by using will she just give in? Put a little more elbow grease their political muscle. into it. My heart's not really in it. I had to sweat my guts out to get it done in time. We all need to put our shoulders to the wheel. Just try to put your I've been keeping my nose best foot forward now. He was the kind of boss who to the grindstone. liked to get his

hands

dirty.

effortless

big, brave,

combined, concerted,

1

determined, feeble, great, individual, joint, last-ditch,

massive, solo, sustained, team, vain, valiant, wasted

ef-fu-sion

/i'fju3n/ noun [C/U] mainly literary an act of expressing feelings strongly or in an uncontrolled way

expressing happiness, admiration, praise, etc. in an extremely enthusiastic way ef-fu-sive-ly adv, ef-fu-sive-ness noun [u] /I'fjusiv/ adj

—

EFL

/,i ef 'el/ noun [u] English as a Foreign Language: English taught to people who need to learn it for business, travel, or education, and who do not live in an English-speaking country. English taught to people who go to live in an English-speaking country is called ESL (=English as a Second Language).

EFTA

/'efts/ the European Free Trade Association: an organization of European countries that have a special trade relationship with the European Union but are not

e.g. or

of

eg

it

/,i

'd3i/ abbrev for

example: used for giving details of work

an example of what you mean: Give experience, e.g. weekend or vacation jobs.

From the Latin expression exempli means "for the sake of example."

gratia,

which

— e-gal-i-tar-i-an-ism noun [u] /eg/ noun ••*

principles 1

the round object with a shell that a female bird produces and a baby bird develops in. The mother bird lays an egg, and later the egg hatches and the baby bird comes out: a hen's I pigeon's I sparrow's egg an ostrich egg la. [C/U] a hen's egg used as food: We had scrambled eggs for breakfast. an egg salad sandwich 2 [C] a small object produced by a female insect, frog, snake, etc., that a young animal comes out of 3 [C] a cell produced inside a woman or female animal that develops into a baby if it is fertilized by a sperm (=a male cell) 1

[C]

sb can't even boil an egg humorous used for saying that someone cannot cook even the simplest food a good egg informal old-fashioned a good or reliable person have/get egg on your face informal to be embarrassed or appear stupid because something you tried to do has gone wrong lay an egg informal to fail completely in what you are trying to do

put all your eggs in one basket to depend completely on just one idea, plan, or person so that you have no other possibilities if things go wrong -» WALK 1

fried

egg

Am E a vegetable with E aubergine —picture -»

[c/u]

en

egg

'roll

noun

pancake

filled

[C] a Chinese food consisting of a type of with vegetables and sometimes meat and

then rolled up

egg-shell 1 /'egjel/ noun 1 [c] the hard outside layer of an egg 2 [U] mainly Br E a type of paint that is only slightly shiny

egg-shell 2

/'eg.Jel/ adj like

an

eggshell, for

example

white-yellow in color, not very shiny, or thin and eggshell china -* walk cate: eggshell enamel

deli-

1

egg timer

noun

[C]

a small glass object containing

sand, used for measuring the time that you need to boil an egg ,egg 'white noun [c/u] the clear part of an egg that becomes white when you cook it e-go / 'igoo/ noun 1 [c] the opinion you have of yourself and your own importance: a guy with a huge ego boost sb's ego (=make them feel more confident) She needed to boost her ego. a bruised ego (=a loss of confidence) The occurrence left him with a badly bruised ego. 2 [singular] technical the conscious part of the mind that is responsible for thinking and understanding

something

—

compare id e-go-cen-tric /.igoo'sentnk/ adj behaving as if you are more important than anyone else, and not caring about other people

e-gal-i-tar-i-an /i.gaeli'terian/ adj supporting a social system in which everyone has equal status and the same money and opportunities: a society run on egalitarian

egg

[c]

a smooth, dark purple skin. Br

effortless skills ef-fort-less-ly adv ef-front-er-y /iTrAntsri/ noun [u] formal behavior that is rude or shows a lack of respect

members

eg.hed/ noun

egg-plant / 'eg .plaent / noun

ef •fort-less /'efarttas/ adj done well or successfully and without any effort: jumps executed with seemingly

ef-fu-sive

informal someone who has a lot of knowledge and intelligence and is only interested in academic subjects egg-nog /'eg.nag/ noun [u] a drink made from eggs mixed with milk, sugar, and alcohol

egg-head /

Words frequently used with effort adjectives

eighth

439

scrambled eggs

e-go-ma-ni-ac / ,igoo'memi,aek/ noun [c] someone who behaves in an unreasonable or crazy way because they think that they and their ideas are extremely important

e-go-tism /'igou.tizam/ noun [U] formal a feeling that you are more important than other people and need not care about them e-go-tist /'igootist/ noun [c] formal someone who thinks they are more important than other people and need not care about them e-go-tis-ti-cal / ,igou'tistikl/adj thinking you are more important than other people and need not care about them: self-centered e-go-tis-ti-cal-ly /.igoo'tistikli/ adv 'ego ,trip noun [c] informal a situation in which you feel important or admired and only care about increasing these feelings: She's not just some kid on an ego trip. e-gre-gious /i'grid33s/ adj very formal extremely bad e-gress /'i.gres/ noun [u] very formal the action of leaving a place —opposite ingress e-gret /'igrat/ noun [c] a white bird with long legs that lives near water E-gyp-tol-o-gy /,id3ip'tabd3i/ noun [u] the study of ancient Egypt and its culture, history, and language, as shown by the buildings and objects that still exist. A student of Egyptology is called an Egyptologist. eh /ei/ interjection 1 informal used for showing that you do not understand what someone is saying, or that you are surprised by it: Eh? What's that again? Eh? You must be joking! 2 used for asking someone to agree with you: Pretty good, eh? Eid /id/ noun [u] the name of two festivals in the Muslim religion. The more important one, Eid ul-Fitr, is celebrated at the end of Ramadan. ei-der-down /'aidar.daon/ noun [c] mainly BrE oldfashioned a warm cover for a bed, filled with feathers

—

eight eight

/eit/

number the number

8

Am

.ball, the noun E behind the eight ball informal in a difficult situation in which people are blaming you or expecting you to take action: The company was behind the eight ball due to a recent drop in sales.

eight-een /ei'tin/ number

egg

/eg/ verb ,egg 'on phrasal vb [T] to encourage to do something they should not do egg-cup /'eg.kAp/ noun [C] a small container used for holding a soft-boiled egg while you eat it

someone

the

number

18

— eight-eenth

number

eighth /eitO/ number 1 as number 8: the eighth

in the place or position counted of each month 2 one of 8 equal parts of something: an eighth of an inch

"

eighth note eighth note noun

eighty

-eightieth / eiti/ number the number 80 number ei-na / cmo/ noun South African 1 [u] pain or difficulty

2

[C]

a pain or injury

ei-ther

/

idor/ function

word

•••

Either can be used in the following ways: in the expression either.

«

either

.

.or:

Students could choose

You can either come by bus

French or Spanish.

or take a

elder

440

AmE a

musical note played for one-eighth as long as a whole notk (c]

taxi.

as a determiner (followed by a singular countable noun): a long room with a door at either end as a pronoun: Olive oil and corn oil are both fine, so you could use either, (followed by "of): Does either of you speak Chinese? as an adverb (in negative sentences): Jerry wasn't there either.

eke

/ik/ verb eke out phrasal vb [T] to get just enough money or food to be able to continue to exist: eke out a living/an existence The family barely manages to eke out a living from their small farm. a. to make something such as money or food last as long as possible: Their meager supplies have to be eked out throughout the winter.

EKG I

kci d3i/ noun [C) Am E 1 electrocardiogram: a recorded measurement that shows how fast your heart is beating 2 electrocardiograph: a piece of equipment that measures how fast your heart is beating \

elaborate

**

1

/i'kcb(o)rot/ adj very detailed and complicated: The government's new healthcare plan is the most elaborate yet. a. used about something that is more complicated than is practical or necessary: / took little notice of John's elaborate preparations for travel, b. used about something that has a lot of extra details or features that make it special: There are times when it is appropriate to have a more elaborate flower arrangement. e-lab-o-rate-ness noun [u]

—

e-lab-o-rate 2

When

either is the subject of a sentence, it is usually used with a singular verb: Is either of them at home? But in spoken English a plural verb is sometimes used: Are either of them at home?

one or the other of two people or things, especially it does not matter which: Check or credit card you can use either. Applications are welcomed from people either sex and any age. + of It was a long time before of either of them spoke, la. either. ..or (...or) used for showing two or more possibilities or choices: You must answer either yes or no. You can contact us either by 1

when

phone, by e-mail, or by letter. When there's a crisis, they either do nothing or do something totally useless. 1b. either. .or used for saying that one of two things has to happen or be true: Either you come with us, or you stay at home with your mother. Either he forgot about the meeting or he deliberately stayed away - I don't know which. 1c. either way used for saying that it does not matter which of two things happens or is true, because the result will be the same: Maybe the boy was really sick, or maybe he was just exhausted - either way they

/i'lsba,reit/ verb [i] to give more details or information about something: +on The police refused to elaborate on the circumstances of the arrest. e-lab-o-ra-tion /i.lifiba'reijn/ noun [u]

e-lan

/ei'la; ei'lsn/ noun [u] mainly literary enthusiasm, confidence, and style

e«lapse/f heps/ verb

[\] formal if time elapses, it passes: Another hour elapsed and still the wind continued to howl. /i.laepst 'taim/ noun [u] the amount of time that has passed since a particular process started, especially compared to the amount of time that was allowed for in a plan 1 e- las-tic /riaestik/ noun 1 [u] a material that stretches easily and can return to its original shape. Elastic is

elapsed time

.

would have to stop. in negative statements referring to both of two people or things: Jackie could play the piano and sing, whereas I couldn 't do either. Most of the troublemakers were not fans of either team. + of / didn t like either of the candidates. -» also 2a. used for adding that a negative statement is also true of another person or thing: It's a problem I can't solve, and I don't think anyone else can either. We tried another method, but that didn't work either. 2b. used for adding a negative statement that emphasizes how good, bad, impressive, etc. something is: He did a superb job, and he didn 't have any help either. 2c. me either Am E spoken used when someone else has made a negative statement and you mean it is also true of you. This is considered to be incorrect by speakers of British English who would say me neither: "I don't like horror movies. " "Me either.

2 used

either side/end/hand etc. each of two sides/ends/ hands, etc.: Her parents were sitting on either side of her. There were stairs at either end of the hall. Pierce entered the room carrying a briefcase in either hand.

e-jac-u-late /i^aekja.leit/ verb [i/t] 1 if a man ejaculates, semen comes out of his penis during sex 2 oldfashioned to suddenly say or shout something e«jac«U'la'tion/i,d3skJ3ieiJn/noun 1 [c/u] the action of ejaculating 2 [C] old-fashioned a sudden loud remark

often

sewn

into clothes to allow them to stretch. elastic band

2

[C]

Am E old-fashioned an 2

e«las«tic /ilsstik/ adj 1 made of elastic: an elastic wristband 2 something that is elastic is able to stretch or bend and then return to its original shape: You want the dough to be smooth and elastic. 3 able to change when the situation changes: a man of rather elastic morals elas-tic-i-ty /ilae'stisati/ noun [u] 1 the ability of a substance to stretch and then return to its original shape: the strength and elasticity of silk 2 the ability to change when the situation changes: the elasticity of the job market

elas-ti-cized /I'lssta.saizd/ adj AmE containing elastic and therefore able to stretch easily e-lat-ed /i'leit3d/ adj extremely happy and excited e-la-tion /i'leijn/ noun [u] a feeling of great happiness and excitement el-bow /'elboo/ noun [c] ** the part in the middle of your arm, where it bends: She sat with her elbows on the table, a. the part of a sleeve that covers your elbow 1

— picture -» body

at sb's elbow beside someone: Jim elbow, trying to say something. -> ass

el-bow

was hovering

at her

2

/'elboo/ verb [T] to push or hit someone with your elbow: She elbowed him sharply in the ribs. a. elbow your way through/to/towards to get somewhere by using your elbows to push through a crowd of people

'elbow grease noun that

you do

to clean

[u]

informal hard physical

work

something

elbow room

noun [u] 1 enough space around you so you are comfortable 2 the freedom to do what you want, without other people annoying you that

or shout 1 [T] formal to make someone leave a place, especially using physical force: eject sb from sth A group of noisy protestors were ejected from the meeting. 1a. to force someone to leave a job or organization 2 [T] to make something come out from a machine, for example a videotape from a video machine or a CD from a computer 3 [i] if a pilot ejects, they are thrown out of their plane by their ejection seat, because the plane is likely to crash e«jec«tion /i'd3ek Jan/ noun

e«ject /i'd3ekt/ verb

—

[C/U]

e-jec-tion seat /i^ekjan ,sit / noun AmE a seat in a plane that will throw a pilot up and out into the air if

ehder 1

/'eldar/ noun [c usually

plural]

*

someone in your family or community who is older than you: We were always taught to respect our elders. 1a. an older and experienced member of a group or organization who gives advice and makes decisions: a He had the support of party council of village elders 1

1b. a member of a Christian church or other religious organization who is not a priest but is in a position of authority 2 a small tree with black berries (=small round fruit) elders.

be sb's elder to be older than someone, especially someone in your family: be 10 years/3 months etc. sb r

the plane

is

likely to crash

elder

Sharon was her twin 's elder by just 20 minutes. 2 el-der /'eldar/ adj * [only before noun] older than someone, especially someone in your family: The elder son works on a farm. elder brother /sister advice from

my elder brother a. the elder the person who is older, especially of two people in the same family: The elder of the two had lost his job as a teacher. elder

abuse

noun

[u]

people by the people

AmE

who

cruel treatment of old are supposed to look after

them el-der-ber-ry / eldar beri / noun [c] a small round black fruit that grows on an elder tree: elderberry wine eld-er-care /'eldar.ker/ noun [u] AmE the business of caring for old people eld-er-ly /'eldarli/ adj *** an elderly person is old. Many people now think that this word is offensive but it is often used in talking about policies and conditions that affect old people: An elderly gentleman was standing Not all elderly people can live with at the hotel counter. their relatives.

This treatment

who are

and

elderly

Many people now

is

unsuitable for patients

the elderly old people. think that this expression is offensive. frail,

a.

1

e-lec'tive /ilektiv/ ad) 1 an elective position is one that someone holds because people have voted for them 2 elective medical treatment is treatment that you choose to have, rather than treatment that is necessary 2a. Am E an elective class or course in school or college is one that you choose to take rather than one that you

must take 2 e«lec«tive /ilektiv/ noun [c] AmE a course or class that you choose to do, rather than one that you must do elec'tor /riektar/ noun [c] someone who has the right to vote in an election

••

electoral

relat/riekt(3)ral/ adj [only before noun] ing to elections: He became president in 1999 under a new The Democrats are promising electoral electoral system. reform (^changes to the way elections are held) within It was the party's fourth electoral defeat. five years.

electoral college noun

[c] a small group of people the responsibility of electing someone to an important position

who have

the Electoral College the people chosen by voters in individual states to elect the president and vice president of the United States

e-lec-tor-ate

-» OLD

.elder statesman noun [c] 1 someone with a lot of experience in politics or government who is given a lot of respect 2 an experienced and respected member of a group or organization

eld-est

1

/'eldsst/ adj [usually before noun] oldest of the people in a group, especially the children in a family: My eldest daughter is a doctor, a. the eldest the oldest person in a group, especially the oldest child in a family: He was the eldest of three brothers.

eld-est

2

/ eldsst / noun [singular] informal the oldest child in a family: Her eldest is getting married next month.

Dorado

El /el da'reidoo/ an imaginary place where people can find a lot of money and valuable things the name of a place in South America where 16th-century Spanish explorers believed they could find a lot of gold and silver.

From

e«lect

electrification

441 ten years my elder, though she looked a lot be sb's elder by 10 years/ three months etc.

was

elder She younger.

1

/i'lekt/ verb [T]

***

to choose

someone by

voting so that they represent you or hold an official position: Every nation should have a right to elect their own government. elect sb to do sth We were elected to

noun

/i'lekt(3)r3t/

[c usually singular] all

the people who are allowed to vote in an election: a policy designed to appeal to all sections of the electorate

complex /ilektra kampleks/ noun [singular] the unconscious sexual feelings that a daughter has towards her father, according to the psychoanalytic theories of Sigmund Freud e-lec-tric/i'lektnk/adj •• 1 working by electricity: an electric motor /drill /razor/ toothbrush houses without electric light 1a. used for carrying electricity: an electric outlet /plug/ cord 1b. relating to electricity: an electric current 2 extremely exciting: The atmosphere here tonight is E-lec-tra

absolutely electric.

Electric describes things that use electricity to electric iron /shaver /guitar

make

them work: an

Electrical is used in more technical contexts when referring to the manufacture or use of electricity: electrical wiring an electrical engineer Electrical is also used with general nouns when referring to things that are powered by electricity: equipment an electrical appliance

electrical

and that's what we will do. The council is popular vote. elect sb to sth Carol Moseley became the first black woman to be elected to the Senate. elect sb as sth Lee Yuan-tzu was elected the next day as Vice President. elect sb president/chairman/leader etc. Stoica was elected executive chairman of a new steering

e-lec-tri-cal /ilektrikl/ adj working by electricity: They sell all kinds of electrical equipment and appliances. a. relating to electricity: The fire was caused by an elec-

committee.

electrical

tackle poverty, elected by

elect to

do sth formal

choose remain at home.

had elected to 2 e«lect /r'lekt/

to

to

do something: They

adj [never before noun] elected to

***

[c] an occasion when people vote for someone to represent them, especially in government: Only about 20% of the people voted in the local elections. hold elections The new regime is promising to hold free elections as soon as possible. +to Elections to the city council are held in November. +for She is standing for the first time in elections for the National Assembly. win/lose an election They have only recentlywon an election under his leadership. contest/fight an

election The parties formed an alliance to contest the 1988 legislative elections, a. [u] the process of electing a person or group of people: With the election of a new leader, the country became relatively stable. +to a candidate for election to the Council + as His election as President will mean changes in foreign policy, b. [only before noun] relating to an election: the presidential election campaign local election results an election victory/

e-lectioneering

/i.lekjo'ninn/ noun [u] things that politicians say and do to persuade people to vote for them in an election, often things that do not seem

sincere or fair

electrical engineering

trical fault.

storm

noun

[c]

a storm with thunder and

lightning (=loud noises and bright flashes of light): thun-

derstorm

an impor-

tant position, but not yet given that position officially: the president-elect of South Korea

e*lec*tion /I'lekjan/ noun

**

e lectric blanket noun

[c] a blanket heated by elecused on a bed blue very e, lectric adj bright blue electric chair noun [c usually singular] a chair to which

tricity,

someone

is

fastened and legally killed, especially in the electrical current passed

by having a very strong through their body U.S.,

electrician whose job

is to

electricity

/ilek'tnjn; .ilek'tnjn/ noun [c] someone repair or fit electrical equipment /ijek'tnssti;

ilek'tnsati/

noun

[u]

•••

a form of energy that can produce light, heat, and power for machines, computers, televisions, etc.: The machines run on electricity. a supply of electricity Switch off the electricity before you attempt any repairs. generate/ produce electricity Household waste could be burned to generate electricity. conduct electricity (=let it pass through) Salt water conducts electricity more easily.

e lectric shock noun

[c] a sudden strong pain caused by electricity passing through your body e-leC'tri'fi-ca'tion /ilektrsfi'keijn/ noun [u] the process of making something work by electricity, or of bringing a supply of electricity to a building or town:

+ of the electrification of rural areas in the early 20th century

1

lo

electrified

fence

e«lec«tri»fy /i'lcktro,fai/ verb [t] 1 to make someone feel extremely excited News of the discovery has electrified scientists worldwide. 2 to provide something such as a town or a transportation system with a supply of :

e-lec-tri-fy-ing /I'lektro.fann/ adj extremely exciting e-lec-tro /riektroo/ noun [u] a type of African-American electronic music that developed in the 1980s and often includes rap

electrocar-di-o-gram [C]

/i.lektroo'kardb.grsm/

an ekg

elec-trocar-di-o-graph noun

[C]

el-e-gant /'cbgont/adj •• 1 elegant places and things are attractive because they are beautiful in a simple way: an elegant silk dress an elegant room/ house/ restaurant 1a. an elegant person is attractive and graceful in their appearance and behavior

2 an

elegant theory or solution is impressive because simple and effective: Their solution was much more elegant than mine. — el-e-gance noun (u): She moved with it is

electricity

noun

elementary school

442

e-lec-tri-fied /I'leklro.faid/ adj something that is electrified has electricity passing through it: an electrified

/i.lektroo'kardb.graef/

an ekg

electrocon-vul-sive

ther-a-py

/ilcktrookon

vaIsiv '0erapi/ noun [u] ect

natural elegance, -el-e-gant-ly adv: an elegantly dressed young man el-e-gi-ac /eb'd-jUiok/ adj formal expressing sadness, especially because someone has died or something no

longer exists /'cbd,3i/ noun [c] a poem or other piece of writing expressing sadness, usually about someone's death

el-e-gy

el-e-ment

e-lec-tro-cute /iicktro.kjut/ verb [T] to kill or injure someone with electricity — e'lectro-cu'tion /i.lektrs

positive and one negative. e-lec-tro-en-ceph-a-lo-gram .grasm/ noun

[C]

/ilektrooen'sefsb

an eeg /ilektrouen'sefab

e-lec-trol-y-sis /i.lek'trabsis; .ilek'trabsis/ noun [u] 1 science the process of sending electricity through a liquid in order to change it 2 the process of using a small current of electricity to remove hair permanently e-lec-tro-lyte /I'lektra.lait/ noun [C] science a liquid that electricity can pass through e-lec-tro-mag-net /i.lektrou'maegnst/ noun [C] a powerful magnet that uses electricity to create its force

e-lec-tro-mag-net-ic /i.lektroumaeg'netik/ adj relating to the use of an electric current to produce a MAGNETIC FIELD

e-lec-tro-mag-net-ism

/i.lektrou'maegna.tizam/

magnetism that is created by electricity electron /i'lek,tran/ noun [c] * a part of an atom that moves around the nucleus (=center) and has a negative electrical charge compare neutron, proton e'lec-tron-ic/ijek'tranik; ,ilek'tranik/adj *** using electricity and extremely small electrical parts such as microchips and transistors an electronic calculator electronic equipment a. involving the use of electronic equipment, especially computers: an electronic voting [u]

—

:

system

— e-lec-tron-i-cal-ly /i.lek'tranikli;

,ilek'tranikli/

adv

e-lec-tron-ic-a /i.lek'tranika/ noun [u] any type of music that is produced using electronic instruments electronic 'mail noun [u] e-mail electronic 'monitoring noun [u] Am E a system that allows the police to know where a person is all the time, using electronic equipment that the person wears on their body .electronic 'publishing noun [u] the business of publishing books or documents in a form that you can read on a computer, for example on a cd-rom e-lec-tron-ics /i.lek'traniks; .ilek'traniks/ noun [u]

•• the science and technology that uses or produces electronic equipment: the electronics industry an electronics engineer 2 electronic equipment or equipment with electronic parts: Weather can interfere with a car's electronics. 1

e lectron 'microscope noun [C] a very powerful microscope that uses waves of electrons instead of light e-lec-tro-plate /I'lektra.pleit/ verb [T] to cover a metal object with a thin layer of another metal, especially silver

noun

or gold, using electricity

noun

— e-lec-tro-plat-ing

[u]

e-lectro-shock ther-a-py [u]

ect

4

••• 5 earth/air/fire/water 6 weather + PHRASES

for heating

an important basic part of something complicated, for example a system or plan: an important/ essential element Our new management system includes two essen1

+in Advertising is not the only element in + of Fieldwork is a key element of this course. 1a. one set of people in a group or organization: The article reflected the views of extreme righttial elements.

the marketing process.

e-lec-tro-en-ceph-a-lo-graph .graef/ noun [c] an eeg

noun

[c]

2 in science 3 small important amount

'kjujn/nounM e-lec-trode /Tlek.trood/ noun

[c] a small metal object that allows electricity to flow through it. In most types of electrical equipment, there are two electrodes, one

/'elimont/ noun

1 basic part of sth

/i.lektroojak

,9erapi/

wing elements

in the party.

2

science a substance that consists of only one type of atom: hydrogen, oxygen, and other elements 3 [singular] [+of] a small but important amount of a particular quality or feeling: There is an element of truth in what she said. The element of surprise could be one of our best weapons.

4

the part of a piece of electrical equipment that pro-

duces heat

5

earth, air, fire, or water, considered in the past to be the substances that all things were made of 6 the elements [plural] the weather, especially wind and rain: The hood provides added protection against the elements.

be in your element

to feel

very happy and comfortable

in a situation

be out of your element

unhappy and uncom-

to feel

fortable in a situation the elements of sth the first and most basic things that you learn about a subject: a two-day course on the elements of design

el-e-men-tal /cb'mentl/

adj

1

powerful and basic,

especially because of being connected with the forces of nature: the elemental presence of the landscape 2 science consisting of a simple chemical element: elemental particles

el-e-men-ta-ry /,eb'ment(3)ri/adj * 1 relating to the most basic and important part

of something: basic: They clearly failed to take even the most elementary precautions. 1a. relating to the first and most basic things you learn about a subject: a course in elementary German elementary reading skills 2 easy: elementary tasks 3 relating to the first years of school: elementary education

elementary, my dear Watson humorous used for saying it is very easy to understand or solve something

that

This phrase is thought to have been said by the detective Sherlock Holmes to his friend Dr. Watson in the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930), but in fact the character never says this in any of the stories.

elementary that

[c] science one of the parts example a proton or neutron

'particle noun

make up an atom,

elementary .school

for

•

noun [c] in the U.S., a school for children between the ages of five and about eleven: grade school: / haven't seen him since we were in elementary school. an elementary school teacher

elephant

*

a very large wild animal that lives in Africa and Asia. It has thick gray skin and a very long nose called a trunk: a herd (=large group) of African elephants —picture -» ci2 In the U.S., the elephant Republican Party.

is

[C]

the symbol of the

ele-phan-tine/.eb'fientin/adi/orma/ very large, slow,

and not graceful improve the el»e«vate /'eb.veit/ verb [T] 1 formal status or importance of something or someone: We need to work together to elevate the position of women in society. elevate sb/sth to sth The brilliant script elevates the film to

to the status of a classic, la. to give someone a more important job or position: promote: elevate sb to sth The President elevated him to the chairmanship of the council. lb. to improve something, especially your mind or

feelings: music that elevates the spirit 2 technical to increase the level of something: raise: Hormone treatment

was shown to elevate cancer risk. 3 formal to raise something to a higher physical position: raise: We are looking at elevating homes that have been devastated by this flood. el-e-vat-ed /'eb.veitad/

adj formal 1 raised above the ground, or higher than the surrounding area: an elevated railroad/ highway 1a. at a higher level or amount than previously or than is normal: the dangers of elevated blood pressure 2 more important or higher in status: an elevated position in society 3 at a high level mentally or morally: elevated notions /standards el-e-vat'ing /'eb.veitin/ adj formal causing people to think about serious, important, or moral subjects

el-e-va«tion /.eb'veifn/ noun formal 1 [C] the height of an area of land, usually measured from sea level 2 [C] technical a side of a building as you would see it in a drawing by an architect: The museum's front elevation faces the university. 3 [C/u] an increase in the level of something 4 [u] the belief that something has more importance or higher status than other similar things: the elevation of feeling over reason 4a. the act of giving someone higher status or a more important position: +to His elevation to the position of Head of State took place in 1936.

Am *

el-e- va-tor / 'eb.veitar/ noun [c] E a machine that carries people up and down between the levels of a tall building. Br E lift

'elevator music noun [u] a type of quiet recorded music that is played in public places such as airports e-lev-en /ilevn/ number the number 11 eleven-plus noun [singular] an examination taken in the past by children in the U.K. at the age of eleven to decide which kind of school they would go to e-lev-ens-es /ilevnziz/ noun [u] Br E informal old-fashioned something small to eat and drink in the middle of the morning, between breakfast and lunch e«lev«enth /i'levn9/ number 1 in the place or position counted as number 11: my eleventh birthday 2 one of 11 equal parts of something the eleventh hour the last possible moment that you can do something, especially prevent something bad from happening: An agreement was reached at the eleventh hour.

elf /elf/ (plural elves /elvz/) noun person with magic powers elf 'in /'elfin/

elope

443

el-e-phant /'ebfont/ noun

adj

[c]

a small imaginary

small and thin with a delicate appear-

ance

most eligible bachelors /,chd33'bibti/noun[U]

e-lim-i«nate

voters. 2 to manage to get information from someone: Their research had elicited very little so far. e-lide /i'laid/ verb [T] linguistics to leave out a sound when you say a word or group of words

60% of

••

el«i-gi-ble/'elid33bl/adj 1 allowed by rules or laws to do something or receive something: Fifty-one percent of eligible voters voted in favor. +for If you are eligible for financial help, we will tell you how to claim. eligible to do sth She will be eligible to compete in the next Winter Games. 2 considered to be suitable as a marriage partner because you are rich or attractive: He is one of the

Europe today.

/I'limi.neit/ verb [T]

— eM*gi*bil*i*ty

**

not wanted or needed: Many infectious diseases have been virtually eliminated. eliminate sth from sth He has had to eliminate dairy prod1

to get rid of

something that

is

ucts from his diet. [usually passive]

to remove someone from a competition or election: Half of the candidates were eliminated round of interviews. 3 to decide that someone or something is not responsible for something: We've eliminated the possibility that Police who intersomeone started the fire deliberately. viewed the man are eliminating him as a suspect.

2

after the first

4 to murder someone who is considered to be a problem e«lim'i«na«tion/i,limi'neijn/noun 1 [u] the process of getting rid of something that is not wanted: +of the elimination of all nuclear weapons 2 [C] defeat in a competition: The team are still stunned by their elimination from the World Cup. 3 [u] the murder of someone who is considered to be a problem process of elimination the process of deciding something or solving a problem by getting rid of wrong solutions first: We identified the disease by a process of elimination.

e-li-sion /i'lijn/ noun [u] linguistics the practice of leaving a sound out when you say a word or group of words, for example when you say it quickly in ordinary conversation

*•

1

e^lite /I'lit/ noun [c] 1 a small group of people who have a lot of power or advantages: the elites of wealth and power political/ legal /social elite members of the political elite 2 the best or most skillful people in a group: Only a small elite among mountaineers can climb these routes. 2

/i'lit/ adj [only before noun] an elite group has a high status because it contains the best of its kind: an elite squad /unit /corps e-lit-ism /I'lit.izsm/ noun [u] the belief that a small group of people who have a lot of advantages should keep the most power and influence: The older universities were accused of elitism. clit-ist adj, noun [C] e-lix-ir /I'likssr/ noun [C] literary a liquid that people believe has magic powers, for example the ability to make you live for ever

e«lite

—

E-liz-a-be-than

when

Elizabeth

/i.lizs'biGn/ adj relating to the

was the queen

I

— E*liz*a*be*than noun [C]

time

of England, 1558-1603

elk /elk/ noun

[c] a type of large deer that lives in North America, Europe, and Asia: moose el-lipse /flips/ noun [C] a shape similar to a circle but longer than it is wide

el*lip*sis /riipsis/ (plural el»lip»ses/i'lip,siz/) noun [u] linguistics the practice of leaving a word or words out of a sentence when they are not necessary for understanding it

ellip-ti-cal /i'liptikl/ adj 1 suggesting what you mean rather than saying or writing it clearly 2 shaped like

an

ellipse

EMis

ls-land /'elis ,aibnd/ an island near New York City that, in the past, was the place that dealt with people arriving from other countries to come and live in the U.S.

elm

e*lic*it /iiisit/ verb [J] formal 1 to make someone react in that way: The question elicited a positive response from

in

/elm/ noun

1

[c]

that fall off in winter

a large tree with round leaves [u] the wood of the elm tree

2

Ni-no /el 'ninjoo/ a change in the currents of the Ocean off the South American coast that can seriously affect the weather in the region, often causing major problems such as floods

El

Pacific

el-o-cu-tion /.eb'kjujn/ noun [u] the skill of speaking clearly and with an accent that is considered correct

e-lon-gate

/I'brj.geit/ verb [i/t] to

make something

become longer or

to

longer: lengthen

e-lon-gat-ed /I'brj.geitad/ adj longer and narrower than is normal or natural: elongated fingers e«lope/i'loop/verb [i] if two people elope, they go away secretly to get married

— e*lope*ment noun [C/U]

eloquent expressing what you mean using clear and effective language: an eloquent speech el-o-quence noun [u], el-o-quent-ly adv

else

/els/

adj

adv***

word such as "what," "who," "how," or Who else was with you? Where else did

"much" and

"little": /

have

used for stating the second of two posYou could drive to Chicago, or else fly there and .

***

else- where /'elswer; 'els.hwer/ adv formal in, to, or at another place or other places: Car prices in the U.K. are higher than elsewhere in Europe. In 1998 the market closed down and traders moved elsewhere. The question is discussed elsewhere in the book. You'll have to go elsewhere to get that information. from elsewhere The government is unlikely to help, so the money must come elsewhere.

ELT

/,i el 'ti/ noun [u] mainly BrE English Language Teaching: the teaching of English to students whose first language is not English

e-lu-ci-date/i'lusi,deit/verb [\/i] formal to make something easier to understand by giving more information: CLARIFY

e-lude

/i'lud/ verb [J] formal 1 if a fact, idea, or word eludes you, you cannot remember or understand it: The details of the case elude me. la. to not manage to achieve an aim: Financial success eluded him. 2 to manage to escape or hide from someone or something: escape: a criminal who eluded the authorities for six years

/i'Iusiv/ adj an elusive person or animal is difficult or impossible to find or catch: The rebel leader proved elusive. a rare and elusive bird a. difficult or impossible to achieve: An agreement to end the fighting remains elusive, b. difficult to remember or understand: elusive memories e-lu-sive-ly adv, e-lu-sive-ness noun

e-lu-sive

—

[u]

'em

plural of elf

em

or

/am/

shows how e-ma-ci-at-ed that

it

short form a way of writing "them" sounds in informal conversation

/I'meiji.eitad/ because of serious illness or ci-a-tion /i.meiji'eijn/ noun [u]

to

adj

extremely

lack of food

thin

— e«ma-

noun •** messages from one computer another: We communicate by e-mail. Do they have e1

e-mail or e-mail 1

[

/'i.meil/

U a system for sending ]

mail?

2

send a

me the list. name that you

[c]

an individual

neit/ verb formal 1 [i)[+from] to come from a particular place: She could hear raised voices emanating from her parents' room. Wonderful smells emanated from the kitchen. 2 [l/T] if you emanate a lot of a quality or feeling, you show it without expressing it in words: A sense of joy emanated from him. em-a-na-tion/ems'neifn/noun [C/U]

—

emancipate

/I'rmensi.peit/ verb [T] formal to give to someone: liberate

/I'maensipeitad/ adj formal free and allowed to have the same rights as other people: liberated a. an emancipated woman is not limited by traditional ideas about what women can do

emancipation

/i.mamsi'peijn/ noun [u] formal the process of giving freedom and rights to someone: liberation: the emancipation of slaves

Emanci pation Proclamation, the document that gave freedom

the official

to slaves in the U.S.

during

the 19th century

world! 1

elves the

to

e-mail: You can e-mail

emancipat-ed

little else to offer.

rent a car. either. .or else Either he's asleep, or else he's just ignoring me. 2 used for saying that there will be a bad result if something does not happen: We'd better Always check the leave now or else we'll miss our train. oil level, or else you risk damaging the engine. 3 mainly spoken used for threatening someone: Give me back those letters or else I'll scream. or else (=used when you do not say what you are threatening to do) You'd better do what I say, or else! 4 mainly spoken used for saying that something must be true, because the situation would be different if it were not true: You know I really care about you, or else I wouldn 't be here. I'm sure they 're safe, or else we'd have heard something. -» nothing

from

someone by

freedom and rights

used for showing that you are referring to other things, people, places, etc., apart from the particular ones that you mention or know about: You can't tell anyone else it's a secret between you and me. Before we do anything else, we have to sit down and make a list. There isn't much else to tell you. What else have you been doing wrong, Kelly?* The police had already interviewed everyone else. This could only happen in the United States - nowhere

sibilities:

e-mail with

**

em-a-nate /'emo

"whatever": you go?

or else

to

/'i.meil/ verb [t]

use to receive e-mail on the Internet

pronoun such as "something," "nothing," "anyone," or "everyone": He married someone else. Is there anything else you wanted? after the adverbs "somewhere," "anywhere," "everywhere," and "nowhere": You'll have to sit somewhere else.

else in the

me an

the details.

e-mail 2 or e-mail

e-mail ad dress noun

Else can be used in the following ways:

after

written message sent by e-mail: Send

message

after a

after a

embarrassed

444

el-o-quent /'ebkwont/

(U] the messages that you receive by e-mail: She checks her e-mail first thing every morning. 2a. [C] a

emasculate

/I'lTUEskja.leit/ verb [t] formal 1 to reduce the power or effectiveness of something: He has closed opposition newspapers and emasculated the courts. 2 to make a man feel weaker and less male

— e-mas-cu-la-tion/i.mxskja'leifn/noun [u]

em-balm /im'bam/ verb [t] to preserve a dead body using chemicals. A person who does this as a job is called

an embalmer.

em-bank-ment /im'bsqkmant/

noun [c] a sloping wall of earth or stone beside a road, railroad, or river picture -> C6 1

em-bar-go /im'bargoo/

(plural em-bar-goes) noun [C] a government order preventing trade with another country: an arms /oil/ trade embargo* put/place/impose/ lift an embargo on sth The Senate voted to lift the economic embargo on Vietnam. 2 a government order preventing a piece of information from being published until a particular time em-bar-go 2 /im'bargoo/ verb [T] 1 to stop trade with another country by means of a government order 2 to order officially that a piece of information should not be published until a particular time em-bark /im'bark/ verb [i/t] •• to get on a ship in order to begin a trip, or to put someone or something opposite disembark on a ship: We embarked at Naples. —em-bar-ka-tion/.embar'keijn/ noun [C/U] embark on phrasal vb [T] 1 embark on or embark upon to start a new project or activity, usually one that will be difficult and take time: embark on/upon sth After The leaving college, Lucy embarked on an acting career. new government embarked upon an energetic legislative program. 2 to start a journey by ship: embark on sth We embarked on a voyage to the Caribbean. em-bar-rass /im'berss/ verb [t] * 1 to make someone feel nervous, ashamed, or stupid in a social situation: It embarrassed me to have to give

1

—

my opinion in public. 2 to cause problems

for someone, especially an organization or politician: The protest may have been timed to embarrass the President.

/im'berast/ adj • ashamed of someand worried about what other people will think of you: I've never felt so embarrassed in my entire life. + by Laura did not like to admit that she was embarrassed + about He was embarrassed about the by her sister. nature of his illness. too embarrassed to do sth They were too embarrassed to ask someone to help. a. making you feel uncomfortable because you do not know what to say or do: They sat in embarrassed silence.

em-bar-rassed thing,

Embarrassed describes how you feel: I felt so embarShe looked embarrassed rassed about my mistake. when she fell. Embarrassing describes things or situations that make you feel embarrassed: I found the whole situation embarrassing. It was a very embarrassing accident.

embarrassing

ask such embarrassing questions. 1a. used for describing something that is very bad: This performance was embarrassing.

2 causing problems for someone, especially an organization or politician: a scandal that could prove embarenvbar*rassMng*ly adv rassing for the government

—

Words frequently used with embarrassing adverbs

acutely, deeply, highly, intensely,

1

em-bar-rass-ment/im'berasmant/ noun • 1 [u] a feeling of being nervous or ashamed because of what people know or think about you: I felt my face burning with embarrassment, la. [C] someone or something that makes you feel ashamed: +to He is such an

2

to his family.

someone or something

that causes problems for an organization or politician: +to The court case was a huge embarrassment to the company. [C]

an embarrassment of riches it is

so

many good

things that

choose between them /'embssi/ noun [c] 1 a group of

difficult to

em-bas-sy who represent

officials

their government in a foreign country. The most important official in an embassy is called an ambassador: The British embassy declined to comment. 2 the building where such officials work em-bat-tled /im'baetld/ adj 1 mainly journalism experiencing a lot of problems and likely to be defeated or destroyed: He called on the nation to give the embattled president a chance. 2 involved in fighting, especially by

being surrounded by

enemy

soldiers:

The situation

is

deteriorating in the embattled northwest of the country.

em-bed

/im'bed/ verb [t] 1 to fix something firmly in a surface or object: embed sth in sth She let go of the knife, leaving it embedded in the wood. 2 to make something a fixed and important part of something else: Traces of earlier ways of life are embedded in modern society. 3 computing to make images, sound, or computer software a part of other software

em-bel-lish /im'beliJV verb [i/t] 1 to make a story more interesting by adding details, especially ones that are not completely true 2 to make something more beautiful by decorating

it

em-bel-lish-ment /im'belifmsnt/ noun [c/u] 1 a detail added to a story to make it more interesting, or the process of doing this 2 a decoration added to something in order to make it more beautiful, or the process of doing this

em-ber

/'embar/ noun 1 [c] a piece of wood or coal hot and red after a fire has stopped burning 2 embers [plural] the last moments or parts of something: the embers of the past

that

is still

embezzle

/im'bezl/ verb [i/t] to steal money that people trust you to take care of as part of your work — em-bez-zle-ment noun [u], em-bez-zler noun [C]

em-bit-ter-ed /im'bitard/ adj angry and unhappy about things that have happened to you in the past

emblazoned /im'bleiznd/ ad] printed, drawn, or decorated in a very noticeable

way

emblem / 'embbm/ noun [c]

1 a design or object that is a symbol of something such as a country or organization 2 something that is generally accepted as a symbol of a quality, idea, or principles dove, the emblem of peace

emblemat-ic

/embb'maetik/

adj

formal generally

accepted as a symbol of something

embod-i-ment

/im'badimant/ noun [singular] [+of] something or someone that is the best possible example of a particular quality, especially a good one: He is the very embodiment of kindness. em-bod-y /im'badi/ verb [t] • 1 to be the best possible example of a particular idea, quality, or principle: The spirit of hope is embodied in the character Anna. 2 formal to include something: the freedoms embodied in the treaty

em-bold-en /im'booldn/

formal to give someone more confidence to do something medical something em-bo-lism /'embohzom/ noun [C] such as a blood clot (=a mass of blood cells) that blocks a blood vessel in your body em-bossed /im'bDst/ adj decorated with a raised design: embossed silver /paper 1

em-brace

/im'breis/ verb

verb

[T]

••

to completely accept something such as a idea, or way of life: Most countries have enthusiastically embraced the concept of high-speed rail1

[T]

new

terribly

embarrassment

emergence

445

em-bar-rass-ing/im'berasin/adj * 1 making you feel nervous, ashamed, or stupid: The / wish he wouldn't situation was most embarrassing.

formal belief,

roads. 1a. to accept and include something: The scope of foreign policy expanded to embrace areas previously considered unimportant.

2

[I/T]

to

show

mainly

literary to

put your arms around someone

love or friendship

em-brace

2

/im'breis/ noun [c] formal the action of putting your arms around someone to show love or friendship em-bro-ca-tion /.embra'keijri/ noun [c/u] formal a substance you rub on your body to reduce pain or relax

your muscles

em-broi-der /im'broidar/ verb

i/t] 1 to decorate cloth with a design of colored stitches: an embroidered handkerchief 2 to make a story or an account of an event more interesting by adding details you have invented em-broi-der-y /im'broidari/ noun [c/u] a design of [

colored stitches on cloth a. [u] the activity of decorating cloth with colored stitches

em-broiled /im'broild/ adj involved in a difficult situation: + in We must avoid becoming embroiled in another scandal.

/'embri.oo/ noun [C] 1 an animal or human it is born, when it is beginning to develop and grow 2 the beginning of something such as a plan or

em-bry-o before idea:

in

Planning

embryo

is still in its

embryo

stages.

in the early stage of life, before birth in the early stages of planning and development 1

2 em-bry-ol-o-gy /,embri'abd3i/ noun

[u]

the scientific

study of embryos

em-bry-on-ic /.embri'anik/

just beginning to embryonic industry 2 relating to adj

1

develop and grow: an an animal or human embryo

em-cee

AmE

1

/,em'si/ noun [C] someone who introduces speakers or performers at a social event or show: MASTER OF CEREMONIES em-cee 2 /em 'si/ verb [i/t] to introduce speakers or performers at a social event or show e-mend /i'mend/ verb [t] to correct mistakes in something, especially a piece of writing before it is printed e-men-da-tion /imen'deijn/ noun [C/U] em-er-ald 1 /'emerald/ noun [C] a bright green stone used in expensive jewelry em-er-ald 2 /'em(3)rald/ or .emerald green adj bright green in color Emerald Isle, the literary a name for Ireland

—

e«merge/rm3rd3/

verb

[i]

***

1 to come out of something or out from behind something: + from After a few weeks, the caterpillar emerges from its cocoon. + into The doors opened and people began to emerge into the street. 2 to stop being involved in a difficult situation or period of time: + from The country is slowly emerging from

a recession.

3

to

ning

become known: Some disturbing rumors were beginto emerge. it emerged (that) It emerged that he

had saved a

+from Three child by donating his kidney. important factors emerged from our discussions. 3a. to appear or become recognized: No new leader has emerged to take his place. + as Cities like Atlanta are emerging as important new financial centers.

e'mengence/rm3rd33ns/

noun

[u]

*

1 [+of] the process of appearing or becoming recognized: the emergence of the modern French state the emergence of English as the medium of international com-

munication

2

[+from] the process of stopping being involved in a difficult situation or period of time: the company's emergence from bankruptcy

1

emergency 1

emer-gen-cy 2

/i'm3rd39nsi/ ad] [only before noun] • used or done during an emergency: He underwent emergency surgery. An emergency session of Congress was called. emergency lights

emergency

.brake noun [c] Am E the piece of equipment in a car that you use for preventing the car from moving when it is parked, or in an emergency. The brake that you usually use for stopping the car is called

the foot brake, —picture -» cs

AmE

emergency cord

noun [c] a chain that a passenger can pull to stop a train immediately in an emergency emergency room noun [c] the part of a hospital where you take someone who needs immediate care, for example someone who has had an accident e mergency services noun [plural] the organizations that deal with fire, crime, accidents, and injuries, for example the police and the fire departments e«merg-ing /i'm3rd3in/ or e-mer-gent /i'm3rd39nt/ adj just beginning to exist or be noticed: an emerging consensus that global warming is a reality emerging businesses /markets /economies

AmE

e-mer-i'tus /I'mentss/

someone such as a professor, chairman, or president if they no adj

used in the

title

of

longer do that job

em-er-y board

/'emari ,bord/ noun [c] an object with a rough surface used for shaping your fingernails

e*met*ic /I'metik/ noun [C] medical a substance that makes you vomit — e«met«ic adj emi-grant /'emigrant/ noun [c] someone who leaves their country in order to live in another country. They are known in their new country as an immigrant. em»i*grate /'emi.greit/ verb [i] to leave your country in order to live in another country: +to We're thinking of emigrating to New Zealand. envi*gra»tion/ .emi'greijn/

—

noun[C/U] /'emi.grei/ noun [c] someone who has left their country in order to live somewhere else, especially because they disagree with their country's political system em-i-nence /'eminsns/ noun formal 1 [u] importance because of impressive achievements, character, or status 2 [C] an important, respected person 2a. used

e»mi*gre

for referring to a cardinal

in

the

Roman

Catholic

Church: His Eminence, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey em*i*nent /'eminsnt/ adj important, respected, and admired: He is one of Britain's most eminent scientists. eminent do'main noun [u] legal in the U.S., the government's right to take private property for public use. for example to build a railroad, and its responsibility to pay for the property em«i-nent'ly / emmsntli/ adv formal very or very much: Mike seemed eminently more intelligent than the rest of the team.

e*mir /I'mir/ noun

e-mirate

[C]

a male leader in a

Muslim country

/I'mirat/ noun [c] a country ruled

by an emir

/'emi.seri/ noun [c] formal someone who does a job for a government or a leader, especially someone who delivers a message for them

em*is»sar*y

e-mis-sion /i'mijn/ noun

•• [c] a substance, especially

a gas, that goes into the air: New regulations are aimed at reducing vehicle emissions. + from Emissions from power stations have declined since 1979. a. [u] the act of sending gas, light, or heat into the air: + of the emission of green-

house gases

e-mit

/I'mit/ verb

1 to send something out into the or heat: Pulsars emit radiation. a sound: He emitted a low moan.

[T]

air, especially gas, light,

2 formal

to

emphatic

446

/rm:ird3ansi/ noun [C] • •• an unexpected situation involving danger in which immediate action is necessary: Carry a medical kit for emergencies. in an emergency In an emergency, call this number. in case of emergency It s illegal to use the fire alarm except in case of emergency, a. an unexpected situation in which immediate action is necessary to prevent a bad situation from becoming worse: The club is now facing a financial emergency. -» state of emergency

e-mergen-cy

make

Em-my

in the U.S., an award given work in television

emi/ trademark

/

each year

people

to

e-moMient

who

1

/I'mulpnt/ noun [c] formal a substance that you rub on your skin to make it softer or less painful

e«moMient 2 /i'malJ3nt/adj/orma/

1

designed to

make

your skin softer or less painful 2 intended to make you calmer or less angry emolument /I'mulpmant/ noun [c] very formal payment that you receive for your work

e-money

noun [u] e-cash /['moot/ verb [i] to express an emotion in a very obvious way e-mo-ti-con /irnooti.kan/ noun [c] a symbol that you type in an e-mail or text message to show how you feel. For example the emoticon :-) means happy or friendly. e-mo-tion /i'moo fn/ noun [c/u] •*• a feeling that you

e-mote

experience, for example love, fear, or anger: Jealousy is an uncomfortable emotion. +Asa nurse I learned to control my emotions. The controversy aroused strong emotion.

e-mo-tion-al /I'moojanl/ adj ••• 1 relating to feelings and the way they life: physical and emotional well-being He

affect is

in

your

need of

emotional support.

2

affected by and expressing strong emotion, especially sadness or anger: Some patients became very emotional. It was an emotional reunion. 2a. causing strong emotions such as sadness and anger: This is such an emoe*mo*tion*aMy adv. It's better not to become tional issue.

—

emotionally involved with

clients.

.emotional blackmail noun to persuade a feel guilty

[u] a method of trying person to do something by making them

.emotional 'cripple noun [u] offensive an insulting word for someone who has emotional problems that prevent them from having good personal relationships with other people

emo-tion-less /I'moojnbs/ ad] showing no emotion e*mo*tive /I'moutiv/ adj causing strong feelings: a highly emotive issue

empana-da

/.empa'nada/ noun [C] a type of food consisting of a piece of soft flat bread folded around pieces of meat or fruit and cooked in oil

em-pa-thet-ic /'empa.Oetik/ adj able to understand how someone feels because you can imagine what it is like to be them

empathize

[i] to understand how because you can imagine what it is like be them: She empathizes with Kim because of her own

someone to

/'empa.Baiz/ verb

feels

experiences as a mother.

em*pa»thy / empaOi/ noun [u] the ability to understand how someone feels because you can imagine what it is like to be

them

envperor

/'emparsr/ noun

[c]

*

a

man who

rules an

EMPIRE

emphasis noun [C/U]

/'emfasis/

(plural

em*pha*ses /'emfa.siz/)

**•

special importance or attention that is given to one thing in particular: + on The main emphasis should be on place/lay/put emphasis quality rather than quantity. on sth We should place greater emphasis on employee development. 2 the extra loudness with which you say a particular phrase, word, or part of a word so that people give special attention to it: "I will not!" she said with emphasis. + on The emphasis is usually on the first syllable. 1

envpha«sise

/

emfa.saiz/a Br E spelling of emphasize

emphasize

•*

/'emfa.saiz/ verb [t] 1 to give particular importance or attention to something: At school they emphasize good manners. 2 to say a phrase, word, or part of a word with extra loudness so that people give special attention to it: + that She emphasizes that her novels are not written for children. 3 to make something more noticeable: Naomi's short hair emphasized her cheekbones. adj 1 said or shown in a very strong, clear way: He refused my offer with an emphatic shake of the head. 1a. making your meaning very clear

envphat-ic /emfstik/

emphatically

Adams

emphatically denied that the conversation ever took place. 2 in a very clear way that no one can argue about: Scientists proved emphatically that there was a link between smoking and cancer. clearly:

envphy-se-ma

/.emfa'sima/ noun [u] a very serious your lungs that makes it difficult to

illness affecting

emulsion

447

because you have very strong feelings about a situation or subject: + about He was pretty emphatic about me +that The president was emphatic that there leaving. would be no negotiating with the terrorists. 2 with a very clear result that no one can argue about: an emphatic win /victory /defeat em-phat-i-cal-ly /em'faetikli/ adv 1 very firmly and

breathe

em-pire /'empair/ noun [c] ** 1 a number of countries ruled by one person ernment: the Ottoman Empire

or gov-

the collapse of the Soviet

empire 2 a large powerful group of companies ruled by one person or company: his international media empire

empire- building noun

[u] the process of getting more for yourself in an organization, without caring about whether this is good for the organization

power

— empire-builder noun [C]

em-pir-i-cal /em'pinkl/adj * based on real experience or scientific experiments rather than on theory em-pir-i-cal-ly /em'pmkli/ adv em-pir-i-cist /em'pinsist/ noun [C] someone who believes that ideas should be based on real experience envpir-i'cism noun [u] rather than on theory em-place-ment /em'pleismsnt/ noun [c] a place where a large gun is put and fired em-ploy /im'pbi/verb [T] *•• 1 to pay someone regularly to do a job for you or work as a member of your organization: They employ a nanny, cleaner, and gardener. employ sb as sth Jean was employed by the company as a computer programmer. employ sb to do sth We should employ someone to manage production. be employed in sth A third of the population is employed in the coal mining industry. 2 formal to use something for a particular purpose: Two methods can be employed.

—

—

em-press /'empns/ noun [C] a woman who rules an empire or who is married to an emperor emp-ties /'emptiz/ noun [plural] informal empty conand glasses

tainers, especially bottles

has been drunk emp-ti-ness /'emptinos/ noun

emp'ty

1

an empty space

2 a

feeling of having

[u]

or state: the vast emptiness of space no emotion, interest, or purpose

after the liquid

•*•

1

/'empti/ adj containing nothing: an empty jar His pockets were empty. an empty space There were no empty spaces in the parking lot. 1a. containing no people: an empty room stand empty Emma 's apartment stood empty for six months. 1b. containing very few people or things: The beach was + of the early morning, when the streets are really empty. opposite full empty of traffic 2 lacking emotion, interest, or purpose: Her life felt empty and meaningless. a voice totally empty of expression 3 empty words or promises are things you say you will do but do not do 3a. used about things that people do that have no real effect: an empty gesture 1

—

emp«ty 2

/'empti/ verb

*

1 empty or empty out [t] to make something empty by taking everything out of it: He ordered her to empty her pockets. When was the last time those ashtrays were emptied? empty sth of sth Empty the box of its contents. 1a. to take everything out of a container and put it somewhere else: empty sth out of sth He emptied his clothes out of the drawers. empty sth into /onto sth David opened opposite fill the jar and emptied the sauce into a bowl. 2 [l] if a place empties, all the people in it leave: The

—

stadium quickly began to empty. 3 [I] if a river empties into a lake or ocean,

it

flows

1

be employed (in) doing sth formal to spend the time you have available doing something: You would be better employed in writing an apology. envploy 2 /im'pbi/ noun in sb's employ formal being paid by someone to work for them

em'ploy-ee/im'pbii; .impbi'i/noun [c] *** someone who is paid regularly to work for a person or an organization: Their employees

worked a ten-hour day. [C] *** a person or to work for them: The

em-ploy-er /im'pbiar/ noun company that pays workers factory

is

the largest single employer in the area.

employers offered

to

pay for

Daniel's

the course.

em-ploy-ment /im'pbimant/

noun

[u]

•••

1 work that you are paid regularly to do for a person or company .After graduation, she found employment with a local finance company. a contract of employment 1a. a situation in which someone has regular paid work: retired workers coming back into employment —opposite unemployment 1b. the number of people in an area or group who have regular paid work: Employment has

risen

among

people over

55.

— opposite

1c. [only before noun] relating to jobs

unemployment

and work: employ-

ment law/ legislation 2 formal the use of something for a particular purpose: + of The employment of wiretaps was determined to be illegal.

employment .agency noun [c] a business that helps people find jobs or companies find workers em«po*ri'Um/cm'porbm/noun[C]o/d-/as/»'ortedastore that sells

many

em-pow-er

different types of things

/em'paor/ verb [T] 1 formal to give a person or organization the legal authority to do something: a court empowered to review the decisions of a lower court 2 to give someone more control over their life or more power to do something: Our goal is to empower teenage girls, em-power-ment noun [u)

into

it

empty your glass/bottle empty your mind to try way of staying calm

to finish a drink to think

about nothing, as a

.empty out phrasal vb [T] same as empty 2 i: He was told to empty out his desk and leave. emp-ty-hand-ed /,empti 'hamdsd/ adj 1 without getting anything for your effort: The thieves fled emptyhanded. 2 without bringing a present for someone: You can 't go

to the

party empty-handed.

empty-headed emp-ty nest-er

adj

not sensible or intelligent

/.empti

'nestar/ noun [C] a parent left their parents'

whose children are adults and have

home

EMT

/,i em 'ti/ noun [C] medical emergency medical technician: someone who has a qualification to give medical help to sick or injured people before they reach a hospital

e-mu

/'i.mju/ noun [C] a large Australian bird that has very long legs and cannot fly /'imju; em 'ju/ European Monetary Union: the process by which all the countries of the European Union start to use the same system of money called the

EMU

,i

euro em'U«late/'emJ3,leit/verb[T] 1 formal to try to be like someone or something else, usually because you admire them: a legal system that has been emulated all over the world 2 computing if one computer system or program emulates another, it behaves in the same way

— em'U'la'tion/.emja'leifn/noun [u]

em-u-la-tor /'emjs.leitar/ noun [c] computing a piece of software that does the same as another piece of software but works with a different type of computer e-mul-si-fi-er /i'niAlsi,faii7 noun [c] technical a substance added to a food or drink to stop liquid and solid parts from separating

e-mul-si-fy /I'mAlsi.fai/ verb [I/T] technical to combine two substances to form a smooth mixture, or to become combined in this way e-mul-sion /I'mAlJsn/ noun [C/U] 1 a smooth mixture of two or more liquids that do not normally stay mixed together 2 science the chemical on the surface of film that makes it possible to take photographs 3 a type of paint that produces a surface that is not shiny. Paint that produces a shiny surface is called gloss.

^

enable

•••

/in'eibl/ verb [t] to give someone the ability or opportunity to do something: Enemy communications were destroyed, enabling a surprise attack. enable sb to do sth This will enable users to conduct live video conversations.

-enabled /meibld/ suffix computing used with some nouns to make adjectives meaning using a particular piece of software: WAP-enabled phones

en-a-bling

1 making something posby giving someone the skills to do it government to

/in'eiblin/ adj

sible, especially

2

technical used about laws that allow a introduce other laws at a later date

en-act /iruekt/ verb (t) 1 to perform a story or event as a play 2 technical to make a proposal into a law en-act-ment noun [C/U] e-nam-el 1 /I'naeml/ noun [C/U] 1 a hard shiny substance used for protecting or decorating glass, metal, or clay 2 a type of paint used for making a hard shiny surface 3 the hard white outer layer of teeth e-nam-el 2 /i'naeml/ verb [t] to cover or decorate something with enamel

en-am-ored/i'mcmard/adj/orma/

1 [+of/with] impressed with something or enthusiastic about something: She was not enamored of Paris. 2 in love with someone: + of She became enamored of the boy next door.

enamoured

/inaemsrd/ the BrE spelling of enam-

ored

en bloc

/a 'blak/ adv the proposals en bloc.

all

together:

We

need

to

consider

en-camp /mkaemp/ verb

[i/t] to live in a camp, make a camp, or put someone in a camp: They encamped along the stream. We were encamped in our wet tents.

encampment /m'kasmpmsnt/ noun [c] a large group of tents or temporary shelters

en-cap-su-late /inkspsjajeit/ verb

[t]

to

express

something in a short clear form that gives the most important facts or ideas en-cap-su-la-tion /m.kaepsjs 'leifn/ noun [C/U]

—

en-case /m'keis/ verb

[t]

to completely cover or enclose

something en-ceph-a-li-tis

/en.sefb'laitis/ noun [u] medical a very serious disease affecting your brain that is caused by

an infection

en-chant

/m'tjaent/ verb

1

[t]

to interest

and

attract

strongly: We were all enchanted by the 2 to use magic on someone or something en-chant-ed /m'tjaentad/ adj affected by special magic

someone very island.

powers

en-chant-er

/m'tjaentar/ noun [c]

someone who uses

magic on people or things

en-chant-ing

Jasmin/ adj very interesting and attractive en-chant- ing- ly adv enchantment /m'tjaentmant/ noun 1 [u] a feeling of being very interested and attracted by something or someone la. [C/U] literary a feature of someone or something that interests and attracts you 2 [C/U] literary a piece of magic: spell en-chant-ress /m'tjasntras/ noun [c] literary 1 a woman who you find extremely attractive and interesting 2 a woman who uses magic on people or things en-chi-la-da /.entji'lads/ noun [c] a Mexican food consisting of a piece of flat bread rolled up and filled with meat and cheese, served with a hot sauce

—

/ in

't

the big enchilada informal the best or most important person or thing the whole enchilada Am E informal everything

en-cir-cle /m's3rkl/ verb something: A

end.

encouragement

448

enable

to completely high fence encircles the property. [t]

surround

abbrev enclosed or enclosure: used at the end of a show that something else is being sent with it

letter to

en-clave

/ enkleiv; 'an.kleiv/ noun [c] an area of a country' or city where a particular group of people live: a Spanish /Muslim Chinese enclave

en-close /m'klouz/

•

verb [T] 1 to surround someone or something: Her arms enclosed him. The swimming pool was enclosed by a high fence. Expressions are enclosed in brackets. 2 to send something such as a document with a letter.

If

you send a document with an e-mail message, you

attach it: / enclose my completed application form. en-closed /m'kloozd/ adj 1 surrounded by something

and separated from what is outside: a fear of enclosed spaces 2 sent in an envelope with a letter: Please read the enclosed documents carefully. 2a. please find enclosed used for saying that you have sent something with a letter: Please find my payment enclosed. 3 an enclosed community or way of life does not have much communication with the outside world

en-clo-sure /in'kloo33r/ noun (c) 1 an area surrounded by a fence or wall 2 formal something put in an envelope along with a

en-code /m'kood/

verb

letter

[t]

•

1 to put secret information into code (=a system of words, numbers, or symbols that hides its real meaning) 2 linguistics to express what you want to say in a foreign language. To decode words in a foreign language is to understand them when you see or read

them. 3 computing to change a computer program into a set of instructions that a computer can use

encompass /ink \mpas/ verb

[J] formal to include a or things: The student debates will encompass a range of subjects, a. to include or surround an area completely: His kingdom encompassed 890 square miles.

lot of people

en-core

1

after the for more

/'arj.kor/

noun

[C]

a short performance given

main performance, because the audience asks

en-core 2 /'an, kor/ interjection

a word that the audience shouts at the end of a performance when they want the performer to do more encounter /m'kauntar/ noun [c] •• 1 a meeting, especially one that was not planned: / had not seen her since our brief encounter two years before. a 1

close encounter We had a frighteningly close encounter with a black bear. 1a. an occasion when people have sex. especially in a way that was not planned: Risk of exposure to HTV increases with each casual encounter. lb. an occasion when people meet and fight or argue: The march ended in a violent encounter with the police. 1c. mainly journalism a meeting between opponents in a sports competition: Their last encounter ended in a tie. 2 [+with] an experience or discovery of a particular kind: my earliest encounter with ballet

en-coun-ter^/m'kauntar/verb

[t]

••

1 to experience or deal with something, especially a problem: We encountered one small problem during the trial run. The rebels encountered no opposition on their

march into the city. 2 formal to meet someone or see something for the time: the most critical person I had ever encountered

first

en-cour-age/m'k.\nd3/verb [t] ••• 1 to suggest that someone does something that you believe would be good: We encourage student participation in our classes. encourage sb to do sth Mom always encouraged us to discuss our problems. 2 to provide conditions that help something to happen: Poor hygiene measures to actively encourage recycling encourages the spread of disease. 3 to give someone confidence or hope: His optimism encouraged me. encourage sb in sth Frank had encouraged Diana in her ambition to become a model.

don't encourage sb used for telling other people that you think someone is being silly

— opposite DISCOURAGE Words

frequently used with

encourage

adverbs

actively, greatly, positively,

1

nouns

strongly cooperation, dialogue, investment, involvement,

1

participation, use

en-cour-age-ment/m'kAndsmsnt/noun

[c/u]

•*

1 words or actions that give someone confidence or hope: He would run up and down, shouting encouragement to the team. We needed you there to offer words of encouragement. 2 words or actions that help something to happen: financial encouragements to help mothers back to work

encouraging

— Opposite DISCOURAGEMENT

and general

4

literacy

•*

giving you conadj fidence or hope: The news from the doctors is very encour—opposite discouraging an encouraging smile aging. en*cour*ag*ing*ly adv

en-cour-ag-ing /in'kAnd3in/

—

ervcroach /m'krootJV

verb

[I]

1

gradually take

to

something such as power or authority from someone on/upon The federal government is encroaching on a state issue. 2 to cover more land gradually: + on/upon Housing developments continue to encroach on wildlife en-croach-ment noun [C/U] habitats. en-crust-ed /m'krAStsd/ adj covered with a hard layer of something: a jewel-encrusted box else: +

—

ervcrypt /m'knpt/

verb [T] to put information into a form called a code that other people are unable to read en-cryp'tion noun [C/U]

—

en-cunvber /in'kAmbsr/

verb [T] formal 1 if something large, heavy, tight, etc. encumbers you, it prevents you from moving normally: be encumbered by/with sth They were encumbered with heavy suitcases and could not run.

2

to

make

it

more

someone

difficult for

something or for something

to

to

do

develop

encumbrance /in'kAmbrsns/ noun

formal something that prevents you from moving normally or doing what you want to do en-cyc-li-cal /m'siklikl/ noun [C] an official announcement by the pope in the form of a letter

encyclo-pae-di-a

[C]

/m.saikta'pidia/ a

BrE

spelling of

/m.saikla'pidik/ a

BrE

spelling of

encyclopedia

en-cyclo-pae-dic

encyclopedia

*

/m.saikta'pidia/ noun [c] a book or set of books giving information about a lot of different subjects or one particular subject: an encyclopedia of

science

a walking encyclopedia someone about many different things

who knows

a lot

en-cy-clo-pe-dic /m.saikta'pidik/ adj 1 used for emphasizing the great amount of knowledge that someone has: her encyclopedic knowledge of modern art 2 containing facts and information found in an encyclopedia: an encyclopedic dictionary 1

/end/ noun

[c]

***

1 final part

5 opposite place

2 place farthest out 3 reason/goal 4 part in activity

6

sb's

death

7 in football + PHRASES

the final part of a period of time: at the end of sth You're going on vacation at the end of this month, aren't you? by the end of sth The work should be completed by the end of the year. the very end It was only at the very end of the 19th century that this practice was abolished. 1a. the final part of something such as a book, movie, or piece of music: You don't really know what it's all about until the end. 1 b. the time when a situation, event, or series of events stops: Are you going to stay till the end of the game? This agreement could mean the end of the nuclear threat. at the end of sth At the end of the war the government made many promises for a better future. the end of the world Astrologers have been predicting the end of the world ever since the Middle Ages. an end to sth We want to put an end to discrimination. no end in sight to sth (=something seems likely to continue) There is still no end in sight to the slaughter and suffering, —opposite BEGINNING, START 2 the place that is furthest away from the center of a long area or object: She jumped in the pool at the deep end. Take hold of both ends of the rope. at the end of sth The only door was situated at the end of the corridor. the far end They live at the far end of our street. 2a. one of the two halves of the area where a sports game is 1

played

3

informal the part you have in an activity or situation: From our end it looks pretty suspicious. Kate is more sb's end of the involved in the research end of things. bargain /deal /conversation I've kept my end of the bargain, but he hasn 't kept his. 5 one of two places connected by a telephone conversation, letter, or journey: at the other end I'll be there on the end of to pick you up in the car at the other end. sth They kept me waiting on the end of the line all afternoon. at this /my end It sounds a bit crackly at this end. 6 literary someone's death: a peaceful end 7 in football, the ends are the two players who play on the outside of the tackles, or the positions they play at an end finished: The party was at an end and it was time to leave. at the end of the day spoken used for saying what you consider is the most important thing about a situation after thinking about it bring sth to an end to stop something: a final battle that brought the war to an end come to a bad end to get in a bad situation, for example to die or go to prison

come

to

an end

to finish

the end justifies the means any methods, even bad ones, are allowed in order to achieve what you want, especially something good

the end of the road/line spoken the moment when someone or something has to stop, for example because they cannot succeed or improve go to the ends of the earth to put a lot of effort into something, especially when there are problems or difficulties

encyclopedic

end

end

449

the encouragement of reading

[usually plural]/orma/ the reason for a particular action or the result you want to achieve: He could have achieved his ends by peaceful means. for political /commercial etc. ends The government manipulates economic data for political ends. for his/her/their etc. own ends She used people for her own ends.

hours/days/weeks etc. on end used for emphasizing how long something continues: He talks for hours on end about absolutely nothing. in the end mainly spoken finally, after a period of time or thought: In the end, we decided not to buy it. it's not the end of the world spoken used for saying that something bad is not really as serious as someone thinks it is keep your end up informal to do what other people in your group expect you to do as your share of the work or responsibility make (both) ends meet to have just enough money to buy the things you need no end spoken a lot: Her English has improved no end. + of We've had no end of trouble with this car. play both ends (against the middle) informal to make two people or groups oppose each other so that you can gain something stand sth on (its) end to put something in a position so that its longest edge is upright: If you stand the sofa on its end you can get it through the door. to the ends of the earth a very long way to/until the end of time for a very long time to this end formal in order to achieve a particular aim: He wanted to discuss his position, and arranged a meeting to this end.

-» BEGINNING 1 DEEP

1

,

end 2

/end/ verb

,

HAIR, MEANS, STICKY,

TETHER

1

**•

1 [I] to reach a final point: The marriage ended after only 11 months. 1a. used for talking about a road or path: The narrow lane ended abruptly at the ranch's

entrance. 2 [T] to make something reach its final point: the peace treaty that ended the war A back injury effectively ended his career seven years ago. I'd like to end my speech by thanking the people who made this conference possible. 3 [T] to reach the final point of a period of time while in a particular place or state: The Dow Jones Index ended the day 15 points up on yesterday's close.

end it all to kill yourself end your days to spend the

last part of your life in a particular place or condition the. .to end all. the biggest, best, worst, etc. person or thing of their kind that there has ever been .

end

.

.

have something as a persuade the boy ended in The game ended in a tie. ,end 'up phrasal vb [l] mainly spoken to be in a particular place or state after doing something or because of doing it: Keep on doing that and you'll end up in serious trouble. in phrasal vb [T] [end in sth] to

final result: His attempt to

failure.

endanger

energy

450

they all ended up at my house. end up doing sth / ended up spending the night in the airport. end with phrasal vb [T] [end (sth) with sth] to have or add something as the final part: Why did you end your essay with a quotation from Shakespeare? * The festival ended with fireworks.

endowed with both brains and beauty. endowment /m'daomant/ noun 1 [u] the act of

endan-ger /mdeindpr/

end product

Somehow

verb

[t]

to put

someone or

something into a situation where they might be harmed: The hospital is accused of endangering patients' lives. new tensions that could endanger the peace process en dangered spe-cies /m. demdj^rd 'spifiz/ noun [C] a type of animal or plant that may soon become extinct (=disappear from the world) en-dear /in'dir/ verb en dear to phrasal vb [t] [endear sb to sb] to make someone like you: His brusque manner did not exactly endear him to his colleagues.

en-dear-ing /indinn/

making people

adj

shyness can be very endearing.

like you: His

— en-dear-ing-ly adv

en-dear-ment that

you

/in dirmant/ noun [c] a word or phrase say to someone you love, for example darling

Or SWEETHEART

make

to

verb [i]/ormo/ [endeavor to do very hard to do something: We have endeavored

the vehicle environmentally friendly.

en-deav-or2 /m'devar/ noun [c/u] formal 1 an attempt to do something 2 an activity en-dem-ic /en'demik/ adj very common or strongly established in a place or situation: countries where malaria is endemic +to Strikes were endemic to the industry during the 1970s. +in Corruption is endemic in the country's judicial system.

end game

noun

political process

[c]

the final part of a game, battle, or the result is decided

when

ending /'endin/ noun

[c]

••

1 the way in which something such as a story, movie. or play ends: Children usually prefer books with a happy

ending.

2 a time when something

stops permanently: +of Offihave announced the ending of price controls. 3 linguistics the last group of letters in a word: Manyabstract nouns have the ending "ness. " a plural ending vegetable with en-dive / endaiv/ noun [c/u] 1 pale flat leaves that have a bitter taste 2 a vegetable with curly green leaves eaten in salad end-less /'endbs/ adj ** seeming to have no end or limit: A video game will provide endless hours of fun. The possibilities were endless, a. continuing for a long time in an annoying or unpleasant way: They asked end-less-ly adv: endless questions about our home town. The men talked endlessly about local property prices. en-do-crine gland / endskrm gland/ noun [c] medical an organ in your body that produces hormones endorphin /endDrfin/ noun [C] medical a type of hormone produced in the body that reduces pain, especially when you are injured or physically tired cials

AmEa

—

*•

en-dorse

/in 'dors/ verb [t] 1 to express support for someone or something, especially in public: All endorsed the treaty as critically important to achieve peace. 1a. if someone famous endorses a product, they say in advertisements that they like it

2

to write

document

your name on the back of a check or to

make

it

official

legal

endorsement /m'dDrsmant/ noun

[c/u] an occasion gives official or public support to a particular person or thing: The election result can be seen as an endorsement of the government's record, a. [C] an occasion when someone famous says in an advertisement that they like a product

when someone

en-dos-co-py /endaskspi/ noun

[C/U] medical a medical operation in which an endoscope (=a very small camera on a long thin tube) is put into someone's body

examine inside it endow /m'dau/ verb to

money en

dow

to

is

giving

money to a college, hospital, or other institution amount of money that someone gives to an 2 [C] a good feature or quality that someone

1a. [C] an institution

has

noun [c/u] the thing that

[T] to give a large amount of a school, hospital, or other institution

with phrasal vb [T] formal to give a particular quality to something, or to say that something has a particular quality: The General's supporters endow him with an almost godlike status. be endowed with sth to have a good ability or quality:

is

produced

at

the end of a process

end

re suit noun

[c]

the result of an activity or process

en-dur-ance

/in'dorans/ noun [u] the ability to continue doing something physically difficult or continue dealing with an unpleasant situation for a long time: The long trip tested their courage and endurance to the limit. beyond endurance There was something about him that irritated Lydia almost beyond endurance.

en«dure/m'dor/verb

•

[t]

to suffer

something unpleas-

way over

a long period: He endured solitude and torture for months at a time. a. [i] to last for a long time: traditions that endure en-dur-

ant or difficult in a patient

—

a-ble adj

en-dur-ing /indonn/

en-deav-or 1 /m'devsr/ sth) to try

She

adj lasting for

a long time: his

enduring popularity

end user

noun

who buys and

a person

[c] uses a product, especially a computer or a piece of software

end-wise /endwaiz/ or end-ways /endweiz/

adv

AmE

with one end going first: If we turn the table it will fit through the door. end zone noun [c] the area at the end of a football field where you have to take the ball in order to score points —picture -» ci5 en-e-ma /enama/ noun [c] a medical treatment in endwise,

which liquid is forced into a person's intestines to make them go to the toilet to empty their bowels a. a liquid used in this treatment /'enami/ noun [c] •*• someone who is opposed to someone else and tries to do them harm: He must hide from his enemies while he is weak. make an enemy of sb Worst of all is to make an enemy of the Minister. a political enemy They searched for information on political enemies. +of They had been labeled enemies make enemies There was a reign of terror, of the state. a mortal enemy and he made more and more enemies. (^someone who will always be your enemy) She looked her were her mortal enemy, a. a at husband as if he country that is fighting another country in a war: We must be ready to resist an assault by sea from this country's enemies. the enemy He had to discourage the enemy

en-e-my

from attempting to attack his position, b. relating to a country's enemy: enemy attack/troops/aircraft/forces etc. The Serbs were determined to halt the enemy attacks. Over three hundred enemy aircraft were destroyed. c. something that harms or threatens someone or something: + of Cigarette smoke is the undoubted enemy of a clear fresh complexion.

— opposite friend

own worst enemy to behave in a way that harms you much more than other people harm you public enemy number one someone that other people be your

was being made to enemy number one. -» sworn 2 en-er-get-ic /enar d^etik/ adj • an energetic person has a lot of energy and is very active: Her mother, now energetic movements an energetic 73, was also present. a enthusiastic and determined an energetic campaigner dislike or consider as harmful: She

feel like public

:

.

for

civil rights

— en^er-get-ic-al-ly

en-er-gize /'ensr^aiz/ verb

/

to a. to [t]

ensr^etikli/ adv

make someone

feel

make electricity or energy or enthusiasm another form of power flow into a machine en-er-gy /'en3rd3i/ noun ••• 1 [u] a supply of physical power that you have for doing things that need physical effort: As children we She didn even have the seemed to have endless energy. energy to get out of bed. la. [C/u] enthusiasm and determination: She could offer youthful energy and talent put/devote/throw your energy/energies in abundance. full of

't

into sth Christine

threw her energies into her teaching.

[U] electricity and other forms of power used for making things work: Insulating your home is a good way

2

Environmentally friendly energy sources save energy. include water and wind power. 2a. science the power that is present in all physical things and can be changed to

enervated into something such as heat, movement, or light en-er«vat-ed /'enar veitsd/ adj formal feeling tired and weak en-er-vat-ing / enar.veitin/ adj formal making you feel tired and weak en-fant ter-ri-ble /.afa ta'ribla/ noun [C] a person, especially a famous one, who tries to shock people or make them feel embarrassed en-fee-bled /m'fibld/ adj formal no longer strong or effective

en-fold /in'foold/ verb [J] formal to surround or enclose someone or something en-force /in Tors/ verb [t] ** to make sure that a law or rule is obeyed by people: The main role of the police Troops were sent is to uphold and enforce the law.

make sure that done: The only weapon the court has to enforce cooperation is the threat of sanctions. en-forced /inforst/ adj happening because of a situation that you cannot control or prevent into the area to enforce the treaty, a. to

something happens or

is

en^force-ment/mforsmant/ noun

[u]

** the process

of making sure that something happens, especially that people obey a law: law enforcement [c] 1 someone who is given the responsibility to make certain that a particular thing happens or is done, usually in government or business: the unpopular chief enforcer insisting on economic reforms 2 Am E a player in a game, especially hockey, whose job is to frighten members of the other team and to hurt them if they play in a rough or illegal

en«forc«er/en'fDrs3r/noun

way

en-fran-chise-ment /m'frsntjizmant/ noun

[U]

abbrev England or English

engage /m'geids/ verb •* 1 [T] formal to attract and keep someone's interest or attention: A good radio script should be able to engage the listener. 1a. to start to employ someone or use their services: The company is to engage a new sales director. engage sb to do sth A magician has been engaged to provide entertainment. 2 [i/t] if a part of a machine engages, or you engage it, it fits into another part so that they work together: A microswitch in the gear shift automatically engages and disengages the clutch. The mechanism failed to engage, causing a fault, —opposite disengage 3 [l/T] formal to start to fight with an enemy in battle

engage in

phrasal vb [t] formal [engage in sth] to take part in a particular activity, especially something that takes a lot of time or effort: He is currently engaged in a dispute with his former business partner.

engage sb in conversation to start having a conversation with someone en gage with phrasal vb [T] formal 1 [engage with sb/sth| to make an effort to understand and deal with someone or something: She is accused of failing to engage with the problems of her staff. 2 [engage with sb] to start to fight an enemy in battle engaged /m'geid3d/ adj ** 1 formal involved in doing something 1a. be otherwise engaged to be unable to do something because you have already arranged to do something else 2 if two people are engaged, they have formally agreed to get married.: How long have you been engaged? +to She's engaged to someone she met at work. become/get engaged We got engaged about this time last year. 3 Br £ if a telephone line is engaged, it is busy: The

numbers engaged.

en-gage-ment /m'geid5m9nt/ 1 marriage agreement 2 arrangement to do sth 3 battle between armies

noun

••

4 in machines 5 employment 6 involvement

1 [C] a formal agreement to get married: break off an engagement (=end it) Miranda has not met any other

man

2 [C] a formal arrangement to meet someone or do something, especially as part of your public duties: I'm Official engagements take up about 50% of his time. afraid I have a previous lunch engagement. 3 [C/U] formal a battle between armies: Heavy engagements are reported between rebels and government forces. the rules of engagement 4 [U] the action of parts of a machine when they connect with each other 5 [C/U] formal an arrangement to employ someone or use their services 6 [u] formal the feeling of being involved in a particular activity: +with Participants assess their level of engagement with their child's feelings. engagement .ring noun [C] a ring that a man gives to a woman when they become engaged

engaging a

way

since she broke off their engagement, la. the period

during which two people are engaged to be married: a long engagement

/in'geid3irj/ ad] attractive and pleasant in en^gag-ing-ly adv like you

—

makes people

that

engender /m^endar/

verb

[T]

formal to cause a

feeling or attitude to exist

***

en-gine

/'end3in/ noun [c] a machine with moving parts that uses a fuel to produce movement, for example in a road vehicle or airplane: a jet I gasoline/ diesell steam engine 2 a vehicle that pulls a train: locomotive 3 [+of] literary something that causes a process to happen: Industrialization is the most important engine of economic growth. 1

en-gi-neer /,end3i'nir/ noun [C] *** 1 someone who designs or builds things such as roads, railroads, bridges, or machines 1a. someone who con1

trols the

en-fran-chise /in'frsn.tjaiz/ verb [t] 1 to give someone the right to vote 2 to make a slave free

Eng.

English horn

451

engines on a ship or aircraft: the chief engineer

lb. AmE someone whose job is to drive a train. 1c. Br E someone who repairs machines or electrical equipment 1d. computing someone who designs and repairs computer programs 2 someone who is responsible for something useful or successful: Mr. Carr had been the engineer of the com-

pany's fortunes.

en-gi-neer 2

/,end3i'nir/ verb [T] to design things such as roads, railroads, bridges, or machines a. to arrange for something to happen, especially in a useful and skillful way: Government officials managed to engineer a meeting between the two ambassadors.

en-gi-neer-ing /,end3i'ninn/ noun

***

the activ[u] ity of designing things such as roads, railroads, bridges, or machines 1

/'ingliJV noun 1 [u] the main language that people speak in the U.K., the U.S., Canada, Australia, and some other countries. There are different varieties of English, for example American English, British English, and South African English. 1a. this language and its literature as a subject that you study: / studied English at college. -» queens English 2 the English [plural] the people of England. You use englishman or englishwoman to talk about one English person: The English are often regarded as being cold and reserved.

Eng-lish

Eng-lish 2 /'ingliJV adj 1 someone who is English is from England: Her mother is English and her father is American. 2 relating to England or its language or culture: a traditional English village

Words

that

may cause

offense: English

Only use English to describe people who live in England and whose families come from England. Use Irish,

who live who but now live in

Scottish, or Welsh to describe people

in Ireland, Scotland, or Wales, or people

originally

came from those countries you do not know which of these countries

England.

If

someone

is

from, use British.

.English 'breakfast noun [C] in the U.K., a large breakfast that includes eggs and bacon (=thin pieces of meat from a

pig)

Channel, the the narrow area of sea between the south coast of England and the north coast of France .English 'horn noun [C] AmE a long wooden musical instrument with a low sound that you play by blowing through it. An English horn is a woodwind instrument. English

Englishman Englishman /'inglijmon/ man/) noun

[c)

a

man from England

AmE

English muffin noun [c] made with flour and yeast

Eng-lish-wom-an

/'inglif

a Hat round bread

womon/

lish-wom-en /inglij* ,wimm/[ noun

[c]

(plural

Eng-

woman from

a

England

en gorged /m'gDrd3d/ adj formal swollen en-grave /m'greiv/ verb [t] to cut words

or pictures into a hard surface such as stone, metal, or glass: a trophy engraved with the winner's name

be engraved on your memory /mind /heart to be impossible to forget en-graver noun [C] en-grav-ing /in'greivin/ noun 1 [C] a picture made by cutting a design into a metal plate, putting ink on it, and pressing it onto paper 2 [u] the process or art of engraving things en-gross /m'groos/ verb [T] if something engrosses you, you think about nothing else en-grossed /m'groost/ adj so interested or involved in something that you do not think about anything else: + in He was so engrossed in his book that he didn't hear her come in. engrossing /m'grousin/ adj extremely interesting: an engrossing story en-gulf /m'gAlf/ verb [T] 1 to cover or surround some-

—

thing in a way that harms or destroys it: Several workers died in the landslide that engulfed the old factory. be engulfed in sth Within minutes, the car was engulfed in flames. 2 if a thought or emotion engulfs you, it controls your thoughts or feelings: A wave of grief engulfed them. 2a. if something bad or unpleasant engulfs people, it affects them seriously: a conflict that threatened to engulf the entire continent

en-hance /m'haens/ verb

[T]

** to improve something,

or make it more attractive or more valuable: The measures taken should considerably enhance the residents' quality of life. enhanced /m'haenst/ adj made better, especially by

methods: Digitally enhanced video images might help identify the suspects. artificial

en-hance-ment /m'haensmant/ improving something thing that makes

it

a.

more

e-nig-ma /I'nigma/ noun is

mysterious and

[u]

the process of

an improvement

[C]

to

some-

effective or attractive [c]

someone or something that

difficult to

understand

en-ig-mat-ic / ,enig 'maetik/ adj mysterious and difficult to understand: Little is known about this solitary and enigmatic

writer.

— en-ig-mat-ic-al-ly

/.enig'maetikli/

adv

en-join /inborn/ verb

[t] a.

enjoin sb to do sth formal

to strongly advise or order someone to do something b. enjoin sb from sth legal to legally order someone not to do something

en-joy fm'd^oi/ verb

*•*

1 [T] to get pleasure from something: Do you enjoy cooking or do you just see it as a chore? enjoy doing sth / don't enjoy going on vacation as much as I used to. 1a. enjoy yourself to get pleasure from an event or experience: I haven't enjoyed myself so much for a long time. lb. [i always in imperative] spoken used for saying

you hope someone enjoys something that they are about to

do

2

[T]

tage:

formal to have something as a benefit or advanThe hotel enjoys a magnificent view of the harbor.

en-joy-a-ble /m'd3oi3bl/ adj * something that is enjoyable gives you pleasure: We spent an enjoyable evening talking about old times. Most students find the course very enjoyable.

— en-joy-a-bly adv

en-joy-ment /m^oimsnt/ noun

*

pleasure that you get from an activity or experience: He doesn't get any real enjoyment from dancing. Lisa ate the cake with obvious enjoyment. their enjoyment of life la. [C] something you enjoy doing 2 fu] legal the right to own or use something: the enjoy1

[U]

ment of civil rights en-large /m'lard3/ verb [t] * to make something bigger: The company has built an additional factory to enlarge

its

operations.

enough

452 -

Eng«lish«men /'inglij

(plural

I sent the photos back to the lab to

en large on or en large upon phrasal vb [T] [enlarge on/ upon sth] to give more information about something that you have already mentioned: He refused to enlarge upon his reasons for leaving his job. enlargement /m'lurd3m3nt/ noun (c/u] the process of making something larger, or an increase in size that is the result of it a. [C] a copy of a photograph or document that is larger than the original one en-light-en /m'laitn/ verb [T] to give someone information about something so that they understand more en-light-en- ing adj: He had found the conabout it versation very enlightening.

en-light-ened

/in'laitnd/ adj

someone who

is

enlight

ened has attitudes that are considered sensible and

modern en-light-en-ment /in'laitnmont/ noun

[u] the process of explaining or understanding something clearly: Chil dren look to their teachers for enlightenment, a. in the Buddhist religion, the highest spiritual state that you can achieve

En-light-en-ment, the /m'laitnmsnt/ an intellectual movement in 18th-century Europe that emphasized the importance of human thought and science rather than religious belief en-list /in 'list/ verb [i/T] if someone enlists or is enlisted, they join the military of their country: In 1942, Louis

Charlie left shortly after he was Army. a. [T] if you enlist someone or you ask them to help or support you:

enlisted as a private. enlisted in the

enlist their help,

We must enlist families as partners in their children's education. Your only option is to enlist the services of a good lawyer. en-list-ment noun [C/U] en-list-ed /in'hstsd/ adj AmE an enlisted man or woman is a member of the military who is not an officer en-liv-en /m'laivn/ verb [T]/orma/ to make something

—

more

interesting or lively

en masse /an

'maes/ adv all together as a group

en-meshed

/in'mejt/ adj [never before noun] formal involved in a complicated or unpleasant situation that it is difficult to escape from

en-mi-ty /'enmati/ noun [cm] formal a feeling

of strong

between people en-no-ble/i'noubl/verb[T] 1 if an experience or event ennobles a person or their mind, it gives them a better dislike or opposition

character or nature 2 to make someone officially a nobleman or noblewoman (=a member of the highest social class) as an honor

en-nui /an'wi/ noun [u] literary a feeling of being bored and having no interest in anything e-nor-mi-ty /I'normati/ noun 1 [u] [+of] used to mean the extremely large size of something, although some people consider this to be incorrect: He considered the enormity of the task he had been given. 2 [u] [+of] the fact that something is morally wrong, or the degree to which it is morally wrong: They were desperate to conceal the enormity of what they had done. 2a. [C] an action that is

morally wrong

e-nor-mous /inormas/

***

very large in size or adj quantity: The enormous birthday cake dwarfed everything

The stress they're under is enormous. an enormous amount/ number/ volume etc. An enormous amount of money has been wasted on this project already. e-nor-mous-ly /inormasli/ adv 1 mainly spoken extremely: It promises to be an enormously enjoyable event. 2 by a large amount: Demands on computer systems have grown enormously in recent years. e-nough /ifiAf/ function word *** else

on the

table.

Enough can be used

in the following ways:

determiner (followed by a plural or uncountable Have I made enough noun): There isn't enough time. as a

sandwiches? as a pronoun: I've only got $12 - will that be enough? (followed by "of): / read enough of the article to get the main idea.

as an adverb (after an adjective, adverb, or verb): The She didn't move quickly rope isn't long enough. enough. You haven't practiced enough.

en passant Enough

is

after particular nouns, but

common: Don't ask questions - there'll be time enough for that later. He had reason enough to / was be angry (=he had a good reason to be angry). fool enough to trust her (=it was foolish of me to trust this is not

her).

used for saying that an amount is as much as you need, or that a number of people or things are as many as you need: He doesn't have enough experience as a classroom teacher. "Would you like something more to +of There aren't eat?" "No thanks, I've had enough." enough of us to make up a team. + for Do we have enough knives and forks for everyone?* enough to do sth Some of the workers don't earn enough to live on. They have enough uranium to build more than 30,000 bombs. enough for sb/sth to do sth There wasn't enough room for us to stretch our legs out. more than enough (=more than is needed) You 've had more than enough time to finish the not nearly enough (=much less than is needed) Not job. nearly enough has been done to provide training for new staff members, la. used for saying that someone or 1

something is as good, big, fast, etc. as necessary, or does something as much as is necessary: The teachers aren't strict enough. He wants to join the army when he's old enough. He told me I hadn't been working hard enough.

Sure, things have improved, but they haven't

improved enough.

+for The software

isn't

good enough

enough to do sth Three days later Thorpe was well enough to leave the hospital. Not even her roommate had cared enough to warn her. enough for sb/sth to do sth The road is barely wide enough for two cars to pass each other. 2 spoken used for saying that you do not want to experience any more of something because it is annoying or boring: I've only been to one of her lectures, and that was enough for me! + of / wish you 'd stop criticizing - I get enough of that from Harry. have had enough of sth I'm leaving. I've had enough of all this nonsense! 2a. enough already spoken used for saying that you want something to stop: Enough already! I can't take any more of this bickering. 2b. enough is enough spoken used for saying that something must stop 2c. that's enough spoken used for telling someone to stop behaving badly: That's enough! I don't want any more complaints from you two. 3 used after an adjective or adverb for emphasis: nice/ common/natural/soon etc. enough Of course she's upset. It's natural enough, after the way she's been treated. You '11 meet the rest of the team soon enough. 4 used after adjectives that mean "stupid" or "not lucky" for saying that someone does something stupid or that something bad happens to them: be unfortunate/

for professional use.

unlucky/unwise/stupid etc. enough to do sth They had been unfortunate enough to become infected with the virus. Surely the government wouldn be foolish enough to 't

ignore public opinion?

enough of sth to like something very much and want a lot of it: Fans of horror movies just can't get can't get

enough of this sort of stuff. bad/difficult/hard enough used when saying that is already bad and something else would it even worse: It's hard enough earning a living without having to pay all this money for insurance. as if sth wasn't bad enough The police were completely unhelpful and, as if that wasn't bad enough, they accused me of wasting their time. strangely/oddly/funnily enough used for showing that you think a particular fact is strange or surprising: Funnily enough, Robert was saying exactly the same thing it's

a situation

make

yesterday.

en pas-sant /

u pa'sa/ adv formal if you say something it while you are talking about

en passant, you mention something else

en-quire / in 'kwair/ another spelling of inquire en-quir-y /in'kwairi/another spelling of inquiry en-rage /in'reid3/ verb [t] to make someone extremely angry

— en-raged adj

en-rap-tured thing very

entangled

453

sometimes used

/in'raeptjard/ adj literary enjoying some-

much

en-rich /m'ntJV verb [T] 1 to make something better or more enjoyable 1a. to make food taste better by adding something 2 formal to make someone richer

— en-rich-ment noun [u]

to put your name on the official list of students who go to a particular school,

en-roll /in'rool/ verb

[i/t]

university, course, etc., or put another person's name on the list for them: / had just enrolled at USC when the

war started. en-roll-ment

/in

roolmant/

1

[u]

when someone

is

put on the list of students who go to a school, college, or university: There is an enrollment fee of $2,000.00 2 [C/U] the number of people who are taking a course or courses at a school or university: Enrollments in science courses are down again this year. officially

en route /cm

rut/ adv on the way: passing through Little Rock en route team is en route to a championship.

We happened to

Memphis.

to

be

The

en-sconce

/in'skans/ verb [T] literary if you ensconce yourself somewhere, you put yourself into a com-

fortable or safe position

en-sconced

/in'skanst/ ad) literary in a place or situation that you feel satisfied with, especially a place or situation that you do not intend to leave or change

ensemble

/un'sambl/ noun [c] 1 a group of musicians, dancers, or actors who perform together 2 a group of things that look good or combine well together 2a. a set of clothes that you wear together

en-shrine /in'Jram/

verb [t] formal to officially record something such as an idea or principle in a document so that it cannot be ignored: These fundamental freedoms

are enshrined in the Universal Declaration of

Human

Rights.

en-shroud

/in'Jraod/ verb [T] literary 1 to cover or hide something completely 2 to make something difficult to know or understand en-sign /'ensan/ noun [c] 1 a flag on a ship that shows the country it comes from 2 an officer of low rank in the U.S. Navy or coast guard 2a. an officer of low rank in the British Army, in the past 3 Am E a small piece of metal that someone wears on a uniform to show their

rank

en-slave /m'sleiv/ verb [T] 1 to make someone a slave 2 if a feeling or idea enslaves someone, it influences everything they do or think

— en-slave-ment noun [u]

en-snare /m'sner/

verb [T] formal if a bad situation ensnares someone, they are unable to escape from it a. to trick someone in an unpleasant way and get control of

them

en-sue

/in'su/ verb [i] to happen after something else, often as a result of it: follow

en-su-ing

/m'suirj/ adj an ensuing event or activity happens after something else, often as a result of it: The guards returned fire, and the ensuing gunfight lasted all day. a. an ensuing period of time comes after the time or event that you have been talking about en suite /a 'swit/adj an en suite bathroom is one joined to a bedroom, especially in a hotel: a double room with en suite facilities a. an en suite bedroom has a bathroom joined to it: All rooms are en suite. en-sure /m'Jor/ verb [T] ** to make certain that something happens or is done: The lifejacket had almost certainly ensured her survival. + (that) Our new research strategy ensures that we get the best possible results.

ENT/,i en

abbrev medical ear, nose, and throat if a situation or action entails a particular thing, it involves having or doing that thing: All mergers entail some job losses. entail doing sth Building the airport entails reclaiming huge areas of land from the ocean. 2 legal an old word meaning to arrange for property to be given to someone

en-tail

'ti/

/in'teil/ verb [J] formal 1

when you

die

en-tan-gle/m'ticijgl/ verb [t] 1 to involve someone in a difficult or complicated situation that is hard to escape from: The policy would entangle the nation in conflicts that could easily lead to war. 2 to twist something up in something such as a wire or net, so that they are stuck and cannot easily be set free en-tan-gled /m'Ucngld/ adj 1 so involved in a complicated situation that it is difficult to get out: The discussion became too entangled in the statistics of the problem. 2 stuck in something such as ropes or wires: The divers had to be rescued after becoming entangled in the cables.

"

entanglement en-tan-gle-ment

situation or relationship: Politicians must avoid personal entanglements if they want to get elected.

en-tente /un'tunt/ noun

[C/u]

an informal agreement

/

'entar/ verb

*•*

en-tertainer

go or come into a place: Soldiers entered the houses, apparently searching for weapons. The man had entered through the back door. The bullet missed his kidney because it entered his body at an angle. They were imprisoned for illegally entering the country. 1a. [T] to start or reach a particular period of time in a process or activity: The war had already entered its third week. 1b. [T] to begin to affect someone's actions or behavior: A hint of emotion entered his voice for the first time. 2 [T] to start to take part in a particular activity or work in a particular job: There are dozens of new companies entering the software market. She had hoped to enter the legal profession. 2a. [I/T] if you enter a race or competition, or someone enters you, you put your name on the list of those taking part: She's entered several poetry competitions. Each owner can enter a horse for a maximum of three races. The competition is free, and anyone over the age of 18 can enter. 3 [T] to write something somewhere, for example in a book, on a form, or on a computer: You enter the cusEnter your user name and tomer's name on this line. password. 3a. to state something officially: A number of complaints have been entered by senior members. enter a plea of (=say formally whether you are guilty of a crime) The defendant entered a plea of "not guilty. [i/T] to

1

enter your mind/head if a thought enters your head, you think about it or consider it: cross your mind: Why such a bizarre notion should have entered her head I cannot imagine. It never entered my head to do anything else. .enter into phrasal vb [T] [enter into sth] 1 to start to take part in an official discussion or other formal activity: The government had entered into a genuine dialogue with the terrorists. 1a. to agree to be part of an official agreement or contract: In 1986, the organization entered into an agreement with a private firm to operate the security system. 2 to be an important aspect of a situation: When companies are trying to save money, loyalty to workers doesn't enter into it.

enter into the spirit (of sth) to behave in the enthusiastic way that people expect in a particular situation, example in a game or at a party enter on or 'enter upon phrasal vb [T] formal [enter on/ upon sth] to begin something or begin to take part in for

something en-ter-i-tis /.enta'raitis/ noun [u] medical a painful medical condition that affects your intestines and causes diarrhea

'enter ,key noun [c] computing a key on a computer keyboard that makes the computer perform an action or start a

new

line of writing

en-ter-prise /'entar.praiz/ noun

••

a business company or organization: Euro Disney a much smaller enterprise than its American counbusinesses and managing them: Our state needs a Congressman who works to encourage enterprise. -* free enterprise, private 1

ment: The Duke loved to entertain when he was staying at Windsor. The company had incurred $37,000 in expenses entertaining a client. 2 [J] formal to consider an idea or feeling and allow it to develop in your mind: If de Gaulle entertained hopes of an alliance, he was to be swiftly disappointed.

between countries or groups

en»ter

enticement

454

Uenglmant/ noun [u] the process of becoming entangled in something a. a complicated /in

[C]

is

/.entor'teinar/ noun [c]

• someone who

entertains people

en-ter-tain-ing /.entar'temin/adj • enjoyable or fun to do: The book is short but entertaining. The company produces entertaining and informative programs. 2 en-ter-tain-ing /.entor'tcmin/ noun [u] the social 1

activity of providing guests with food, drink, or other forms of enjoyment

/.entar'temmant/ noun [c/U] •• performances that people enjoy: A jazz band provided the entertainment, while people ate and drank under the

en-tertainment

stars. There will be entertainment and a buffet luncheon entertainment business The boy is for a cost of $30. making his mark in the entertainment business before he has even left school.

en-thral /in'Orol/ a Br E spelling of enthrall en-thrall /in'Brol/ verb [i/t] to make you so interested or excited that you give it all your attention en-thralled /in'Grold/ ad] so interested in or excited by something that you give it all your attention en-thrall-ing /in'Orolin/ adj an enthralling activity or event is so interesting or exciting that you give it all your attention en-throne /m'Broon/ verb [T] to make someone the new king, queen, or bishop in a formal ceremony en-throne-ment noun [C/U] enthuse /m'Ouz/ verb [I] to talk in an excited way about something you are interested in: + about/ over Nick was enthusing about how well things had worked out. a. [T] to make someone interested in something or excited by it

—

en-thu-si-asm /m'Guzi.aezsm/ noun

enterprise zone noun

[c] an area where the government encourages companies to start new businesses by offering them lower taxes and other financial advan-

tages

en-ter-pris-ing /'entsr.praizin/ think of new ideas or methods

en-tertain

/.entsr'tem/ verb

adj willing to try

or

••

1 [T] to give a performance that people enjoy: In professional sports, the responsibility is on everyone to entertain the crowd. 1a. [i/T] to receive someone as a guest and give them food and drink or other forms of enjoy-

|

*•

[u] the feeling of being very interested in something or excited by it: +for His enthusiasm for music has stayed strong throughout his 23 years in radio. dampen sb's enthusiasm (=reduce it) The defeat did not dampen the enthusiasm of the home team. a. [C] an activity or subject that you are interested in and excited about

|

Metaphor Enthusiasm and excitement are like heat and a lack enthusiasm and excitement are like cold or wet.

of

/ don't have any burning interest in modern art. It's Things heated up as soon the hottest show in town. as the music started. The audience was at fever pitch. The book was received warmly. He certainly has fire in his belly. They seemed very lukewarm when Her response to the suggestion I mentioned it to them.

was tepid. She poured cold water on all my suggestions. The party turned out to be a washout. He blows hot and cold all the time, and I never

know where

I

am

with him.

terparts, la. [u] the activity of creating

ENTERPRISE 2 [C] a large or important project, especially one that is new or different: They are involved in an exciting scientific enterprise. 2a. [u] the ability to think of new ideas and make them succeed: Carlson showed extraordinary enterprise for such an inexperienced manager.

|

en-thu-si-ast /m'Guziaest/ noun [c] someone who is very interested in something or excited by it and spends time doing it or learning about it: The company was started ten years ago by two young computer enthusiasts.

••

very interested in something or excited by it: Business leaders gave an + about For a while, enthusiastic welcome to the proposal. en-thu-siwe were enthusiastic about the idea. as-ti-cal-ly /inBuzi'sstlkli/ adv

en'thu«si'as'tic/m,9uzi'aestik/ad|

—

/in'tais/ verb [T] to persuade someone to do something, especially by offering them an advantage or In many cities reward: / enticed him with more money. drivers are being enticed to take a train or bus to work. How can a promise of $9,000 a year entice older men back to work? en-tice-ment /m'taismsnt/ noun [c] an advantage or benefit that persuades you to do something a. [u] the process of enticing someone

en-tice

;

enticing

the rich enticing smell of spices.

— en-tic-ing-ly adv

en-tire /in'tair/ adj [only before noun] **• used for emphasizing that you mean all or every part of something: the entire adult population He gave his entire attention to the task in hand. The railroad enables distribution across the entire North American continent. en-tire-ly /m'tairli/adv *•• 1 completely, or in every way: Towns only a few miles apart can have entirely different dialects. The task is to The city of be handled entirely by federal employees. Napier was entirely rebuilt after an earthquake in 1931. 2 mainly spoken used for emphasizing what you are saying: / think it's entirely possible that the two leaders will discuss a treaty today. not entirely I'm not entirely sure I like the tone of your question.

en-tire-ty /m'tairati/ noun [uj the whole of something: They were forced to stay in the hotel for the entirety of their stay. a. in its /their entirety with all or everything included: The movie should be shown in its entirety or not at

all.

entitle 1

E

455

en-tic-ing /m'taisin/ adj something that is enticing is so good or attractive that you want to have it or do it very much: an enticing offer The kitchen was filled with

/in'taitl/ verb [t]

[often passive] to

give

that

is

right to do some-

Membership entitles you to reduced entitle sb to do sth The people who are should be aware of that fact. 2 [usually passive] to give a title to a book, poem, or piece of music: Her first novel was entitled More Innocent Times. thing: entitle sb to sth

a profession, university, or school [t] to put someone in a dangerous situation that is difficult to escape from a. to trick

someone

en-ti-tle-ment /m'taitlmant/ noun [c/u] the right to receive something or do something: +to One woman in six retires with an entitlement to a full basic pension. entitlement to do sth Few people were aware of their entitlement to visit the palace, a. an amount of money that someone is entitled to receive: Make sure you are getting your full entitlement.

are old, sick, or unemployed

en-ti-ty /'entati/ noun [c] formal ** a separate unit that is complete and has its own character: The two countries fought for the right to become separate entities. en-tomb /in'tum/ verb [T] literary to put someone or something in or under something so that they cannot escape: be entombed in sth 800 bodies are believed to be entombed in the wreck, a. to put a dead person in a tomb (=an underground room) en-to-mol-o-gy /,enta'malad3i/ noun [u] the scientific study of insects en-to-mo-log-i-cal /.entama'la^ikl/ adj, en-to-mol-o-gist noun [C]

—

en-tou-rage /'anto,ra3/ noun [C] a group of people who go somewhere with an important person en-trails

/'entralz; 'en.treilz/ noun [plural] the organs inside the body of an animal or person, especially the INTESTINES

/'entrans/ noun ••* [c] the place where you can enter a room, building, or area: I'll meet you at the main entrance at six o'clock. +to/of The statue of the Little Mermaid stands at the entrance to the harbor. a. [usually singular] the act of going into a place: Our 1

conversation ended abruptly with the entrance of a group of reporters, b. [u] the right or ability to go into a place: + to Entrance to the museums has always been free, gain entrance (=succeed in entering) Police have not yet explained how the men gained entrance to the gallery. entrance charge/fee There is a $10 entrance fee. c. [u] the right to join a group or organization, for example a university or a profession: the minimum standards of college entrance

make an entrance

1 to enter a room or building in a formal way or in a way that makes people notice you 2 to come onto the stage of a theater to begin your performance

someone or something beautiful or impressive entrances you, you are so attracted by them that you give them all your attention en-tranced /in'traenst/ adj so impressed by someone or something that you cannot look at or think about anyone or anything else 'trans/ verb

[u]

a process in

or serious /'an.trei/ noun 1 [C] the main part of a meal, especially at a restaurant 2 [C/u] formal the right or opportunity to enter a particular place or become part of a particular group

en-tree

feelings

/m'trentjt/ adj entrenched attitudes or have existed for a long time and are difficult to

change

nous

/.antra 'nu/ adv spoken formal used for that you do not want anyone else to are about to say

someone

know what you From

a French expression

meaning "between you and

me."

en-tre-pre-neur /,antrapra'nor/ noun [C] someone who uses money to start businesses and make business deals

en-tre-pre-neu-ri-al /.antrapra'nurial/adj relating

to

the skills or activities of entrepreneurs

entitlement program noun \c\AmEa. government program that provides money or care for people who

/ in

something wrong

which the police or other officials trick someone into committing a crime en-treat / m'trit/ verb [T]/orma/ to keep asking someone to do something in a way that shows you are worried and serious en-treat-y /m'triti/ noun [C/u] formal a strong request that you make to someone about something worrying

telling

en-trance

into doing

en-trap-ment /m'traepmant/ noun

en-tre

2

so beautiful or impressive that you

en-trap/in'tnep/verb

tickets.

en-trance

is

number

someone or something

give them all your attention en-trant /'entrant/ noun [c] someone who enters a competition or examination a. Br E someone who joins

entitled to vote

season

entrancing

ad]

en-trenched

••

someone the

en-tranc-ing /m'tnensin/

[t] if

en-tro-py

/'entrapi/ noun [u] technical a lack of order or organization in a system

en-trust /m'trASt/ verb

[T]

to give

someone respon-

an important job or

activity: All employees entrusted with the care of children are given a police check. We cannot entrust the country's telecommunications to sibility for

unqualified people.

en-try

/'entri/

noun

•*•

1 [u] the process of becoming involved in a situation: + to/\nto America's entry into the war la. the right to become a member of an organization, profession, or other group: + to /into Older students are being denied entry into full-time education. 2 [u] the right or ability to go into a place: gain entry (=succeed in entering a place) We had to remove the lock refuse /deny entry Officials on the door to gain entry. have been refused entry to the two camps. + to /into Entry to the exhibition costs $5.50. 2a. the act of entering a place: They were charged with illegal entry into the U.S. 2b. no entry an instruction, especially one printed on a sign, that people are not allowed to go into a street, area, building, or room 2c. [C] a place where you enter a building. The more usual word is entrance. 3 [C] a set of information that is part of a series of things written in a book, on a list, on a computer database, etc.: the dictionary entry for the word "play"* Her diary entries for that month show how unhappy she was. 3a. something that you have to make or do when you take part in a competition: The contest attracted entries from all over the country.

entry- level adj 1 an entry-level job is at the lowest level in a company or organization 2 mainly BrE entry-level equipment is the most basic or simple type intended for people

en-try-phone

who

/ 'entri,

are beginning an activity foon/ noun [c] BrE an intercom

at the entrance to a building

en-try-way / 'entri.wei/ noun

[C]

Am E a room you pass

through to go into the main part of a building en-twine /m'twain/ verb [t usually passive] 1 to curl or twist one thing around another 2 to connect one thing very closely with another E .number noun [c] a number used in Europe to represent a chemical that is added to food

enumerate /inunio.reit/ verb [T] formal to each one of a series or list of things

name

e-nurvci'ate/i'nAiisi.eit/verb/orma/Ii/T] to pronounce words clearly so that they can be easily understood a. [T] to express an idea clearly and in detail. e«nun'ci'a'tion/i,nAnsi'eiJn/noun [C/U]

en-vel-op /m'velap; envelop/ verb [t] to surround someone or something completely: Black smoke enveloped the entire

street.

**

en-ve-lope

/'envo.loop; unvo.loop/ noun [c] 1 a flat paper case for a letter or document, with a part that you stick down to close it before you write an address on it and send it through the mail 1a. on the

back of an envelope quickly and without thinking about all the details: The proposal was no doubt drawn up on the back of an envelope. 1b. stuff envelopes to do the boring work of putting letters inside envelopes 2 a thin case that contains something

push the envelope informal to go to the limits of what you are allowed to do en-vi-a-ble /'enviobl/ adj an enviable quality or situation is one that other people admire and would like to have as well — ervvi-a-bly adv envious / 'envios/ adj unhappy because you want very much to do something that someone else does or have something that they have: He saw their envious glances and felt distinctly uncomfortable. +of He was envious of the local boys who could see her every day. —compare

— en«vi*ous*ly adv

jealous

en*vi*ron>ment /m'vaironmont; m'vaiornmont/ noun

*•* the place in which people live and work, including the physical conditions that affect them: We need to working environment for all of our employees. He grew up in a harsh urban environment. A dirty environment is a breeding ground for germs. 1a. the conditions and influences in which people carry on a particular activity: In this competitive environment a business needs to be flexible. Parents are responsible for providing the right environment for their children to grow and learn in. There is an environment of fear and intimidation throughout the organization. 1b. computing the system that a computer or computer program operates in: In a database environment, many applications share the same 1

[C]

all

create a safe

data.

2 the environment

the natural world, including the land, water, air, plants, and animals, especially considered as something that is affected by human activity: Industrial development is causing widespread damage to the environment.

Words

frequently used with

adjectives

environment

competitive, controlled, external,

1

global, hostile, natural, physical, rural, safe, stable,

verbs

affect,

urban, working

damage, destroy,

2

pollute,

preserve, protect

*** [usually before noun] relating to the natural world

and the

effect that

human

activity has

on

it:

Both can-

didates discussed environmental issues, a. [only before noun] intended to help or protect the environment: Some environmental groups have declared a boycott of tourism on the island. companies that do not have environmental policies

— en'vi*ron«men'taMsm noun [U]

en-vi-ron-men-tal-ist /mvairon'mentlist; m.vaiorn 'mentlist/ noun [C] * someone who wants to protect the environment en-vi-ron-men-tal-ly /in vairon'mentli; m.vaiorn 'mentli/ adv * in a way that affects the environment or is related to it: Everybody has some scope for doing their job in a more environmentally responsible way. a less environmentally damaging scheme en vironmentally friendly adj designed not to harm the natural environment environmentally sensitive area noun [c] an area where the natural environment can easily be harmed en-vi-rons /m'vaironz; m'vaiornz/ noun [plural] formal the area that surrounds a place: Mexico City and its environs

en-visage

formal to envision en-vi-sion /in'v^n/ verb (T] to imagine that something will happen in the future, or is happening now: That's /m'vizidj,/ verb

[t]

a very different process from the one I envisioned, envision (sb) doing sth / can envision eighth-graders having trouble with this concept. We envision charging a small sum for the use of our services. /'en voi/ noun [C] * an official who represents their country in another country, with a rank below a. a representative of a government or organization who is sent to another country to deal with a particular situation

eivvoy

an ambassador

1

ervvy /'envi/ noun [u] the unhappy feeling you have when you want very much to do something that someone else does or have something that they have: jealousy: He was sure that the other drivers looked at him with envy. be the envy of to have good qualities or advantages that people admire very much and would like to have themselves: We are in the midst of an economic recovery that is the envy of the world.

eivvy 2

/'envi/ verb [T] to have the unhappy feeling of wanting to be like someone else or have what they have: / envy people who are always confident. envy sb sth / envy you your view of the ocean.

don't envy you/him etc. spoken used for saying that you would not like to do what someone else has to do: You're going to have to tell her, and I don't envy you. I

/'en.zaim/ noun [C] * a natural chemical produced by animal and plant cells that causes reactions and other processes to start e-on /'i,an; 'ion/ noun [c] an extremely long period of time epaulet or epaulette /,epoiet/ noun [c] a decoration worn on the shoulder of a shirt, jacket, or coat, especially by a soldier as part of a uniform e-pee /e'pei/ noun [c] a light thin sword that bends easily, used in the sport of fencing ephemera /i'fem(o)ro/ noun [plural] things that are useful or fashionable for only a short time a. printed things such as notices and tickets, that people read or use but do not keep

en-zyme

e-phem-er-al time

a.

/i'fem(o)rol/ adj lasting for only a short technical an ephemeral plant has only a short

life 1

/'epik/ noun [C] a long poem that tells a story about ancient people and gods a. a long book or movie about famous and exciting people and events from the past b. a long and difficult event involving many

ep-ic

people: the battle of Gettysburg and other Civil War epics 2 ep'ic /'epik/adj relating to the writing of epics: an epic poem /poet a. an epic fight or other activity is long and difficult: They were engaged in an epic struggle against poverty and ignorance.

epicen-ter

en-vi-ron-men-tal /mvairon'mentl; in.vaiorn'mentl/ adj

epidural

456

e-nu-menate

/'epi.sentor/ noun [c] the area of land directly over the center of an earthquake

ep-i-cure /'epi.kjor/ noun enjoys good food and drink

epi-cu«re-an

/.epikjo'rion;

[c]

literary

someone who

.epi'kjorion/ adj

literary

relating to the enjoyment of things such as good food

and drink ep-i-dem-ic

1

/ ,epi'demik/ noun [c] a situation in which a disease spreads very quickly and infects many people: a flu epidemic an epidemic of typhoid a. a sudden increase in something bad or unpleasant that affects many people: An epidemic of petty crime has hit the area.

ep'i'denvic 2 /.epi'demik/

adj

many

people: In some reached epidemic proportions. affecting

happening a lot and drug taking has

cities,

ep-i-de-mi-ol-o-gy /,epidimi'abd3i/ noun [u] the scientific study of infectious diseases and their causes

— ep'i«de*mi*ol'0«gist noun [C]

ep«i«der*mis /,epi'd3rmis/ noun layer of skin on your body

[c/u] science the outer

ep«i'du«ral /.epi'doral/ noun [C] a medical treatment in which an anesthetic (=drug that stops you feeling pain) is put into the lower back, especially of a woman who is having a baby

epiglottis

equaling

457

/I'panamas/ adj the eponymous character in a story has the same name as the title ep-ox-y res-in /i.puksi 'rezm/ noun [u] a type of very

ep-i-glot-tis /.epi'glatis/ noun [C] the small piece of flesh at the back of your tongue ep«i«gram /'epi.graem/ noun [C] a short poem or sentence that expresses something in a clever or funny

e'pon«y«mous

way ep«i'gram«mat'ic

Ep-som

/.epigra'mastik/ adj ideas or feelings in a short and clever way

expressing

epigraph /'epi.graef/ noun

[C] a short piece of writing put at the beginning of a book or on a building or statue /'epi.lepsi/ noun ep-i-lep-sy [u] a serious medical condition that affects the brain and makes you suddenly shake in an uncontrolled way or become unconscious

ep'Mep'tic 1

/.epi'leptik/ adj caused

by epilepsy: an

epileptic seizure

ep'Mep'tic 2 / .epi'leptik/ noun

[C]

someone who

suffers

from epilepsy /'epi.lag/ noun [C] an extra comment or piece of information added at the end of a novel, long poem, or other piece of writing

e«piph-a«ny /Tpifani/ noun [c] literary a moment when you suddenly realize or understand something important /I'pifani/

noun [C/U] January

6th, cele-

brated by Christians as the day that the baby Jesus Christ was visited by three kings or wise men

e-pis-co-pa-cy

/i'piskapasi/ noun [u] a system of governing a church by bishops a. [C] the bishops in a church e«piS'CO«pal/i'piskapl/adj relating to bishops episcopal :

authority

Episcopal 'Church, the

noun a Protestant Church that developed from the Anglican Church E-pis-co-pa-lian /i.piska'peilian/ noun [c] a member of the Episcopal Church or of another church that E«pis«codeveloped from the Anglican Church

—

pa-li-an adj

e-pi scopate / 'piskapat / noun [C] the rank or position of a bishop a. the period of time for which someone is a bishop in a church b. the episcopate all the bishops 1

in a

church

ep-i-sode /'epi.sood/ noun

[c]

**

1 an event or set of events that forms part of a longer series but is considered separately: The raid was one of the bloodiest episodes in a long hard war. After this episode, relations between them were strained. 2 a part of a television or radio story that is broadcast separately and forms one of a series 3 medical a time when someone is affected by an illness or a medical condition

episodic / ,epi'sadik/ of separate is

i-cal-ly

/

ati\ formal happening as a series that have no clear connection happening from time to time in a way

events

between them that

a.

not regular: episodic earthquakes ,epi 'sadikli/ adv

— ep-i-sod-

e-pis-tle

/i'pisl/ noun [C] literary a piece of writing in the form of a letter a. Epistle one of the letters written by the early Christians that is included in the part of the Bible called Epistles

e-pis-to-lar-y

/i'pista,leri/ adj literary relating to the writing of letters a. an epistolary novel consists of a series of letters written by the people in the story

ep-i-taph

/'epi.taef/ noun [c] a short piece of writing that honors a dead person, especially one written on their grave [C] a word or phrase that describes the main quality of someone or something a. an offensive or insulting name for someone: racial

ep-i-thet /'epi,0et/ noun

epithets

e-pit-o-me

/I'pitami/ noun the epitome of the best possible example of a particular type of person or thing: She was the epitome offashionable elegance.

e-pit-o-mize

/i'pita,maiz/ verb [t] formal to be the best possible example of a particular type of thing: Singapore's Changi airport epitomizes the state's efficiency.

ep-och

/'epak; 'i.pak/ noun [C] a long period of time in the history of a people or place a. technical a particular period of past time in geology

epoch-making future:

salts /'epsam .salts/ noun [plural] a white subis mixed with water and used as a medicine for stomach problems Epstein-Barr vi-rus /epstam 'bar ,vairas/ noun [u] an infectious virus that makes you feel very tired and stance that

weak. Epstein-Barr virus is also called EBV. 'kju/ noun [C] emotional quotient: someone's /,i ability to understand their emotions, deal with emotional problems, and get on well with other people

EQ

eq-ua-ble /'ekwabl; 'ikwabl/ ad] 1 formal calm, reasonable, and not easily made angry or upset 2 equable weather

ep-ilogue

E-piph-a-ny

strong glue

ad] having an important an epoch-making decision

effect

on the

is

not extreme and does not change very

— eq-ua-bly adv

much

e-qual /'ikwal/ adj *** 1 the same in value, amount, or 1

size: All the workers have an equal share in the profits. +to They receive an income equal to the value of the goods they produce. equal

in value/size/quality etc. A wall, equal in height to the roughly /approximately floor, was added later. equal Roughly equal numbers of men and women enroll each year. of equal size/quality/value etc. His wife was doing work of equal importance, la. sth is equal to sth used for saying that two things are the same in value, amount, or size: One unit of alcohol is equal to one small glass of wine. 2 having or deserving the same rights and opportunities as other people: He believed that all men and They are equal partners in every women were equal. aspect of their lives. 2a. [usually before noun] giving people the same rights and opportunities: Men and women should receive equal pay for equal work. Everyone should have equal access to healthcare services. equal rights He supported equal rights for all citizens. 3 an equal game, fight, election, or competition is between people or groups that have the same ability

main

all/other things being equal if things stay as expected, or there are no special facts to consider: All things being Other things equal, we should get there by the evening. being equal, the job would be given to a woman. equal to 1 formal having the ability and determination needed to do something difficult: Patricia would be equal to the task of running a large department. 2 mainly literary as good as another thing or person: They were facing soldiers whose skill was at least equal to their own. in equal measure/orma/ used for saying that two things have an equal effect or importance on an equal footing/ on equal terms with the same rights and conditions as the people you are competing

with

some are more equal than others used for saying that two people or groups are not really equal although they appear to be e-qual 2 /'ikwal/

(present participle e*qual*ing

or

e*qual*ling;

equaled or equalled) verb [T] * 1 to be the same in value or amount as something else: Five plus three equals eight. This is the point where total cost equals total revenue. 1a. to amount to something or have a particular result that you cannot avoid: Increased population equals increased demand. 2 [often passive] to achieve the same standard or level of ability as someone else: He did everything with a style that I have never seen equaled. She equaled the record with a time of 27.69 seconds. 2a. to be as good or large as something else: His personal vanity was equaled only by his fear offailure. past tense and past participle

e-qual 3 /'ikwal/ noun [c] someone or something that has the same value, rights, or importance as another person or thing, or that deserves the same respect: It's time we were treated as equals. / consider her to be my equal. + of Our training was the equal of that provided in Germany. be without equal or have no equal to be better than anyone or anything else e-qualed an Am E past tense and past participle of equal e-qual-ing an Am E present participle of equal

equality

Many people made sacrifices to achieve basic equality for women. + between equality between husband and wife + with Young men sought equality with their elders. opposite inequality equality.

—

equal-ize /'ikwa.laiz/ verb 1 [T] to make something the same in size, amount, or importance for everyone in a place or for all the members of a group: The plan is to equalize spending for all school districts. 2 [l] Br E to score a goal or win a point in a game that gives you the same score as the opposing team /.ikwah'zeijn/nountu]

— e*quaM*za*tion

divided equally between the charities.

.equal opportunity noun [c/u] a situation in which people have the same opportunities in life as other people, without being treated in an unfair way because of their race, sex, religion, or age: The company will continue to provide equal opportunity in its promotion equal opportunity issues/policies/legislation You'll find details of our equal opportunity policies in the

program.

company handbook. 'equal .sign or 'equals .sign noun [c] the sign = used in mathematics to show that two sets of numbers are the same in quantity or amount e*qua*ninvi*ty /.ikwa'nimsti; .ekwa'nimati/noun [u] a calm mental state when you deal with difficult situations: He seemed to be facing the future with equanimity. e«quate /i'k,weit/ verb 1 [T] to consider something to be the same as something else: equate sth with /to sth These people seem to equate honesty with weakness. equate sth and sth Don't make the mistake of equating high test scores and intelligence. 2 [i] [+with/to] to be the same as something: Market rates don 't always equate with reasonable prices.

e*qua*tion /i'kwei3n/ noun

**

a statement in mathematics that two sets of numbers or expressions are equal: Solve the equation 5x - 3 - 27. la. a statement in chemistry that uses symbols to show the changes that take place in a chemical reaction 2 [U] the process of considering one thing to be the same as another: the false equation of financial success with happiness 2a. the equation all the different aspects that you have to consider in a situation: In a choice between the use of rail and car, the question of cost [C]

will come into the equation. e-qua-tor, the or Equator, the /ikweitar/ noun an imaginary line that goes around the Earth and divides it into the northern and southern hemispheres e*qua*to*ri*al /.ekws'torial/ adj near the equator or typical of conditions near the equator eq*uer»ry /'ekvvsri/ noun [C] an official who helps a member of the British royal family in performing their

duties

equestrian

/I'kwestrian/ ad] relating horses: the national equestrian team

to

riding

equidistant

/.ikwi'distant; ,ekwi 'distant/ adj at the places: + from/between The port conveniently equidistant from the two major manu-

same distance from two is

facturing centers.

equilateral nical

the

/.ikwi'laetarsl;

.ekwi'laetarsl/ adj

tech-

an equilateral triangle has three sides that are

same length

equilibrium [c/u] •

in

/'i.kwain; ckwam/ ad| relating to horses: an outbreak of equine fever a. looking like a horse: equine

e»quine features

equinox

/'ikwi nuks; ekwi.naks/ noun [c] one of the two days in the year when the day and night are exactly

the

same length

equip

/i'kwip/ verb

[T]

**

to provide a person or place with the things they need for a particular purpose: They received a grant to 1

and equip a new dental clinic. equip sb/sth with is not enough money to equip investigators with

sth There

the latest

computer systems.

equipped

gym

well/fully equipped a fully badly/ poorly equipped poorly equipped

soldiers

2

someone with the skills or personal qualthey need in order to deal with a situation successfully: equip sb to do sth The training had equipped her to deal with emergency situations. equip sb for sth We aim to equip young graduates for a competitive business better/best/well equipped Jane is better environment. equipped than I am to handle such complex questions. to provide

ities

equipment /I'kwipmant/ noun

[u]

•••

the tools, machines, or other things that you need for a particular job or activity: camping / lifting I safety equipment piece of equipment A computer is the most important piece of equipment you will buy. la. the process of providing people with the tools, machines, and other things they need 2 the personal qualities you need in order to be able to do something: They don't have the mental equipment 1

to know any better. eq-uita-ble /'ekwitabl/

because everyone inequitable

is

adj

formal fair and reasonable same way —opposite

treated in the

— eq«ui'ta'bly adv

eq-ui-ty /'ekwati/ noun *• 1 [u] formal a fair and reasonable way of behaving toward people, so that everyone is treated equally: a political campaign for pay equity 1a. legal a system for obtaining a fair result when existing laws do not provide a solution 2 [u] business the value of a property after you have taken away the amount left to pay on the mortgage (=money borrowed to buy it) 2a. the value of a company's shares 3 equities [plural] company shares that can be bought and sold on a stock market Eq*ui*ty /'ekwsti/ a labor union for theater actors e-quiva-lence /I'kwrvatans/ noun [C/u] the condition of two things having the same size, value, importance, or meaning e-quiv«a-lent /I'kwivabnt/ adj of the same size, value, importance, or meaning as something else: The

**

1

The price is $30,000, or the equivalent amount in Euros. successful applicant will have a bachelor's or an equivalent equivalent to exercise is degree. +to This amount of walking about three miles.

e-quiv-a-lent /I'kwivsbnt/ noun [C] ** someone or something that has the same size, value, importance, or meaning as someone or something else: a doctorate 2

+ of The large carton is the equivalent or its equivalent of three small ones. e-quivocal /I'kwivakl/ adj formal 1 with more than one possible meaning, in order to avoid making a clear statement: non-committal: an equivocal answer / response 2 not clearly showing the real situation or providing a definite result: inconclusive: Despite extensive research, e«quivo«caMy remains equivocal. evidence the /I'kwivakli/ adv

—

e*quiv*o*cate /I'kwiva.keit/ verb [i] formal to avoid making a clear statement by saying something that has e«quivo«ca'tion more than one possible meaning

—

/i.kwivs'keifn/ noun [C/U] /.ikwi'librism;

.ekwi'librism/

noun

a situation in which there is a balance between different forces or aspects: A new arms race in the region would upset the delicate equilibrium between the opposing 1

equilibrium a situation in which supply and demand are in equilibrium 2 a calm mental state in which you are in control of your feelings: He tried hard to maintain his equilibrium.

factions.

build

e-qual-iz-er /'ikwa.laizar/ noun [c] 1 something that makes all people equal: Death is life's great equalizer. 2 AmE informal a gun 3 BrE a goal or point that gives you the same score as the opposing side e-qual-ly /'ikwali/ adv ••* 1 to the same degree: This recipe works equally well with whole wheat flour. 2 in a way that is fair and the same for everyone: Ministers have agreed to treat all the cases equally. 2a. in equal amounts or quantities: The money raised will be

1

era

458

/I'kwabti/ noun [u] •• the state of being equal, especially in having the same rights, status, and opportunities: The Party is committed to sexual and racial

equality

er /3r/

ER /

,i

interjection

'ar/

noun

[c]

BrEvu Am E an emergency room in a hospital

**

a period of time that has a /'era; 'ira/ noun [c] particular quality or character: We are living in an era

e«ra

ERA

J

the Clinton in which technology is developing very rapidly. era a new era The president promised to bring in a new the end of an era Savratilova's retirement era of peace. marked the end of an era. a. science one of the very long periods that prehistoric time is divided into: the Jurassic era b. a historical period with a particular character or feature: the colonial Roman era ERA, the / cir'ei/ noun the Equal Rights Amendment, a suggested change to U.S. law to give women the same i

men

legal rights as

raedi keit/ verb [t] to get rid of something completely, especially something bad: a program to eradicate polio eradicate sth from sth Inflation will never e«rad*ibe completely eradicated from the economy. ca-tion nedl keifn/ noun [u]

e-rad «i-cate /

1

—

i

e-rase/i'reis/ verb [T] • 1 to remove all the information stored on a computer disk or all the sound or pictures recorded on a tape: The virus erases all the files on your hard drive. 1a. to remove writing, drawing, or marks made by a pencil or pen by rubbing it off with an eraser 2 to get rid of an unpleasant memory, feeling, or thought: A successful campaign would erase doubts about his suitability for the job. 2a. to destroy something completely: They tried to erase all evidence of his existence.

e-ras«er I reisor/ nouri [C] 1 a piece of rubber used for removing marks on paper made by a pencil —picture -» c-3 2 an object used for removing marks from a blackboard or whiteboard by wiping it ere /er/ preposition, conjunction literary an old word \

meaning "before" 1 e«rect /Trekt/ /erb informal • 1 to build something such as a statue or bridge: A memorial to her was erected after her death. 1a. to put something such as a fence in an upright position: Police erected barriers around the crime scene. 1b. to put the parts of something together so that it stands upright: Mike and Lee were trying to erect the tent. 2 to create a system or theory The previous administration had erected a complex system of trade barriers. 2 e-rect /i rekt/ adj 1 in a straight upright position: the erect posture of a professional soldier 2 an erect pents or nipple is stiff and sticks out or up e-rectile /i rektl; irektariV adj technical capable of becoming erect: erectile tissue e-rection /i rekfan/ noun 1 [c] a man's penis when it is stiff, usually because he is sexually excited 2 [u] formal the process of erecting something such as a :

building or fence: +of Local people opposed the erection of a memorial. 2a. [C] a structure such as building, wall, or bridge

er-ga-tive /srgativ/ ad] linguistics an ergative verb can have its object as its subject without changing its meaning. For example, "open" is an ergative verb because you can say "I opened the door" or "the door opened." er»ga*tive noun [C] e r g o / '3rgoo adv forma I therefore

—

•

ergonomics /3rg3'ncimiks/ noun {u] the study of the way

furniture, equipment, etc. can be designed so that easy and comfortable to use and produces the most benefits to the user er-go-nom-ic 3rg3'namik/ adj. er-go'nonvi'caMy '3rg3 namikli/ adv er-mine /'3imin/ noun 1 [u] white fur, used especially to decorate formal clothes worn by kings, queens, and judges 2 [C] a small thin animal of the weasel family whose fur is white in the winter it is

—

e-rode /irood/ 1

verb

[i/T]

•

damage the surface of rock or land so begins to disappear, or to be gradually damaged

erudite

>

*•* e-ro-sion/iroo3n, not 1 the process by which the surface of land or rock gradually damaged by water, wind, etc. and begins

ernment e-rot-ic /iratik/

ad: containing scenes or descriptions sexually excited: erotic movies a. ine-rotvolving sexual excitement: erotic thoughts i'cal'ly /I rcitikli/ adv

that

make you

it

way: High tides are eroding the coast. a plan to plant more trees before the soil erodes even further 2 to gradually reduce the strength or importance of something, or to be gradually reduced in this way: It is feared that international institutions may erode national sovereignty. Western support for Yeltsin was slowly eroding. 2a. to gradually reduce the value or level of something, or to become reduced in this way: A cut in interest rates will erode the value of people's savings. in this

e-roge-nous zone

/i rrxl.33n3s zoon/ noun [c] an area of your body that makes you sexually excited when it is touched

—

e-rot-i-ca /iratiko' noun [plural] books, movies, pictures, etc. that are intended to make you sexually excited. Erotica is a positive way of describing such things. A more negative word is pornography

e-rot-i-cism

the quality of being

/i rati siz-"

EROTIC

err /3r/ verb [i] formal to make a mistake, especially in a judgment or decision: The court had erred in allowing her parents

to testify.

err on the side of sth to do more than is really necessary in order to avoid a particular situation: We are erring on the side of caution and have closed the school. to err is human used for saying that it is natural for people to sometimes make mistakes

errand

eraod/nour [C] a small job that involves going something: I'm about to send Tom run an errand =do an errand) She's out on an errand. out running errands for her mother. er«rant / erant/ aaj [only before noun] formal 1 traveling in the wrong direction: an errant missile 2 behaving in a way that is bad or wrong: an errant husband er«rat*ic /i raetrk/ adj changing often or not following a regular pattern, so that it is difficult to know what will happen next x. He's a good player, but to collect or deliver

erratic.

the recent erratic performance of the markets /irstikli/ adv: Police observed him

— er'rat'ic«al«ly

driving erratically.

er^ra'tum/eratsm/ipi-v-e er-ra-ta e'rata noon Id technical a mistake in a book that is discovered after it was printed and is then corrected in a list added to the book er«ro»ne«ous /irooniss/ ^formal not correct: reports based on erroneous information er-ro-ne-ous-ly adv: Patients had been erroneously diagnosed as having cancer.

—

er-ror/ 'erar/nouri ••*• 1 mistake, for example in a calculation or a make an error decision: + in an error in our calculations If you make a typing error, you can correct it using one of clerical/factual/grammatical error .-. simple meant that your order was sent to the /pilot /driver error The accident is thought to have been the result of pilot error. 2 [C] a failure in a computer process these keys.

clerical error

address.

:

human

error of judgment a bad decision: Keeping quiet turned out to be a serious error of judgment. in error formal 1 by mistake, not deliberately: The computer had been turned off in error. 2 wrong in what you say or have decided: He would not admit he had been in error.

see the error of your ways humorous to realize that you are wrong in what you have done or believed -» TI

Words frequently used verbs

to gradually

that

is

to

disappear: soil erosion 2 the gradual reduction or destruction of something important, the erosion of public confidence in the gov-

with error

commit, contain, correct, detect, introduce, make, rectify, spot

1

error message now [C] computing a message that you get on your computer screen when you have made a mistake or something has gone wrong with the program

ersatz

1 used instead of something / erzaets/ aa; better or more expensive: ersatz coffee 2 not real or ersatz controversy sincere: an

erstwhile

srst.wad; 3rsthwail/ ad very formal an erstwhile friend, employer, etc. was a friend, employer. etc. until recently but is not any more. A more usual ;

word is former. er-U'dite / er.^ duit adj formal with a lot of knowledge because of having read or studied a lot

erudition

e-rupt /irApt/ verb

|i] 1 to start suddenly with a lot of violence or noise: Police feared that a riot might erupt. 1a. if a place erupts, there is suddenly a lot of noise as people start shouting, laughing, or fighting: + in /into The room erupted in laughter as Sally acted out the incident, lb. to suddenly express a particular feeling, especially anger, in a noisy way: He erupted with fury when I suggested he was wrong. 2 if a volcano erupts, it explodes inside and flames, rocks, and lava come out of the top 3 if spots erupt on your skin, they suddenly appear there e-rup-tion /I'rApJsn/ noun [C/u]

es-ca-late /'eskajeit/ verb 1 [i/t] to become, or make something become, much worse or more serious: The tension escalated until it became unbearable. Rebel forces have escalated the fighting. + into Any one of these border disputes could escalate into war. 2 [i] to increase, especially at a fast rate that causes problems: an effort to control escalating costs es'ca«la'tion /.esks'leijn/ noun an escalation in violence [C/U]: the escalation of prices

—

es*ca*la*tor / 'eska.leitar/ noun [c] a set of moving stairs that take people from one level to another in a large building. A machine that you ride in to move between levels is an elevator. eS'Cal'Ope/'esks.lap/ noun [c] BrE a scallop esca-pade / 'eska.peid/ noun [C] something exciting or dangerous that someone is involved in: a silly childhood escapade

es-cape 1

get

1

/i'skeip/ verb

away from

sth

••• 4 not remember/notice 5 go away on vacation + PHRASES

bad

2 avoid sth unpleasant 3 come out by accident

1 [I] to get away from a place where you are in danger: Three people died in the fire, but John escaped through +from His family escaped from the bedroom window.

Germany and arrived in Britain in 1938. 1a. [l/T] to get away from a very unpleasant situation: people trying to escape poverty -t-from She saw university as a way to escape from her oppressive home life. 1b. [i] to get away from a place that you are not supposed to leave such as a prison: She was shot while trying to escape. 1c. [l/T] to get away from an embarrassing or annoying situation: Maggie started talking to me and I thought I'd never escape. escape sb's clutches He was trying to escape the clutches of two amorous young girls. 2 [l/T] to avoid being killed or seriously injured in an

Two security guards escaped injury in +with Mr. Smith escaped with cuts and escape unhurt/ unharmed /unscathed Her twoweek-old baby escaped unscathed. escape with your life (=avoid being killed) He was lucky to escape with his life. 2a. [T] to avoid a difficult or unpleasant situation: The area has escaped the ravages of war. Hughes seems certain to escape punishment. narrowly escape San Diego narrowly escaped defeat in their first game of the season. 2b. [l/T] to avoid thinking about or dealing with an unpleasant situation you are in: +from The movies accident or attack: the attack. bruises.

allowed people

to

escape

from

the depressing realities of

their lives.

3 [I] to come out of a container, usually by accident: How will we know if there's any gas escaping? About five tons of crude oil had escaped into the ocean. 3a. literary come out of your mouth, although you did not intend it to: A weary sigh escaped from her lips.

to

4

[t] if something escapes you, you cannot remember or you do not notice it: His name escapes me right now. It seems to have escaped him that I was the one who first introduced him to her. escape your attention /notice It had not escaped my attention that Joseph was absent. 5 [I] informal to go away on vacation: We're hoping to it

escape

to the

there's

e-signature

460

er«u«di«tion/,cro'dij"n/noun [u) formal great knowledge gained through reading and studying

fact that used for saying that

something is definitely true or important, even though you may prefer to think that it is not es-cape 2 /i'skeip/ noun •* 1 avoiding sth bad 2 way not to think of sth 3 gas/liquid escaping

4

[C]

5

[U]

mainly journalism a vacation away from home computing the escape key on a computer: Press escape to return to the main menu. escape .clause noun [c] conditions in a contract that allow someone to get out of the contract

es-caped

/iskcipt/ adj an escaped prisoner or animal has escaped from a prison or from a zoo eS'Cap-ee /i.skei'pi/ noun [c] someone who has escaped

from prison

escape hatch

noun [c] a small door for escaping from a ship, aircraft, or submarine in an emergency ,

escape

,key noun [c] computing a key on a computer keyboard that allows someone to stop an action, leave a program, or return to a previous menu. This key is

usually marked "Esc." es-cap-ism /I'skei.pizam/ noun

[u] something pleasant or exciting that helps you to forget about real life and the boring or unpleasant parts of it: the pure escapism es-cap-ist adj an escapist fantasy of James Bond movies

—

4 vacation 5 computer key

:

es-cap-ol-o-gist /,esk3'pabd3ist/ noun [c] someone who entertains audiences by escaping from ropes, chains, boxes, etc. This form of entertainment is called escapology.

es-ca-role

/ 'eska.rool/ noun [u] a plant with pale green leaves, eaten raw in salads: endive

es-carp-ment /I'skarpmant/ noun

[C] a steep slope that forms the edge of a long area of high land

es-chew

/es'tju/ verb [T] very formal to avoid using or doing something, especially for moral reasons 1 es-cort /i'skort/ verb [t] 1 to go somewhere with a person or vehicle in order to protect them or prevent them from escaping: Her bodyguards escorted her through the airport. a battleship escorted by several smaller vessels to go somewhere with someone in order to be certain that they arrive at the right place: She escorted him to the front door. 3 to go with another person to a formal social event as their partner: Denise was escorted by her

2

uncle.

es«cort

2

/'es.kort/ noun [C] 1 a person or a group of people or vehicles that go somewhere with someone in order to protect them or prevent them from escaping: You should not visit the area without an escort. 1a. under escort with an escort: He arrived in court under police escort. 2 someone, especially a man, who goes with another person to a formal social event as their partner 2a. someone who is paid to go out socially with another person. Escort is sometimes used as a polite way of referring to a prostitute. es-cri-toire /.eskn'twar/ noun [C] a small desk with

drawers

es-crow

/'eskroo/ noun [u] legal money, property, or a legal document that is kept by someone until a particular thing has happened a. in escrow kept by someone until a particular thing has happened

escutch-eon

coast in May.

no escaping the

[C/u] an act of avoiding or getting away from a person, place, or bad situation: + from He had no means chance /hope of escape There of escape from his debts. was now only a slim chance of escape. make your escape She was relieved to make her escape. escape route Make sure you are aware of possible escape routes from your hotel room. la. have a narrow/lucky escape to avoid being killed or seriously injured only because you were lucky or made a very big effort: A couple had a narrow escape when a tree fell just in front of their car. 2 [C/U] a way of helping yourself to stop thinking about an unpleasant situation you are in: He used alcohol as a means of escape. 3 [C] an amount of gas or liquid that escapes from a container: +of There was a rapid escape of gas. 1

/I'skAtJsn/ noun [c] a shield decorated with someone's coat of arms e-signature noun [C] computing electronic signature: a way of adding your name to an electronic document such as an e-mail, used when you are buying goods or making agreements on the Internet Es-ki-mo /'eskimoo/ noun old-fashioned 1 [C] a member of the Inuit people. This word is now sometimes considered offensive. 2 [u] the language of the Inuit

esky

essentially

461

noun [c] Australian a container used for es-ky keeping food and drinks cold, that you can carry around ESL /,i es el/ noun [u] English as a Second Language: /'eski/

the activity of teaching English to people whose first language is not English, but who live in an English-

speaking country /'i.sal/ noun [u] English for Speakers of Other Languages: the activity of teaching English to people whose first language is not English e-soph-a-gus /i'safsgas/ noun [C] medical the tube in your body that carries food from your mouth to your

ESOL

-esque to that

esp. abbrev

especially

/'espa.dnl/ noun [c] a light shoe with the top part made of canvas (=strong cloth) and the bottom made of twisted rope

es-pal-ier /a'spaelysr; s'spad.yei/ noun [c] a fruit tree or bush that grows flat against a wall on a frame a. a frame to which you tie a fruit tree so that it grows flat espe-cial /ispejl/ adj very formal special

especial-ly /i'spejli/adv ••• 1 used when mentioning conditions

make some-

that

thing more relevant, important, or true: particularly: It was a very cold house, especially in the winter. + because/ since He did not want to upset his father, especially because + if /when You'll need to pay for his mother was so sick. your ticket in advance, especially if you want to reserve a seat.

2 used

for showing that what you are saying applies one person or thing more than others: particularly: India, especially the southern part, has an immense potento

tial to attract tourists.

to

especially not sb/sth Don't talk

anyone about this - especially not my mother. for emphasizing that a quality or feeling exists

3 used

to a great degree: particularly: We're especially concerned about the rise in inflation. / especially like the idea of using music in the classroom. 4 for a particular purpose or for a particular person: +for a service especially for local people especially to do sth Martin has come especially to see you, you know.

not especially 1 not very: I'm not especially interested in 2 spoken used for answering "no" to a question about whether you like something, want something, etc. This can sound a little rude.

sports.

Es-pe-rarvto /.esps'raentoo/ noun [u] a language that was invented in the 19th century so that people from different countries could communicate with each other. It is based on European languages. es-pi-o-nage / 'espi3,na3/ noun [u] attempts to discover your enemy's political, military, or industrial secrets using secret methods. Someone who does this is a spy. esplanade /espbnad; 'espbneid/ noun [c] a long road for people to walk along, especially one next to the sea in a town espous-al /ispaozl/ noun [u] formal support for an idea, principle, or belief

es-pouse /I'spaoz/ verb an idea, principle, or the government of Japan

to

formal

to give

es-pres-so /e'spresoo/ noun

[C/u] a small strong coffee, or this type of coffee

-ess /is; es/ suffix 1 used with some nouns to make nouns referring to women: actress (=a woman who acts waitress (=a woman who serves in plays, movies, etc.) people in a restaurant) 2 used with some nouns to make nouns meaning a female animal: lioness

Words

es-prit

de corps

loyalty that exists

es*py

/e.spri da 'kor/ noun [u] a feeling of between the members of a group

/I'spai/ verb [T] literary to see or notice

someone

or something

Am

E sometimes used after the is a man or a woman b. used instead of "Mr." after a man's name, especially on an

Esq. abbrev Esquire a. name of a lawyer who envelope

that

may cause

offense: -ess

words such as actor, author. and manager were used only about men, and actress, authoress, and manageress about women. Words ending in -ess like these are not often used now. and In old-fashioned English,

they

may

manager,

es-say 1

cause offense. Instead, actor, author, etc. are used about both men and women.

/'e.sei/

noun

[c]

•*

a short piece of writing by a student on a particular subject: + on /about We have to write an essay about 1

poetry.

2

a short piece of writing on a particular subject that is published in a book, magazine, or newspaper: +on/ about Rousseau's essay on the origin of language 3 very formal an attempt to do something

es-say 2 /e'sei/ verb

[T] very formal to try to do something eS'Say-ist / esenst/ noun [c] a writer who writes essays es-sence/'esans/ noun •• 1 [singular] the most important part of something,

usually the part that gives it its general character: +of The essence of their argument is that life cannot be Wars were the very essence of the explained by science. Roman Empire. 2 [C/U] a liquid that contains the strong taste or smell of the plant it is taken from: vanilla essence in essence formal used for emphasizing what is the most important feature of something: What she is saying, in essence, is that the law does not protect against this type of abuse. of the essence the most important quality in a particular situation 1

es'sen-tial /i'senjl/ad]

•*•

completely necessary: In a large organization, good internal communication is essential. +for Light is absolutely essential for the healthy development of plants. +to He had acquired the skills essential to his later success in politics. it is essential (that) It is essential that you are sure what your aims are. it is essential to do sth If you want to make major changes, it is essential to involve your essential reading Her articles are essential reading staff. play an essential role/ for anyone interested in the war. part in sth She has always played an essential part in the smooth running of the business. 2 most basic and necessary: essential services such as 1

hospitals and public transportation food, fuel, and other essential supplies 2a. the essential features of something are its most basic and typical features: the essential characteristics of Marxist political thought the essential beauty of the area The essential difference between us is that I take life seriously. -> fundamental 2b. used about the substances that your body needs in order to stay healthy: essential vitamins/ minerals/ nutrients

Words

frequently used with essential characteristic,

component,

1

element, feature, ingredient, part, requirement

espoused by

cup of very

adjectives describing things relating

to make adjectives describing things that have a particular quality: a picturesque landscape

your support

belief: the policies

used with the names of some

person or their work: Kafkaesque bureaucracy

nouns [J]

1

2 used with some nouns

Romantic

espadrille

suffix

make

people to

stomach es-o-ter-ic /.esa'tenk/ adj known about or understood by very few people: a rather esoteric debate about European tax rules ESP /,i es 'pi/ noun [u] 1 extrasensory perception: the ability to know things that will happen in the future or what someone else is thinking 2 English for Special Purposes: the teaching of English to people whose first language is not English, but who need English for their job or some other special purpose

/esk/

2

/isenfl/ noun [C] 1 [usually plural] someneeded for life, or needed in a particular situation .food, water, and other essentials She packed a few essentials and headed for the airport. the bare/barest

es-sen-tial thing that

is

essentials Millions of people lack even the bare essentials. 2 essentials [plural] the most basic and important aspects of a subject: + of He agreed to teach me the essentials of Web page design.

es-sen-tial-ly /isenfli/ adv ••• 1 used for emphasizing what is the most important aspect of something or fact about something: That, essen-

essential tially, is

Essentially,

NATO

was giving Saddam an ultimatum. for saying that something is mostly true, but not completely true: The list is essentially complete. essential oil noun (C/u) an oil that contains the qualities of the plant it is taken from, used for making perfume and in aromatherapy

2 used

EST

abbrev Eastern Standard Time: the time used from October to April in the Eastern U.S. est. abbrev 1 established: used with a date after the name of a business or other organization to show when was started: Graham Carpet Specialists, est. 1972 it 2 estimate I

es

\

'ti/

establish make

•••

to

company: The company was board agreed

to establish

established in 1860.

two committees

to

The

examine the

to

skill,

achieve success, so that people recognize your qualities, or power: Within six months, Caesar had

established his authority over Gaul. establish yourself / sb (as sth) Reagan quickly established himself as a promising establish a reputation The Institute has movie actor. established a reputation for supporting the Arts. 3 to discover, prove, or decide that something is true: The cause of death has not yet been established. +(that) We have established that you were present that afternoon. establish a link /connection Townsend's work firmly established the links between unemployment and poverty. + whether /how /who etc. / was never able to establish whether she was telling the truth. 4 to make the characters in a story seem real: By what means does the author attempt to establish the character of the narrator?

••

es-tab-lished 1

having

/I'staebhft/ adj existed for a long time,

rec-

The cast includes several established stars, as well as two talented newcomers.

at their job:

established organizations have official authority: The sees itself as an alternative to established an established church

new Academy institutions.

get/become established 1 to start feeling happy, conand successful in a new job or place: She was just beginning to get established here. 2 to start growing

fident,

successfully in a

new

roots

new

and become

estab-lish-ment

place: The plants quickly produce

/I'staeblijmsnt/ noun

••

2 the establishment the most important and powerful people in a country, who are often thought of as being conservative and wanting to preserve their own power and influence 2a. used for referring to powerful people in a particular profession or section of society: the 2b. [only before literary / legal / medical establishment noun] relating to the most powerful people in society: establishment figure/ viewpoint 3 [u] [+of] the process of starting or creating something such as an organization: Davis proposed the establishment of a committee with investigative powers.

of

[C] an old word meaning the situation or someone is in: the holy estate of matrimony 5 [C] Br E a station wagon

/i'steit/

noun

dead person

2 area of buildings 3 rulers of country

••• 4 5

state that

estate agent noun [c] BrE a realtor estate tax noun [C/u] a tax paid in the U.S. on the money and property that are left when someone dies es-teem /I'stim/ noun [u] formal a feeling of admir1

and respect

for someone: regard: Teachers feel that they have fallen in public esteem in recent years. hold sb

in high esteem She has always been held in high esteem by fellow actors.

es-teem 2

/i'stim/ verb [t] very formal 1 to admire and respect someone 2 to think of someone or something in a positive way: esteem it an honor/privilege/favor/ pleasure / esteem it a great honor to meet you.

/istimd/

adj

very formal

admired and

respected

Am E spelling of aesthete es-thet-ic /es'9etik/an Am E spelling of aesthetic es-thete

/'es Bit/

an

es-ti-ma-ble /'estimabl/ adj formal deserving to be admired and respected es-ti-mate /'esti.meit/ verb [T] •** to say what you think an amount or value will be, either by guessing or by using available information to calculate it: It's difThe ficult to estimate the cost of making your house safe. Antarctic ice cap is estimated to contain 90% of the world's estimate sth at sth The total cost was estifresh water. 1

mated at $600, 000. + (that) We estimate that 20 percent of the harvest has been lost. + how much/many It is impossible to estimate how many of the residents were affected. es-ti-mat-ed adj: An estimated 300,000 people came to the demonstration.

—

es-ti-mate /'estimat/ noun [c] ••• 1 an amount that you guess or calculate using the information available: According to

25% of carbon to

is difficult

tigers are

left.

official estimates, over emissions come from the United States. It obtain an accurate estimate of how many a rough estimate The figure mentioned is

a very rough estimate. 2 a statement telling a customer how much money you will charge if they employ you to do a particular piece of work: The committee is currently getting estimates for repairs to the roof. The construction work cost over three times the original estimate.

Words frequently used with estimate adjectives

accurate, conservative, realistic, reliable,

establishments nearby.

1

estate

4

established.

1 [C] formal any institution, organization, or business: a research/ training establishment* There are many eating

es-tate

people involved in governing a country: the view that the monarch was not one of the three estates -> fourth

2

and therefore

ognized as good or successful: an old established family firm They have well-established connections with the Japaestablished procedures / methods / criteria nese company. 1a. established people are well known for being good

2

development of houses: housing estate:

He grew up on an estate. 3 [C] an old word for each of the three groups of

es'teemed

proposals.

2

BrEa

2b.

estate.

ation

/i'st£ebliJ7 verb [t] something start to exist

or start to happen: A proper procedure for complaints should be established. important legal principle. The case established an Mandela was eager to establish good relations with the business community. 1a. to start an organization or 1

ETA

462

oil

the difference between them.

situation or state station

wagon

1 [C/u] all the property and money that belongs to someone, especially someone who has just died: Martin was the sole heir to his father's estate. 2 [C] a large area of land where a particular crop is grown: tea /coffee I wine estates 2a. a very large area of land that belongs to one person, usually with a very big house on it: She has a team of six people who manage the

1

rough

es-ti-ma-tion /.esti'meifn/ noun [singular] formal the opinion that you have about someone or something: in sb's estimation He's gone down a lot in my estimation after what he said. She was, in our estimation, the best person for the job.

estranged

/istremd3d/ adj mainly journalism 1 an estranged husband or wife is no longer living with their partner 1a. not seeing friends or relatives very often, especially because of having fought with them 2 feeling that you do not belong to a group or community: alienated es-tro-gen /'estrad33n/ noun [u] a hormone produced in a woman's ovaries that makes her develop typical female sexual features and prepares her body for having a baby es-tu-ar-y /'estju.eri/ noun [c] the part of a large river where it becomes wide and flows into the ocean estuary .English noun [u] BrE an English accent (=way of speaking) that many people from London and southeastern England have ET 1 /,i 'ti/ abbrev Am E Eastern Time: another name for est or edt

ET2 /,i

noun [C] extraterrestrial 'ei/ noun [singular] estimated time of arrival: the time when an aircraft, ship, train etc. is expected

ETA

/,i

'ti/ ti

to arrive

1

e-tailer e-tail-er /'i teilar/ noun [c] computing a company that e-tail-ing noun [u] sells things on the Internet

—

abbrev used after a name to mean '"and other people whose names are not mentioned," especially people who have written a book together

et

al. /et

'ael/

etc. /et 'set(a)r3/ abbrev used after a list of things to mean "and others of the same type," when you do not want to mention everything: The children can try playing music, dancing, painting

etc.

used as a way of avoiding mentioning a lot of things that people know already: He said she had been too busy at work, had not given him enough love, attention etc. etc.

etc. etc.

et cet«er-a

/et

setlajra/ the full

form of

etc.

/etJ7 /e r b [l/T] to make marks on a hard surface it a. to use acid to make marks on a metal surface in order to make a picture called an

etch

by cutting into

culture and traditions: The country's population consists of three main ethnic groups. 1a. used about fighting between people from different ethnic groups living in the same place: ethnic conflict violence 1b. used for referring to people from a particular ethnic group, when they live in a country where most people are from a different ethnic group: ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo 2 ethnic clothing, food, music, etc. comes from countries outside Western Europe and North America: ethnic restaurants * a festival of ethnic music — etfvni-cal'ly /'eOnikli/adv 2 etlvnic / eOnik/ noun [z] AmE someone who belongs to an ethnic group that lives somewhere where most people are from a different race or country

ethnic cleansing

/ eOnik klenzin/ noun [u] the use of violence to force people from a particular ethnic group to leave an area

eth-nic-i-ty effnisati/ noun lc/u the fact that someone belongs to a particular ethnic group ethnic mi nority nour [Cl a group of people with the same culture and traditions who live in a place where most people have a different culture and different tra)

etching

etched

eulogise

463

/etjt/ adj mainly literary

1

if

something

is

etched on your mind or memory, you can still remember it very clearly, sometimes when you would prefer to forget it 2 if a feeling is etched on someone's face, their expression shows clearly what they are feeling etching / 'et fin / noun [C] a picture printed from a piece of metal that has been etched

eternal

/i't3rnl/ adj continuing forever or for a very long time: the promise of eternal life youth friendship She has earned our eternal gratitude, a. seeming to continue for too long: The silence was eternal, b. always having a particular quality: I'm the eternal optimist. It's c. always true or important: eternal truths values

to recognize that

tant

1 forever or for a very long time: Will the universe continue to expand eternally? 1a. used for emphasizing that something will continue for a very long time: eternally grateful We'd be eternally grateful if you could help. 2 very often, especially in a bad or annoying way: She was eternally seeking new

e-ter*nal*ly /it3rn(3)li/ ad/

sensations.

nour

[singular]

e-ter'ni-ty /i't3rn3ti/ noun 1 [u] the whole of time, with no beginning and no end: / will love you for all eternity. 1a. the idea that a person's soul lives for ever after they die 2 [C] an extremely long time: After an eternity, he gave his answer. eth-a-nol /eOanol/ noun [u] the type of alcohol in alcoholic drinks

e-ther /lOsr/ noun

[U] 1 a clear liquid that is used as a solvent (=a mixture that changes solid substances into liquids) or for making people unconscious 2 the ether the air or atmosphere, especially when you are talking about it as the substance that radio, telephone, or Internet communications pass through: messages floating around in the ether 2a. literary the upper part of the atmosphere, far above the clouds

e-there«al

/rOirial/ adj formal ethereal sounds, qualities, etc. have a delicate beauty that makes them seem not to be part of the real world

eth-nog-raphy

/eftnagrsfi/ noun [u] the study and description of different human societies eth-no-graph'ic eftoa rjrsfi]

ethnology

/ iBsr net/ trademark a system in which several computers in an area are directly connected to each other by wires

1

[singular]

a general principle or

belief that affects the way people behave: commitment to the Christian ethic-* work ethic 2 ethics [plural] a set of principles that people use to decide what is right and what is wrong: the ethics of filming people without their permission business medical/ professional ethics 2a. [U]

the study of the principles of right and wrong eth-i-cal/'eBikl/a-j • 1 involving the principles used for deciding what is right and what is wrong: ethical issues I standards objections / object to the war for ethical reasons. 2 morally right: ethical foreign policy investment/ behavior* Is it really ethical to keep animals in zoos? opposite un-ethical eth'i-cal'ly eOlkli/adv

—

—

1

1

in

/eunatadp/ noun [u] the study of the which different societies and cultures have

developed

e-thos and beliefs

singular] /orma/ the set of attitudes that are typical of an organization or a group of people: Working 12-hour days seems to be part of ;

the company ethos. eth-yl alcohol e6al aelkahal/ noun

(uj

ethanol

/ itialeitad/ adj 1 technical an etiolated plant has pale leaves and a pale stem because it does not receive enough light from the sun 2 literary someone who is etiolated is pale and weak

etiol-o-gy of a dis-

••

/'eOnik/ ad, relating to a group of people

who have

the

same

- yjr medical 1 [: j] the cause the study of the causes of diseases

in alxi-i

2

eti-quette

. j tofrules for behaving correctly in social situations a. rules about behavior for people in a particular profession: professional business /diplomatic etiquette

-ette /et/ suffix 1 used with some nouns to make nouns describing something small: a kitchenette (=a small kitchen) 2 used with some nouns to make nouns referring to women: usherette (=a woman whose job is to show people to their seats in a theater) 3 used with some nouns to make nouns meaning a material that looks like something: leatherette (=a substance that looks like leather)

et-y-mol'O-gy

~ _

:

:~

development of a particular word a. origins and development of words /

E*ther*net

ethnic

—

tnS3ti/noun[u]

etiolated

a situation in which two people are both in love or having a sexual relationship with the same third person

ettvic /e9ik/ noun

.^nou sentnk/ad] showing a failure other people's cultures are also imporeth-no'cervtrici-ty e^noosen

and valuable

ways

the eternal question.

eternal triangle

ditions

eth-no-cen-tric

[

.he origin and J ] the study of the

— et-ymol-og-i-cal

etims'ladjikl/adj

EU, the

ju noun the EL' commissioners :

eucalyptus

European Union: a meeting of

/jukaliptr

rail

tree

from Australia with leaves that do not fall off It produces an oil that is used in medicines. Eu-cha-rist, the juksnsl noun the Christian ceremony in which people eat bread and drink wine as a way of remembering Jesus Christ's last meal before he died. In some Christian churches, this ceremony is called Communion or Holy Communion, a. the bread and wine used in the ceremony eu-chre uk card game in which players try to collect groups of the same card originally in winter.

eugenics

:echnical the idea that / ju d.3er. society can be improved by allowing people to become 1

parents only if they are likely to produce healthy and intelligent children

eulogise

jub.d^aiz/ a Br E spelling of eulogize

eulogize

evaluate

464

eulogize /'jubdyuz/

verb

[i/t]

formal to praise

someone or something very much eu-lo-gy /'julad3i/ noun [c] 1 a speech at a funeral about the person who has died 2 a speech or a piece of writing in which you praise someone or something very much eu-nuch / junak/

noun [c] a man whose testicles have been removed, especially, in the past, a man whose job was guarding women in a harem eu*phe*mism / jufa mizam/ noun [C] a word or expression that people use when they want to talk about something unpleasant or embarrassing without mentioning the thing itself: "Social exclusion" seems latest euphemism for poverty.

to

be the

not safe: If the alarm sounds, all students should evacuate immediately. 1a. [T] to make people leave a building because it is not safe: We were all evacuated because of a bomb scare. 1b. [T] to make people leave their homes because of a dangerous situation such as a war: Over 10,000 refugees have now been evacuated to neighboring countries.

2

[l/T]

medical to get rid of solid waste from your bowels

j-vac-u-a-tion

/i.vaekju'eijn/ noun 1 [u] the process of evacuating people from a building or an area that is not safe: the evacuation of all nonessential government evacuation procedures / plans 2 [C/U] medical officials the process of getting rid of solid waste from your

BOWELS

eu-phe-mis-tic

j-vac-u-ee /i Vcekju'i/ noun [c] someone who is moved away from their home because of a dangerous situation such as a war

euphonium

5«vade/i'veid/verb [T] 1 to avoid accepting or dealing with something that you should do: He had become an expert at evading responsibility. She was found guilty of evading taxes amounting to nearly $500,000. 1a. to avoid talking about something or answering a question:

/ jufa'mistik/ adj euphemistic expressions are used for talking about unpleasant or embarrassing subjects without mentioning the things themselves— eu-phe-mis'ti-caMy/ jufa 'mistikli/adv

/ju'fooniam/ noun [c] a large musical instrument consisting of a curved metal tube that is wide at one end, that you play by blowing into it as you press its buttons. A euphonium is a brass instrument. eu'pho-ri-a /ju'faria/ noun [u] a feeling of great happiness that usually lasts for a short time only: The news prompted a wave of euphoria.

eu'phor-ic /ju'fank/ adj

feeling extremely happy, often

for only a short time

Eur-a-sian /jo'rei3n/ adj 1 relating to both Europe and Asia: the Eurasian landmass 2 someone who is Eurasian is part white and part Asian eu-re-ka /jo'rika/ interjection used when you are very pleased because you have found the answer to a problem Eu-ro or eu-ro /'joroo/ noun [c] * the unit of money that is used in most countries in the European Union. Its symbol is #. Euro- /'juroo/ prefix 1 relating to the European Union: sometimes added to nouns to make new words: the forthcoming Euro-elections 2 relating to Europe: used to make adjectives and nouns: a team of Euro-American scientists

Eurocentric policies

Eu*ro*cen*tric / joroo 'sentnk/ adj showing the belief that Europe is the most important part of the world, or that the rest of the world is the same as Europe Eu>ro*crat / 'jorou, kraet/ noun [C] mainly journalism a politician or official in the European Union. This word is often used as a criticism to describe officials who have too much influence on the lives and work of people

in

EU

/'jorap/ noun [C] 1 the large area of land that is between Asia and the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the five continents of the world. 1a. BrE all of Europe apart from the U.K. 2 the European Union

Eu-ro«pe»an

1

relating to Europe, or people or culture: European languages 2 relating to /

jora'pian/

adj

Eu*ro*pe*an

2

/jora'pian/ noun

[C]

someone who

is

from Europe

European Commission, the noun a group of senior politicians chosen by the governments of the European Union who are responsible for making laws and decisions within the European Union. The European Commission is often simply called the Commission. .European 'Union, the noun an organization of European countries whose aim is to improve trade among its members and encourage closer political connections. The European Union is often called the EU. Eu*ro*star /'joroo.star/ trademark a fast train that travels between Britain, France, and Belgium using the Channel Tunnel Eu-sta«chian tube /ju.steifn 'tub/ noun [c] one of the two tubes in your body that connect your ears to your throat and control the air pressure in your ears eu'tha-na-sia /ju0a'nei3a/ noun [u] the practice of killing a very old or very sick person without causing them pain. When someone in this condition asks to be killed, the practice is called voluntary euthanasia.

e'vaC'U«ate/i'vaekju,en7 verb [i/T]

—

the long-term effects of exposure to radiation. e«valu-a-tion /i/vslju'eijn/ noun [C/U]: the evaluation of the

data

Academic writing In academic writing, you need to evaluate data, ideas, and situations and give your opinion of them, as well as them. Here are some groups of adjectives that you can use.

just describing

saying that something is good Such data is valuable for detecting and monitoring change, for example in the type and cover of vegetation. desirable, encouraging, favorable, good, positive, right, valuable

saying that something is useful or effective This very basic technique is effective and computationally simple. beneficial, effective, isfactory, useful

powerful, productive, sat-

1

the European Union: the European parliament

1

3-val-u-ate /I'vslju.eit/ verb [T] •• to think carefully about something before making a judgment about its value, importance, or quality: The performance of each employee is evaluated once a year. The study will evaluate

countries.

Eu-rope

its

Jackson skillfully evaded reporters' questions. 1b. to avoid meeting someone who you do not want to see: There seemed little chance of evading photographers. 2 to avoid being caught, especially after you have done something illegal: evade capture / prosecution / the authorities The armed robbers evaded capture, escaping in a stolen vehicle. 3 mainly literary if something such as success or happiness evades you, you do not succeed in achieving it

*

to leave a building or other place

saying that something is not good The causes of the disease are uncertain, and attempts it have given poor results.

adverse, bad, disappointing, discouraging, inferior, negative, poor, undesirable, unfavorable, weak saying that something is not useful or not effective Such theories are based upon the flawed assumption that it is possible to deter the enemy by the controlled use of nuclear weapons. defective, deficient, flawed, inadequate, fective, unproductive, unsatisfactory

it is

inef-

Other ways of evaluating When evaluating something, writers often avoid using direct expressions such as I believe and I consider. Instead, they use impersonal or indirect expressions it can be such as it seems likely/probable that seen that. ., this may be considered. . ., or it has

—

.

been proved that

When

evaluating something as bad, writers often use not and an adjective with a positive meaning, instead more direct and using an adjective with a negative meaning. For example, they might say results are not encouraging, rather than results are discouraging. of being

-* SIGNIFICANT

because

to

cure

evanescent /.eva'nesnt/ adj mainly literary lasting only for a very short time

e'vaivgeM-cal/.men^elikl/ad]

1 relating to a form of Christianity in which church services are very lively and people express their religious beliefs in an open and enthusiastic way: evangelical preachers 2 someone who is evangelical is very enthusiastic about something and likes to tell other people how good it is e«van«gel«ist/i'vaend33list/noun[C] 1 a member of an evangelical church 1a. someone who travels around trying to persuade people to become Christians 1b. evangelist or Evangelist one of the four writers who wrote the parts of the Bible called the gospels that tell the story of Jesus Christ's life 2 someone who is very enthusiastic about something and likes to tell other people how good it is e«van«gel'ize/i'vsnd33,laiz/verb [i/t] 1 to tell people about Christianity in order to persuade them to become enthusiastic Christians 2 to tell people how good something is and try to persuade them to do it

e-vapo-rate orates or

2

[i]

rates,

if it

is

evening

465

ev*a LESSER

[c]

for holding water for

thorough way, with

the evil day /hour often humorous the day /time when something unpleasant will happen give sb the evil eye to look at someone in an unpleasant way, especially because you are angry with them 1

a ram.

1

very unpleasant: an evil-smelling chemical

e«vil

ewe /ju/ noun [C] a female sheep. A male sheep is called

ex- /eks/

erosion.

3

[i] to gradually change and develop over a period of time: Computer software will continue to evolve in response to users' needs. +into They're hoping the trade talks might evolve into a political dialogue. + f rom The research project evolved from a concept first proposed in 1995. 2a. [T] to develop something gradually: how teachers can evolve new ways of working

ew-er / 'juar/ noun

have evidently lost faith in the administration. 2 used for showing that a statement is based on known facts: Evidently, these valleys were formed by glacial e-vil

bees.

2

supporting

sufficient,

verbs

exaggerate

468

frequently used with

]

+ into Slowly, these tiny organisms evolved into multicelled

not an exact science used for saying that an activity is partly based on guessing rather than scientific methods

I

I

ex«act 2 /ig'zaekt/ verb [J] formal to get something from someone by threatening or forcing them or using your

;

authority

ex-act-ing

/ig'zaektin/ adj 1 needing a lot of skill and care 1a. exacting standards are very difficult to achieve 2 expecting other people to work very hard

i

and carefully

exac-ti-tude fact that

/ig'zaekti.tud/ noun [U] very formal the

something

is

exact or has been done very

carefully

ex-act-ly /ig'zasktli/ adv ••• 1 no more and no less than a particular amount or time: precisely: It's exactly three o 'clock. The wood should measure five centimeters exactly. 2 in every way or every detail: The house is exactly the same as it was 20 years ago. She sounds exactly like her mother. 2a. used for emphasizing that you are referring to a particular thing and no other: She was standing exactly where you are now. 3 spoken used as a reply for saying that you completely agree with someone: "If he'd gone to bed early, he wouldn 't

be so tired." "Exactly!"

not exactly spoken

1

used for saying that something

is

slightly different from a particular thing: It's not exactly a novel, more an extended short story. 2 often humorous used for emphasizing that someone or something does not have a particular quality: $300,000 for a picture is not exactly cheap. She 's not exactly the world 's greatest singer. 3 used for saying that something someone says is not completely right: "You're leaving, aren't you?" "Not' exactly, I'm just going on vacation. what/where/when etc. exactly used for asking someone for more details about something: What exactly did he say? Where exactly do you live?

ex-ag-ger-ate

/ig'zaed33,reit/ verb

•

to describe something in a way that makes it seem better, worse, larger, more important, etc. than it really is: Don't exaggerate! It wasn't that bad! greatly/ grossly/ wildly exaggerate sth The paper's political influ 1

[i/T]

',

.

exaggerated exaggerate the has been greatly exaggerated. importance /significance of sth We should not exaggerate the importance of this agreement.

ence

2 [t] literary to make something seem more extreme ex«ag'ger«at«ed /ig'zaxbp.reitad/ adj 1 describing something in a way that makes it seem better, worse, larger, more important, etc. than it really is: exaggerated claims about the drug's benefits 2 done in an extreme way that does not seem sincere or natural: a tone of exaggerated politeness

ex«ag«ger'a'tion /ig.zax^a'reijn/ noun [c] a comment or description that makes something seem better, worse, larger, more important, etc. than it really is: To describe it as depression was just not very happy.

would be an exaggeration - she a slight exaggeration/a bit of

an exaggeration (=often used for saying that someone is exaggerating a lot) We've had the worst rain since the Biblical flood - well, maybe that's a slight exaggeration. a gross exaggeration (^something that is not true at all) To say that the government has failed is a gross exaggeration. be no exaggeration (=to be true) It is no exaggeration to say that Jackson was one of the most influential politicians of the 20th century, a. [u] the act of making a comment or description of this type

ex-alt /ig'zolt/ verb [T] formal 1 to praise someone or something very much 2 if someone is exalted to a more important position or status, it is given to them exaltation /.egzol'teifn/ noun [u] formal 1 the feeling of being extremely happy and proud 2 great praise of someone or something 3 the act of giving someone a more important position or status ex-alt-ed /ig'zoltad/ ad) formal 1 an exalted position is an important position in an organization or in society 1a. used about people who have important positions:

We were in exalted company (=among important 2 extremely happy and proud

ex-am

people).

**

/ig'zcem/ noun [C] 1 an important test of your knowledge, especially one that you take at school: take an exam Dave's taking his pass/fail an exam If she passes final exams next week. the entrance exam, she'll start school there in September. 1a. the paper on which exam questions are printed or on which you write your answers: I'm going to return your exams tomorrow, lb. [only before noun] relating to an exam or exams: The school had some

AmE

exam results last year. 2 AmE a medical examination: an eye exam ex-am-i-nation /ig,zsmi'neijn/ noun ••• 1 [C] an occasion when a doctor looks carefully at someone's body to make certain they are healthy: The excellent

doctor will give you a full examination before the trip. 1a. [C/U] a careful look at something in order to find out about it or see what it is like: + of Engineers made a thorough examination of the wreckage. on closer examination It looked like a shed, but on closer examination we could see it was someone's house, lb. [C/u] a careful study of an idea or plan to see how good it is: These proposals will need detailed examination before a decision can be reached. 2 [C]formal an exam: take an examination Students will take a two-hour examination at the end of the year. 3 [C/u] an occasion when a lawyer asks someone questions in court: + of Further examination of the witness revealed that he had met the murdered woman on several occasions.

ex-anvine/ig'zaemm/verb

[T]

*•*

something carefully in order to find out about it or see what it is like: She opened the suitcase and examined the contents. He picks up each item and examines it carefully, la. if a doctor examines you, they look carefully at your body to check if you are healthy: / think you should be examined by a doctor. 1b. to study a subject or consider an idea or plan carefully: Scientists are examining the impact of global warming on local climates. Four key proposals are to be examined. 2 to ask someone questions in a legal trial 3 formal to give students an examination to test their knowledge: examine sb on sth Candidates will be examined 1

excavator

469

to look at

on their written and oral language skills. ex-am-irver /ig'zaemmsr/ noun [c] someone whose job is to test people's knowledge or ability

ex-am-ple /ig'zxmpl/ noun

[c]

•••

1 something that you mention in order to show the type of thing you are talking about and to help explain what you mean: Many sports are still dominated by men +of He gave several football is an obvious example. examples of the ways that big corporations can influence a classic example (=very typical) government policy. The Mustang is a classic example of a great American car. 2 [singular] a person or way of behaving that is considered as a model for other people to copy: set an example You should be setting an example to your little follow sb's example He followed his sister's brother. example and demanded more money. be an example to sb With his enthusiasm and determination, he's an example to the rest of the team. 3 a phrase or sentence in a dictionary that shows the way a word is used. It usually follows the definition (=the explanation of the meaning).

example used when mentioning something that shows the type of thing you are talking about and helps what you mean: There are plenty of good deals

for

to explain

available - people under discounts of up to 50%.

25,

for example, can get fare

make an example a

of sb to punish someone severely as of warning other people not to do the same thing

way Words

frequently used with

adjectives

classic,

example

good, obvious, prime,

1

typical

verbs

cite, give,

provide, quote

1

Academic writing You often need to give examples of a point when you are explaining something or proving an argument, or when you need to give more detail. Here are some ways of introducing examples.

very

common

expressions

For example, the island of Singapore has more native species of palm than the entire African continent does. e.g., for example, for instance, such as other useful phrases species are now extinct. Examples include the black Mamo and the Hawaiian Rail.

Many

As an example,

consider.... Examples include..., .by way of illustration. ., The following example/ case.... This can be exemplified/illustrated as follows:. ., .to exemplify/illustrate this point. ., .

.

.

.

. .

.to

.

.

.

take an example/case.

.

introducing detail and explanation Study groups are being set up in three other subject areas,

namely

agriculture, architecture,

and

teacher

training.

a case in point, in particular,

i.e.,

namely, spe-

cifically

ex-as-per-ate / ig 'zxspa reit / verb [T] to make someone feel annoyed and impatient because things are not happening in the way they want ex-as-per-at-ed /ig'ztespa.reitad/ adj extremely annoyed and impatient because things are not happening in the way you want or people are not doing what you want them to do ex-as-per-at-ing /ig'zaespa.reitin/ adj making you feel very annoyed and impatient ex-as-per-a-tion /ig.zaespa'reijn/ noun [u] the feeling of being extremely annoyed because things are not happening in the way you want them to happen ex-ca-vate /'ekskaveit/ verb [i/t] to dig in the ground in order to find things from the past a large hole in the ground

a.

technical to dig

ex-ca-va-tion /.ekska'veijn/ noun

[C/u] the process of digging in the ground to find things from the past: archaeological excavations a. [u] technical the process of digging a large hole in the ground

ex-ca-va-tor /'ekskaveitor/ noun [c] 1 a large machine for digging holes in the ground 2 someone who digs in the ground in order to find things from the past

"

exceed ex-ceed

[T]

formal

•*

to be greater

than

number or amount: Wind speeds exceeded 90 miles per hour. You will need to fill in a form for any claim exceeding $500. a. to go above an official limit: tough penalties for drivers who exceed the speed limit a

exceed (sb's) expectations than people expected

exceed-ing

to be

/ik'sidirj/ adj,

"very great" or "very

exceeding-ly

much

bigger or better

adv an old word meaning

much" adv

formal extremely: Some of the children have done exceedingly well. 2 an old word meaning "very much" ex-cel /ik'sel/ verb [i] to do something extremely well: We aim to give every student the opportunity to excel. + in/ at Robbie had always excelled at sports. /ik'sidirjli/

1

excel yourself 1 to do something much better than you usually do 2 humorous used when someone has in fact done even worse than they usually do ex-cellence / 'eksatans/ noun [u] * the quality of being excellent: The school seems to value sporting success more than academic excellence.

Ex-cel-len-cy /'eksabnsi/ noun Your/His/Her Excellency used for talking politely to or about someone who has a very important official or religious position: His Excellency the President of Uganda

ex-cel'lent /'ekssbnt/

adj

was

absolutely excellent. 2 spoken used for showing that you are very pleased about something: "We should be finished in a few hours. "Excellent!" ex-cel-lent-ly adv

—

1

/ik 'sept/ function

word

***

Except can be used in the following ways: as a preposition (followed by a noun): We haven't told anyone except Leslie's dad. as a conjunction (followed by a clause or adverbial phrase): I'd go and see him myself except I don't know where he lives. before a conjunction such as "that," "when," or "if': I don't know much about the man, except that he's an idiot.

in the prepositional phrase except for: Everything was perfect except for the weather. 1 used for introducing the only thing, person, or fact is not included in your main statement: The whole team was there, except Pete, who was sick. The store is open every day from 9:00 to 5:00, except on Sundays. Not a sound was heard except the wind howling. + for She was dressed all in black except for a white lace collar. +(that) Airline officials had nothing to tell us except that the flight

that

+

had been delayed. when/where/what I hardly ever get a chance to study, except when the children have gone to bed. except do sth He's done nothing all day except sit around and watch television. 2 mainly spoken used for introducing a statement that makes what you have just said seem less true or less possible: + (that) / would have told them the truth, except they wouldn 't have believed me. I'd be glad to help, except that I'm going to be away this weekend.

ex-cept 2

/ik'sept/ verb [t] legal to not include something: Certain risks may be excepted from the terms of an insurance contract.

ex-cept-ed / ik 'septad / adj

be no exception if someone or something is no exception, they are the same as all others so they can be included in a general statement: Climbers are brave people, and Robert is no exception. make an exception to deal with something in a different way than usual on a particular occasion only: / don't usually lend people money, but in your case I'll make an exception.

take exception to sth to dislike something because you annoyed or offended by it with the exception of used for saying that a person or thing is not included in what you are saying: The players should all be fit for Saturday's game, with the possible feel

exception of Davis.

without exception used for emphasizing that what you are saying applies to everyone or everything

ex-ception-al

/ik'sepjanl/ adj

*•

1 extremely good or impressive in a way that is unusual: The children had shown exceptional courage. quite exceptional (=very exceptional) Her scores were

quite exceptional.

2 unusual and not likely We have to accept that this

to is

happen or exist very often: an exceptional situation. in

exceptional circumstances /cases Financial assistance may be made available in exceptional circumstances. 3 much more or greater than usual: These ancient works exof art must be handled with exceptional care. cep-tion-al-ly adv. The weather's been exceptionally mild.

—

**•

extremely good: It's quite an old bike, but in excellent condition. a company with an excellent track record in investment advice absolutely/really excellent The food 1

ex-cept

exchange

470 /ik'sid/ verb

[never before noun]formal

used

for saying that you are not including a person or thing in what you are saying: Treatments are given on consecutive days, weekends excepted.

ex-cept-ing /ik'septin/ preposition formal used for saying that you are not including a person or thing in what you are saying ex-cep-tion /ik'sepjsn/ noun [C/U] *** someone or something that is different in some way from other people or things and so cannot be included in a general statement: New technology stocks have done badly in recent notable/ months, but Autonomy has been an exception. rare exception Most nurses are women; the most notable exceptions are psychiatric nurses. +to There are some exceptions to every grammatical rule.

ex«cerpt/'ek,s3rpt/noun [c] a short piece of writing or music that is taken from a longer piece ex-cess /ik'ses; 'ek.ses/ noun ** 1 [singular/ u] a larger amount of something than is usual or necessary: Cover both sides of the meat with + of an excess of oxygen in flour, shaking off any excess. 1

his bloodstream 2 excesses [plural]/orma/ cruel or violent actions, especially when committed by a government, army, or police force: the worst excesses of the regime 2a.

any behavior

you consider wrong because it is too extreme: the usual excesses of the rock-star lifestyle 3 informal a way of behaving in which you do dangerous or extreme things: The rest of the family led a life of excess. 4 [singular] Br E business an insurance deductible that

in excess of sth more than a particular amount: profits in excess of $80 million to excess if you do something to excess, you do it so much that it harms you or causes problems

ex-cess 2 / 'ek.ses/ adj [only before noun] * 1 more than is usual or necessary: Drain

off any excess

liquid.

2 an

excess amount of money is an extra amount that you pay: Passengers traveling on to Buffalo will be required to pay an excess fare of $30.

ex-cess 3 /ik'ses; 'ek.ses/ verb [t] Am E formal to get rid of some workers in order to make a company more effective

.excess 'baggage noun

[u] 1 bags that weigh more than the official limit that each person is allowed to take on a plane. You have to pay money to take them with you. 2 informal anything that someone wants to

get rid of

**

/ik'sesiv/ adj much more than is reasonable or necessary: The charges seemed a little excessive. a. much greater than is usual: Crops were destroyed by the excessive rainfall last August.

ex-ces-sive

ex-change 1

giving

1

/iks'tjemd3/ noun

each other

sth

2 angry conversation 3 change type of money

••*

4 change places with 5 place to buy & sell goods + PHRASES

a situation in which one person gives another person something, and receives something else of a similar type or value in return: + of The two sides agreed an exchange ofprisoners of war. 1a. a situation in which people give each other information or discuss their ideas and opinions: + of We had a frank exchange of views. There was an angry exchange of letters between the 1

[C]

two firms. 1b. a situation in which someone shoots at another person and the other person shoots back: an

exchange

exclusion

471

exchange of fire/gunfire/shots There was an exchange of fire and three soldiers fell dead. 2 [C] formal an angry conversation: heated exchange Paul and Mark were having a heated exchange in the office. 3 [U] the act of changing the money of one country to the money of another country: a foreign exchange dealer rate of exchange /exchange rate What is the rate of exchange for

U.S. dollars? [C] an arrangement in which people or groups from different countries visit each other or do each other's jobs, for example in order to study another country's language or improve relationships: a cultural / eduexchange student/ program We had cational exchange an exchange student from Spain staying with us last year. 5 [C] a central place where goods of a particular type are bought and sold: the former corn exchange-* stock exchange 5a. a central place where telephone calls are received and connected to other lines -» telephone

4

Excited by the news, Marie phoned her mother immediately. get/ become excited They're both getting excited plan+ about I'm so excited about the trip! ning the wedding. +at He's excited at the prospect of showing his work in New York. 2 upset, worried, or angry about something: Look, Dad, stop getting so excited -I'm sure she'll be home soon. 3 feeling that you want to have sex

nothing to get excited about informal used for saying that something is not as good as some people think it is

He

talked excitedly to reporters race.

my

Exciting describes things or situations that

make you

feel excited: I find circuses very exciting.

was such

an

It

exciting adventure.

Only people and animals can be described as excited,

exchange if you give someone something in exchange for something else, you give them something and they give you something else of a similar type or value: +for in

Economic sanctions would be

lifted in

exchange for renewed

cooperation.

•*

exchange 2

/iks'tjemd3/ verb [T] 1 to give someone something in return for something that they give you: We exchanged addresses and promised to write to each other. exchange sth for sth The certificates can be exchanged for goods in any of our stores. 2 if a store exchanges something that you bought there, it allows you to change it for something of a similar type or value, for example because it is damaged: You don't need a receipt to exchange goods that are faulty.

someone and then listen to what they say: We all exchanged greetings. exchange ideas/ views/ information Team meetings are an opportunity to exchange ideas. exchange words They exchanged a few to say

adv:

Excited describes how you feel: I'm excited about vacation. She didn 't seem very excited.

EXCHANGE

3

— ex-cit-ed-ly

about his hopes of winning the

something

to

words in what sounded like Spanish. 3a. to look at someone who is looking at you: They exchanged some puzzled glances. / shook hands and exchanged smiles with Mr. Wren. 3b. to do something to someone who is doing the same thing to you: They sat on the bench together, sometimes exchanging kisses. exchange blows/ punches (=fight) Blows were exchanged before the two could be pulled apart. 4 to change money from the money of one country to the money of another country

not events or experiences.

/ik'saitmant/ noun *• 1 [U] the feeling of being excited: The long wait only added to our excitement. There was great excitement in the crowd as they waited for the president to arrive. +of the excitement of qualifying for a major championship in sb's excitement (^because someone is excited) In his

excitement

excitement, Peter rushed out and forgot his keys. 2 [C] something that makes you feel excited: After the excitements of the tour, I found it difficult to readjust to life at home.

ex-cit-ing /ik'saitin/ adj ** making you feel excited and enthusiastic: The launch of our digital satellite service is one of the most exciting things I've worked on. an exciting opportunity a. interesting and full of action, especially when you do not know what is going to happen next: an exciting story of adventure -» excited ex-claim /ik'skleim/ verb [i/t] * to say something suddenly and loudly, especially because you are surprised, impressed, or in pain: "Wow!" Bill exclaimed. "You look beautiful!" She exclaimed in horror when she saw me.

ex-cla-ma-tion /.ekskla'meifn/ noun

[c] something you say because you are surprised, impressed, angry,

etc.

exclamation point

or

exclamation mark

noun [C] the symbol used in writing to show that the words that come before it are an exclamation !

exchange contracts mainly BrE if the people buying and selling a house exchange contracts, they each sign a contract so that the sale

is officially complete ,rate noun [c] * the value of the money of one country when you change it into the money of another country

exchange 1

ex-cise /'ek.saiz/ noun [u] technical a tax that a government charges on services used and goods sold inside its

country

ex-cise 2

/ik'saiz/ verb [T] 1 medical to remove something harmful that is growing inside a person's body 2 formal to remove part of a book or movie, for example because it is considered offensive

ex-cit-a-ble /ik'saitabl/ adj someone who is excitable becomes excited or angry very easily ex-cite /ik'sait/ verb [t] • 1 to make someone feel happy and enthusiastic about something good that is going to happen: The prospect of working in Australia really excites me. 1a. to make someone feel lively, nervous, or upset: We were warned by the doctors not to excite him. lb. to make someone they want to have sex: arouse 2 if something excites a feeling or reaction, it makes people feel or react in that way: excite interest/ curiosity/sympathy etc. The film has so far excited little interest outside the art-house theaters. excite comment/ speculation /rumors Two merger announcements excited speculation about further takeover action. 3 medical to make a nerve or other part of the body start to become more active feel that

excited

/ik'saitad/ adj

•*

1 very happy and enthusiastic because something good is going to happen, especially when this makes you unable to relax: / was so excited I couldn't sleep. +by

exclude

/ik'sklud/ verb [T]/orma/*** 1 to deliberately not include something: These figures exclude cash receipts. exclude sth from sth These costs have been excluded from our calculations. 2 to deliberately prevent someone or something from being involved in an activity or from entering a place: Cover it with plastic to exclude light. exclude sb from sth The committee now has to decide whether to exclude him from the competition. 2a. to make someone feel that they do not belong to your group: I felt as though the other women were excluding me. 2b. BrE to expel or suspend a child from school 3 to decide that something is not possible or worth considering: We cannot exclude the possibility that the growth is cancerous. opposite include

—

ex-clud-ing

/ik'skludirj/ preposition

*

used for saying

you are not including someone or something in what you are saying: The average cost, excluding insurthat

ance,

is

around $600 a

exclusion

year,

—opposite including

*

/ik'sklu3n/ noun a situation in which someone is deliberately prevented from entering a place or being part of an activity: +of Washington is annoyed at the exclusion of U.S. troops from the area. +from He was really irritated at his exclusion from the conference. opposite inclusion 2 [C] something that is deliberately not included: You are protected against most illnesses, with one or two exclu1

[u]

—

sions.

3

[C/U] school

BrE

a child's expulsion or suspension from

to the exclusion of sth when you do something to the exclusion of other things, you only do that one thing and not the other things

exclusion zone exclusion zone type of activity allowed to enter

is

ex-clu-sive /ik'sklusiv/adj •• 1 very expensive, and therefore available only to people who have a lot of money: an exclusive store/ 1

restaurant/ neighborhood limited to a particular person or group and not shared with others: The road is for the exclusive use of

2

They have exclusive rights

residents.

to

market the drug

+ to This special offer is exclusive to our readers. or reported by only one newspaper, magazine, television station, etc.: She managed to get an exclusive interview with the star. in Africa.

3 published

exclusive of sth not including something: The cost is $20 ex-clu-sive-ness and handling. noun [U], ex'du-sivi'ty /.eksklu'sivati/ noun [u] -> MUTUALLY 2 ex-clu-sive /ik'sklusiv/ noun [c] a piece of news that is published or reported by only one newspaper, maga-

—

exclusive of shipping

zine, television station, etc.

ex-clu-sive-ly /ik'sklusivli/ adv *• used for emphasizing that something is available to or limited to one specific thing or group: a club exclusively for Web site devoted exclusively to hip-hop music

women

a

excommu-ni-cate

[t] /.ekska'mjuni.keit/ verb say that someone can no longer be a Roman Catholic Church because they have done something that breaks its rules excom-mu-ni-ca-tion /.ekska mjuni'keijn/ noun [C/U]

to

officially

member

ex-con

of the

noun

[C]

—

informal someone

who used

to

be in

prison

ex-co-ri-ate /ik'skori.eit/ verb [T] very formal to criticize someone or something very severely, especially in

way ex-cre-ment /'ekskramant/ noun a public

[u] formal the solid waste that your body gets rid of ex-cres-cence /ik'skresns/ noun [c] very formal a part that has been added to something and looks ugly a. an extra unusual part growing on a plant ex«cre«ta /ik'skrita/ noun [plural] formal the liquid and solid waste that your body gets rid of excrete /ik'skrit/ verb [i/t] formal to pass liquid or solid waste from your body ex-cre-tion /ik'skrifn/ noun formal [u] the process of getting rid of the liquid or solid waste from your body a. [C] liquid or solid waste of this type ex-cru-ci-at-ing /ik'skrufi.eitin/ adj 1 causing extreme physical pain: / tried to move my leg, but the pain was excruciating. She suffered from excruciating headaches. 2 used for emphasizing how bad something is:

a moment of excruciating terror

— ex-cru-ci-at-ing-ly

adv: The situation was excruciatingly embarrassing for everyone who was there.

ex-cul-pate /'eksk.\l,peit/ verb [T] very formal to prove that someone is not guilty of a crime or other bad action ex-cur-sion /ik'sk3r3n/ noun [c] a short trip you take

my

Saturday morning excursion into town a. a short visit to an interesting place arranged by a tourist organization, often as part of a vacation: a oneday excursion to the Grand Canyon for pleasure:

an excursion into sth formal an attempt to do something different from what you usually do: His rare excursions into poetry show real talent. ex-cus-a-ble /ik'skjuzabl/ adj if something bad is excusable, you can understand why someone did it and forgive them opposite inexcusable

—

ex-cuse

1

••

/ik'skjuz/ verb [T] someone for something bad they have done, especially something that is not very serious: excuse sb for Please excuse my messy handwriting. (doing) sth / hope you'll excuse us for leaving so early. 2 [often passive] to give someone permission to leave: Now if you'll excuse us, we have to get going. 2a. to give someone permission not to do something that they usually have to do: excuse sb from (doing) sth You're excused from doing the dish>.s tonight. 3 to provide a reason or explanation for something bad that someone has done, in order to make it seem less 1

to forgive

execution

472

noun (c) an area where a particular not allowed or that people are not

bad: justify:

/

know

he's over

70,

but that doesn't excuse

his sexist attitudes.

me spoken 1 used for politely getting someone's attention Excuse me, do you know what time it is? 2 used for showing you are sorry for interrupting someone: Excuse me, but there's a phone call for you. 3 E used for asking someone to repeat something: "How old are excuse

:

Am

4

used for politely asking someone to move so that you can get past them 5 used for showing you are sorry because your body has made a rude noise 6 used for politely telling someone you are leaving: Excuse me for a moment - / have to make a phone call. 7 used for politely disagreeing with someone: Excuse me, but I never said I'd pay for everything. excuse the expression or excuse my French often humorous used for saying you are sorry for saying something rude excuse my ignorance used for asking a question that

you?" "Excuse me?"

someone might expect you to know the answer to excuse yourself to politely say that you are going to leave a place: +from She excused herself from the table and went back

to

work.

ex«cuse 2 /ik'skjus/ noun

[c]

*•

1 a reason you give to explain why you have done something bad, or why you have not done something that you should have done: a reasonable/ valid/ legitimate

+for What excuse did they give for the delay?

excuse

have an excuse Joe was late, but as always he had an make/give an excuse He made some excuse about having a lot of work to do. 2 a reason for doing something that you want to do: + for Birthdays are always a good excuse for a party. an excuse to do sth Emily was glad of an excuse to change the

excuse.

subject.

3

Am E a

note written by your parent or your doctor why you have missed work or school: to bring an excuse from your mother.

that explains You'll

have

excuses to say why you must leave a place: Will made his excuses and went up to his room. a pathetic/poor/sad excuse for sth informal something that is of very bad quality there is no excuse for sth 1 used for emphasizing that you think someone's behavior is very bad: There's no excuse for her talking to you like that. 2 used for saying that someone should definitely do something: She only lives five minutes away, so there's really no excuse for not

make your

visiting her.

ex-di rectory numbers)

adj

BrE unlisted

ex-ec /ig'zek/ noun company

[c]

(=used about telephone

informal an executive in a

ex-e-cra-ble /'eksakrabl/ adj very formal of extremely bad quality ex-e-crate /'eksa.kreit/ verb [t] very formal to criticize someone severely ex-e-cut-a-ble /'eksa.kjutabl/ adj computing an executable program or file can be run on a computer ex'e-cute/'eksa.kjut/ verb

[t]

••

1 to kill someone as a punishment for a crime: The state will execute him in 24 hours unless his appeal is granted. execute sb for sth Sidney and Russell were both executed for their part in the plot.

to complete something that you have agreed or planned to do: carry out: We check that all work is being executed according to the council's guidelines. 2a. to perform a difficult action or movement: The ankle twisted when she was executing a particularly complex step. 2b. to create a work of art 3 legal to make certain that the instructions in someone's will are followed after they die 4 computing to make a computer run a program or carry out an instruction

2 formal

ex-e-cu-tion /.ekss'kjujn/ noun 1

**

[C/U] the act of killing a person as a

punishment

for

a crime: Convicted drug traffickers may face execution. There have been no executions in this state for almost 15 years.

2

[U] formal

the act of completing something that you

to do: +of He has failed in the execution of his duties. 2a. the act of performing a difficult action or movement 2b. the act of creating a work of art

have agreed or planned

executioner [u]

party, labor union, etc.: This matter will be decided by the party's national executive. 3 the executive or the executive branch legal the part of government that makes certain that laws are being applied as planned. The other two parts of gov-

ernment are the legislative branch and the judicial branch. 2 ex«ec«U'tive /ig'zekjstiv/ adj [only before noun] ** 1 having the power to make important decisions in an organization or government: the executive director of the museum He is a member of the executive committee. 1a. used about the power that executives have: The secretary has no executive authority. 1b. intended for the most senior people in an organization: the executive

washroom

2 designed for rich or important people: an executive jet ex ecutive 'order noun [c] an order from the president or a department or official of the U.S. government that has the same authority as a law ex ecutive 'privilege noun [u] the right of the president and other senior officials of the U.S. government to keep documents secret if making them public would cause problems for the government ex*ec*u*tor /ig'zekjatar; 'eksa.kjutar/ noun [c] legal someone who arranges for the instructions of a dead person's will to be followed ex*e»ge*sis /,eks3'd3isis/ noun [C/U] formal an explanation that helps you to understand a piece of writing, especially one from the Bible ex-em-plar /ig'zemplar/ noun [C] formal a perfect or typical example of something

exem-pla-ry

/ig'zemplari/ adj formal 1 excellent, or done in a way that other people should try to copy: Her patience is exemplary. 2 an exemplary punishment is extremely severe, so that other people will be afraid to

commit a similar crime ex-em-pli-fy /ig'zempli.fai/ verb [t] to be a typical example of something: The bank's collapse exemplifies the risks of large-scale currency dealing, a. to show something using an example: / will exemplify my point with a true

about

story

something

that

happened

to

— ex«enTpli«fi«ca«tion/ig,zemplifi'keiJn/noun [C/U] exempt

1

me.

allowed to ignore something such as a rule, obligation, or payment: a tax-exempt /ig'zempt/

savings account

adj

-t-from Currently,

developing nations are

exempt from certain restrictions on carbon emissions.

ex«empt 2 /ig'zempt/ verb [t] to allow someone to ignore something such as a rule, obligation, or payment: The law will exempt people over the age of 60. exempt sb/sth from sth Why was he exempted from military service? [c/u] ** permission to ignore something such as a rule, obligation, or payment: +from He was granted exemption from military service. tax exemption tax exemptions for companies

ex-emp'tion /ig'zempjan/ noun

relocating to deprived areas 1

ex-er-cise /'ekssrsaiz/ noun 1 physical activity

2 3

learning activity

to learn how to do something: Have you done your piano a drawing exercise 2a. a set of written exercises yet? questions that you answer in order to help you learn something: Next I'd like you to do the exercises on page 10. 3 [C usually plural] activities that the military does in

order to be prepared to fight in a war [singular]/orma/ an action that has a particular plan, purpose, or result: The object of the exercise is to get you to think independently. Comparing prices can be a a cost-cutting exercise +in Good worthwhile exercise. management is often an exercise in compromise. 5 [U] formal the use of your power, rights, or skills:

4

public officials in the exercise of their duties

ex-er»cise 2

/'eksar.saiz/ verb

cised

3

[T]

when operating this equipment. very formal to worry someone or make them think

hard about something: They were greatly exercised by

a bicycle that stays in one place, used for physical exercise —picture -» ci6 exercise .book noun [c] a book that students use for writing in

•*• 4 for particular purpose 5 use of power etc.

military activity

1

*

/ig'z3rt/ verb [J] formal to use influence, authority, or

affect or

power in order to achieve something: exert influence /pressure/

control A well-funded national organization would be able to exert more influence in Congress. the inadequate degree of control exerted by some parents over their children 2 to put force or physical pressure on something: The gate had exerted considerable pressure on the flimsy post.

exert yourself to use a lot of physical or mental didn't want to exert himself on such a hot day.

effort:

He

ex-ertion mental

/ig'z3rfn/ noun

effort:

[C/u]

great physical or lot of

You can expect sore muscles after a

physical exertion.

ex*e*unt

/'eksi.Ant/ verb [i] technical used as a written instruction that tells two or more actors to leave the stage at a particular time in a play

ex-fo'li-ant /eks'fooliant/ noun [c] a substance that you put on your face or body to help remove dead skin cells

ex-f oliate /eks'foolieit/ verb [i/t] to wash or rub your face or body in order to remove dead skin cells ex gra-tia /,eks 'greija/ adj an ex gratia payment is made because you are grateful or generous, not because of a legal obligation

ex-hale /eks'heil/ verb [i/t] to breathe air out through your mouth or nose —opposite inhale — ex«ha«la«tion /.eksha'leijn/

noun [c/u]

ex-haust /ig'zDst/ verb [T] * 1 to make someone extremely 1

and

tired

and without

mentally.

2 to use all you have of something: The expedition was forced to turn back when it exhausted its food supply. 2a. to use or consider all the possible ways of doing something: We need to exhaust all possibilities before we give up. 2b. to talk about something until you have nothing else to say about it: We soon exhausted the subject of the weather.

ex«haust 2

action that you repeat several times in order to make a part of your body stronger or more healthy: Roll over and repeat the exercise on the other leg. deep- breathing exercises 1b. [only before noun] relating to exercise or used for exercise: exercise equipment a new exercise

ex-haust-ed

routine

an

[c]

ex-ert

cally

[U]

[C]

the

prospect of losing their jobs.

exercise ,bike noun

vigorous exercise every day. get exercise / get plenty of exercise being an aerobics instructor. 1a. [C] a physical

2

•••

1 [i] to do a physical activity such as walking, swimming, or running in order to stay healthy and make your body stronger: Do you eat right and exercise regularly? 1a. [T] to move or use a particular part of your body in order to make it strong: The doctor said I should exercise my knee every morning. 1b. [T] to allow an animal to walk or run so that it stays healthy: Large dogs should be exercised every day. 2 [T] formal to use your power, rights, or influence: For centuries, the Church exercised almost unquestioned authority. 2a. to use a skill or personal quality, especially in order to avoid problems: Caution must be exer-

energy: Caring for young children can exhaust you physi-

physical activity done in order to stay healthy and make your body stronger: Try to do 20 minutes of 1

exhausted

473

formal the process of making a computer run a program or carry out an instruction ex-e-cu'tion-er /.eksa'kjufnar/ noun [c] someone whose job is to execute criminals 1 ex-eC'U'tive /ig'zekjativ/ noun •* 1 [C] a senior manager in a business or other organization: a meeting with some of the company 's top executives 2 [C usually singular] a group of people who are responsible for making important decisions in a political

3

activity or set of activities that

you do

in order

/ig'zost/ noun 1 [C] an exhaust pipe: The car needs a new exhaust. 2 [u] gases or steam produced by an engine as it works: exhaust fumes/ gases/ emissions

/ig'zostad/ adj

•

extremely tired and without enough energy to do anything else: The exhausted skiers are looking forward to a good night's sleep. Trying to find a solution to the problem had left the sisters mentally exhausted. 1

exhausting

474

2 empty has

all

or finished, because a supply of something been used: Fuel supplies are nearly exhausted.

exhausting

/ig'zostin/ adj extremely tiring: a long

exhausting day at work

ex-hauS'tion/ig'zDstJan/noun [u] 1 a feeling of being extremely tired and without energy: Weak with exhausclimbers were finally lifted to safety. 2 the use of all you have of something: Increased consumption will lead to faster exhaustion of our natural resources. tion, the

ex-haus-tive

thorough or complete: The ex-haust-ive-ly adv a pipe that carries the gases or steam out of an engine —picture -» cs ex-hib-it /ig'zibit/ verb 1 [l/T] to put something interesting in a museum or other public place so that people can go look at it: His work has been exhibited regularly at the Walker Art Gallery. Where are you going to exhibit next? 2 [T] formal to show a particular feeling, quality, ability, or form of behavior: She's beginning to exhibit list is

/ig'zostiv/ adj

by no means exhaustive.

ex'haust pipe noun

—

[C]

••

1

Some materials may

symptoms of stress.

exhibit the char-

a liquid and a solid. formal to show something proudly: show

acteristics of both

3

[J]

wore short sleeves, exhibiting his new 2 ex-hib-it /ig'zibit/ noun [c] ••

off:

He

tattoo.

1 an object that is part of an exhibition: Each exhibit was clearly labeled with a name and number. 2 an exhibition of art or other interesting things: The exhibit will be moving to Chicago in the spring. 3 an object or document used as evidence in a court of

law: May I ask the jury to look at Exhibit A, a leather glove

found near the body? ex-hi-bi-tion /.eksi'bijn/ noun

[c]

••

a public show where art or other interesting things are put so that people can go look at them: the World Trade exhibition an exhibition hall /center /space +of an exhibition of paintings by Henri Matisse on exhibition (=being shown to the public) On exhibition are costumes 1

from

2 a particular way of behaving or performing 2a. used in a positive way to talk about a performance: The Lakers provided a fine exhibition of skillful and exciting basketball. 2b. used in a negative way to talk about behavior: Such an exhibition of rudeness is absolutely unacceptable.

exhibition of yourself Br E to behave badly Am E make a spectacle of yourself ex-hi-bi-tion-ist /.eksi'bijanist/ noun [c] 1 someone who likes to be seen or noticed by people and tries to impress them, often in silly or strange ways: To want to be an actor, you have to be a bit of an exhibitionist. 2 someone who has a mental problem that makes them want to show their sexual organs in public ex-

make an

in public.

—

hi-bi-tion-ism noun U ], ex-hi-bi-tion-ist adj exhibitionist tendencies [

:

exhibition match noun

[c] a game of football, basketball, tennis, etc. that is not part of a competition but is intended to show the skills of the players

ex-hib*i-tor /ig'zibitar/ noun [c] a person, company, or organization that shows their work or products in a public place

ex'hil-a-rate/ig'zib.reit/verb [T] to make someone feel extremely happy, excited, and full of energy: The sense of danger exhilarated him. ex-hil-a-ra-tion /ig,zib'reijn/

—

excited,

and

/ig'zils.reitad/ adj

full of

extremely happy,

energy: I felt too exhilarated

to sleep.

exhilarating

/ig'zitaxeitin/ adj making you feel extremely happy, excited, and full of energy: an exhilarating walk on the cliffs ex-hil-a-rat-ing-ly adv

—

ex-hort /ig'zort/ someone to do

formal to try to persuade something: urge ex-hor-ta-tion

verb

[T]

—

/,egzor'teiJn/noun[C/U]

ex-hume

/ig'zum/ verb [T] formal to remove a dead person's body from where it is buried, especially to find out how they died ex'hu«ma*tion/ ekshju'meiJ'n; .egzu'meijn/ noun [C/U]

—

i

/'eksid3ansi; ig'zuipnsi/ or ex-i-gence /'eksid39ns/ noun [C usually plural]/orma/ something dif-

ex-i-gen-cy

you must deal with as part of a situation or

job

ex'i«gent/'eksid33nt/adj very formal urgent, or needing a lot of your attention

ex-ig-u-ous / ig 'zigjuss/ adj

very formal extremely small

in quantity

ex-ile

1

/'eg.zail, 'ek.sail/

noun

*

1 [U] a situation in which you are forced to live in a foreign country because you cannot live in your own country, usually for political reasons: poems written by Victor Hugo during his exile in the Channel Islands in exile The country's former leader has been living in exile force /send /drive sb into exile After a for two years. decade of civil war, the losers are being forced into exile. self-imposed exile Wanted in Rome on corruption charges, he now lives in self-imposed exile in Tunisia, la. mainly journalism a period of time in which you live or work away from home or the place you prefer: He returned to California after a brief exile in Texas. 2 [C] someone who has been forced to live in a foreign country because they cannot live in their own country, usually for political reasons 2a. mainly journalism someone who is living or working away from home or the place they prefer: a team of Irish exiles in London -» TAX EXILE

ex«ile

2

/'eg.zail, 'ek.sail/ verb [T usually passive] to force to live in a foreign country, usually for polreasons: Napoleon was first exiled in 1814. exile sb to sth His father had been exiled to France.

someone itical

•••

ex'ist/ig'zist/verb [i] 1 to be real or appear in the real world: Dragons don't exist, la. to be present in a particular place, time, or situation: Opportunities exist in our company for experienced engineers. There is no evidence that life exists on other planets. She walked past me as if I didn t exist. exist to do sth The union exists to promote your interests.

cease to exist The company midnight on March 31st.

2

all over the world.

noun [U] ex-hil-a-rat-ed

exit ficult that

officially

ceased

to exist at

manage

to live, especially under difficult conditions: survive: + on You can't exist on only 500 calories a day. +for How can I exist for a week without seeing you? You can't exist for long without water. to

•••

ex-is-tence

/ig'zistans/ noun 1 [U] the state of being a real or living thing, or of being present in a particular place, time, or situation: The tests confirm the existence of a brain tumor. come into existence /go out of existence Sudan came into existence at the end of the 1800s. in existence the only copy of the book that is still in existence

2

[C usually singular] the way that someone lives their especially when their life is difficult: Jones led a miserable existence in an isolated village for several years. a hand-to-mouth existence (^having hardly enough food or money to live on) He lived a hand-to-mouth exiseke out an existence tence in a poor area of Los Angeles. (=manage to live under difficult conditions) Families struggle to eke out an existence in this harsh environment. life,

ex-is-tent /ig'zistant/

adj formal existing at this time ex-is-ten-tial /.egzi'stenfl/ adj [only before noun]/orma/ relating to human existence and experience ex-is-ten-tial-ist /.egzi'stenjl.ist/ noun [c] someone who believes that human beings create their own moral values and are responsible for the results of their own

actions: existentialist philosophers

— ex-is-ten-tial-ism

noun [U] ex-ist-ing /ig'zistin/ adj [only before noun] *** used for describing something that exists now, especially when it might be changed or replaced: The existing system needs to

to

be changed.

make way for new

the demolition of existing buildings office

blocks

ex«it /'eksit/ noun [C] • 1 a door that leads out of a public place such as a room or building: / was wandering round Belgrade Airport looking for the exit. emergency/fire exit (=a door allowing people to leave a building or vehicle quickly when there is danger) Passengers should leave the airplane by opposite entrance the nearest emergency exit. 2 a small road that allows you to drive off a highway: Take the next exit going north. 3 the act of leaving a place: She stepped in front of me 1

—

exit and blocked my

exit. make an exit They made a hasty exit through the back door. 4 formal an occasion when someone stops being involved in a situation or activity, or is no longer in a particular position: Safin's inspired performance condemned the champion to an early exit. +from the massive

election defeat that led to his exit from the political scene

2

/'eksit/ verb 1 [i/T] formal to leave an area, for example a room, building, or aircraft: Exit the building

ex-it

+ from Passengers are requested to exit from theaircraft by theemergency doors. 1a. [i] used as a written instruction that tells an actor to leave the stage at a particular time in a play: Exit stage left. 2 [i/T] to end a computer program that you are using: Type "X" to

your

left,

please.

to exit the program. exit poll noun [C] a way of guessing the results of an election by asking people who have just finished voting

who

they voted for

exit strategy noun

[c] a plan that allows you to stop being involved in a situation without causing any harm or disadvantage to yourself exit visa noun [C] an official document or mark in a passport that gives you permission to leave the country you are in

/'eksadas/ noun [singular! a situation in which people leave a place or activity at the same time: +from The stock market has seen a recent exodus of

ex-o-dus a

lot of

mass exodus (=an

investors from high-technology stocks.

occasion when everyone leaves a place at the same time) There's a mass exodus from the city every Friday.

ex of-fi-ci-o /,eks s'fijiou/ adj formal an member of a committee or an organization is

ex officio

member

a

because the job they have allows them to be involved: The Treasurer is an ex officio member of all sub-committees. ex-on-er-ate /ig'zana.reit/ verb [t] formal to officially state or prove that someone is not to blame for something: clear: The evidence completely exonerates the President. exonerate sb of /from sth The report did not exonerate the soldiers of responsibility. /ig,zan3'reiJn/noun[u]

ex-on-er-a-tion

ex-or-bi-tant /igzorbitant/

ad] an exorbitant price or of money is much more than is reasonable: It meant borrowing money at an exorbitant rate of interest. exorbitant wage demands ex-or-bi-tance noun [u],

amount

—

ex-or-bi-tant-ly adv

ex-or-cise /'eksor.saiz/ 1 to get rid of an evil spirit using something such as a ceremony or prayer A spring festival was held to exorcise all the evil spirits of winter. 2 to do something that helps you to stop thinking about a bad experience or memory: This novel is an attempt to :

exorcise his personal demons.

/'eksor.sizsm/ noun [c/u] 1 a process or action used for getting rid of an evil spirit, for example a ceremony or prayer 2 something you do that helps you stop thinking about a bad experience or memory: Music remains a kind of exorcism for him.

ex-or-cist /'eksorsist/ noun

[c]

someone who

gets rid

of evil spirits for other people

— ex-ot-ic-ally/igzatikli/adv

ex-ot-i-ca /ig'zatika/ noun [plural] unusual or esting things from foreign countries

exotic dancer noun job is to dance wearing other people

[c]

old-fashioned

little

inter-

someone whose

or no clothing to entertain

ex-ot-i-cism /igzati.sizsm/ noun [C/u] an unusual or exciting quality that something has, especially because it is

connected with a foreign country

expand /ik'spaend/ verb ••• 1 become larger in size 2 increase business 3 add more details [i]

to

become larger

4 spread out 5 write in longer form in size

The water froze inside the

2

[i]

if

pipe,

[T]

to

make

a business, organization, or activity expands,

it

grows by including more people, moving into new areas, selling more products, etc.: the rapidly expanding IT +into The group has expanded into Germany. sector 2a. [T] to make a business, organization, or activity do this: We must expand our services to include training.

3 [i] [+on/upon] to talk or write more about something, adding more details or information: / refuse to expand any further on my earlier statement. 4 [\U\formal to open and spread out: The hawk expanded its wings and soared into the sky. 5 [T] technical in mathematics, to write an expression in a longer form ex-pand-a-ble /ik'spaendsbl/ adj able to be added to and made larger: The computer has 64Mb of RAM, expandable to 1024 Mb. expanse /ik'spaens/ noun [c] a large area of land, water, or sky: vast expanses offarmland ex-pansion /ik'spsenjsn/ noun ** 1 [u] the process of increasing in size and filling more space: damage caused to buildings through the expansion and contraction of timbers 2 [u] the process of making a business, organization, or activity grow by including more people, moving into new areas, selling more products, etc.: The company has looked at a number of ways of financing its expansion. the rapid expansion of private nursing-home care over the We plan to continue our expansion program. last decade 3 [C] something that has more detail or information than something done before: His latest work is an expansion of themes foreshadowed in his earlier plays. 4 [C/U] technical in mathematics, an expression written in a longer form

ex-pan-sion-ar-y

/ik'spaenja.neri/ ad) technical relat-

ing to actions by a government to increase economic

growth

ex-pan-sion-ist /ik'spaenjn.ist/ adj relating to the efforts of a government or country to increase its land or power. This word shows that you do not approve of policies like this.

— ex-pan-sion-ism noun [u]

ex'pansion

.slot noun [C] computing a place on a computer where you can connect another piece of equip-

ment to it and make it more powerful ex-pa n-sive /ik'spaensiv/ adj 1 formal

friendly, generous, or willing to talk: an expansive mood /wave/ gesture/smile 2 including many things or a large area: At 35, she has already created an expansive business empire. an expansive view across the valley ex-pan -si ve-ly adv,

—

ex-pan-sive-ness noun

[U]

/eks'paet/ noun [C] informal

an expatriate

ex-pa-ti-ate

/ek'speifi.eit/ verb [I] very formal [+on/ upon] to talk or write a lot or in great detail about

something ex-pa-tri-ate /ek'speitrist/ noun [c] someone who lives in a foreign country: Prague has a large population of American expatriates. ex-pa-tri-ate adj: expatriate

—

workers

ex-ot-ic /ig'zatik/ adj * interesting or exciting because of being unusual or not familiar: dancers wearing exotic costumes a. used for describing things that are interesting or exciting because they are in or from distant foreign countries: exotic fruits They're always flying off to film in exotic locations.

burst. We live in an expanding universe. 1a. something do this —opposite contract

ex-pat

ex-or-cism

1

expect

475

and

filling

causing

it

to

more

space:

expand and

expect

/ik'spekt/ verb

[t]

*••

1 to think that something will happen: We're expecting good weather this weekend. The trial is expected soon.

+ that Investors expect that the rate of inflation will rise. expect sb/sth to do sth / didn't really expect you to understand. We were expecting the letter to arrive by now. as expected (=in the way you expected) ,4s expected, the party was a great success. when you least expect it An accident can happen at any time, just when you least expect it. half expect (=think that something might happen) She half expected him to be angry with her. 1a. spoken used in negative sentences to tell someone not to be too hopeful about something because it is unlikely to happen: Don't expect me to help you. +A new hairstyle will improve your appearance, but you can t expect miracles. lb. it's (only) to be expected spoken used for saying that something is completely normal: It's only to be expected that someone would have to cancel. 1 c. what do/ can you expect? spoken used for saying that something does not surprise you, even though it is unpleasant or makes you feel disappointed: The food was awful, but from a school cafeteria what do you expect? 1d. what/

expectancy .

.?

spoken used for telling

in a slightly annoyed way that something is not possible or reasonable: How do you expect me to guess what you 're thinking? 2 to think that it is right or reasonable that something should happen: Our customers expect good service. expect to do sth / expect to get paid on time. expect sb/ sth to do sth It is not fair to expect me to do all the housework. expect sth of /from sb the level of fitness expected of a professional athlete 2a. be too much to expect spoken used for saying that you think something is possible or reasonable even though someone else is unlikely to do it or refuses to do it: I guess it's too much

someone

to expect that

you '11

call

when you

arrive.

3 [often progressive] to be waiting for someone or something to arrive: Are you expecting a package?* I'm expecting guests this evening. expect sb home /back /in What time do you expect Sara home? be expecting (a baby) to be pregnant I expect (so) mainly Br E spoken used for saying that you think something is probably true: + (that) / expect you 're hungry. ex-pec-tan-cy /ik'spektansi/ noun [u] a feeling that something good or exciting is soon going to happen: There was an air of expectancy as the celebrities began arriving.

ex-pec-tant

/ik'spektant/ adj 1 feeling excited about

something you think is soon going to happen 2 [only before noun] an expectant mother or father will soon be a parent of a new baby ex-pec-tant-ly adv expectation /.ekspek'teijn/ noun [c/u] *•• 1 the belief that something will happen: +of The team set off without any expectation of success. in expectation of His associate had given the information in expectation

—

contrary to /against (all/sb's) of a reduced penalty. expectations (=although something was not what you expected) Contrary to her expectations, Caroline found the show very entertaining. in line with expectations (=the same as people expected) The rise in inflation is broadly in line with expectations. 2 [usually plural] a belief that something should happen in a particular way, or that someone or something should have particular qualities or behavior: Mark and Susie went into marriage with very different expectations. The two teachers have different expectations of their students. exceed/surpass sb's expectations (=be better than someone expected) The success of the product has exceeded all our expectations. beyond (all) expectations (=much better than expected) The team has performed beyond all expectations. have high /low expectations (=expect something to be very good or very bad)parents with high expectations of their children come up to/live up to /meet sb's expectations (=be as good as someone expected) We had heard so much about the restaurant, but it did not live up to our expectations.

•••

expected

/ik'spektad/ adj [only before noun] likely to happen or be true: Events did not follow their expected course. expected future earnings

ex-pec-to-rant

/ik'spekt(a)rant/ noun [c] medical a

medicine used for helping you cough liquid up from your lungs ex-pec-to-rate /ik'spekta.reit/ verb [i/t] formal to spit, especially after coughing something up from the lungs ex-pe-di-en-cy /ik'spidiansi/ noun [c/u] formal the use of methods that produce an immediate result or solution to a problem, but may not be fair or honest ex-pe-di-ent 1 /ik'spidiant/ adj used for describing an action that produces an immediate result or solution to a problem, even though it may not be fair or honest: The Prime Minister can call an election when it is politically expedient.

— ex-pe-di-ent-ly adv

ex-pe-di-ent 2 /ik'spidiant/ noun [c] an action that produces an immediate result or solution to a problem, even though it may not be fair or honest: He gained entry by the simple expedient of bribing the doorman.

ex-pe-dite /'ekspa.dait/ verb [J] formal to make something happen quickly or easily: Aid workers are trying of returning refugees to their homes. /.ekspa'difn/ noun [c] 1 a long trip organized for a particular purpose, espe-

to expedite the process

expedition

expense

476

how/when etc. do you expect.

••

cially to a

dangerous or distant place: + to

the 1910 exped-

Antarctica led by Captain Scott make /mount/ undertake an expedition We are hoping to mount the first to Mars by 2020. on an expedition She died while on an expedition to Peru to study nocturnal mammals. 1a. a group of people who go on an expedition: The expedition successfully reached the top of Mt. ition to

manned expedition

Everest.

2 a short trip somewhere, especially for pleasure: We plan to go on a shopping expedition. 3 a long journey made by soldiers in order to attack a particular place or group of people: Rumors spread amongst the rebels that a massive punitive expedition against them was being prepared. -» FISHING EXPEDITION

ex-pe-di-tion-ar-y force / ,ekspa'dijn(a)ri ,fars/ noun [C] a group of soldiers who go to fight in a foreign country

ex-pe-di-tious /.ekspadijas/ effective

ex-pel

— ex-pe-di-tious-ly adv

/ik'spel/ verb

[t]

1

ad)

formal quick and

to officially force

someone

to leave a place or organization because of their bad behavior: They have no legal power to expel a party member. expel sb from sth The police were sent to expel the demonstrators from public buildings. 1a. to force a student to leave a school permanently: expel sb for sth He was expelled for threatening a teacher with a knife. 1b. to force someone to leave a foreign country, especially for political reasons or for breaking the law: The authorities are threatening to expel all foreign diplomats. expel sb from sth Reporters who reported on the demonstration were expelled from the country. 2 technical to force something out of a container or someone's body

ex-pend

[J] formal to use time, energy, doing something: We've already expended too much energy on this project. ex-pend-a-ble /ik'spendabl/ adj used for describing someone or something that you are willing to get rid of, lose, or allow to be killed because they are no longer

money,

/ik 'spend/ verb

etc.

useful or necessary: dispensable: His manager made it clear to him that he was expendable. policies and principles that were deemed expendable in the rush to get elected

•*

expenditure

/ik'spenditjar/ noun formal 1 [C/U] money spent by a government, organization, or person: spending: Expenditure should ideally not exceed income.* government I public expenditure capital expenditure +on The budget will certainly include increased expenditure on education. 2 [u] the use of time, money, energy, etc. doing something: + of The whole project was a wasteful expenditure of time and effort.

ex-pense

/ik'spens/ noun

***

an amount of money you spend

in order to buy or do something: Rent is our biggest expense. You can claim part of your telephone bill as a business expense. traveling / medical / legal expenses a factory's operating expenses incur an expense The insurance will cover all expenses incurred during your time in the hospital. cover/ meet an expense people struggling to meet their basic living expenses 1a. all expenses paid if you do something all expenses paid, someone else pays for everything: You could win an all expenses paid trip to Barbados. 2 [u] the high cost of something: A powerful computer + of the expense is worth the expense ifyou use it regularly. and inconvenience of recovering cargo from sunken ships a lot of to great/considerable etc. expense (=spend go money) His parents went to great trouble and expense to make sure the party was a success. go to the expense of doing sth (=spend money on doing something) We didn't want to go to the expense of sending a courier. 3 expenses [plural] money you spend as part of your job that your employer later gives back to you: The put sth on expenses company pays all our expenses. (= charge it to your employer) Let me pay - I can put it on expenses. plus expenses Your salary will be $70,000 a reimburse expenses All reasonable year, plus expenses. expenses will be reimbursed. 1

[C]

at sb's expense 1 used for saying who pays for something: We were supposed to provide safety equipment at our own expense. 2 if someone has a joke or enjoys themselves at your expense, they enjoy laughing at you:

expense account My family and friends

all

expense of sth if the expense of another, the second thing suffers or is not done well because of the first: Military strength is often achieved at the expense of a country's economic health. at great /vast /considerable expense spending a lot of money: At vast expense, he flew the entire family to Argentina. 2 -» SPARE at the

ex'pense account noun

[C] a system that allows you back from your employer any of your own money that you have spent while working a. a record of this

to get

money ex-pen-sive /ik'spensiv/adj

***

expensive costs a lot of money: He always wears expensive clothes. It can be very expensive expensive tastes (=liking things to train new personnel. 1

something that

is

that cost a lot of money) young people with expensive tastes and large bank accounts 2 an expensive mistake or decision is one that causes you serious problems: It was an expensive decision - it cost

me my job.

— ex«pen«sive'ly adv

ex-pe-ri-ence /ik'spirisns/ noun *** 1 [U] knowledge and skill gained through time spent 1

doing a job or activity: You don't need any experience to We would like to find someone with more work here. limited/ business I teaching experience have experience (in considerable I extensive experience sth) She has years of experience in the computer industry. + with Do you have any previous experience with children? +as We're looking for someone with experience as a teacher. get/ gain experience You need to get more experience.

management experience. [U] the knowledge you

2

get from life and from being in a lot of different situations: Experience told me not to from personal /bitter experience / can say believe him. from personal experience that it's hard not having a job.

from past /previous experience Helen knew from past experience that there was no point in arguing with him. in sb's experience In my experience, very intelligent people can still make terrible mistakes. 3 [C] something that happens to you, or a situation that you are involved in: our childhood experiences have an experience A lot of the people we talked to had had the same experience. + of /with It was her first experience of dealing with people from another culture. + for The whole thing must have been an interesting experience for you. a bad /strange /traumatic etc. experience / had a bad experience in the last place I worked. share your experiences of sth (=tell people about them) an opportunity for people to share their experiences of living with the disease -» PUT DOWN TO

ex-pe-ri-ence 2 /ik'spirians/ verb [T] •*• 1 if you experience a problem or a situation, you have that problem or are in that situation: the discrimination experienced by older people experience difficulty /problems Book industries are experiencing the same problems

moment. experience sth first hand (=experience something directly, instead of hearing about it) At the

at the

Chans' house I experienced Chinese hospitality first hand. to feel an emotion or a physical feeling: Are you experiencing any pain?* It was the most wonderful feeling

2

she had ever experienced.

ex-pe-ri-enced

/ik'spirianst/ adj

**

someone who

is

experienced has skill at something because they have done it a lot: I'm a lot more experienced than him. +At 16, Hoskins is already an experienced sailor. +at/in She's experienced in dealing with difficult customers.

experiential to or

/ik.spiri'enjl/ adj very

formal relating

based on experience

ex'per«i«ment

1

/ik'spenmant;

ik'spenment/

noun

•** a scientific test to find out what happens to someone or something in particular conditions: Experiments show that many plants tolerate a wide range of light conditions. laboratory experiments using electric shocks + on /with a series of experiments on animals do /carry out /conduct /perform an experiment Researchers now need to conduct further experiments. 2 [C] an occasion when you test a new idea, method, or activity to find out what the result will be: Let's try 1

[C]

expire

477

had a lot offun at my expense. one thing exists or happens at

an experiment - we'll only use the Internet on the weekend. + in an experiment in tax reform 2a. [u] the process of testing various ideas, methods, or activities to see what effect

they have: Experiment

ment that

is

necessary to find a treat-

suits you. 2

ex«per«i«ment /ik'speri.ment/ verb [i] * 1 to try new ideas, methods, or activities

in order to find out what results they will have: a designer who is + with She likes experimenting not afraid to experiment with different hairstyles. 2 to perform scientific tests in order to find out what happens to someone or something in particular conditions: + on/with This lab doesn't experiment on animals.

ex-per-i-men-tal /ik,spen'mentl/adj ** 1 using new ideas or methods that are not yet proved be successful every time: The operation

to

considered risky and experimental. experimental teaching materials 2 relating to, based on, or used in scientific experiments: results obtained under the new experimental conditions Experimental evidence supports this conclusion. is still

ex-per-i-men-tal-ly /ik.spen'mentli/ adv 1 in order to try new ideas or methods to see whether they are successful and reliable: The treatment has been used experimentally, but it is too early to tell whether it works. 2 in a way that is related to or involves the use of scientific experiments: His theories

have been confirmed

experimentally. 3 in a way that allows you to see what something is like or what effect it has: / stepped experimentally into the icy water.

ex«per'i«men«ta«tion /ik.spenmen'teijn/ noun

[u]

formal the process of testing various ideas, methods, or activities to see what effect they have: teenage sexual experimentation + in/with Experimentation with drugs is dangerous.

***

1

/'ek,sp3rt/ noun [C] someone who has a particular skill or knows a lot about a particular +in/on an subject: a safety / health / computer expert +at He's an expert at expert in radio communications getting served in a crowded bar.

ex-pert

ex'pert 2

/'ek,sp3rt/ adj

**

1 showing special skill or knowledge: expert workmanship He's an expert skier. +at Over the years we've

become quite expert at dealing with these sorts of problems. + in The British royal family are still less than expert in handling the media. 2 expert help or advice is given by someone who has a lot of skill and knowledge: training your dog under expert guidance ex-pert-ly adv

—

ex-per-tise /.ekspsr'tiz/ noun [u] ** special skill or knowledge that you get from experience, training, or study: technical/ professional/ medical expertise +in The is eager to develop its own expertise in the area of computer programming.

company

expert system

noun [c] computing a type of computer software that uses a process similar to the way humans think in order to provide people with solutions to problems relating to a particular subject

expert 'witness noun [c] an expert in a particular subject who is asked to give a court of law their opinion about technical details of a case

ex-pi-ate /'ekspi.eit/ verb [T] very formal to show that you are sorry for something bad you have done by doing something good— ex«pi'a«tion/,ekspi'eiJn/ noun [U]

ex«pi«ra«tion/,ekspi'reiJn/ noun [u] Am £ the end of a period of time during which an agreement, offer, or official document is in force or can be used. Br E expiry: the expiration of a lease expiration date noun [c] the date on which something can no longer be used or is no longer safe to eat. Br E expiry date: We need the expiration date on your credit card.

ex-pire /ik'spair/ verb [I] * 1 if an agreement, offer, or official document expires, the period of time during which it exists or can be used comes to an end: The loan offer is due to expire this week. + on /at Your contract expires at the end of the month. + in My passport expires in a month.

2

literary to die

"

expiry agreement,

ex-plain

or

offer,

[u]

official

BrE

the expiration of an

document

•••

/ik'splein/ verb

1 [T] to tell someone something in a way that helps them understand it better: "My full name is Juliet Avery, Juliet explained patiently. explain sth to sb The doctor

explained the risks to

when /what

me

+how/ how a car engine

before the operation.

etc. / will try to explain

He explained

would be moving to another city. 1a. used about a book or picture: This manual explains how to use your computer. a leaflet that explains who can claim welfare 2 [T] to give a reason for something that happens, especially when this is not easy to understand: Science works.

+(that)

that he

cannot explain everything. It's difficult to explain the popularity of this new toy. The phenomenon can be explained in various ways. 2a. [T] to be the reason for something: + why /what etc. "Tom is in the hospital." "That explains why he wasn't in school today." 2b. [l/T]

used when you want someone to understand and forgive you: / can explain everything. Wait! Let me explain! 1 to tell someone who is angry with you why you did something: You have ten seconds to explain yourself! 2 to tell someone what you mean in a clear way that they can easily understand: You'll have to explain yourself more clearly. explain away phrasal vb [t] to tell someone about something in a way that makes them think it is unimportant, so that they do not ask questions about it: She made up stories to explain away the missing money. ex-pla-na-tion/.ekspb'neijn/ noun [c/u] ••• 1 a reason you give for something that has happened or something you have done: / expected an explanation and an apology. +for The explanation for this is simple.

explain yourself

+ of

He gave a

detailed explanation of the events leading up to the accident. give /offer /provide an explanation You had better give me some sort of explanation!

a description of how something works or of how to do something: + of /about This book provides a clear explanation of how to use the Internet.

2

ex«plarva-to-ry /ik'splaens.tori/ adj formal intended to help you understand something: He had attached an explanatory note.

exple-tive /'ekspbtiv/ noun [C] formal a rude word you use when you are angry, annoyed, or upset that might offend some people: swear word

explicable

/'eksphkabl; ik'sphkabl/ adj very formal easy to explain and understand— opposite inexplicable

ex-pli-cate /'eksph.keit/ verb [T] very formal to make the meaning of a piece of writing, plan, etc. clear ex«pli«ca«tion/,ekspli'keiJn/ noun [C/U]

—

**

ex'plic'it/ik'splisit/adj 1 showing or describing sex or violence with a lot of detail: the movie's explicit sex scenes 2 said or explained in an extremely clear way, so that you cannot doubt what is meant: an explicit statement/

warning / threat

explicit instructions / directions

make

sth explicit Possible side effects should be made explicit. if someone is explicit, they say or explain some-

2a.

thing in a very clear direct way: Can you be a little more explicit? + about He is being very explicit about his dissatisfaction with the company. ex*plic*it*ly adv: Nothing in the contract says explicitly how its terms will be enforced. The violence is never explicitly shown.

—

— ex*plic*it*ness noun [U]

ex-plode/ik'sploud/verb 1

explosion

478

ex*pi*ry /ik'spairi/ noun

burst with great force

2 express sudden emotion 3 increase quickly to burst

with a

state

Words

frequently used with

bomb,

nouns

explode

device, firework, grenade,

1

shell

ex-plod-ed /ik'sploodad/

adj technical an exploded picture, model, or view shows the parts of something separately but in a way that makes clear how they are connected or put together: an exploded view of a diesel

engine

exploit

1

/ik'spbit/verb

[T]

**

to treat someone unfairly in order to get some benefit for yourself: Children are being exploited in many of these factories. 2 to use a situation so that you get benefit from it, even 1

if it is wrong or unfair to do this: We need to exploit every opportunity for media coverage. A lot of ads just exploit our own insecurities. an investment designed to exploit a tax loophole 3 to use natural resources such as trees, water, or oil so that you gain as much as possible: exploiting the mineral wealth of Alaska ex-ploit-er noun [C]

—

2

ex-ploit /'ek.spbit/ noun [C usually plural] something unusual that someone does that you think is brave, exciting, or entertaining: regaling us with tales of his Her amazing exploits include walking youthful exploits across Antarctica.

ex-ploita-tion /.ekspbi'teijn/ noun [u] •• 1 unfair treatment of someone or the use of a situation in a way that is wrong, in order to get some benefit for yourself: Working people will now be vulnerable to exploitation by unscrupulous employers. + of bringing end to the exploitation and oppression of women

an

2 the process of making use of something so that you gain as much as possible from it: commercial /economic/ industrial exploitation natural resources

ex-ploit-a-tive

+ of the justifiable exploitation of

/ik'spbitativ/

adj

formal

treating

people unfairly in order to get some benefit for yourself ex-plo-ra-tion /.ekspb'reifn/ noun [c/u] •• 1 a trip around an area to learn about it or to search for something valuable such as oil: the future of space exploration oil /gas /mineral exploration +of Exploration of the solar system began in the 19th century. 2 a thorough examination or discussion of a subject, idea, etc.: + of/ into Shakespeare's exploration of the theme offriendship

ex-plor-a-to-ry /ik'spbra.tori/ adj done in order to learn more about something: The doctor explained the need for exploratory surgery.

Talks are still in the explora-

tory stage.

explore /ik'spbr/ verb

•**

[l/T] to travel around an area in order to learn about or to search for something valuable such as oil: The town is a good base from which to explore this charming +for companies exploring for oil corner of New England. 2 [T] to examine or discuss a subject, idea, etc. thoroughly: We are exploring the possibility of taking legal It is worth exploring other action against the company. + how /what /why ways of dealing with this problem. etc. He wants to explore how the human brain will function

1

it

•* 4 prove story/theory false 5 move/change quickly

lot of force

and a loud

1

[i]

up:

Bombs were exploding all over the city.

1a.

noise: blow [T]

to

make

something burst with a lot of force and a loud noise: Terrorists have exploded bombs across the country, lb. [I] literary to make a sudden loud noise: Thunder exploded over the meadow. 2 [I] to express strong emotions in a sudden, noisy, and often violent way When I told Ian that Maggie had refused + in /with She suddenly to come, he simply exploded. +into The room exploded with rage, and stormed off. :

exploded into uproar when the fire alarm went off. 3 [i] to increase a lot in size, amount, or importance over a very short period of time: The increased availability of food has caused the deer population to explode. Investment in technology stocks exploded in the 1990s. 4 [T] to prove that a story or theory that many people believe is in fact false: debunk: Scientists wanted to explode the myth of a monster living in the lake. 5 [i] to move very quickly: A group of youths exploded out of the door. +into Suddenly, behind her, the stage explodes into life. 5a. to change very quickly into a new

under these circumstances.

ex*plor*er /ik'spbrar/ noun [C] someone who travels around a place that other people do not know much about to find out what is there: Antarctic explorers ex-plo-sion /ik'splou3n/ noun ** 1 [C] an occasion when something bursts with a lot of force and a loud noise, often causing damage: a gas/ nuclear explosion

killed in

a car bomb explosion

+ of

/

explosive

explosion of methane gas demolished a local house on Saturday. 1a. [C/u] the process by which something is made to explode: + of the underground explosion of nuclear devices 2 [C] a very large increase in the size, amount, or importance of something over a very short period of +of/in There has been a recent time: a wage explosion the explosion in oil explosion of interest in the sport.

prices [C] a sudden violent expression of a strong emotion: + of his sudden explosion of anger [C] a sudden loud noise: +of The music started with a sudden explosion of sound.

3

4

1

ex-plo-sive /ik'sploosiv/ 1 able to

express

479

An

explode

adj

• 4 showing sudden emotion 5 very powerful 6 loud and unexpected

(sth)

2 likely to cause problems 3 suddenly increasing

1 used for causing an explosion: an explosive device (=a bomb) 1a. able to explode: This gas is highly explosive. 2 likely to create difficulties or have a dangerous or violent effect: The situation along the border is potentially

explosive.

3

ex-pose

/ik'spooz/ verb

[T]

1 to fail to protect someone or something from something harmful or dangerous: expose sb/sth to sth Many Why do we of the soldiers had been exposed to radiation. still sunbathe when we know the dangers of exposing The sale exposed the company to our skin to the sun? widespread criticism. 2 to allow something that is usually covered or hidden to be seen: The melting snow exposed the spring flowers. Many people like to expose old floorboards. 3 to deliberately make something known publicly because you believe it is wrong or illegal: The press helped to expose the appalling living conditions of the farm workers. The incident exposed the weakness of the expose sb/sth as sth The videogovernment's position. tape of the meeting exposed him as thoroughly corrupt

(^showed that he was corrupt). 4 to allow light to reach the film in a camera so that you can take a photograph expose sb to sth formal to introduce new ideas, activities, etc. to someone so that they can learn about them: Schools are again exposing children to the classics. expose yourself (to sb) 1 to allow someone to see a private part of your body accidentally or deliberately 2 to show your sex organs to someone in a public place because you have a mental problem

very large in size, amount, or importance and happening over a very short period of time: explosive population growth 4 tending to express strong emotions in a noisy violent way: an explosive temper 5 very powerful: The asteroid crashed into the planet

eX'po«se

with explosive force. loud and unexpected sive-ness noun [u]

ex-posed /ik'spouzd/ adj

— ex-plo-sive-ly

6

ex-plo-sive

2

adv, ex-plo-

/ik'sploosiv/ noun [C/u] a substance or

an object that can cause an explosion: Police found explosives hidden in the garage. a truckful of explosive explosives experts

ex«po/'ekspoo/noun

[C] informal an exposition of indusproducts or technology ex-po-nent /ik'spoonant/ noun [C] 1 formal someone who tries to persuade other people to support an idea, theory, political plan, etc.: +of a leading exponent offree trade 2 someone who is very good at a particular skill or activity and is an example to other people: +of the leading exponent of this style of architecture 3 technical a small number or letter written above and to the right of another number to show how many times you should multiply that number by itself

trial

ex-po-nen-tial /.ekspa'nenjl/ adj 1 increasing or growing very fast: exponential growth 2 technical showing how many times you should multiply a number by itself: an exponential factor — ex-po-nen-tial-ly adv ex-port /'ek.sport/ noun ••• 1

1 U the practice or business of selling goods to another country: a new law controlling the export of works of art for export They are now manufacturing more goods for [

]

export.

2 [C] a product that is sold to another country: Agricultural products are the country's largest export. +to/ from the increase in oil exports to the West —opposite IMPORT

ex-port 2

/ik'sport/ verb

••

send a product

to another country for selling around the world. export sth to /from somewhere Rocket parts are being illegally exported to other countries. 2 [T] to introduce an idea, tradition, or activity into another country: nations that export terrorism 3 [T] computing to copy information from a computer system so it can be stored in another part of the computer or in a different form ex-port-a-tion /,ekspor 1

[i/T]

to

there: Their flowers are exported

'teijn/

noun

[u]

— opposite IMPORT

ex-port 3

/'ek,spDrt/ adj relating to or used in the sale of goods to another country: export earnings / credits controls an export license /quota I tax /subsidy export market Since 1956 the U.S. has been Britain's largest export market. export trade Current interest rates are causing damage to the export trade, —opposite import

ex-port-er

/ik'sportsr/ noun [c] a person, business, or country that sells goods to another country: Saudi Arabia is the world's largest oil exporter.

••

/.ekspou'zei/ noun [C] a story in a newspaper or on television that tells the truth about a person or situation, usually with the intention of shocking or surprising you 1 not covered or hidden and therefore able to be seen: an exposed brick wall 2 not weather: protected from the an exposed site on the hill 3 not protected from attack: an exposed left flank

ex-po-si-tion /.ekspa'zijn/ noun

1 [c] a public event or show of industrial products or technology 2 [C/u] formal a detailed explanation of something such as an idea or process, or the activity of giving such an explanation: +of his exposition of recent developments in

the teaching of history

ex-pos-tu-late

/ik'spastjsjeit/ verb [i] very formal to ex-pos-tu-la-tion /ik .spastJVleiJn/ noun [c/u]

—

express strong disagreement

expo-sure

/ik'spoo33r/ noun

danger public about sth

1

being placed

2

telling

*• 5 6 7 8

in

3 public attention 4 harm from cold weather

being uncovered being introduced to sth film/time for photograph direction sth faces

1 [C/U] the state of being put into a situation in which something harmful or dangerous might affect you: radi-

ation exposure +to information on how prolonged exposure to the sun affects your skin 2 [C/u] the act of making something publicly known because you believe it is wrong or illegal: +of a reporter famous for his exposure of corruption within the gov-

ernment

3 [u] things that are written or said about a person, product, event, etc. that make them well-known: Both candidates are getting a lot of exposure in the press. 4 [u] the harmful effect of very cold weather on your body: Two of the climbers died of exposure. 5 [C/U] the act of allowing something that was covered or hidden to be seen: the exposure of the old carvings 6 [C/u] the act of introducing someone to new ideas, activities, etc.: +to the children's exposure to new ideas 7 [C] technical the amount of film used for taking one photograph 7a. [C/u] the amount of time that you allow light to reach the film in a camera when taking a photograph

8

[singular] technical

building,

the direction in which a room, a southern exposure

hill, etc. faces:

ex-pound

/ik'spaond/ verb [i/T] very formal to explain something or express your opinion about it in detail: It will be an opportunity to expound the ideas he has been developing. + on /upon He continued to expound on the

failings of our educational system.

ex-press 1 tell

1

/ik'spres/ verb

feeling/idea/goal

2 show feeling/opinion 3 show sth in mathematics

[t]

••• 4 mail sth by quick system 5 force liquid out of sth + PHRASES

express

4

someone about a

to tell

1

feeling, opinion, or goal

by speaking or writing about it: His teachers expressed / would like to concern about his progress at school. The express my thanks to my parents for their support. opinions expressed in this book are purely those of the author. The government has reportedly expressed an inthoughts that he could not clearly express terest in the plan. inwords 1a. used about a letter, book, or other piece of writing: a poem expressing grief at the death of a friend 2 to show a feeling on your face or give information The by your behavior: Her eyes expressed total shock. chairperson expressed agreement with a slight nod. 2a. sth expresses itself if an idea or feeling expresses itself in a particular way, it is shown in that way: Lucy's excitement expressed itself in singing and laughter. 3 technical in mathematics, to show a quantity or problem in a particular way: Dalton's Law can be exexpress sth as sth a ratio can pressed mathematically. be expressed as a percentage 4 to send something using a service that will deliver it very quickly: I'll express those documents to you. 5 technical to force a liquid out of something express yourself 1 to talk in a way that other people can understand: She finds it difficult to express herself in English. 2 to show your feelings in a particular way: + through /by students who express themselves through art

ex«press 2

/ik'spres/ adj [only before noun]

express train, bus,

etc.

more quickly than ordinary

makes a

particular trip

trains, buses, etc. 2a.

an

express service delivers mail or packages more quickly than the ordinary service: a package sent by express mail

an express

Words

ex«pres«sive

/ik'sprcsiv/ adj 1 clearly showing what are, especially by your behava wonderfully expressive face He gave an expressive shudder when asked to hold the snake. an expressive description of childhood experiences 2 [+of] very formal showing the essential features of an emotion, idea, or quality: The letter was expressive of his sincere regret. ex'pres'sive-ly adv, ex»pres*sive*ness noun [U]

your thoughts or feelings ior:

—

Am

E the part of a [C] cars that are traveling a long distance

ex press lane noun ex-pressly

/ik'spresli/ adv

highway

for

•

1 formal in a way that is clear and definite: explicitly: The students were expressly forbidden to use the Internet for their research on this occasion. 2 for a particular purpose: specifically: She came

expressly to see you.

ex-pres-so /ek'spresou/ noun

[C]

an espresso

/ik'spres wei/ noun [c)AmEa highway with several lanes (=lines of traffic) going each direction, built so traffic can travel at high speed for long

ex-press«way

Br E motorway

ex-pro-pri-ate /eks'proopri.eit/ verb [T] formal 1 to take someone's land, money, or possessions and use them for public purposes: The county expropriated the land to widen the highway. 2 to take something that does not belong to you and use it for yourself: He expropriated food meant for the refugees and sold it on

— ex>pro>pri>a>tion /eks.proopri'eijri/

the black market.

ex-prcprra'tor noun [C] expul-sion /ik'spAlJan/ noun [c/u]

noun

[C/U],

1 an occasion forced to leave an organpermanently because of their bad behavior. The word for having to leave for a short time is suspension: +of They are calling for the expulsion of +from his expulsion from three members of the assembly. the Communist Party 1a. an occasion when someone is

when someone

is officially

ization or activity

delivery

frequently used with express

nouns

emotions and reactions to things instead of objects as ex-pres-sion-ist adj, noun [C] they really appear expres-sion-less / ik sprcj'nlos/ adj not allowing your feelings to show in your face, eyes, or voice ex-pres-siorvless'ly adv

distances.

*

formal very clear, so that there can be no mistake about what is intended: explicit: Against the woman's express express wishes, the media publicized her story. permission/consent You must not leave this house without my express permission. 1a. deliberate: You came here with the express purpose of causing trouble. 1

2 an

extend

)

agreement, consent, order, permission, wish

1

forced to leave a school or college permanently. BrE usually exclusion: +from His expulsion from West Point was humiliating. 2 the act of forcing someone to leave a foreign country, especially for political reasons or for breaking the law: +of The government retaliated with the expulsion of twenty diplomats. 2a. formal the process of forcing something out of a container or your body: +of an expulsion of breath ex-punge /ik'spAnd3/ verb [T] very formal to remove something completely, especially from a written record ex'pur«gat-ed /'ekspar.geitsd/ adj published after someone has removed parts they consider inappropriate or offensive: the expurgated version of the text ex-purgate verb [T], ex-puropposite unexpurgated ga-tion /.ekspar'geiJYl/ noun [C/U] ex«qui«site /ik'skwizit; 'ekskwizit/ adj 1 extremely beautiful and delicate: an exquisite hand-painted vase from China 2 showing excellent judgment: The furofficially

ex«press makes a

3

/ik'spres/ noun 1 [C] a train, bus, etc. that particular trip more quickly than ordinary trains, buses, etc.: the Boston to Providence express 2 [u] a service that delivers mail or packages more quickly than the ordinary service: Make sure you send it by express.

ex«press 4

/ik'spres/ adv using a service that delivers mail or packages more quickly than the ordinary service: It

came

express.

ex-pres-sion /ik'sprejn/ noun

•**

a look on someone's face that shows what their thoughts or feelings are: +on She had a puzzled expres+of / noticed his expression of disgust. sion on her face. 2 [C/U] the act of showing what your thoughts or feelings are by your behavior or through art, music, + of etc. searching for new forms of artistic expression The parade is a the expression of anger through violence give expression to sth public expression of civic pride. (^express something) The somber music gave expression to his deepest feelings of despair. 2a. [u] a quality in your voice that shows what your thoughts or feelings are: Some of the actors need to put a lot more expression into their voices. 2b. [u] the act of writing or saying what you are feeling or thinking 2c. [C] [+of] words that you use for showing your thoughts or feelings, especially formally: Thank you for all your expressions of sympathy. 3 [C] a word or phrase: He uses childish expressions like "choo-choo. " Avoid colloquial expressions that are out of place in an academic essay. 3a. (if you'll) pardon/ excuse the expression spoken used for saying you are sorry for using a slightly offensive word or phrase: / was, if you'll pardon the expression, knocked right on my 1

[C]

:

butt.

4

in mathematics, a group of signs and that show a particular quantity or idea: algebraic expressions -» FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION [C] technical

numbers

ex-preS'Siorvism /ik'sprefn.izsm/ noun [u] a style in art, literature, and music in which the artist emphasizes

—

—

nishings show exquisite taste. 3 literary felt in an ex-qui-site-ly adv: exquisitely extreme way: intense

—

beautiful

ext. abbrev extension

extant

/'ekstant; ek'staent/ adj

formal

still

existing,

usually despite being very old: surviving ex*tenvpo«ra*ne*ous /ik.stempa'remias/ adj formal said or done without preparing or practicing: an extemex«tenvpoTa«ne'Ous«ly adv, ex-temporaneous speech po-ra-ne-ous-ness noun [u] ex-tem-po-re /ik'stempsri/adj, adv formal said or done without preparing or practicing

—

ex-tenvpo-rize

/ik'stempa.raiz/ verb [i/t] formal to perform or produce something without preparing or

practicing

ex'tend 1

/ik'stend/ verb

continue

in

***

space/time

2 increase size/range 3 offer greeting 4 increase length

etc.

5 lend money etc. 6 affect/include sb/sth + PHRASES

extended [I]

extend your hand to hold out your hand they can shake it as a greeting

to

someone so

Words frequently used with extend nouns

apology, congratulations, invitation, sympathy, thanks,

3

welcome

ex-ten d-ed /ik'stendad/

adj

1

than usual: an extended warranty periods of time at the computer. arm, etc. is stretched out

continuing for longer Try to avoid extended 2 an extended hand,

extended

'family noun [c] a family group that includes grandparents, cousins, aunts, etc. —compare NUCLEAR FAMILY

extension 1 extra

external

481

[+from/into/over/beyond/for etc.] to continue for a particular distance or in a particular direction: The An industrial zone beach extends beyond the horizon. an area extending from the extends along the river. Baltic coast to the Alps 1a. [+over/beyond etc.] formal to continue for a particular period of time: This license a festival that does not extend beyond the end of May. extends over a period of weeks 2 [I/T] to increase the size of a building or area, especially by adding extra parts onto it: We're going to a plan to extend the cemetery extend the ground floor. 2a. [T] to make something include more things, areas, or subjects: The company has recently extended its range The course has been extended to include the of products. history of art. 2b. [T] to increase the power of something: extend influence/control an attempt to extend their influence in world affairs 2c. [T] to increase the time that something lasts: I asked if I could extend my vacation. Your bank might agree to extend the period of the loan. extend a deadline (=give someone more time in which to do something) They have agreed to extend the deadline for the completion of the construction work. 2d. extend your lead to increase the amount by which you are winning in a race, game, or competition 3 [T] formal to offer something such as a welcome, thanks, or sympathy to someone: We extend our apologies extend sth to sb Let's all for the inconvenience caused. extend a warm welcome to our visitors. 4 [T] to increase the length of something: lengthen: You can extend the table by pulling out the middle section. 4a. [T] to stretch out your arms or legs so that they are straight: He stood there, his arms extended toward the horrified onlookers. 4b. [I] to become longer: Does this ladder extend? 5 [T] to agree to lend someone money or to give them credit: extend sth to sb banks that extend loans to small Suppliers do not always extend credit to new businesses customers. 6 [I] to affect or include someone or something: +to This law extends to children under the age of 14 only. 1

/ik'stenfgn/ noun

time allowed

2 telephone line 3 extra part added 4 sth added to sth long 5 development of idea etc.

•••

6 stretching of body part 7 increase in power 8 special classes 9 computer file name + PHRASES

1 [C] extra time you are given to finish a piece of work, especially at college: + on I'm going to ask for an extension on this paper. 1a. extra time you are given to pay money that you owe: +on Will the bank give you an extension on the loan? 1b. extra time you are given to use a particular legal document or right: a visa extension +to Brady wants a two-year extension to his contract. 2 [C] a telephone line that is one of several lines coming from a main line: What's your extension? I'm at extension 334. a new extension number 3 [C] an extra room or rooms added to a building: The company is building an extension onto the side of the factory. +to Add a kitchen extension to your home. 3a. a part of a road or railroad line added to the existing one: a proposed freeway extension 4 [C] something you add to a long thin object to make it able to reach somewhere: This cord isn't long enough -

do you have an extension? 4a. extensions [plural] long pieces of artificial hair that can be fastened to someone's hair to make it look longer

5

[C] l+of]

something that develops from a particular

custom, activity, idea, etc. Business entertainment seems a natural extension of Japan 's gift-giving culture. He sees local history as an extension offamily history. :

6

[U] technical the action of stretching part of your body: His leg was now capable offull extension. 7 [singular/ u] an increase in the power of something: + of the further extension of state control 8 [U] a set of courses provided by a college for people who are not able to go to classes at the college itself or are not able to go during the normal class times 9 [C] computing the last part of the name of a computer file. For example, "EXE" and "DOC" are extensions.

by extension used

for explaining that a particular

person or thing is affected by something only because they are connected to what you have just mentioned: She hates all businessmen and, by extension, me.

ex-ten-sive 1

/ik'stensiv/ adj

•**

very large in amount or degree: The accident caused

extensive

damage

to

both cars.

the restaurant's extensive

wine list involving a lot of details and information: She has Scientists have an extensive knowledge of art history. conducted extensive research into the causes of cancer. 3 spreading over a large area: the hotel's extensive grounds He suffered a broken wrist and extensive bruis-

2

ing. — ex-ten-sive-ly adv: The building was extensively damaged by fire. ex-ten-sive-ness noun [U] ex-tent /ik'stent/ noun *•• 1 [u] the importance of a problem or situation: +of We

—

were shocked by the extent of the damage. The government the full/ underestimated the extent of the contamination. true extent Doctors still do not know the full extent of his injuries.

2

[singular/u] the degree to which something happens is likely to happen: extent to which The extent to which your diet is successful depends on your willpower. Languages vary in the extent to which they rely on word order. 2a. to a large/great extent mainly: The complaints were to a large extent valid. 2b. to a lesser/ greater extent used for saying that something is less/ more true than a previous statement: A child's values come from its parents and, to a lesser extent, from its schooling. 2c. to some/a certain/a limited extent partly, but not completely: To a certain extent, I was relieved. 2d. to the/such an extent that used for saying that because one thing is happening something else happens: His business is failing to such an extent that it is losing over $40,000 a year. 3 [U] the size or area of something: Open the table to its

or

fullest extent.

in

ex-ten-u-a-ting

extent almost an acre in extent

circumstances

/ikstenjueitirj

'sarksm.staensaz/ noun [plural] conditions that make a bad action or mistake seem less serious, especially

because they make it seem reasonable 1 ex-te-ri'Or /ik'stirisr/ noun [C usually singular] 1 the outside part of something, especially a building: There are plans to improve the hotel's exterior. a brick exterior opposite interior 2 the way someone appears and behaves, especially when this may be different from how they really are: Underneath that gruff exterior is a very kind person. 2 ex'te-ri-or /ik'stirisr/ adj on or relating to the outside part of something: exterior walls —opposite interior

—

ex-ter-mi-nate

/ik'st3rmi,neit/ verb [t] to kill all the insects or animals of a particular type in an area a. to kill a person or a group of people ex«ter«mi«na'tion /ik,st3rmi'neijn/ noun [C/u], ex*termi«na«tor noun [C]: We hired an exterminator to get rid of the termites in the basement.

—

external

/ik'st3rnl/adj

*•*

1 coming from outside a place or organization: sources of external financing a bureaucracy that is too vulnerable to external pressure 1a. involving countries other than our your own: the commissioner for external affairs

country's external debt

2 on

or from the outside of something such as a building or someone's body: external doors/ walls her external appearance 2a. for external use (only) if a medicine is for external use, it is intended to be used on the outside of your body only and must not be swallowed

externalise

— Opposite INTERNAL

ex-ter-na-lise /ik'st3rnl,aiz/ a BrE spelling of externalize

ex-ter-nal'ize /ik'st3rnl,aiz/ verb [T] very formal to ex*ter*na*li*za«tion express feelings and thoughts /ik,st3rnli'zeijn/ noun [c/uj ex-ter-nals /ik'st3rnlz/ noun [plural] the way someone or something appears from the outside, especially when this is different from the way they really are: It's misleading to judge from externals.

—

extinct

/ik'stinkt/ adj

*

an extinct animal, plant, or language no longer exists: The Tasmanian tiger was declared extinct in 1936. 1a. an 1

extinct custom, job, type of person, etc. does not exist any longer because society has changed: Many jobs have become extinct with the advent of computers. 2 an extinct volcano no longer erupts compare active,

—

DORMANT ex-tinc-tion /ik'stinkjsn/ noun [U] * the situation when an animal, plant, or language no longer exists: danger of extinction a. the situation does not exist any longer because society has changed: plans to save the mining

species that are in

when a custom,

job, etc.

[T] 1 formal to make a or cigarette stop burning. A more usual word is put out: Firemen fought for hours to extinguish the blaze. 1a. formal to make a light stop shining 2 mainly literary to stop a feeling or idea from continuing to exist

ex-tin-guish /ik'stingwiJV verb fire

ex-tirvguish-er /ik'stingwijar/ noun

[c]

a fire extin-

guisher

ex-tir-pate /'ekst3r,peit/ verb [T] very formal to completely destroy or get rid of something ex-tol /ik'stool/ verb [T]/orma/ to praise something in a very enthusiastic way: The report extolled the virtues of Internet technology.

ex-toll /ik'stoul/ an Am E spelling of extol ex'tort /ik'stort/ verb [T] to illegally get money or information from someone using force or threats: Gangsters have been extorting money from local businessmen. ex*tor»tion /ik'storfn/ noun [u] a crime in which someone gets money or information using force or

— ex*tor*tion*ist noun [C]

ex-tor'tion-ate /ik'storjnat/ for

money

is

extortionate

it

reasonable: extortionate rents extortionately priced cosmetics

ex'tra

adj if is

a price or request higher than is

much

— ex*tor«tion>ate*ly

adv:

•**

1

/'ekstra/ adj in addition to the usual or expected amount: There's no extra money for emergencies. We need extra space for guests. As an extra precaution, I turned off the electricity. to cost an additional amount of $19.95 for dinner, and drinks are extra.

be extra

money:

It's

2

ex«tra /'ekstra/ noun [c] * 1 something that you can buy with something else for an additional payment: The car comes with most extras optional extra A that you'd expect, like twin air-bags. virus checker is available as an optional extra for your

computer.

2 someone who has a very small

part in a movie, for

example as a member of a crowd 3 a special edition of a newspaper that is published when something important happens 3 ex«tra /'ekstra/ adv * 1 more than a particular amount of money: You have It costs extra if you leave to pay extra for insurance. before 9 a.m.

2

very: used for emphasizing adjectives and adverbs: when you go out alone at night. an extra

Be extra

careful special gift

extra- /ekstra/ prefix outside or beyond something: used with some adjectives: extramarital (=not forming part of a marriage) an extraterrestrial (=a creature from outside the Earth)

extract

1

/ik'straekt/ verb [T]

••

formal to remove something from a particular place: take out: He opened a drawer and extracted a file. 1a. to remove a substance from another substance: The pulp 1

extract sth from sth a was crushed to extract the juice. method of extracting sulfur from copper ore 1b. medical to remove one of someone's teeth 2 to get someone to tell or give you something when they do not want to: obtain: The army uses force to extract

extract sth from sb It is not easy to extract extract a promise /coninformation from the Senator. cession She managed to extract a promise of support from her employers. 2a. to get the exact information you need from a lot of information that you have: extract sth from sth Our data is extracted from the project records. confessions.

ex*tract 2 /'ek.strskt/ noun

**

1 [C/U] a substance that has been taken from a plant or from another substance: malt extract natural herbal

extracts

2

[C] a short piece of writing taken from something such as a book or letter: excerpt: +from He read several extracts from his latest novel. ex-trac-tion /ik'straekjsn/ noun [C/U] the process or action of extracting something: The extraction of precise a tooth extraction data can be quite difficult.

be of Chinese/German

etc.

extraction to be part of a

originally from U.S. resident of Thai extraction

family that

is

China/Germany

etc.:

a

ex-tract-or

industry from extinction

threats

extrapolate

482

ex«ter-naMy adv: an externally funded project

/ik'straektar/ noun [c] a piece of equipment or system that can remove something from another thing: a computer data extractor a juice extractor

ex-tra-cur-ric-u-lar /.ekstraka'nkjabr/ adj 1 extracurricular activities are things that you do at school or college that are not part of your program of study 2 humorous outside the usual range of activities or behavior expected in a job or a marriage

extra-dita-ble /'ekstrs.daitabl/ adj legal someone who is accused of an extraditable crime can be sent back to the country or state where the crime was committed for a trial ex*tra*dite /'ekstrs.dait/ verb [T] to send a criminal back to the country or state where a crime was committed for a trial: He was extradited to Britain on charges of terrorism.

ex*tra*di*tion /.ekstra'dijn/ noun [c/u] the process of extraditing

someone

ex-tra-ju-di-cial /,ekstr3d3u'dijl/ adj formal not within the usual powers of the law ex-tra-mar-i-tal /.ekstra'mentl/ adj involving a married person and another person who is not their marriage partner: an extramarital affair ex«tra«mu«ral/,ekstr3'mjur3l/adj 1 Am E extramural sports and other activities involve students from more than one school: extramural football —compare intramural 2 formal coming from or happening outside a particular organization, city, etc.: extramural funds ex-tra-ne-ous /ik'stremiss/ adj 1 not relating to the subject or situation you are dealing with: / deleted some +to All these factors are extraneous extraneous material. to our objectives. 2 existing or coming from outside

something ex-tra'Ordi'naire/ik.strDrdi'ner/ adj [never before noun] often humorous used for describing someone who is very good at doing something: Gary Vine, master chef extraordinaire

ex-traor-di-nar-i-ly /ik'strDrdn,erali/ adv • 1 extremely: He has served his country extraordinarily It was an extraordinarily difficult situation. well. 2 in a way that seems strange or unusual

ex«traor»di-nar-y /ik'strordn.eri/ adj ** 1 very unusual and surprising: It's an extraordinary most/quite extraordinary The whole idea is most story. it is extraordinary that It's extraordinary extraordinary. that no one disagreed with him. 1a. much better or worse than is usual: His courage and determination were extraordinary. The picture does not capture her extraordinary shocked by his extraordinary behavior beauty. 2 [only before noun]/orma/ done in addition to the normal activities or costs of an organization: an extraordinary In such circumstances the meeting I congress I session school had to take extraordinary measures.

extrap-o-late say what

/ik'straepa.leit/ verb [i/t]

is likely to

1

formal to

happen or be true by using

infor-

extrasensory perception mation that you already have:

— ex'trap'O'la'tion/ik.straeps'leiJn/nountC/U] perception

ex-tra-sen-so-ry

2

ex'tra-ter«res-tri-al /.ekstrata'restrial/ noun [c] a living being believed by some people to come from another planet ex-tra-ter-ri-to-ri-al /.ekstra.ten'tarial/ adj 1 formal outside the borders of a particular country 2 legal extraterritorial rights allow you to obey your own country's laws rather than the laws of the country where you are living extra time noun [u] Br E overtime at the end of a sports /ik'straevagans/ noun 1

[u]

the prac-

lot of money, especially more than 1a. [C] something that you spend a lot of money on, especially more than you should: My main extravagances are shoes and perfume. 2 [u] the extreme, unusual, or unreasonable quality of something

tice of

spending a

you should

extrava-gant

/ik'straevagant/ ad) 1 spending or costing a lot of money, especially more than is reasonable: an extravagant present 1a. using too much of something: an extravagant use of natural resources very extravagant with paper. + with We've been 2 extreme, unusual, or unreasonable: He made extravagant claims on his son's behalf. ex«trava*gant«ly adv

—

ex-trav-agan-za

/ik.straeva'gaenza/ noun [c] a large

and impressive celebration or event .extra virgin adj extra virgin olive oil is the highest quality of oil, produced by pressing the whole fruit: extra virgin olive oil

extreme

••

1

/ik'strim/ad| 1 [only before noun] very great in degree: extreme poverty/ hardship Use extreme caution when driving in wet conditions. Will the clothing give protection against extreme cold?

2

considered unreasonable by most people: extreme right-wing views an extreme liberal Their demands were seen as being too extreme. It seemed a little extreme to call the police.

3 very unusual:

exceptional: an extreme case In extreme your membership may be canceled. an extreme example (of sth) This city's problems offer an extreme example of the difficulties faced by the country as a whole. 3a. much more severe or serious than usual: The police cases,

were accused of using extreme violence against the protesters.

4

farthest away: the extreme end/edge/ The wooden buildings are situated at the extreme tip of the island. the extreme left /right /north /south The minister is on the extreme left of the picture. [only before noun]

tip

Words

frequently used with

nouns

[c]

ex*trenvis see in extremis ex'trerrvism /ik'stri ,mizam/ noun

[u] a tendency to political or religious ideas that are considered

have

extremely unreasonable by most people ex-trerrvist /ik'strimist/ noun [c] someone who has beliefs or opinions that are considered to be extremely unreasonable by most people: right-wing extremists ex-tre-mist adj: an extremist regime ex*trem*i*ty /ik'stremati/ noun formal 1 [c usually plural] a part of your body that is farthest from the main part, for example a finger or toe 1a. [C] a part of something that is farthest from the main part: The

—

boatyard is located at the southern extremity of the harbor. 2 [u] an extreme degree of something: silenced by the extremity of his anger 3 [C] a very bad situation, such as being very sick, injured, or poor: He had never been reduced to such an extremity before.

ex-tri-cate /'ekstn.keit/ verb

someone out of a

•

an opinion or way of behaving that is as different from another as it is possible to be: at the other/ opposite extreme Louise goes to the gym every day. At the other extreme, her husband gets absolutely no exercise at all. from one extreme to the other In terms of healthy eating I go from one extreme to the other. between two extremes The public's views on genetic engineering seem to range between two extremes. 2 [usually plural] a very large or very small degree of something: +of Extremes of temperature are not good for your skin. The country still contains extremes of wealth poverty.

go to extremes or take /carry sth to extremes to do something much more than is usual or reasonable: This political correctness taken to extremes.

in the extreme/orma/ extremely: used for emphasizing what you are saying: It is unlikely in the extreme that she will change her mind.

difficult

[t]

formal

1

to

get

or unpleasant situation: extri-

cate sb /yourself (from sth) Pete had managed to extricate himself from a very embarrassing situation. 2 to get someone or something out of a place, when this is difficult or dangerous: extricate sb/sth from sth It took two hours to extricate him from the rubble.

ex-trin-sic /eks'tnnsik/ ad\ formal coming from outside a particular person or thing: extrinsic influences

— opposite INTRINSIC

ex'tro'vert / 'ekstra,\3rt/ noun [C] someone who is very confident, lively, and likes social situations opposite

—

INTROVERT

ex-tro-vert-ed /'ekstra ,v3rtad/ adj confident and happy in social situations opposite introverted [t] technical to push something

—

ex-trude /ik'strud/ verb

out with force through a small hole /ik'stru3n/noun [C/U]

— ex-tru-sion

eX'U«ber«ant/ig'zjubarant/adj happy, excited, and full of energy: an exuberant crowd a. showing happiness, energy, and excitement: exuberant designs by a local artist ex*u*ber«ance noun [u], ex*u*ber*ant*ly adv ex-ude /ig'zud/ verb formal 1 [T] if you exude a particular quality, people notice easily that you have a lot

—

of it: Carlos exudes enthusiasm. 2 [i/T] if a smell or liquid exudes from something or something exudes a smell or liquid, it comes out of it slowly /ig'zAlt/ verb [i] formal to feel or show great pleasure and excitement, especially about something you have achieved: rejoice: +at/in Exulting in their success, the team did a lap of honor around the stadium.

ex*ult

ex-ul'ta-tion 3

1

is

noun [c/u] a sport or activity that is and dangerous, for example bungee jumping, WHITE-WATER RAFTING, Or SNOWBOARDING

exciting

extreme

case, circumstance, example, form, position

extreme 2 /ik'strim/ noun

and

*•*

very: used for adv emphasizing an adjective or adverb: He knows the area extremely well. It is extremely important to record everyThese negotiations will be extremely thing that happens. difficult for the company. /ik'strimli/

1

/ .ekstrata'restrial/ adj relating to things that exist on planets other than Earth

game ex-trav-a-gance

ex«treme«ly

extreme sport

/.ekstra.sensari

par'sepjan/ noun [U] esp

ex-tra-ter-res-tri-al

eye

483

possible to predict students' success by extrapolating from current exam 2 technical in mathematics, to calculate an scores. amount that you do not know by basing your calon amounts that you already know culations It's

/

excited, especially about ex'ul-tant'ly adv

—

1

eye /ai/noun 1

body part

noun [U] formal very pleased and something you have achieved

.egzAl'teifn/

ex-ul-tant /ig'z\ltant/

[C]

adj

•••

for seeing

2 expression on sb's face 3 for saying sb is looking 4 hole in needle

5 calm center of storm 6 spot on potato 7 part that hook

fits

into

+ PHRASES

1 one of the two body parts in your face that you use for seeing: Close your eyes and go to sleep. He stared into her eyes as she spoke. The suspect is in his twenties, with blond hair and blue eyes. 1a. your ability to see things: These bacteria are invisible to our eyes. 1b. the naked eye the human eye alone, without special equipment

such as a telescope —picture -» head 2 used for talking about the expression on someone's face: He spoke to her with slight amusement in his eyes. She smiled excitedly, her eyes gleaming. 3 used for saying that someone is looking at a person or thing: + on I fixed my eye on the clock.

eye 4 5

6

about a situation: to

comes

from

7 the part into -» HOOK AND EYE

which a hook

fits

to fasten clothing

eyes are on used for saying that everyone is paying attention to a particular person, event, or situation: ,4// eyes were on Car la as she completed her final dive. be up to your eyes in sth informal to have a very large amount of something to do or deal with: lean 't come out all

tonight. I'm up to my eyes in schoolwork. can't take your eyes off to be unable to stop looking at someone or something that is attractive, surprising, or interesting catch sb's eye 1 to get someone to look at you: I'll tryto catch his eye as he leaves the meeting. 2 if something catches your eye, you suddenly notice it: Something shiny in the grass caught my eye. close/shut your eyes to sth to refuse to accept or

consider something

an eye for an eye (and a tooth for a tooth) the idea that someone who has harmed another person should be punished by having the same thing done to them sb's eyes are bigger than their stomach informal used for saying that someone has taken more food than they can eat sb's eyes meet if two people's eyes meet, they look at each other and have the same feeling or thought for your eyes only used for saying that only one person is allowed to see a document, letter, etc. give sb the eye informal to look at someone in a way that shows you are sexually attracted to them have an eye for 1 to have a natural ability for seeing or rinding something: Proofreaders need to have a good eye for detail. 2 to consider a particular type of person sexually attractive: He's always had an eye for redheads. have an eye to sth to be considering something for the future: It is clear that the novelist has an eye to a Hollywood adaptation.

have your eye on sb

1 to be considering trying to start a sexual or romantic relationship with someone 2 to consider someone suitable for a particular job, position, or activity have your eye on sth to have seen something and want to have it or buy it: I've got my eye on a new DVD player. have eyes in the back of your head informal to notice everything that is happening around you have/keep your eye on sb to be watching someone carefully, especially because you think they are going

do something wrong have/keep your eye on sth to keep looking at something, especially to avoid making a mistake: It's importo

tant to keep your eye on the ball at all times. to keep looking at or paying attention to something while you are doing something else: / had one eye on the clock the whole time. in front of sb's (very) eyes or before sb's eyes in a place where someone can clearly see something: It happened right in front of my eyes. in the eye of the storm in the middle of a difficult

have one eye on sth

situation in sb's eyes according to what someone thinks or feels: In his mother's eyes, the boy can do no wrong. in the eyes of the law/world etc. according to the law, what other countries believe is right, etc: In the eyes of the law, theft is a less serious crime than handling stolen goods. keep an eye on to take care of someone or something: Will you keep an eye on things here until I get back? keep your eyes open/peeled (for sth) to keep looking for something that you hope to find: Keep your eyes open for a gas station. keep an eye out for to keep looking for someone or something, especially when you are doing something else: He asked me to keep an eye out for any houses to rent. look sb in the eye/eyes to look directly at someone, especially as a way to show that you are being honest:

Look me in the eye and tell me you didn do it. only have eyes for sb to only like or love a particular person 't

open

eyelash

484

the hole at the top of a needle the calm area at the center of a storm one of the spots on a potato that new growth

sb's eyes to sth to

make someone realize the truth

It

was

this incident that

opened

my eyes

her true character.

open your eyes

to sth to allow yourself to accept or consider something: He refused to open his eyes to the truth.

run/cast your eye(s) over sth to look at or read something very quickly see eye to eye (with sb) to agree with someone or have the same opinion as them: +with / don't see eye to eye with my father on many things. set/lay eyes on to see someone or something, especially for the first time take your eyes off to stop looking at someone or something: She only took her eyes off the child for a moment. there is more to sb than meets the eye used for saying that someone has qualities or experience that someone else does not know about there is more to sth than meets the eye used for saying that a situation is more complicated than it seems through sb's eyes as though a particular person is seeing or experiencing something: The story is told through the eyes of a child. under sb's eye with a particular person watching or taking care of someone or something: The girls sat on the ground under the watchful eye of their aunt. with your eyes (wide) open knowing that there could be many problems in a situation: / went into the job with

my

eyes open, fully knowing what it would involve. with your eyes shut/closed used for saying that it is easy to do something: / could do his job with my eyes shut.

-» BLIND

eye 2

1

*

/ai/ (present

participle eye*ing or eying) verb [T] 1 to look at someone or something carefully: A group of local boys eyed them suspiciously. 2 E to look at someone in a way that shows you are sexually attracted to them

Am

1

eye-ball /'ai,bol/ noun [c] the whole round ball that forms your eye be up to your eyeballs in sth informal to have a very large amount of something to do or deal with eyeball to eyeball mainly journalism very close together and looking at each other, especially in an angry or threatening way

eye-ball 2 /'ai.bol/ verb [t] informal to look or something directly and carefully

eye-brow /'ai,brau/ noun an

[c]

at

someone

•• the line of hair above

—

He has very bushy eyebrows. picture -» head your eyebrows to make your eyebrows go higher, example because you are surprised: He raised his

eye:

raise for

eyebrows in disbelief. there were raised eyebrows used for saying that people are shocked, surprised, or annoyed by something

eyebrow pencil

noun [c/u] a pencil used for making

your eyebrows look darker or thicker 'eye candy noun [U] informal someone or something that is attractive or enjoyable to look at, but has no other valuable qualities

eye-catching noticed

adj attractive

— eye- catchingly adv

or unusual and therefore

'eye .contact noun [u] a situation in which two people look at each other's eyes: make/establish eye contact He was very shy and found it difficult to make eye contact. -eyed /aid/ suffix used with some adjectives for describing someone with a particular color or shape of eye or a particular expression in their eyes: a brown-eyed girl He jumped back wide-eyed with horror. eye-drop-per /'ai.drapar/ noun [c] a tube with a piece of rubber on the end that you squeeze to put liquid medicine into your eye /'ai,fol/ noun [c] 1 an amount of something that has gotten into your eye: an eyeful of dust 2 informal an attractive person or thing

eye-ful

get an eyeful (of sth) informal to look at something surprising or shocking

eye-glass

/'ai.glss/ noun

formal glasses 2

eye-lash

[C]

1

eyeglasses

[plural]

Am E

a monocle

/'ai.laejV noun [C usually plural] one of the hairs along the upper and lower edges of your eyes —picture -»HEAD

eyelet

eye-lin-er/'ai.lamar/noun [C/u]a dark substance used picture -» makeup for drawing a line around your eyes 'eye .opener noun [c usually singular] 1 a situation that shows you things you did not know before 2 an alcoholic drink taken in the morning to wake up 'eyeopening adj 'eye patch noun [c] a piece of cloth, plastic, etc. used for covering one eye eye-piece / ai.pis/ noun [C] the glass part that you put your eye against in a microscope or telescope eye-pop-ping /aipapin/ adj informal extremely im-

—

—

pressive or surprising

eye shadow

e-zine

485

eye-let / 'aitat/ noun [c] a small hole in cloth surrounded by a metal ring, for putting a string or rope through eye level noun [u] the same height as your eyes when you are standing: The mirror should be at eye level. eye-lid /'ai.lid/ noun [c] one of the two pieces of skin that cover your eye when it is closed

noun [c/u] a colored substance that you can put on the skin above your eyes —picture -> makeup

eye-sight sight

your

is

/'ai.sait/

really bad.

noun [u] the ability to see: My eyeReading in poor light can damage

eyesight.

eye socket

noun

that your eyes

fit

[c]

one of the two parts of your face

into

eye-sore

/'ai,sor/ noun [c] something that is ugly or unpleasant to look at, especially a building

eye-strain

/'ai.strem/ noun (u) a condition in which your eyes hurt, for example because you have been

reading a

lot

eye teeth

noun would give your eye teeth for/to do sth spoken used for saying that you wish you could have/do something very much: I'd give my eye teeth for a house like that.

eye-wear /'ai,wer/

noun

[uj

formal glasses

eye-wit-ness

/'ai.witnas/ noun [c] someone who has seen something happen, especially a crime or an accident: Eyewitnesses describe the man seen running away as tall with brown hair.

e-zine

/'i

,zin/

on the Internet

noun

[C]

a magazine that you can read

or F (plural F's) noun |C/U] 1 the sixth English alphabet. F is a consonant. 2 F the fourth note in the musical scale of C major 3 F a grade that a teacher gives to a student's work to show that they have failed a test or a piece of work -» f-word f . abbrev 1 (plural ff.) following 2 forte F. abbrev 1 Fahrenheit 2 false 3 female fa /fa/ noun [C] the fourth note in the sol-fa musical SCALE f /el7

(plural fs)

letter of the

u

FAA, the

/,ef ei ei/ the Federal Aviation Adminthe U.S. government organization that is responsible for the safety of airplanes and airports

istration:

fab

/fa?b/ ad] informal old-fashioned extremely good /'feibl/ noun [c/u] a traditional story, usually about animals, that teaches a moral lesson fa-bled /'feibld/ adj 1 famous because of being extremely good, beautiful, or interesting: legendary

fa-ble

2 not

real or true: imaginary

fab-ric /'fsbnk/ noun

••

[C/U] cloth, especially when it is used for making things such as clothes or curtains: material: plain/ patterned /floral fa brie a wide range offurnishing fabrics 2 [singular] the basic structure of a society or organization: + of Small shops help to maintain the fabric of neighborhood life. the fabric of society Drug abuse poses a major threat to the fabric of society. 3 [singular] the roof and walls of a building: +of The fabric of the building has deteriorated badly. 1

fabricate

/'faebri.keit/ verb [t] 1 to make up a story or piece of information in order to make someone believe something that is not true: The defense accused police of fabricating evidence. 2 technical to make something such as a machine from different parts: manufacture

fab-ri-ca-tion /.faebn'keifn/ noun

1 [c/u] a story or piece of information that someone fabricates: invention: The story was a complete fabrication. 2 [u] technical the process of fabricating an object

fabric .softener noun [c/u] a liquid used clothes soft when you wash them

fabulous 1

/'faebjabs/ adj

for

making

•

informal extremely good: wonderful: You look fabua fabulous opportunity

lous.

2 very large or great: fabulous wealth 3 formal existing only in stories: mythical fab'U'lous-ly/'fsbjabsli/adv 1 extremely .fabulously wealthy 2 informal extremely well: He played fabulously. facade or fa-cade /fa'sad/ noun 1 [c] the front of a building, especially one that is large or impressive 2 [singular] a false appearance or way of behaving that hides what someone or something is really like: All that jollity is just

face

1

1 front of

a facade.

noun

/feis/

[c]

••*

head

2 mountain/building side 3 side of coin 4 waysth looks/appears

5 one flat side of object 6 front of clock + PHRASES

the front part of your head, where your eyes, nose, are: She wiped her face. He had a big smile on his face. The ball hit me in the face. 1a. the expression on someone's face, that shows how they are feeling: Marsha came back in with a worried face. 1b. used for referring to a person: There were a lot of famous faces at the book launch. a familiar face (^someone you know or recognize) It was very nice to see all the familiar faces again. a new face (=someone you did not know before) Look out for a couple of new faces in the team. the same old faces (=the same people) It's always the same old faces at the club, —picture -» head 2 a side of a mountain or building that is high and very steep: the north face of the Eiger a cliffface 3 one side of a coin 4 the way that something looks or appears to people: the face of sth players who changed the face of tennis 1

and mouth

4a. the qualities that something such as an organization has, or wants people to think it has: This is the new face of banking in America. 5 one flat side of an object such as a cube (=a shape

with six square sides) 6 the front of a clock, face was scratched.

where the numbers

are:

The clock

down

with the front or face toward the ground sb's face fits used for saying that someone is the right type of person for something face up with the front or face upward from/off the face of the earth used for emphasizing that something does not exist anywhere or cannot be found anywhere: Steve has disappeared off the face of the face

earth.

get out of my face spoken used for telling someone angrily and rudely to stop annoying you or trying to get involved in what you are doing in the face of in a situation where you have to deal with something unpleasant or difficult: They won in the face of stiff competition from all over the country. lose face to lose people's respect, especially by appearing weak or stupid: We need to find a way to end the conflict without either side losing face. make a face to put a silly or rude expression on your face, or an expression that shows you dislike someone or something on the face of the earth used for emphasizing that something is the biggest, best, worst, etc. that could possibly exist: He's the most expensive designer on the face of the earth. on the face of it used for saying that something appears to be true but might not be true when you have examined it in more detail: There is a document that, on the face of it, confirms his right to the property. put your face on informal if a woman puts her face on, she puts makeup on save face to avoid being embarrassed or losing people's respect: This is an attempt by politicians to save face at taxpayers' expense. set your face against sth Br E old-fashioned to be determined not to do or accept something to sb's face if you say something to someone's face, you say it to them directly -» BLUE BRAVE EGG FLY IN-YOUR-FACE, PRETTY 2 SHOW STRAIGHT2 6b, WRITE 1

1

,

face 2 1

/feis/ verb

1

1

,

,

1

,

,

,

*••

be pointing/turned to

2 deal with problem 3 accept

4 talk to sb although hard 5 have to compete against + PHRASES

be opposite someone or something so that your face or front is toward them: The two men faced each 1

[T]

to

other across the table. / turned to face the sun. 1a. [i/T] if something faces in a particular direction, its front is pointing or turned in that direction: + onto /toward/ away from The building faces onto a busy road. + upward /downward /inward /outward Keep your hands face north/ by your sides with the palms facing inward. south etc. My dining room faces north. 2 [T] if you face a problem or it faces you, it is likely or certain to happen and you have to deal with it: The family is behind with the rent and now faces eviction. How to combine a career and children is a dilemma facing many women. be faced with /by sth The country is now face doing sth Many of faced with the prospect of war. the shipyard workers face losing their jobs. 3 face or face up to [T] to accept that a bad situation exists and try to deal with it: We have to face the reality / decided I that, so far, the treaty has had little effect. face (up to) the fact that She must face up to the truth. had to face the fact that she still missed him. 3a. face facts used for saying that someone has to accept the truth, although it is unpleasant: When are these people going to face facts? 3b. (let's) face it spoken used before saying something that people might not want to accept, although it is true: Let's face it, unless we plan ahead we are going to be in trouble.

face card 4

can't face sth spoken to not want to do something because it is too difficult or unpleasant: He couldn't face the housework, so he left it until the morning, facedoing sth I just can't face attending another conference. face charges/counts (of sth) to be accused officially of committing a crime: He appeared in court facing two counts of theft. face the music informal to accept punishment or criti-

cism for something you have done wrong down phrasal vb [T] to appear strong and confident when someone is threatening or criticizing you: They showed they could face down the opposition. 2 face up to phrasal vb [T] same as face 3: He was the only one who faced up to the problem. 'face .card noun [c] a card with a picture of a king, queen, or jack on it in a set of cards used in card games face-cloth /Teis.klaG/ noun [C] a washcloth 'face .cream noun [c/u] a cream that you put on your face to make your skin softer -faced /feist/ suffix used with some adjectives to make other adjectives describing the face of someone or someface

a brass-faced clock

thing: a grim-faced receptionist [c]

large organization: decisions taken by faceless bureaucrats a. used about places and organizations: a faceless multinational company /'feis.lift/

noun

[C]

1

a medical operation to

make someone's face look younger 2 work that is done to make something look newer or more attractive: The library

is

getting a $2 million facelift.

'face mask noun [c] 1 something that you wear over your face to protect it 2 a face pack 'face-.off noun [C] 1 informal a disagreement or fight between two people or groups: confrontation: the faceoff between the president

method used 'face face

pack

and congressional

for starting a

game

leaders of ice hockey

2

[c] a substance that you put on for a short time in order to clean

noun

and leave

the

your your

skin

'face paint noun [C/U] special thick bright makeup used on children's faces to create animal faces or draw designs face painting noun [u] 'face powder noun [c/u] powder that women put on their faces as part of their makeup —picture -» makeup face- .saver noun [c] something that you do in order to

—

stop people losing respect for

you

'face-, saving adj done in order to stop people losing respect for you: a face-saving compromise

fac*et

take sb/sth at face value or accept sb/sth at face value to accept someone or something without considering whether they really are what they claim to be: These threats should not be taken at face value. 1 fa-cial /'feifl/ adj on your face: facial injuries facial fa-ciaMy adv: Facially the two men were very hair

—

different. 2

fascial

/'feijl/

noun

[C]

a beauty treatment in which it in order

someone rubs your face and puts creams on to improve your skin

fac-ile /'fs.sail/ adj too simple to deal with the difficulties of a real situation: facile conclusions fa-cil-i-tate /fa'sib.teit/ verb [t] formal * to make it possible or easier for something to happen: The counselor may be able to facilitate communication between the couple. fa-cihi'ta'tion /fa.sib'teijn/ noun [u] fa*cil*i*ta*tor /fs'sita.teitar/ noun [c] formal someone who helps a person or organization to find a solution to a problem facility /fs'sibti/ noun 1 [C usually plural] something such as a room or piece of equipment that is provided at a place for people to use: The hotel has excellent recreational facilities. There are plans to improve the restroom facilities at the bus station. Does the company offer any facilities for staff with young children? 1a. facilities [plural] a polite way of saying "bathroom" or "toilet": All the rooms have private facil-

—

•••

ities.

BrE a

washcloth face-less /'feisbs/ adj a faceless person does not seem to be an individual, usually because they are part of a

'face .flannel noun

facelift

fact

487

to talk to someone or deal with someone although this is difficult or embarrassing: /'// never be able to face her again after what happened. 5 [T] to have to compete against a person or team: The Bruins face the Flyers in the playoffs. [T]

noun [c] 1 an aspect of something such as a situation or someone's character: + of two important facets of his management style 2 one of the flat sides of / 'feesit/

a jewel

'face .time noun [u] Am E time spent with other people instead of communicating with them by phone, e-mail, or on the Internet fa-ce-tious /fs'sijas/ adj trying to be funny in a way that is not appropriate: / wasn't being facetious. facetious comments -fa*ce*tious*ly adv, fa-ce-tious

—

ness noun [U] .face to face adv 1 in a situation where you are meeting and talking to another person directly: It would be better if we talked face to face. come face to face with sb / came face to face with his mother. meet (sb) face to face They met face to face today for the first time. 2 in a situation where you are forced to deal directly with a problem: Her work brings her face to face with human suffering. come face to face with sth It would do you good to come face to face with reality for once. .face-to-'face adj involving two people who are together in the same place: a face-to-face meeting .face value noun [c/u] the value of a stamp or coin that is shown on the front of it

2

[C] a special feature of a particular tool, system, etc.: have the facility to do sth The software has the facility to produce high-quality graphics. 3 [C] an area or building used for a particular purpose: He works at the company 's manufacturingfacility in Texas. Haynes was taken to a psychiatric facility for evaluation. 4 [singular/u]/orma/ a natural ability to do something well: He has a facility for languages. fac-ing /'feisin/ noun 1 [C/U] an outside layer on a wall or building that is intended to make it look more attractive 2 [C/u] cloth fastened to the inside edges of a piece of clothing to make it stronger 3 facings [plural] the collar or cuffs of a jacket or coat when they are made in a different cloth or color from the rest fac*sinvMe /fcek'simali/ noun [c] 1 an exact copy of something, especially a book or document 2 formal a FAX fact /faekt/ noun 1 [C] a piece of true information: They have simply attempted to state the facts. + about Here children can discover basic scientific facts about the world. + of He

•**

wrote an article explaining the main facts of the case. hard/plain facts (=ones that people may find unpleasant)

We want the hard facts about what the project is going to 1a. [U] things that are true or that really happened, rather than things that are imaginary or not true: The story is based on historical fact. Margaret does not yet seem to have learned the difference between fact and cost.

fiction.

2 the

fact used for talking about a situation that is real or true, especially when you want to emphasize why deny the fact?** that He has never hidden the fact that he's gay. this: It 's obvious you're angry, so

after the fact after something has happened,

when

it is

impossible to change: On some vital decisions, senators were informed only after the fact. the fact (of the matter) is used for emphasizing what you think is the true situation or the most important point: The fact is, he lost because he didn't try very hard. a fact of life something that you may not like but have to accept because it is always there or always true: The need to ration healthcare resources is a fact of life. We must face the facts of life: in a recession, jobs are always being lost. the fact remains that used for emphasizing that something is still true despite what people have said or done: Everyone talks about sexual equality, but the fact remains that women are paid less than men. the fact that used after expressions such as "due to" or "in view of when you are giving some extra information: The increase in the rate of divorce may be partly due to the fact that people live longer. Some topics were not discussed in view of the fact that there were children present. / don 't like early mornings anyway, apart from the fact that I hardly slept last night.

fact-finding

made

o

the facts speak for themselves used for saying that the facts of a particular situation provide all the necessary, true information about it: We do not have to defend our record: the facts speak for themselves. get your facts straight/right to have the correct information about something, especially before criticizing someone or arguing with them: Before you start blaming us, you should get your facts straight. in (actual) fact 1 used for saying what is really true, when this is surprising or different from what people think: Managers worry about employees leaving for other companies, but in fact they are more likely to stay. He was paid money for a job that did not in fact exist. In actual fact, she was quite right. 2 used when you are adding

something

to

what you have

just said, especially some-

thing surprising: / haven't seen him for years. In fact, I remember what he looks like. She's a friend of mine, a very close friend in fact. is that a fact? spoken used for answering someone when they have told you something that you consider surprising or unlikely to happen it is a fact that used for emphasizing a statement: It is an undeniable fact that most people break the speed limit. know for a fact (that) used for emphasizing that you are sure something is true: / know for a fact that he was can't even

lying.

that's a fact used for emphasizing that you know something is true or agree that it is true: We're all getting too old for this and that's a fact. 2 -» FACE 3a, MATTER 1

fact- .finding adj done in order to find out information for a government or organization fac-tion /'faekfan/ noun ** 1 [C] a small group within a larger group, consisting of people with different opinions from the rest: The warring factions are nearing agreement on a peace plan. + of a faction of the ruling party 1a. [U] formal disagreement or fighting between small groups within a larger group 2 [C/U] informal a story, movie, or television program that is a mixture of real and imaginary events or people f ac-tion-al / 'faekjanl/ adj involving factions in a group: factionalism noun [U] factional fighting facti-tious /faek'tijas/ adj very formal artificial f actoid / 'faek.taid/ noun [C] a piece of information that becomes accepted as true because it is repeated very

—

often

fac-tor

1

fade

488

facts and figures pieces of information about something, rather than opinions or ideas the facts of life the facts about sex and how babies are

noun

/'faektar/

[c]

factor out phrasal vb [T] to not include a particular amount or factor when you calculate something

fac-to-ri-al /uck'tnrbl/ noun you get when you multiply a

factory farm noun

[u] a system in which animals or birds are kept inside in small spaces and made to grow or produce eggs very quickly factory farming noun [u]

factory floor, the noun

frequently used with factor

adjectives

crucial, deciding, decisive,

1

determining, important, key,

on the factory

/'faektar/ verb into factors

factor in phrasal vb factor

was

when you

virtually the

[T]

[T]

technical to divide a

to include a particular

where

among

the workers in a factory, managers: This policy will not be popular floor

rather than its on the factory floor.

factory .ship noun

a large fishing boat that carries fish that are caught fac'to-tum /faek'toutam/ noun [C] formal someone whose job is to do many different jobs for someone else 'fact sheet noun [C] a piece of paper that gives all the important information about something

equipment

[c]

to process

and freeze

/'faektfual/ adj * based on facts or containing only facts, rather than theories or opinions: factual information a factual program factu«aMy adv. fac-

factu-al

—

tually correct

factually incorrect/ inaccurate/ wrong

fac-ul-ty /'faeklti/ noun •• 1 [C] a department or group of departments in a university: the Faculty of Medicine the Law Faculty 2 [U]AmE all the teachers in a university, college, or school: a meeting for students, faculty, and administrators 3 [C often plural] a natural physical or mental ability that most people have: +of the faculty of speech mental faculties (=the ability to think clearly) He had not lost his mental faculties. critical faculties (=the ability to make judgments about things) For the moment her critical faculties seemed to have deserted her. be in full possession of your faculties (=have all the normal mental and physical abilities) Mrs. Findlay was in full possession of all her faculties.

FA

'Cup, the noun the most important soccer comEngland and Wales, played every year by teams belonging to the Football Association fad /faed/ noun [C] something that is popular or fashionable for only a short time petition in

fade /feid/ verb become 2 become 3

** 4

less clear less

famous

lose strength

5 stop performing well + PHRASES

start to die

the light fades, it gets dark 1a. [i/T] if the color of something fades or if something fades it, it gradually becomes paler: The sun had faded the red curtains, lb. [i] if something fades, it gradually becomes less clear or noticeable until it finally disappears Marie 's smile slowly His bruises are starting to fade now. 1c. [I] if a faded. sound fades, it gradually becomes quieter until you cannot hear it any more: The laughter faded when they saw Karl's face. +into They heard footsteps go past the room, then fade into the distance. 1d. [l] if a memory or feeling fades, it gradually becomes weaker until you do not have it anymore: Hopes that he will be found alive are fading. 2 fade or fade away [i] to become less famous or less important: After one hit record he rapidly faded into 1

[I]

if

:

obscurity.

3 [i] if a flower fades, it starts to die or fade away [i] if someone fades, they lose their strength and become sick or die 5 [i] mainly journalism if a player or team fades, they fad«ed/'feidid/ stop performing well and do not win the faded glory of the old hotel adj: faded blue jeans

4 fade

major

faC'tor2

the area in a factory

goods are produced

1

Words

in a factory. a car [only before noun] relating to a factory or in a factory .factory workers/ bosses

a.

working

1

important factor in a car's design. 2 a measurement that shows how strong or large something is: Use a sunscreen with a high protection factor. 3 technical a number that you can divide a larger number by exactly: 2 and 3 are factors of 6. 3a. by a factor of sth if something increases by a factor of 5, 10, 20, etc., it becomes 5, 10, 20, etc. times larger: The volume of traffic has grown by a factor offour.

the total that

duced using machines: She works factory

*•*

one of the things that influence whether an event happens or the way that it happens: We have tried to identify the factors that influence the age at which children leave school. +in Public pressure was a factor in the administration's decision. risk factor (=something that may cause something dangerous or harmful) Lack of exercise is also a risk factor for heart disease. an important /major /key factor Safety is the single most

[c] technical

number by all the whole numbers below it fac-tc-ry / 'fa,'kt(o)ri/ noun [c] ••• a building or group of buildings where large quantities of goods are pro-

number

amount or

calculate something: Total spending in real terms after factoring in

same

inflation.

factor into phrasal vb [T] [factor sth into sth] to include a particular amount or factor when you calculate something

—

away phrasal vb [l] 1 to disappear slowly: Her footsteps faded away down the staircase. 2 same as fade 2: Most of these fashions just fade away and are forgotten. 3 same as fade 4: If you don't start eating properly you're

fade

going to fade away. fade in phrasal vb [l/T]

if

a sound or picture fades in or

faint-hearted

faeces gradually becomes louder or clearer: The DJ faded in another record. fade out phrasal vb [i/T] if a sound or picture fades out, or you fade it out, it gradually disappears: The voice on

you fade

in, it

it

the radio faded out.

fae-ces

the Br

/ 'fisiz/

E

spelling of feces

fa-er-ie or fa-er-y /'feisri/ noun

[c]

"fairy"

'fag ,end noun is left

[c]

BrE

word

for a

informal the part of a cigarette finished smoking it

when someone has

the fag end of sth the last and worst part of something 'out adj BrE informal very

fagged /faegd/ or .fagged tired / 'faegat/

gay

man 2

boils at 212°

Fah-ren-heit 2 /'feran.hait/ adj measured in Fahrenheit. The written abbreviation is "F": The temperature was 1

72 degrees Fahrenheit.

/fed/ verb

1

••• 4 no longer work/continue 5 lose quality/ability

be unsuccessful

2 not do sth expected 3 not do well enough

1 [I] to be unsuccessful when you try to do something: Most people who try to lose weight fail dismally. fail to do sth They have failed to come up with any practical

+ in He failed in his attempt to get compensation. 1a. used about actions or plans: Attempts to revive him It looks as if the negotiations are going to fail.

solutions. failed.

— opposite SUCCEED 2

government money wasted on failing failing eyesight industries a. used about someone who is very old and seems likely to die soon: his failing parents

emphasizing that someone or something always does something that you expect them to do: This recipe never You never fail to astonish me! fails to impress people. 2b. [T] if someone fails you, they do not do what they promised or what you trusted them to do: He felt he had The political system has failed us. failed his teammates. 3 [l/T] to be unsuccessful in achieving a satisfactory level or standard: The new airplane failed a safety test. She failed all her tests. +on I failed on the written part

my

driver's

test.

3a.

[T]

someone or

to decide that

something has not achieved a satisfactory score or standard: Teachers failed nearly

30% of

the students.

—opposite pass 4 [I] if something such as a machine or an organ in your body fails, it no longer works correctly: The brakes failed and the van crashed into a tree. 4a. if someone's health

is failing,

they are becoming

weak and

less able

do things: He is old now and his health is starting to 4b. if something such as a business or a relationship fails, it has a lot of problems and can no longer continue: If interest rates go up, more small businesses will fail. 4c. if crops fail, they do not finish growing and cannot be used for food 4d. if the rains fail, it does not rain during the usual season or time of the year 5 [T] mainly literary if a quality or ability fails you, you suddenly lose it: At the last minute, her courage failed to

fail.

her.

fail to see/understand spoken formal used for saying in an annoyed way that you do not understand something: I fail to see why anybody would marry a man like I

that.

used for saying that, if other methods do not succeed, there is one last thing that you can try to do: If all else fails she can ask her father for money. if all else fails

Words adverbs

nouns

fail-ing /'feilirj/ preposition used for saying that if one thing is not appropriate or possible, then there is something else you can try: failing that You should get them to pay for the damage or, failing that, claim on the insurance.

fail-safe adj designed to make a machine or piece of equipment stop working if part of it stops operating normally: a fail-safe mechanism fail- safe noun [C]

—

failure

/'feiljsr/

noun

***

[C/U] a lack of success in doing something: I'm too to admit failure. + of The failure of the talks has worse. end/result in failure Their first attempt to climb Everest ended in failure, failure to do sth She is depressed by her continued failure to find a job. —opposite success 1a. a situation in which you do not do something that someone expects you to do: failure to do sth Failure to comply with the rules can result in expulsion. + of He was angry about the failure of the U.N. to intervene in the crisis. 2 [C] someone or something that has not achieved success: She had to admit that it had all been a total I feel like such a failure. opposite success failure. 3 [C/u] a situation in which something such as a machine or an organ in your body stops working cor1

proud

made the situation

—

/brake /power failure The crash seems to have been caused by an engine failure. heart/ liver/ kidney failure i/e died from liver failure. 3a. a situation in which a business cannot continue operating: Business failures soared by more than a third in the second half of this year. 3b. a situation in which crops do not finish growing, so that they cannot be used for food 4 [C/U] a sudden loss of a particular quality or ability, especially in a difficult situation: a failure of imagination 4a. a sense of humor failure a situation in which you are unable to see that something is funny fain /fern/ adv would fain an old phrase meaning rectly: engine

to not do something that people expect you to do: do sth She failed to give any explanation for her actions. He failed to come home at the usual time. fail in your duty /obligation The government is failing in its duty to protect people. 2a. never fail to do sth used for [i]

fail to

of

makes someone or something

3

noun [c] 1 offensive an offensive word another spelling of fagot 'fag hag noun [C] offensive a woman who likes spending time with gay men fag-ot /'fcegat/ noun [c] old-fashioned small sticks tied together and used for burning on a fire 1 Fah-ren-heit /'feran.hait/ noun [u] a system for measuring temperature in which water freezes at 32° and

fag-got

fail

1

/'feilirj/ noun [c] a fault or a weak point that less effective: He had his the failings of failings, but he was basically a good man. the criminal justice system 2 fail-ing /'feilirj/ adj no longer strong or healthy: his

fail-ing

/f;eg/ noun [C] 1 offensive an offensive gay man 2 Br E informal a cigarette

for a

/feild/ ad] unsuccessful: He has two failed marriages behind him. a failed attempt a failed comedian

failed

an old spelling of

fag

that

2

fail /fed/ noun without fail 1 used for emphasizing that something always happens in the same way or at the same time: He calls me every Sunday night without fail. 2 used for emphasizing that someone must do something: / want to see you here at 8 o'clock without fail!

1 a faint sight, sound, smell, or taste is not strong or clear: He could see the faint glow of a lamp through the curtains. His voice was so faint as to be almost inaudible. the faint scent of woodsmoke la. used about memories and feelings: Her memories of her father were very faint. 1b. used about the expression on someone's face: She shrugged, forcing a faint smile. 2 a faint hope or possibility is very slight: He looked around the room in the faint hope that Sam might suddenly

appear. 3 feeling that you are going to become unconscious: Dan suddenly felt faint. faint-ness noun [u]

—

2

faint /feint/ verb

[i]

* to suddenly become unconscious

for a short time, and usually fall to the ground: Many people in the crowd fainted in the heat. 3 faint /feint/ noun [c] a short time during which someone is unconscious, after having fainted faint-est / 'femtast/ adj used for emphasizing that some-

thing is very slight or very small: There wasn't the faintest trace of pity on his face.

not have the faintest idea used for emphasizing that you do not know or understand something: slightest: / haven't the faintest idea what you mean. faint-heart-ed 1 /,feint 'hartad/ adj not brave or enthusiastic

frequently used with fail abysmally, completely, dismally, miserably, narrowly attempt, bid, mission, plan

"would like to" 1 faint /feint/ adj**

f aint-heart-ed

2

1

/ ,feint 'hartad/ noun not for the fainthearted humorous not appropriate for people who are

1

easily frightened or shocked: a fairground ride that definitely not for the faint-hearted

is

:

faintly

faith

490

faintly /Temtli/ adv

in a

way

2

fair /fer/ noun

not clear or "Where are strong: The car smelted faintly of cigarettes. we going?" she said faintly. 2 slightly: He looked faintly 1

that

is

•

[c]

1 funfair an event where people ride on special machines and play games to win prizes event where people or companies bring their products for you to look at or buy: an antiques I art /book

2 an

ridiculous.

***

1

fair /fer/ad|

fair 1 treating

all

6

equally

2 reasonable/morally right 3 not bad but not very good 4 pleasant and not raining 5 light in color 1

o

if

a situation

is fair,

be correct

likely to

7 beautiful 8 when size + PHRASES

3

fete an event organized by a school, church, or charity to make money

etc. is large

fair game.

everyone

is

treated equally

fairground / 'fer.graond/ noun

and

is

in a reasonable way: Life is not always fair. Everyone has a right to a fair trial, tfree and fair elections it is not fair to sb It wouldn't be fair to the others if she is paid more. 1a. a fair person treats everyone equally and in

a reasonable way: Teachers have to be scrupulously fair in grading test papers. 2 reasonable and morally right: a fair deal/price/share We aim to provide healthy food at fair prices. it is (not) fair to do sth It is not fair to attack his personal life in this way. 2a. it is only fair used for saying that a particular action is correct or reasonable: It is only fair to let him + (that) It's only fair that I should pay half of the cost. go. 3 not bad but not very good: average 4 if the weather is fair, it is pleasant and not raining 5 fair hair is blonde (=light yellow) or very light brown in color 5a. someone who is fair has light hair and pale skin— opposite dark 6 a fair guess or idea is reasonable and likely to be correct: have a fair idea of sth / had a fair idea of what he was going to say next. 7 literary beautiful: a fair princess

8

[only before noun]

size,

number,

used for emphasizing that an amount, By this time she had saved up

etc. is large:

a fair amount of money.

love and war spoken used for saying that unfair behavior is allowed in some situations be fair spoken used for telling someone to stop being all's fair in

unreasonable fair means or foul using whatever methods are necessary, even dishonest or illegal methods fair and square in a way that is clear and fair, so that no one can complain or disagree: She had to admit she'd been defeated fair and square. fair comment spoken used for saying that you accept a statement or criticism fair enough spoken 1 used for saying that you understand and accept what someone says 2 used for saying that something seems reasonable but you do not agree with it completely: If you want to waste your time, fair enough, but don 't waste mine too. fair's fair spoken used for saying that someone should accept something because it is fair a fair shake informal a fair chance (I) can't say fairer than that Br E spoken used for saying that something is the best and fairest offer you can

by

make a fair bet (that) Br E used for saying that something seems likely to happen: If we leave, it's a fair bet that she'll come after us. it's fair to say (that) used for saying that a particular it's

statement

is

likely to be true: / think

it's fair to

say that

new tax. (more than) your fair share of sth used for emphasizing that an amount is very large, especially an amount of something bad: Jean has had her fair share of

people are not happy about this

tragedy.

play fair to behave in a

way

follows the rules seem/look/be set fair

Br E formal

succeed to be fair or

that

is fair

to

and honest and

seem

likely to

be fair used for making your criticism of someone or something seem less strong: / have never let's

liked their music, although, to be fair, millions of people disagree with me. with your own fair hands Br E humorous used for saying that you have made or done something yourself

Words frequently used with adverbs

game

noun [u] someone or something that it is fair to criticize or attack: The media see politicians as

,fair

fair

absolutely, completely, entirely, perfectly, scrupulously, very

[c]

an area of land that

used for fairs

fair-haired

/,fer

herd/

adj

with hair that

is light

in

color

fair-haired boy noun [c] Am E informal someone who is liked by a person who has power or influence, and

who

is

i

therefore likely to be successful

fairly /'ferli/adv *** 1 to some degree, but not completely or extremely: rather, reasonably: His statement explains the situation We went to the theater fairly often. He enjoys fairly well. fairly good health. 2 in a fair way: / do my best to treat all my children

J

|

fairly.

3

old-fashioned used for emphasizing that something happens or is done in an extreme way: positively: She fairly screamed at me. ,

fair-minded

adj

judging people or situations in a

way

1

and

j

that is completely fair

fairness

/'fernas/ noun [u] behavior that

is fair

reasonable in (all) fairness used for making your criticism of someone or something seem less strong: to be fair: / should say in fairness to him, that he's quite a shrewd politician.

play noun [u] 1 the behavior of players who follow the rules of a game and do not cheat 2 behavior that is fair and honest: He has no sense offair play.

.fair

.fair 'sex, .fair

the noun

to 'middling

old-fashioned adj

women

humorous not bad but not

very-

good

fair-way

/'fer.wei/ noun [c] the long part of a golf course that you hit the ball along to get to the hole —picture -» ci4 fair-weather 'friend noun [c] someone who only wants to be your friend when things are going well for

you

fairy /'feri/ noun 1

[c]

•

an imaginary creature with magic powers that looks

like a small person with wings 2 offensive an offensive word for a

gay man cake noun [c] BrE a cupcake 'godmother noun [C] a woman in traditional

'fairy

.fairy children's stories who has magic powers and helps people a. a woman who likes helping people

fairyland

/'feri.lasnd/ noun 1 [u] an imaginary place where fatries live 2 [singular] a place that has a special and exciting quality fairy tale or fairy story noun [c] * 1 a traditional children's story in which magic things happen 2 a story or explanation that someone has invented in order to make people believe something that is not true fairy-tale /'feri.teil/ adj extremely good, beautiful, or

happy: a fairytale romance fait ac-com-pli /.fet akam'pli; ,feit ako'pli/ noun [c] formal something that has already been done and cannot be changed faith /feiG/ noun 1 U strong belief in or trust of someone or something have faith in I'm delighted to know you have such faith in me. lose faith in The public have lost faith in what the government is doing. put your faith in (=decide to trust someone or something) Maybe we put too much faith in restore /destroy your faith in doctors and medicine. The attack has destroyed his faith in humankind. blind faith They seemed to accept everything he ^unreasonable)

•*•

[

]

said with blind faith. 2 [U] belief in a god or gods: Religious faith expresses

faithful

fall

491

downstairs and hurt

a variety offorms. + in Faith in God helped him through his illness. 2a. [C] a religion: people of many the Christian/Jewish/Muslim etc. faith a person of the Jewish faith break faith with to stop supporting a person or idea keep faith with to continue to support a person or idea

fallen her back.

itself in

keep falling off not unusual for to fall out of bed. fall to your death A climber fell to his death today. 1a. to come down toward or onto the ground from the sky: Snow began to fall.

my

different faiths

even when this

is difficult

-» LEAP2

faith-ful/'feiGfal/adj* 1 continuing to support someone or be their friend, even in a difficult situation: loyal: a faithful friend/ servant/follower He had always been a faithful friend. 1a. continuing to do or believe something, even in a difficult situation: Dr. Still gave years of faithful service. +to He remained faithful to his beliefs. 1b. used about a dog who behaves like a friend 2 showing or describing something in a way that is exactly correct: a faithful reproduction of the original painting 3 not having sex with anyone other than your partner: + to Ken has always been faithful to his wife, —opposite UNFAITHFUL 4 the faithful the people who support a particular political party, sports team, musician, etc. His enthusiasm has obviously appealed to the party faithful. 4a. mainly literary the people who believe in a religion faith'ful-ness noun [U] :

—

faithfully

/TeiGfali/adv

•

1 in a loyal and honest way: Our party's faithfully serve the people. 2 accurately and exactly: / tried to translate fully as possible.

aim it

is

to

as faith-

Yours faithfully mainly Br E used at the end of a formal you sign your name faith healer noun [c] someone who uses prayer to letter before

make sick people well— faith healing noun [u] faithless /'feiGtas/ adj mainly literary not loyal or honest

— faith'less*ness noun [u]

fa-ji-ta /fa'hits/ noun [C] a Mexican meal that consists of thin pieces of chicken, vegetables, or meat cooked and then rolled up inside a tortilla: chicken fajitas

fake

1

/feik/ adj made to look like something real in order to trick people: a fake passport / visa / document a. made to look like something else, especially something expensive: fake fur /pear Is /leather* a fake tan b. a fake action or feeling is false: a fake smile *fake emotion fake 2 /feik/ noun [c] 1 a copy of something such as a painting or piece of jewelry that is intended to trick people 2 someone who pretends to have skills that they do not really have

fake 3

1 to pretend that something has has not: He left the country after faking his own death. 2 to make an exact copy of something in order to trick people: The signature had been faked. 3 to pretend to have a feeling that you do not have: He sighed with faked sadness. fa-kir /fs'kir/ noun [c] a Hindu or Muslim holy man who lives by begging (=asking people for money and

/feik/ verb

happened when

[T]

it

food)

falafel

/fs'lafl/ noun [u] a Middle Eastern food made from chickpeas, onion, and spices made into balls and cooked in oil fal-con /'faelksn/ noun [c] a bird that kills other birds and animals for food and can be trained to hunt fahcorver /'faelkanar/ noun [c] someone who trains and uses falcons to hunt fal-con-ry /'fslksnri/ noun [u] the activity or skill of training falcons to hunt 1 fall /fbl/ (past tense fell / fel /; past participle faMen /Tobn/)

verb 1

2 3 4 5 6 7

[I]

•*•

to

another state

lose power/control

hang down belong to group/activity

happen on

/

It's

Bombs

fell

on

the

city

throughout the night. * Xobody knows what caused the airplane to fall out of the sky. lb. fall

or

fall

down

to

move quickly down onto the ground from an upright or standing position: / slipped and almost fell down. He fell heavily on his arm and broke it. We heard the crash of falling trees. fall to the ground/floor He collapsed and fell to the ground. fall to/ on your knees Maria fell to her knees and began to pray. 1c. to let yourself drop onto a bed, chair, etc. because you are tired: + into /onto After work I just want to fall into bed and sleep. 2 to become lower in level, amount, or value: The temperature has been falling steadily all day. The program was canceled because offalling audience figures. + to/from Inflation in August fell to 3.9%. + by Industrial production has fallen by 10%. + below If your grades fall below a certain level, you have to go to summer school. opposite rise 3 to change into another state or condition: fall asleep/ sick Shortly before Christmas she fell sick. + into I climbed into bed and fell into a deep sleep. fall into decay/ disrepair/ ruin /disuse The building gradually fell into decay. 3a. if something falls open, it opens accidentally: The book fell open at a map of the city. 3b. darkness/ night/dusk falls it becomes dark in the evening: Darkness was falling as we reached the house. 3c. a silence/ hush falls mainly literary used for saying that a group of people suddenly become quiet: A respectful hush fell over the crowd as she entered. 4 to lose a position of power: Divisions within the ruling party caused the government to fall, fall from power The General fell from power in 1955. 4a. if a place falls in a war, a different army takes control of it: The city is expected to fall within days. 4b. if an area falls to a political party during an election, a different party takes control of it: +to In the last election, the state fell to the Democrats. 4c. literary if people fall in a war, they are killed 5 mainly literary to hang down: + over/onto/to Her long black hair fell over her shoulders. The coat falls to just

—

above the ankles. 6 to belong to a particular group or area of activity: + outside This question falls outside my area of expertise. + within/ into Those items fall into the category of luxurygoods. 7 to happen on a particular day or date: Christmas falls on a Saturday this year. 8 mainly literary if something such as a shadow or light falls on a surface, it goes over or onto the surface: + on/ over His shadow fell over the book I was reading. 9 if the emphasis falls on a particular part of a word, you emphasize that part when you say or sing it: In English, the stress in "Paris" falls on the first syllable. 10 to slope downward: Here the land rises and falls in gentle hills, —opposite rise 1 1 if someone's voice falls, it becomes quieter: His voice fell to a whisper, —opposite rise

12

if

notice

your eyes

fall

on someone or something, you

them

the first/final hurdle to fail at the beginning or near the end of something that you are trying to do of to get into trouble with someone or some-

fall at

fall foul

move downward quickly become lower in amount change

bike.

small children

particular

thing 8 about light/shadow etc. 9 emphasize part of sth 10 slope downward 11 become quieter 12 notice sb/sth + PHRASES

day

1 to move quickly downward from a higher position, usually by accident: + off /through /out of etc. Ann's just

from grace/favor to lose your position, or to lose the respect or approval of other people fall in love to start to love someone: +with Why do we fall in love with one person rather than another? fall into place 1 if the details of a problem or puzzle fall into place, you suddenly understand how they are connected and can solve the problem 2 if things fall into place, events happen in a way that is satisfactory' for you: When you are playing well, everything falls into fall

place.

fall

is likely to

fall to

fall short of a parliamentary majority. literary to start doing something

doing sth

pieces 1 to be in a very bad condition because of being old or badly made: The furniture's falling to pieces. 2 to be so upset or unhappy that you cannot behave normally 3 if a theory, system, or relationship falls to pieces, it no longer works fall under sb's influence/sway to be strongly influenced by someone: At college she fell under the influence of her professor, a noted Marxist. -» FOOT PREY1 VICTIM 2a fall to

1

e

fallen

492

over yourself to do sth to be very enthusiastic about doing something fall short to not reach a particular level or to fail to achieve something you were trying to do: + of The party fall

,

,

Words

frequently used with fall

adverbs

dramatically, rapidly, sharply, slightly, steadily, steeply

a part phrasal vb [l] 1 to break because of being old or badly made: I've read this book so often it's falling 2 to lose control of your emotions and become unable to deal with a difficult situation 3 if something such as an organization, agreement, or relationship falls apart, it no longer continues fall away phrasal vb [i] 1 if land falls away, it slopes down suddenly from a particular point: The ground fell away below us to the ocean. 2 to become smaller or lower in amount, level, value, etc. 3 BrE literary if something such as a sound or feeling falls away, it becomes weaker and disappears 4 if something falls away, it breaks off from the thing it was fixed to: Plaster was falling away fall

apart.

from the walls. back phrasal vb [i] 1 to move so that you are behind someone or something: Oliver and Sara fell back and started talking. 2 to become smaller or lower in amount,

fall

something

back slightly this month. phrasal vb [T] [fall back on sth] to use or do something else after other things have failed: She always has her teaching experience to fall back on. fall behind phrasal vb 1 [i/t] [fall behind sb] to make less progress or be less successful than other people who are doing a similar job or activity: My daughter is falling behind with her school work. 2 [i] to fail to do something or pay something at the time that you should: We started to fall behind with the rent. 3 [i/t] [fall behind sb] to move level, value, etc.: Profits fell

back on

more slowly than other people

so that you are behind them: After five miles Tara was tired and started to fall behind. On the hill he fell behind the other runners.

fall

down phrasal vb [l] 1 same as fall ib: I fell down and my knee. 2 if something you are wearing is falling 1

hurt

down, it is slipping down your legs: The boy came into the room with his pants falling down. 3 if something such as an argument or system falls down, it fails because a particular part of it is weak or not correct 3a. fall down on the job to do a particular job or activity in a careless way with the result that you are not successful 4 [always progressive] if a building is falling down, it is in very bad condition fall for phrasal vb [T] 1 [fall for sb] to fall in love with someone: He fell for Rosie when he was in the hospital and she was his nurse. 2 [fall for sth] to believe that a trick or a joke is true: How could you fall for such an obvious trick? in phrasal vb [l] 1 literary if you fall in behind or beside someone, you start walking behind or beside them: He fell in behind the procession. 2 if a roof or wall falls in, it falls to the ground fall into phrasal vb [t] [fall into sth] to start doing something by chance: She fell into modeling almost by accident.

fall

conversation to start having a conversation with someone, especially someone you have just met fall into sb's hands 1 to be caught by someone or come fall into

under their control: All the western provinces had fallen into enemy hands. 2 if something falls into someone's hands, they get it, usually by chance: We don't want this information to fall into the wrong hands. fall into step if you fall into step beside someone, you start walking beside them fall in with phrasal vb [T] 1 [fall in with sb] to become friends with someone: She fell in with a group of troublemakers. 2 [fall in with sth] to accept or agree with someone else's ideas, way of behaving, etc.: / tried to fall in with the general

mood

of celebration.

falls off,

woman

the amount, level, or value of gets smaller: Sales always fall off

if

[I]

it

in the winter months.

on

u.pon mainly literary phrasal vb [T] 1 [fall on sb] if something falls on someone, it is their responsibility to do it: The burden of caring for elderly parents often falls on women. 2 [fall on sb] to take hold of someone suddenly, either to attack them or to hug them: She was so grateful she fell on him and kissed him. 3 [fall on sth] mainly Br E to start eating food or start using something as soon as it arrives, in a way that shows you want it very much fall out phrasal vb [i] 1 informal to stop being friendly with someone because you have had a disagreement with them: Have you two fallen out?* +with I'd fallen out with my parents. 2 if something such as your hair or a tooth falls out, it comes out fall over phrasal vb 1 [i/T] if you fall over or fall over something, you fall or almost fall to the ground: The fall

or fall

room is full of boxes and people keep falling over them. 2 [i] if something falls over, it falls so that its side is on the ground fall through phrasal vb [i] if something such as a deal, plan, or arrangement falls through, it fails to happen fall to phrasal vb [T] formal [fall to sb] if a particular job or duty falls to someone, it is their responsibility: fall to sb to do sth It fell to me to explain to him what happened. fall

fall

.fall

off phrasal vb

1

2

/fol/

noun

1

season

2 3 4 5

when

•*•

sb/sth

6 downward movement 7 waterfall

falls

from high place or sky

8

when amount

+ PHRASES

etc. falls

in

wrestling/judo

defeat or loss of power

[C usually singular]

and winter.

AmE

the season between

BrE autumn: He

will

go away

summer

to college in

the fall.

2 [C] an occasion when someone or something falls to the ground: She was taken to the hospital after a fall. break •i-from The Major was killed in a fall from a horse. sb's fall (=stop them from landing on something very broken hard) Luckily her fall was by soft snow. 3 [C] [+of] an occasion when something falls to the ground from the sky or from a high place: There had been a fall of rocks on the road. a heavy fall of snow 4 [C] an occasion when the amount, level, or value of something falls: +in There has been a sharp fall in unemployment, —opposite rise 5 [singular] someone's defeat or loss of power: +of reunified after the fall of Communism. the the rise and fall of the Roman Empire the sb Thousands fled after the fall of the city to

Germany was rise

and

fall of

fall of sth to

rebel forces.

6 [singular] the downward slope or movement of something: She watched the steady rise and fall of his chest. 7

waterfall:

falls [plural] a

We went

to

swim under

the

falls.

8

[C]

an act of pushing your opponent

to the

ground in

the sport of wrestling or judo

the Fall in the Jewish and Christian religions, the story of how evil came into the world because Adam and Eve did not obey God fall from grace/favor an occasion when you lose the respect or approval of other people

fal-la-cious /fs'leiJW mation or ideas fal-la-cy /'faetasi/ noun

adj

1

formal based on [C]

an idea or

false infor-

belief that

is

many

people think is true 2 [C/u]formal a mistake in an argument or idea that makes it false: The new study shows the fallacy in previous reasoning.

false but that

fallback use

if

fa Men

1

noun [c] something that you can plan or idea fails

/'fol.baek/

your

first

/'fobn/

adj

on the ground

after falling: fa lien

leaves

the fallen formal the soldiers a war 2

who have been 1

killed in

fal-len /'fotan/the past participle of fall noun [c] old-fashioned a word used in fallen the past for a woman who had sex with a man she was not married to

woman

fall

guy

SCAPEGOAT f al-li-ble / 'ftebbl / ad) not perfect, and likely to be wrong Everyone is or make mistakes: a fallible legal system faMhbiM-ty/faela'biteti/nounlu] fallible. falMng-out /.fblirj 'aot/ noun [C] informal an occasion when you have a disagreement with someone: Tom's had a falling-out with his brother. falling star /.folin 'star/ noun [c] a shooting star

—

fall-off noun [singular] a reduction in the amount or level of something: a fall-off in sales f al-lo-pi-an tube / faloopian 'tub/ noun [c) one of the two tubes in a woman's body that carry eggs produced in her ovaries to her womb (=the part of her body where a baby can grow) fall-out /'fol.aot/ noun 1 [singular/u] the unpleasant effects of something that has happened: The fallout from the Asian financial crisis has continued to affect business. 2 [U] the dangerous dust that falls to the ground after a nuclear explosion .fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear

false ac counting noun

fallout .shelter noun [c] a building under the ground where people can go if there is a nuclear attack fteloo/ adj 1 fallow land has been plowed, but does not have crops growing on it 2 a fallow period is a time when not much happens or is achieved fallow deer noun [c] a small European deer that has white spots on its fur false /fols/ adj •• 1 not true: The report was dismissed as totally false. a

faMow /

—

opposite true false statement /claim /accusation 2 made to look like something real: artificial: false eyelashes 2a. not real and intended to trick people: a false passport 3 based on a mistake or on wrong information: a false impression/belief /hope The media gave the world a false impression of life in the city. 4 not showing what you really feel or intend: insincere: This is no time for false modesty. a false smile false positive/negative

an incorrect result of a

sci-

entific test

a false sense of security the feeling of being safer than

you really are under false pretenses by tricking people: He obtained money under false pretenses. false-ly adv: My brother was falsely accused of murder. She smiled falsely.

—

frequently used with false

adverbs

blatantly, completely, entirely,

nouns

accusation, allegation, assumption, belief, claim, description, impression,

1

patently, totally, utterly 1

statement

Other ways of saying false imitation made to look like something else, usually something more expensive: imitation leather artificial made to have the same features or do the same job as something else that exists naturally: artificial cream / sweeteners/flavorings fake made to look like something valuable or important, often in a

way

that

is

meant

to trick people:

fake jewelry or fur

forged made to look exactly like something valuable or important and used illegally to trick people: a forged signature /passport /painting counterfeit made to look exactly like something valuable or important and used illegally to trick people: used especially for describing illegally produced money: counterfeit currency /traveler's checks

phony (informal) used for describing behavior and emotions that are not natural or sincere: He didn't fool anyone with that phony Italian accent. bogus (informal) false and used for tricking people or pretending to be somebody you are not: bogus auto parts a bogus repairman pirated used for describing copies of things such as books or videos that have been made and sold illegally: They were caught selling pirated copies of the album.

giving

erately

false

BrE

the crime of delibinformation in a company's [u]

accounts

alarm

noun [c] a situation in which you think bad is going to happen, but it does not false cognate or false friend noun (c) linguistics a word in a language that looks or sounds similar to a word in another language but means something dif-

false

that something

ferent

false

dawn

noun [C] a situation in that something good will happen, but

which you think

it does not noun [C/u] something that you do because you think it will save you money, but in fact

false

costs

economy

you more

falsehood

/'fols.hod/ noun formal 1 [C] a statement that is not true: lie 2 [u] the fact of being not true opposite TRUTH

—

false im'prisonment noun [u] the crime of preventing someone from leaving a place when you have no legal right

false

disaster

Words

familiar

493

guy

noun [c] informal someone who is blamed or punished for something bad that someone else has done:

fall

move

to do this noun [C] a careless mistake that has a bad

effect

false start noun

[c] 1 an unsuccessful attempt to start something: After a few false starts, he took over the company last month. 2 a situation at the beginning of a race when one person starts too soon false teeth noun [plural] a set of artificial teeth fahset'to/folsetou/noun [C] a man's singing or speaking voice that is much higher than normal fal«set«to adj, adv fals»ies /'folsiz/ noun [plural] informal artificial breasts a. pieces of material that a woman puts inside her bra to make her breasts look bigger fal-si'fy /'folsi.fai/ verb [T] to change something deliberately in order to trick other people fal*si»fi*ca*tion

—

—

/folsifi'keijn/

noun [C/U]

f alsi-ty / folsati/ noun [u] formal the fact that is not true or real

something

FahstafM-an

/fol'stxfbn/ adj a Falstaffian person laughs a lot, drinks and eats too much, and generally liked by other people fat,

is is

From "Falstaff," the name of a character in several plays by William Shakespeare. fal-ter /'foltsr/ verb [i] 1 to stop being effective or making progress: Peace talks have faltered. 1a. to stop doing something because you have lost your confidence or determination: Wright never faltered in his architectural principles. 2 mainly literary to stop speaking, or to speak with pauses between the words, because you are nervous or upset 2a. if someone's steps falter, they stop walking 2b. if someone's look or smile falters, they stop looking or smiling fal-ter-ing /'foltCaJrirj/ adj 1 becoming less effective

and successful: the faltering peace process 2 weak and lacking in confidence: hesitant: She spoke to the court in a faltering voice. /feim/ noun [u] ** the state of being famous: Kundera achieved international fame while banned in his own country. rise /shoot to fame (=become famous

fame

quickly) Albert Finney rose to fame in the British cinema of the early Sixties. fame and fortune (=a lot of money) Fame and fortune have come easily to Jo.

of TV etc. fame used for saying what made someone or something famous: Leonard Nimoy of Star Trek fame -» CLAIM 2

famed

/feimd/

adj

known by many

ticular quality or achievement: a restaurant famed for its seafood

famil-ial

familiar

/fa'milial/ adj

people for a par+for a poet

famed

formal relating to families

•••

/f3 rnilpr/ adj 1 well known to you or easily recognized by you: People are more relaxed in familiar surroundings. + to The name Harry Potter will be familiar to many readers. vaguely familiar His face looked vaguely familiar but I couldn't remember where we'd met. a familiar face/figure/voice etc. Im pleased to see so many familiar faces here tonight. 2 a familiar sight, problem, etc. is common and happens a lot: Horse-drawn carriages used to be a familiar

familiarity /

familiar with sth if you are familiar with something, you know about it because you have learned about it or experienced it before: Are you familiar with Windows software? The author assumes that his readers are familiar with certain basic concepts.

fa*mil*iar*i*ty /fa.mili'erati/noun 1 [singular/u] knowledge of something because you have learned about it or experienced it before: +with Applicants should demonstrate a familiarity with housing law. 2 [C/u] informal or friendly behavior toward someone you do not know very well, especially when it makes them feel that you do not respect them 3 [u] the fact that something is well known to you or easily recognized by you familiarity breeds contempt used for saying that you stop respecting someone or something when you know them very well

familiarize

/fa'miljaxaiz/ verb [T] to make someone learn or experience something so that they know about it: It's my job to familiarize new employees with office procedures. familiarize yourself with sth / need to familiarize myself with the subject first. fa*mil*iar*i*za«tion

—

/faxniljan'zeifn/ noun [U]

f a»miMar»ly /fa'miljarli/ adv in an informal or friendly way that may show a lack of respect: He placed his hand familiarly on my shoulder.

familiarly known as/called sth called something by people who know it well or by most people: the Victoria Theatre, familiarly known as The Old Vic

noun ••• 1 [C] a group of people who live together and are related to one another, usually consisting of parents and children: A family with two children lives next door. Is the Watson family going to be there?* He grew up in a large middle-class family. single-parent /two-parent

fam-i-ly

1

/'faem(3)li/

family Single-parent families are increasingly common. a family of four /five etc. The tent is big enough for a family of six. la. [C] a group of people who are all related to one another, including dead members of the group: Does your family have any history of heart disease? She did not want the property to go to anyone outside the family. be in sb's/the family;(=belong to that family) The boatyard had been in his family for four generations. 1b. [u] people who are related to you: We spent our vacation visiting family in Scotland. We ought to help him, after all, he is friends and family/family and friends We had family. Christmas lunch in the company of family and friends. one of the family He's like one of the family. 2 [C] children in a family: The soldier had a wife and family. start/have a family (=have children) They want to get married and start a family. bring up/raise a family It's difficult raising a family on one salary. 3 [C] a group of things such as animals or plants that are related: Kidney beans belong to the bean family. Helium is one of the family of inert gases.

in the family

way informal

old-fashioned pregnant

fanvMy 2

/'faem(9)li/ adj [only before noun] 1 relating to families or typical of families: Quarrels are a normal part offamily life. 2 appropriate for a family with children: a

three-bedroom family home with a pool a family-size box of cornflakes

.family 'doctor noun

a family movie

a doctor working in a local surgery, not in a hospital, who treats all types of illness. A family doctor is usually called a GP. [c]

man noun [c] a man who likes spending time home with his wife or partner and children a. a man with a wife or partner and children family name noun [c] the part of your name that all the people in your family have: surname, last name family 'planning noun [u] the practice of controlling the number of children that you have by using contraceptives (=drugs, objects, or methods that stop a woman from becoming pregnant): a family planning clinic

'family at

fan

494

depressingly familiar These stories of bureaucratic mistakes are depressingly familiar. ail-too familiar an ail-too familiar problem 3 behaving in an informal or friendly way toward someone you do not know very well, especially so that they feel you do not respect them: be on familiar terms with sb She seems to be on very familiar terms with the waiter. + with Don't be too familiar with the customers. horribly/ painfully

sight.

family practice noun

of a doctor who deals with general health problems, especially those relating to families - family prac titioner noun [C] |u) the

work

room noun [c] 1 AmE a room in a house where a family relaxes and watches television, plays games, etc. 2BrEa room in a hotel with enough beds

family

for a family to sleep in 3 BrEa room in a pub (=a place that serves alcoholic drinks) in the U.K. that children are allowed into

family tree noun

[c] a drawing that contains the names of everyone in a family over a long period of time and shows the relationships among them family values noun [plural] the principles on which the traditional family is believed to be based, especially the importance of marriage. This word is used mainly

by

politicians.

•

fam-ine

/'fasmin/ noun [c/u] a serious lack of food that continues for a long time and causes many people in a country to become sick or die

fam-ished

/'faemift/ adj informal very

fa-mous/'feimss/adj ••• 1 if someone or something

hungry

famous, a lot of people know their name or have heard about them: He dreamed becoming a famous actor. +for The town of Gouda is of famous for its cheese. Alexander Fleming, the Scot famous for discovering penicillin + as She became famous as both a teacher and researcher. compare infamous 2 old-fashioned very good: a famous victory is

—

famous

last words used after someone has said something positive for showing that you think something

bad might easily happen

Other ways of saying

well-known

fairly

famous

famous: a well-known local reporter

legendary very famous and greatly admired: Laurel

and Hardy, the legendary comedy duo eminent famous, and respected for their achievements, for example in science or academic work: Dr. Graham is an eminent brain surgeon.

notorious famous for being a bad person or a criminal: a notorious murderer /drugs lord/ gang leader celebrity someone who is famous and often talked about, especially an entertainer or sports player: a magazine that shows photos of celebrities' homes star a popular actor, musician, entertainer, or sports player who is very famous and successful: a movie/ football star

famously

/'feimasli/ adv in a way that is known about by a lot of people: The city's nightclubs are famously glamorous. the Titanic, which famously sank on its maiden voyage

get along /on famously BrE old-fashioned to have a very friendly relationship with someone fan 1 /faen/ noun [c] ** 1 someone who likes watching or listening to something such as a sport, movies, or music very much or who admires a famous or important person very much: a football /baseball /tennis etc. fan a crowd of noisy +of I'm a big fan of Madonna. a pop/ football fans movie fan Movie fans will know his name. 2 a machine with blades that turn and move the air in a room to make it feel less hot 2a. a flat object that you move backward and forward in front of your face in order to make yourself feel less hot

fan 2

*

/faen/ verb [T] 1 to move a flat object backward and forward in front of someone's face in order to make them feel less hot: The audience fanned themselves with their programs. 2 to make a fire burn more strongly by moving air onto it: Strong winds fanned the fire, which soon spread. 3 formal to make a feeling or belief stronger His excuses fanned her anger even further. fan the flames of sth a speech which fanned the flames of hatred :

,fan

out phrasal vb

1

[i]

if

a group of people fan out, they

move forward and apart in a straight line: Officers fanned out across the field to look for clues.

2

[i/T] to

spread

objects or parts out, often in the shape of a semi-circle Her long dark hair fanned out across the pillow.

:

fanatic

fandango

495

great-grandfather

H

grandmother

f

grandfather

£-£

1

great-grandmother

grandmother

grandfather

a

1

grandson's wife

great-grandson

great-uncle

aunt

.

grandson

granddaughter

father-in-law

mother-in-law

grandson

great-granddaughter family tree

1

fa-nat-ic /fa'ruetik/ noun

[c] 1

someone who has very

strong religious or political beliefs that often make them behave in an unreasonable way: attacks by religious fanatics 2 someone who likes a sport or activity

very much: a movie /football /crossword fanatic Ask George, he's a movie fanatic. fa-nat-ic 2 /fa'naetik/ adj fanatical: fanatic ideolo-

AmE

gists

fanat-i-cal

1 behaving in an unreasas a result of very strong religious or political beliefs 2 very enthusiastic about a sport or fa-nat-i-cal-ly /tVnaetikli/ adv: a fanatically activity loyal squad of soldiers f a-nat-i-cism /fa'mcta.sizam/ noun [u] very strong religious or political beliefs that make someone behave in

onable

/fa'naetikl/ adj

way

—

an unreasonable way fan-ci-er /'faensiar/ noun

[C] someone who is interested in a particular type of plant or animal and grows them or breeds them for enjoyment

fan-ci-f ul /'faensifl/ adj 1 not serious or sensible: What a fanciful suggestion! 2 unusual and complicated rather than plain and practical: new fanciful styles of architecture fan-ci-f ul-ly adv 'fan club noun [c] an organization for people who like a particular famous actor, singer, player, etc. very much

—

fan-cy 1 1

/'famsi/adj

*

with lots of decorations

2 complicated/difficult 3 intended to impress

4 expensive/fashionable 5 prices: too high 6 food: very good

1 not plain or simple but with a lot of decorations or extra parts: / wanted just a plain handbag, nothing fancy. The camera comes with a fancy leather case. 2 complicated or difficult: fancy computer graphics fancy basketball moves 3 intended to seem impressive, important, or clever: The candidate's fancy words lost more votes than they gained.

4

expensive, popular, and fashionable: We stayed at children who hotel in the center of London. to fancy private schools 5 fancy prices are much higher than they should be 6 Am E fancy food is of very good quality

some fancy are sent

fan«cy 2 /'faensi/ noun

literary 1 [C] a feeling of wanting or liking something, especially a feeling that is not very strong or serious 2 [C/u] imagination or something that you imagine or dream about: one of those strange fancies of a dying person -> flight

catch sb's fancy informal if something catches your you like it or want to have or do it: / looked at quite a few dresses, but nothing really caught my fancy. take a fancy to sb informal to suddenly start to like someone or become sexually attracted to them: I think Sam's really taken a fancy to you! take a fancy to sth informal to suddenly start to want to have or do something fancy,

faivcy 3 / faensi/ verb

[T] 1 literary to believe or imagine true: He sometimes fancied that he heard 2 mainly Br E informal to want to have or do something: What do you fancy for your lunch? / quite fancy the idea of lazing around. 3 Br E informal to feel sexually attracted to someone

that something strange sounds.

is

fancy or fancy that spoken used when you are very surprised about something clothes that you wear for fun to particular famous person or a particular type of person, at a fancy-dress party fancy 'dress party noun [C] BrE a costume party fancy- 'free adj able to behave as you like because you are not married or involved in a relationship with

fancy 'dress noun [u] make you look like a

anyone

fan-dan-go

/fasn'dierjgoo/ noun [c] a fast dance from Spain, done by a man and a woman together a. the music for doing the fandango

fanfare

far

496

fanfare

fam.fer/ noun 1 [c] a short loud piece of music played on a musical instrument such as a trumpet to announce a special person or event 2 [C/u] information in newspapers and on television and radio intended to make people interested in someone or some-

used for talking about distance 1a. [usually in negatives or questions] a long distance: You can go outside and play, but don't go far. * +from The main post office is not far from the library. * + away Then from far away the train whistle sounded. * + back /above /below etc. He always

thing

sat as far back as possible in the lecture hall. 1b. used for asking or stating how great a distance is: how far?

/

fan-fic /'fxn.fik/ noun [C/u] informal stories for a television series written by people who watch the series regularly. The stories are published on the Internet. fang /faen/ noun [c] one of the long pointed teeth that some animals have, for example snakes, dogs, and tigers fan heater noun [c] a piece of electrical equipment that blows out hot air, used for heating a room fanlight /'faen.lait/ noun [c] a small window in the shape of a half circle, built above a door or another

window fan mail noun

[u] letters sent to

a particular famous

by people who like them very much noun [C] 1 Am E informal old-fashioned the part of your body that you sit on 2 Br E offensive an offensive word for a woman's vagina (=sex organs) fanny pack noun [c] Am E a small bag with a belt that you wear around your waist —picture -» bag fan-tab-u-lous /fxn'txbjabs/ adj informal extremely good fanta-sia /fasn'te^a/ noun [c] technical a piece of classical music that does not have a fixed form a. a piece of classical music based on other well-known tunes fan-ta-size /'faenta.saiz/ verb [i/t] to imagine that something pleasant, exciting, or unusual is happening to you: + about We all fantasize about what we'd do if we actor, singer, etc.

fan*ny

won still

/'fasni/

the Lottery. * +that / used to fantasize that we were together, a. to imagine having sex with a particular

person or in a particular situation fan-tas-tic /faen'tsstik/ adj •• 1 informal extremely good or pleasant: It's a fantastic view from up here, isn't it?* You've done a fantastic job. * He looked absolutely fantastic. * "We're having another baby." "Fantastic!" informal extremely large: You've all put in a fantastic amount of work. 3 formal not practical or sensible: Where do they get

2

these fantastic ideas? fantastic or fantastical

4

mainly literary strange or imaginary -.fantastic creatures /stories/ tales fan-tas-ti-cal-ly /fen'tsstikli/ adv 1 extremely: She married a fantastically rich man. * The economy's doing fantastically well. 2 very well: Both of them played fantastically yesterday. 3 in an unusual or strange way: The fantastically named band have just completed recording their first album.

fanta-sy

/Taentasi/ noun

**

a pleasant, exciting, or unusual experience that is happening to you: sexual/erotic/romantic fantasies romantic fantasies of love* have fantasies of/ about sth He's always had fantasies about living in a castle. 1a. [U] a state or situation that is not true or real: He dismissed the story as "pure fantasy." * / don't think he can tell the difference between fantasy and reality. * live in a fantasy world Even as a boy he lived in a fantasy world. 2 [C/U] a story that shows a lot of imagination and is 1

[C]

you imagine

very different from real

science fiction

life:

and futuristic

fantasy

fan-zine /'faen.zin/ noun

a magazine written for and

[c]

by fans f ao abbrev for the attention of: written in front of someone's name on a document, letter, or envelope to showthat it is intended for them

FAQ /,ef ei

asked questions: a list of questions with answers provided, intended to help people understand or use something, especially on 'kju/ noun [C] frequently

the Internet

far /far/

(comparative farther

/

'fardar/ or further

/

'fsrdsr/;

superlative far«thest/'fard3St/orfur«thest/'f3rd3St/) adj,

adv

••* Far can be used in the following ways: as an adverb: after the

Have you

verb "to be":

traveled far today?

We can walk

to school -

far.

as an adjective: on the far side of the river

it

isn't

1

How far does this road go?* How far is it to the next town? * as far as She had got as far as the museum before he found her. 1c. [only before noun] used for referring to the end or side of something that is a greater distance from you: She moved to the far side of the bed to make room. * He saw Lynn standing at the far end of the bar. Id. [only before noun] used for referring to the part of an area or space that is nearest one side or end of it: the far left/ right I'm the one on the far left. * the far north/south /east/ west Riots broke out today in the far north of the country. 1e. literary distant: a traveler from afar country Far

is

used mainly in questions and negatives (except

after "as," "so," or "too") when talking about distance. In positive statements we usually say a

way: How far did you come?

* I've traveled a long

long

way

to get here.

2 used

for emphasis in comparisons 2a. used for emphasizing a difference when you are making a comparison: far more /bigger /better etc. (=much more, bigger, etc.) Something far more important was demanding his immediate attention. * The senator is far more interested in the vote. * far above/below (=much more or less than something) There are more than 97 signatures, which is far above the number required. * The results were far below our expectations. * far too much /big /easy etc. (=much too much, much too big, etc.) The issue is far too important to be discussed behind closed doors. * You eat far too much. 2b. by far or far and away used for saying that something has much more of a particular quality than anything else: The 1989 revolution was by-

far the bloodiest in the country's history. * Soccer is far and away the most popular sport in the world. 2c. far removed from sth very different from something: Our dreams are often far removed from reality. 3 used for talking about progress or success 3a. used for saying or asking how much progress someone or something makes: How far have you gotten with the planning? * We want to stress just how far the committee has progressed. * We're not going to get very far if we don't trust each other. 3b. so far, so good used for saying that someone or something has been successful up to this point: So far, so good - 96 percent of calls have been answered within six seconds. 3c. sb should/will go far used for saying that you think someone will be successful in the future 4 to a particular degree 4a. used for asking or saying how true something is or to what degree it happens: How far do you think the novel supports the idea that women should never rely on men? 4b. used for talking about how extreme someone's actions are or how great an effect they have: go too far (=be too extreme) Do you think feminism has gone too far? * carry sth too far (=do something too much) / realize that she wants to protect her children, but she's carrying it too far. * go as/so far as to do sth He even went as far as to accuse me of betraying him. 4c. as far as it goes used for saying that something is good or true only to a limited degree: His theory is good as far as it goes. 4d. as far as possible as much as possible: We should keep to the original plan as far as possible.

5 used for talking about time 5a. a long time in the past or the future, or a long time before or after a particular time: +into The bank intends to be a global leader far into the next century. * far back (=long ago) A castle has stood on this site since as far back as 1230. * far in advance (=a long time before something) The date of an election is not normally announced so far in advance. as far as I know/can remember/can see/can tell spoken used for stating what you think is true when you think there may be facts that you do not know, remember, etc.: No one has complained, as far as I know. * He was the only one who enjoyed the play, as far as I can remember. far and wide in a large area or in many different places,

I

I I

faraway

disagree with them, or say something negative when in what you are doing: Far be it from me to criticize, but aren 't you being a little unreasonable? far from used for saying that the real situation is the opposite of what you mention: The battle is far from over. far from doing sth Far from seeming glad to see him, Rose looked almost angry. far from it spoken used for saying that what was just said is not at all true, and that the opposite is probably true: Vm not saying they're all crooks, far from it! Some of them are very decent. the far right/left people whose political views are either extremely right-wing or left-wing not far off (the mark) or not far wrong almost correct or accurate: / thought it would happen in early April, and Vm told that most of what's been 1 wasn't far wrong. reported in the newspapers is not too far off the mark. not go far 1 if an amount of money does not go far, you cannot buy much with it: A dollar doesn't go far these days. 2 if an amount or supply of something does not go far, it is too small: One bottle of water won't go far between us all. so far 1 until now: So far we have restricted our attention to the local area. There have been 11 deaths from TB so far. 2 up to a particular point or degree: You can only get so far on good looks alone. so far and no further / can tolerate this rudeness only so far and no further. a. .too far something that comes after a series of other things of the same kind, and causes trouble because it is too extreme: The 15% surcharge on fuel will be seen as fact this is

.

a tax

too far.

-» CONCERNED, CRY 2 FARTHER, FARTHEST, REACH 2 ,

Further, farther, furthest, and farthest can all be used for talking about distance: Stand further /farther away from me. Who can jump furthest/farthest?

Further is often used for talking about the degree to which something happens: / expect prices to rise further (=rise more). But farther, farthest, and furthest are not often used in this way.

1 showing that you are thinking of something that is not connected with the present situation: a woman with a faraway look in her eyes 2 distant from you or from a particular place: exotic faraway places 3 happening a long time before or after the present time: in that faraway age

/fars/ noun

1 [singular/u] a situation or event because it is very badly organized, unsucor unfair: The trial has been a complete farce,

is silly

cessful,

to end. 2 [C] a play or movie in which people get involved in silly or unlikely situations that are intended to make you laugh 2a. [u] the style of writing and acting used for farces

from beginning

far-ci-cal /'farsikl/ adj something that is farcical is so badly organized, unsuccessful, or unfair that it seems silly far-ci-cal-ly /'farsikli/ adv fare 1 /fer/ noun 1 [C] the money you pay for a trip: She had argued with a cab driver after refusing to pay her fare. air/ bus/ train /taxi fare Have you given the kids their bus fare? 1a. a passenger in a taxi 2 u formal the type of food that is available, especially in a restaurant or cafe: More traditional fare can be found at the Plaka restaurant. -» bill of fare 3 [singular/u] mainly journalism used for referring to what someone or something usually does or has: The magazine contained the usual fare of celebrity romances

—

*•

[

the countries of the eastern part Far of Asia, including China, Malaysia, and Japan

Eastern

—

adj 1

fare-well

/fer'wel/ interjection old-fashioned used for saying goodbye to someone when you do not expect to see them again for a long time 2 fare-well /fer'wel/ noun [c/u] old-fashioned a goodbye to someone: Let's say our farewells.

fare-well 3 /fer'wel/ adj done in order to celebrate the fact that someone is leaving a place or job: a farewell dinner /party /speech

far-fetched it is

fetjt/ adj difficult to believe because

/ ,far

very unlikely

adj mainly literary 1 existing in many different places within a very large area 2 far away from where you are or from towns and cities

far-flung

far 'gone crazy to

2

adj

1

in a very

informal extremely drunk, sick, or state or condition that is unlikely

bad

improve

*•*

farm /farm/ 1

noun [c] for growing crops or keeping animals: on a farm Patrick worked on a neighboring farm. 1a. [only before noun] used on or belonging to a farm: farm buildings /machinery/ implements farm animals/ produce* farm workers I laborers 1b. a place where a particular type of animal is produced in order to be sold: a fish farm 2 a farmhouse: Visitors often came to the farm on week1

an area of land used

ends.

farm 2 /farm/ verb

[i/t] * to use land for growing crops or keeping animals: They've been farming in the area all their lives. The land was farmed intensively.

farm out phrasal vb [T] 1 to send part of your work to be done by people outside a company: We could always farm the typing out to freelancers. 2 to send someone to be looked after by someone else: She farmed out all the children to a childminder.

farm-er/'farmar/ noun [c] *** someone who owns a farm or manages it as their job: a dairy / sheep / pig farmer

farmers' .market noun sell their

produce directly

,haozsz/) noun [C] the farmer lives

far-a-way/.fara'wei/adj

that

Far 'East, the noun

[c]

to

a market where farmers

customers

farm-hand /Tarm.haend/ noun [c] a field hand farm-house /'farm.haos/ (plural farm-houses

Further is also used as an adjective to mean "additional": There has been no further news. But farther cannot be used in this way.

farce

farsighted

497

some of them a long way away: from far and wide People came from far and wide to see the show. far be it from me to do sth spoken used as a way of telling someone that you do not want to criticize them,

* the

/'farm

main house on a farm, where

farm-ing /'farmin/ noun

*

[u] the activity or business of a being a farmer: sheep/ dairy farming fish/fur

farming

farm-land / 'farm.laend/ noun [u] land used for farming farm-stead /'farm,sted/ noun [c] the main house on a farm and the buildings around

farm-yard

/

it

'farm jard/ noun [c] an area beside a farmby buildings

house, surrounded

far-off

adj 1 happening a long time before or after the present time: in those far-off days of our youth 2 far away from you or from a particular place: a far-off land far- out ao] 1 informal very strange 2 informal oldfashioned very good

far-reach-ing /far 'ritjirj/ adj affecting a lot of people or things in an important way: The consequences of the decision will be far-reaching.

far-reaching constitutional

reforms

someone whose job is to make horseshoes for horses and fit them on their hooves Far-si /Tarsi/ noun [u] the language that most people

far-ri-er/'feriar/ noun [c]

speak in Iran: Persian

]

and beauty tips. fare /fer/ verb [I] formal * used for saying how well or how badly someone does something: do: We now have a much clearer picture of how schools are faring. fare well/ badly/better/worse expected

and

etc.

The Democrats fared up a few seats.

actually picked

better

than

far-sight-ed or far-sight-ed /far'saitad/ adj AmE 1 good at judging what will happen in the future: afarsighted committee far-sighted reforms 2 not able to see things clearly if they are close to you

fart 1 /fart/ verb [i] impolite to allow gases from your stomach to come out through your anus fart a round phrasal vb [l] impolite to waste time doing silly or unimportant things 2 fart /fart/ noun [c] 1 impolite an act of allowing gases from your stomach to come out through your anus 2 offensive a boring old-fashioned person

1

farther farther

4

1

/'fartor/ adv

•

in or to a place that is more distant: The children were / live farther up the road. too tired to walk any farther. / wanted to talk to them, but I didn't get farther than the 1

front door, farther away/ apart/ ahead etc. An owl hooted nearby, and was answered by another farther away. farther north/south/east/west The Mexican border is 200 miles farther south. 2 to or at a more distant time in the past or future: Looking farther into the future, we plan to expand into Europe. 3 more: They're even farther to the right than the present government. -> FAR f anther to the

2 /

'fardsr / adj [only before noun] used for referring

end or side of something that

from you:

farthest

is

a greater distance

the farther shore of the lake

/ 'fardast/ adv 1 in or to a place that is most distant: Surfers choose the waves that carry them farthest. farthest away (from sb/sth) Sam had chosen to sit farthest away from the door. farthest north /south /east /west Buffalo is about the farthest north I've ever been. 2 to or at the most distant time in the past or future: The history of her family in the village went the farthest back of all. 3 most: It is often the philosophers who see farthest into the hearts of men. -» far

farthest 2

/'fardast/ adj [only before noun] most distant: Light from the farthest stars takes three thousand million years to reach us. Children rushed to hide in the farthest corners of the yard. [c]

after a fashion not very well or effectively: Things continued working after a fashion. after the fashion of in a style that is typical of a particular person or group: after the fashion of the French Impressionists in a similar/orderly/spectacular etc. fashion in a particular way: Voting was conducted in a peaceful and orderly fashion.

fash-ion 2

/'faefn/ verb [T] formal to make something, often using a lot of skill or care: Softley has fashioned a satisfying movie out of Henry James' novel. toy guns

fashioned from

bits

of wood

-fashion /'fsjn/ suffix used with some nouns to make adverbs meaning in the way that a particular person or thing might do something: He climbs up walls spiderfashion.

1

farthing /TarSinV noun

fast

i

an old British coin worth

a quarter of an old penny

fas*chnate/'faesi,neit/ verb [T] * to attract and interest you very strongly It's a subject that has always fascinated

fash-ion-able 1

/'faef(3)nabl/ ad]

**

popular at a particular time: Gardening has become fashionable clothes it is fashionable has become fashionable to criticize public insti-

very fashionable. to

do sth

It

tutions.

2 popular with

rich and successful people, and often expensive: London's most fashionable shopping district a fashionable Italian restaurant 2a. fashionable people wear fashionable clothes and spend a lot of time at fash-ion-a-bly adv: a fashionably expensive places

—

dressed young

'fashion

woman

house

noun

[C]

a

company

that designs

new

styles of expensive clothes

fashion-is-ta /.faeJVnista/ noun [C] mainly journalism someone who is very interested in fashion or who works in the fashion industry

:

me.

fas-ci-nat-ed /'faesi.neitad/ adj very interested or attracted by someone or something: + by /with We are all fascinated by new technology. be fascinated to do sth I'd be fascinated to know what you really think about these

'fashion show noun [C] an event at which models show new styles of clothes fast 1 /faest/ (comparative faster; superlative fastest) adj ***

latest plans.

fascinating

/'faesi.neitin/ adj

**

making you very

interested or attracted: a fascinating story /person/place it is fascinating to do sth It will be fascinating to see who the Association appoints. find sb/sth fascinating / found his talk on Ancient Egypt absolutely fascinating. f as-ci-nat-ing-ly adv

—

fas-ci-na-tion

/.faesi'neijn/ noun 1 [singular/ u] the state of being very interested in something or attracted by something: +with the country's fascination with Western culture +for He had a childish fascination for battles and revolutions. in/with fascination She watched in fascination as he sketched. 2 [singula r/u] the power to interest or attract people very strongly: The idealism of have /hold a the 1960s continues to exert a fascination.

fascination for sb The place had held a strange fascination for her ever since. 2a. [C] something that interests or attracts people very strongly

fascism

/'faejizam/ noun [u] a very right-wing polit-

ical system in which the government is very powerful and controls society and the economy completely, not allowing any opposition, as was practiced in Italy and Germany in the 1930s and 40s. fas-cist /'faejist/ noun [C] 1 someone who supports or believes in fascism 2 an insulting word for someone who has very right-wing opinions 3 informal someone who forces people to obey them and does not allow any fas-cist adj opposition to what they do or say fash-ion /'faejn/ noun ••• 1 [C/U] the fact that something such as a style of dress or an activity is popular at a particular time: Fashions

—

1

change all the time. +for The fashion for ocean bathing began in the nineteenth century. go/be out of fashion His be in /come into ideas have gone right out of fashion. fashion High heels are back in fashion. 2 [U] the activity or business that involves styles of clothes and people's appearance: the world of fashion 2a. [C] a style of dress that is popular at a particular time: Men's fashions change more slowly than women's. the latest fashions 2b. [only before noun] relating to fashion or involved in fashion: an Italian fashion designer fashion magazines

1

quick

2 3 4

exciting

5 6

of a clock

+ PHRASES

of colors of a

woman

of film

a chance 1 able to move quickly: Simon loves fast cars. for runners to show how fast they are 1a. done quickly: drive/run fast pace/ a fast a It was a very fast trip. tempo /speed We were expected to work at a fast pace. 1b. done without waiting or delaying: The government We need fast has promised a fast response to the crisis. and effective action to combat this problem. 1c. a fast road is one on which you can drive quickly 1d. doing or able to do something quickly: a fast reader/ learner I'm

1

usually quite a fast learner. exciting, with a lot of different things happening in a short time: The pace of the game was fast. 2a. [only before noun] a fast way of life is one in which you travel a lot, meet a lot of people, and do a lot of exciting things 3 [not usually before noun] if a clock is fast, it shows a time that is later than the correct time: My watch is a

2

'

few minutes fast.

4

[only before noun] a fast film is one that you use to take photographs of something that is moving quickly or

when there is not very much 5 colors that are fast will clothes are

light

not become paler

when

washed

6 [only before noun] old-fashioned a fast woman is one who has sexual relationships with a lot of different people fast and furious used about situations in which a lot of different things happen one after the other: The game was fast and furious. Political changes have been fast

and furious

since the coup.

a fast talker someone who talks very quickly in order to trick you or persuade you to buy something a fast worker informal someone who achieves something very quickly, especially someone who starts a sexual or romantic relationship very quickly make sth fast to fix something somewhere so that it cannot move: She slipped the rope around a post and made it

fast.

I

— fast

make

a fast buck informal to with very little effort -» PULL

make money quickly and

1

•**

2

/faest/ (comparative faster; superlative fastest) adv quickly: We drove as fast as we could to the hospital.

fast 1

fat

499

button

Can you work any faster? 1a. over a short period of time: The business has grown very fast. fast becoming /developing /disappearing etc. This company is fast becoming a major exporter of computer / can 't

run very fast.

't

software. 1b. without waiting or delaying: You need to get help fast! We got there as fast as we could. 2 firmly and strongly or tightly: She held fast to the The van was stuck fast in the chair and refused to move.

mud. be getting/ going nowhere fast informal to be making very little progress fast asleep sleeping in a way that makes it difficult to

wake you hold fast to sth formal to refuse to stop believing in something not so fast spoken used when you are telling someone to wait and not be too quick to do something or believe something stand fast/firm/orraa/ to continue to do something that you believe is right even when other people are trying to stop 3

/faest/ verb

fast- acting

adj

[i]

a fast-acting drug has an effect very

quickly

fast-ball /'faest.bol/ noun [c] a bah that the pitcher throws very fast to the batter in baseball fast- breeder re actor noun [c] a large machine used for producing nuclear energy fas -ten / 'faesn/ verb * 1 [T] to close something such as a piece of clothing or a bag using the buttons, zipper, clip, etc. on it: Please keep your seatbelts fastened while the seatbelt light is on. fasten sth with sth It was fastened with buttons down the front. 1a. [i] if something such as a piece of clothing or a bag fastens in a particular way, you close it in that way: -t-with These pants fasten with buttons. picture -»

—

CLOSE

2

[T]

to fix

one thing

to

another using something such

as string or nails so that it is held firmly in position: fasten sth to sth We fastened our boat with rope to a post in the river. fasten sth around sth She fastened the rope around her ankle. 2a. [i] to become fixed to an object or surface and held firmly in position 3 [T] to close a door, gate, or window so that it will not open using something such as a lock, catch, or bolt / checked that all the windows were properly fastened. 3a if a door, window, etc. fastens in a particular way, you close it in that way: J can't get the back gate to fasten. picture -» close 4 [l/T] to hold something very tightly: -t-around/on/ onto /into His hand moved swiftly to fasten on her arm. fasten your arms /legs around sb/sth She fastened her :

.

[

I

]

—

arms around my neck and hugged me tightly. fas-ten-er /'faesnar/ or fas-terving /'faesnin/ noun [C] 1 something such as a button, zipper, or clip that you use to attach the two parts of something such as a piece of clothing or a bag to each other 2 something such as a lock, catch, or bolt that you use to keep a door, gate, or window closed .fast food noun [u] * food that is made and served very quickly, especially food such as a burger that you can take away with you

,fast

fastener

you

to eat no food or very little food for a period of time, often for religious reasons 4 fast /faest/ noun [c] a period of time when you eat no food or very little food, often for religious reasons

fast

forward

noun

a button on a piece of electrical equipment that you press to make a video or audiocassette go forward quickly 2 the process by which you make a video or audiocassette go forward quickly: Put it on fast forward. [u]

2 keeping your clean and neat

noun

clothes, possessions, and property very fas*ticM*ous>ly adv, fas>tid*i*ous*ness

[U]

'fast Jane noun [c] the outer lane on a road, used by vehicles traveling fastest: express lane —picture -» C6

the fast lane the exciting busy way of life that a successful person has: life in the fast lane He told of life in the fast lane, when he made and lost millions. fast-paced / ,faest 'peist /adj including a lot of different things happening quickly fast-talk-ing / .faest 'tokirj/ adj talking very quickly, especially in order to trick someone or to persuade

them to buy something fast .track noun [singular] a way of achieving something more quickly than usual: on the fast track to success 1

fast- .track

adj

happening, developing, or progressing

more quickly than usual .fast-track

legislation

2

'fast- .track verb [t] to make something happen, develop, or progress more quickly than usual 1

fat /faet/adj** 1 a person or animal that is fat has too much flesh on their body and weighs too much: He's got a rather fat get fat She can eat whatever she likes and she never face. gets fat.

2

a fat object is thicker than other objects of the same type: a big fat cigar a fat book /volume a fat wallet 3 [only before noun] informal used about an amount of money that is very large: / bet he gets a nice fat salary! The company made a fat profit this year.

chance spoken used for emphasizing that you think something is extremely unlikely a fat lot spoken nothing or not very much at all: a fat lot of good/help/use A fat lot of help she'll be!

fat

grow fat on sth to become rich as a result especially in a way that does not seem

of something,

fair to other A lot of young financial advisers have grown fat on selling overpriced insurance to the elderly. the show/it isn't over until the fat lady sings spoken used for saying that it is still possible for a situation to

people:

change

Words

frequently used with fat enormously, hugely, immensely,

adverbs

really

1

forward verb [l/T] to make a video or an audiocassette go forward quickly: Let's fast-forward through the commercials.

fast-

fas«tid«i«ous/f3'stidi3s/adj 1 caring a lot about small details and wanting everything to be correct and neat

Other ways of saying fat

plump

slightly fat in a

friendly-looking

chubby used children who chubby

little

man

way

that looks nice: a

plump

in his forties

especially for describing babies and look fat in a healthy attractive way:

a

boy

big or large used for suggesting that someone is a than they should be or than they usually

little fatter

fat

dumpy

short and

fat:

But

I

tall:

The driver was a

look so plain

and dumpy

uniform!

in the

overweight fatter than doctors think is healthy for someone of a particular height: You risk heart disease exercise regularly. if you are overweight and don obese very fat, especially in a way that might be dangerous to your health: In some parts of the country, 15% of the population is now considered to be obese. 't

1

o

2

/fast/ noun •• white substance on meat: Trim the fat off meat before cooking it. 2 [C/u] oil found in food: Reduce the amount of fat in your diet. 2a. oil in solid or liquid form obtained from plants or animals and used in cooking: Fry the meat in a small amount offat. 3 [U] a soft white substance stored in a layer under your skin 3a. areas of your body where you have a lot of this substance: rolls offat around his waist -> CHEW LIVE fa-tal/'feitl/adj** 1 causing someone to die: a fatal accident/ injury/ disease etc. a fatal road accident prove fatal (=cause death) In the nineteenth century childbirth often proved

fat

[u] a soft

the

1

1

,

fatal.

2 with very serious negative effects: prove fatal ^destroy something) The recession has proved fatal to many businesses. a fatal blow The sudden resignations dealt a a fatal mistake /error / made fatal blow to the society. the fatal mistake of falling in love with him. fatal flaw (=serious fault) Yesterday's report highlighted fatal flaws in the system. 2a. computing a fatal error is one that stops a program from working correctly

fa-tal-ism

/'feitl.izam/ noun [u] the belief that you cannot prevent things from happening, especially bad

things

fa-tal'is-tic /.feitl'istik/ adj believing that you cannot prevent things from happening, especially bad things

fa-tal'i-ty /fa'taelati/ noun 1 [C] formal a death caused by an accident, war, violence, or disease: As well as the 13 fatalities, 17 people were injured. 2 [u] the ability of a disease or accident to kill people: The most serious form of skin cancer has a 30% fatality rate. 3 [u] the feeling that you have no control over events: He began to have a growing sense offatality. fa-tal-ly /'feitli/ adv 1 so severely that you die as a result: /ato/Zy injured /wounded /shot 2 so seriously that complete failure is the result: The senators have fatally fatally underestimated public feeling on the matter. flawed (=certain to fail because of a fault) The prosecution case

was fatally flawed.

'fat ,cat noun [C] informal a very rich and powerful person, usually in business or politics. This word shows that you dislike people like this.

fate

/feit/

noun

**

the things that happen to someone, especially unpleasant things: +of a meeting which would decide the suffer a fate The refugees fate of thousands of employees have suffered an appalling fate. 2 [u] a power that some people believe controls everything that happens in their lives: Fate has dealt these people a cruel blow. 1

fatigues

500

are, especially if they are also big man with bright red hair.

[C]

a fate worse than death often humorous something very bad that could happen to you: He saved me from a fate worse than death. -» SEAL

1

/'feitad/ adj definitely going to happen because of fate: be fated to do sth He was fated to play an important part in their lives.

fat*ed

fate«ful /'feitfal/ adj a fateful action, event, or time is one that has an important and usually bad effect on what happens in the future: Since that fateful day her life had not been worth living. 'fat .farm noun [c] informal a place where people can go to try to lose weight by eating in a healthy way and doing a lot of exercise f at- free adj containing no fat: fat-free yogurt

fat*head

noun [c] informal someone who is fat'head-ed adj Stupid 1 fa-ther /'fadar/ noun [c] ••• 1 your male parent. People often call their father Dad or, especially if they are young children, Daddy. In the past, people often called their father Father or Papa: My father taught me to drive. George suspected that he was not the father of Emily's child. The thought of becoming a father terrified Mark. sb's real/natural father / never knew my real father. a father of two /three /four etc. The 32-year-old father of three denies the charges. be like a father to sb Tom has been like a father to me. —picture -> iamii.y tree 2 Father used for talking to or about a priest, especially a Roman Catholic priest: / need your help, Father. Father Peter said that that wasn't a sin. 2a. Father used for talking to or about God in the Christian religion: Heavenly/Almighty Father Heavenly Father, please hear our prayers. 3 fathers [plural] people in your family who lived long before you: Spanish was the language of their fathers. /'faet.hed/

the father of sth the man who first started something or first did it successfully: He is often seen as the father of the space program. from father to son from one generation or period in history to the next: These traditional crafts were passed on from father to son. like father, like son used for saying that a man or boy has the same attitudes as his father or behaves in the

same way farther 2 /'fadar/ verb [T] if a man fathers a child, he makes a woman pregnant and becomes a father .Father Christmas BrE an imaginary old man with a long white beard and red clothes who brings children their Christmas presents: santa claus 'father .figure noun [c] a man who is older than you and who behaves like a father to you by giving you help and advice fa-ther-hood /'fa5ar,hod/ noun [u] the state of being

a father

father-in-law noun [C] the father of your husband or wife. You are his son-in-law or daughter-in-law.

— picture -» family tree

fa-ther-land /TaSar.laend/ noun [singular] the place where you and your family were born, especially when you feel proud of it a. the Fatherland Germany during World War II fa'thenly /TaSarli/ adj typical of a good kind father: fatherly advice

Father's ,Day noun

when

[c/u] a special Sunday in June people give a card or present to their father

fath-om

1

fa-tigue

1

/'faedam/ noun [c] a unit for measuring the depth of water, equal to 1.8 meters and containing 6 feet fath-om 2 /'faedam/ verb [t] to understand something complicated or mysterious: For some reason she couldn't fathom, he seemed angry. fath-om-less /'faeSamlas/ adj literary 1 complicated and mysterious 2 very deep and impossible to measure

*

/fa 'tig/ noun [u] a feeling of being extremely tired, either physically or mentally: A child's sleep problems cause parents fatigue and unnecessary guilt. 1a. the feeling that you have done a particular activity for so long that you no longer want to do it: A spokeswoman for the charity blamed Too many donor fatigue for the drop in contributions. requests for aid can cause compassion fatigue. 2 a tendency for metal or wood to break as a result of too much pressure 1

fa-tigue 2

/fa'tig/ verb

[T]

formal to make someone

extremely tired

fa-tigued

/fa'tigd/ adj formal feeling extremely tired,

either physically or mentally

fa-tigues /fa'tigz/ noun [plural] 1 simple loose clothes worn by soldiers: combat I camouflage fatigues 2 jobs such as cleaning rooms or cooking food that a soldier is given to do, sometimes as a punishment f at-so / faetsoo/ noun [C] offensive an insulting word for someone who is fat

fatten

fatten up phrasal vb [T] to make a person or animal fatter: He could do with fattening up.

fat-ten-ing tening foods a.

/'faetrurj/ adj

and

2

/'faeti/

making you

fat:

Avoid

fat-

lot

of

fat: fatty

foods

fat: fatty tissue

noun

It was partly the teacher's fault for not explaining through no fault of your own He things clearly enough. seems to have lost the job through no fault of his own. the fault lies with If a child does not attend school, the fault lies with the parent. 2 [C] a feature of something that makes it less good: for all sth's The book's main fault is that it is too long. faults (=despite them) For all its faults, it is still the best market. problem with a machine small car on the 2a. a or piece of equipment that stops it from working correctly: + in An engineer was called out to repair a fault in the alarm system. an electrical/mechanical/technical

The fire was caused by an electrical fault. 2b. a bad part of someone's character: She has her faults, but on the whole she's very nice. for all sb's faults (=despite them) For all his faults, he's been a very good friend to me. 2c. mainly BrE a small mistake in a product that fault

spoils its appearance slightly and makes it less than perfect 3 [C] a service in tennis in which the ball does not land inside the correct area 4 [C] a crack on or below the Earth's surface: a geological fault the San Andreas Fault at fault responsible for a bad or unpleasant situation: When a marriage breaks up it is very hard to say who is at fault. The teacher was at fault for not telling the child's parents. find fault with to criticize someone or something, often after deliberately looking for mistakes: It 's demoralizing to work for someone who constantly finds fault with you. to a fault formal used for emphasizing that someone or something has a particular good quality to a very great degree: be generous/loyal/honest etc. to a fault He's a very kindhearted man, and generous to a fault. 2

/folt/ verb [T] to find something bad or wrong in a person or thing: / can't fault the players for their effort and commitment. be hard /difficult to fault Sophie's performance was difficult to fault.

faultfinding

/'folt.famdin/ noun [u] the practice of looking for mistakes in everything and criticizing people or things because of them, especially in an unfair fault-find'ing adj

fault-less

'foltbs/ adj containing no mistakes at all: faultless performance fault-less-ly adv

fault-y

/

a

not working correctly or made correctly: You are only entitled to a refund if the goods are faulty. faulty brakes 2 a faulty argument or a faulty way of thinking about something contains mistakes that can produce a wrong decision or opinion faun /fon/ noun [C] in ancient Roman stories, a god that has the upper body of a man, the legs of a goat, and a goat's

/'folti/ adj

1

horns on its head /'fona/ noun [u] formal

fau-na

in a particular area. the flora.

bean that

all

The plants

the animals that live an area are called

in

is

,bin /

noun

[c]

Am E a large flat round

pale green: broad bean

/feiv/ adj informal old-fashioned favorite

noun

fave

[C] 1

/'feivsr/

noun

••* 4 small present 5 sex

you do to help sb

2 support/admiration 3 giving unfair advantage

formal stupid /Taetwa/ noun [C] an

doing sth

way

bean / Tqvd

f a-va

ad]

unpleasant situation: be sb's fault It's my fault - 1 forgot him the message. be sb's fault (that) It's not my be sb's own fault If you didn't get fault that we're late. be all sb's fault We enough sleep, it's your own fault. missed our flight and it's all your fault! be sb's fault for

fault

/,foo 'pa/ noun [cl formal something embarrassing that you say or do in a social situation

1 sth

to give

faux

faux pas

an insulting word for

official order or fatwah by a Muslim religious leader f au-cet / fosit/ noun [C] Am E • a metal piece of equipment that you turn to control the flow of water or other liquid from a pipe, especially on a sink or bathtub. Br E tap —picture -* C2 1 fault /fait/ noun *•* 1 [C/U] the fact of being responsible for a bad or

fatwa

a faux marble bathroom

adj artificial:

fur

fa«vor

[C] offensive

someone who is fat f at-u-ous / faetjuas/

faux /foo/

fave

exercise.

containing a

/'fasti/ adj

consisting of

fat-ty

more

take

1

fat'ty

favorable

501

fat'ten /'fetn/ verb [T] 1 to make an animal fat so that it will be nicer to eat 2 to make an amount of money larger or make a company's value increase

for

guest

+ PHRASES

something that you do for someone in order to help them: do sb a favor Could you do me a small favor? owe sb a favor (=feel you should do something to help someone because they have done something to help you) 1

[C]

ask

I'll

Steve.

something something

return a favor (=do He owes me a favor. someone because they have done you) Thanks very much for your help.

to help to help

be sure to return the favor some time. support or admiration from people: find /gain/ sb) a young player who has yet to gain lose favor (with sb) Nuclear power favor with the coach stations have lost favor in recent years. curry favor (with sb) (=try to get someone to support or admire you) an ambitious young man willing to curry favor with the boss 3 [U] behavior that gives someone an unfair advantage: show favor to sb He was careful to show no favor to anyone. 4 [C] E a small present given to a guest at a party 5 favors [plural] old-fashioned the opportunity to have sex with someone: He was found guilty of trading informa Hon for sexua I fa vors. I'll

2

[U]

win favor (with

Am

in favor popular or fashionable at a particular time: Art Deco designs seem to be back in favor in some neighborhoods. in sb's favor helping you or giving you an advantage: The delay might work in our favor because we can prepare

a better defense. in favor of 1 supporting a person or something such as an idea or a proposal: All those in favor of the motion, please raise your hands. The document outlines the arguments in favor of the proposal. be all in favor of sb/sth / am all in favor of trying to find ways to save money, but we have to maintain certain standards of quality. vote in favor of sth Last night people voted in favor of the recycling plan. find/decide/rule in favor of sb The court ruled in Mrs. Adams' favor. come out in favor of sb/sth (=decide to support them) They have come out very strongly in favor of the proposed merger. 2 preferring to choose

someone or something that you believe is better: Downtown was rejected in favor of the harbor area as the site for the new stadium. out of favor no longer popular or fashionable: The microskirt is currently out offavor with American women. These stocks have steadily fallen out of favor with institutional investors.

fa-vor2

/'feivsr/ verb [T]

••

support an idea and believe that it is better than other ideas that have been suggested: The report strongly favors reform of the electoral system. 2 to give someone an unfair advantage: more tax cuts that favor the rich 3 to make a situation better for one person or thing, rather than another: The cold conditions favored the home 1

to

team.

4

informal to look like one of your parents or relative: Wouldn't you say he favors his mother?

an older

favor ,with phrasal vb

[T] mainly literary [favor sb with give someone something such as a look, smile, or answer to a question: Peter sat back down, favoring Simone with a broad smile.

sth] to

fa-vor-a-ble /'feiv(3)robl/ adj •• 1 showing that someone likes or approves of someone or something: Reaction to the plan has been generally in a favorable light The general was portrayed in a more favorable light in a recent study be the U.S. Defense Department. +to Most senior staff were favorable

favorable.

to the idea.

2 giving someone or something an advantage or a benefit:

They decided

to

delay the trip until conditions were

"

favored

make

a favorable impression (on sb) to behave in a that makes people have a good opinion of you: I'm sure he made a favorable impression on my parents. fa-vor-a-bly adv: American reviewers have compared him favorably with John Irving / believe we were favorably impressed with one another.

way

—

fa-vored

/ 'feivsrd/ adj 1 preferred or chosen: the president's favored candidatefor the position 2 a favored place has qualities that make it attractive: The city is making the most of its favored situation and is gaining a reputation

as a vacation spot. 3 receiving better treatment than other people in a way that seems unfair: the special status enjoyed by a favored son

favor-ite

•*

1

/'feiv(3)nt/ adj [only before noun] your favorite person or thing of a particular type is the one you like the best: His favorite pastimes were hunting and Stephen King is one of my favorite writers, least/ golf. most favorite Once More is my least favorite song ever.

2 fa-vor-ite /'feiv(3)nt/ noun [c] •• 1 the person or thing that you like sandwich is still a national favorite

to

but

my

win the

series.

f a-vor-it-ism / 'feiv(3)n,tiz3m/ noun [u] the unfair practice of giving someone help or advantages that you do not give to other people: He was accused of showing

favoritism

to

particular students.

f a-vour / feivar/ the

favour-a-ble

BrE

/'fei\3rd/ the

BrE

spelling of favored

E spelling of favorite fa-vour-it-ism /'ferv(3)n,Uz3m/ the BrE spelling f a-vour-ite

/

feiv(3)nt/ the Br

of

favoritism

fawn /fan/ noun [c] a young deer fawn 2 /fon/ verb fawn over or fawn 1

on phrasal vb [T] [fawn over/on sb] to be extremely nice to someone more important than you because you want them to like you or give you something fawn 3 /f3n/ adj light brown in color fax 1 /faeks/ noun •• 1 fax or fax machine [C] a piece of equipment used for sending and receiving copies of documents in electronic form: What's your fax number? 1a. [u] the system of sending documents using a fax machine: by fax Send me the details by fax.

— picture -» C3

form? /feiz/ verb [T] informal to fused, shocked, or upset

:

fears that the lake would overflow. 3 [C/u] the possibility that something bad will happen: + of There's no fear of becoming bored in a place like this. + (that) I don 't think there's any fear that that will happen.

for fear of (doing) sth/for fear (that) in case you

something bad happen:

/ didn't

make

Susan about our Scientists reject a total tell

meeting for fear of upsetting her. ban for fear it will undermine efforts to stop the spread of malaria. put the fear of God into sb informal to make someone feel very frightened -> STRIKE

1

frequently used with fear conquer, dismiss, overcome allay, alleviate, assuage, calm,

verbs

dispel, ease,

fear2

/fir/ verb [t]

1

2

soothe

•••

1 to feel worried and afraid that something bad will happen or has already happened: The refugees fear perOne person secution if they return to their own country.

+(that) Health experts fear is still missing, feared dead. that there may be a flu epidemic this winter. 2 to feel afraid of someone or something because they might harm you: He was hated and feared by his colfear to do sth neighborhoods where police feared leagues. to

go

fear the worst (for) to feel worried that something very bad will happen or has already happened: They were Local very late, and I was beginning to fear the worst. shopkeepers fear the worst if the new supermarket is built. 1 fear (that)/so/not spoken formal used for saying that you believe something bad has happened or might happen and that you are sad about it: I fear that we may "Will he help us?" "I never know what really happened. fear not. -* NEVER fear for phrasal vb [T] [fear for sb/sth] to feel worried about someone or something because you think something bad may happen to them or has happened to them: The police now fear for the children, who have not He fears for the future of the restaurant yet been found. fear for sb's life if customer numbers continue to fall. fear Hundreds of innocent civilians fear for their lives. for sb's safety I fear greatly for their safety.

fearful

2 [C] a document sent by a fax machine fax 2 /faeks/ verb [t] * to send a message to someone using a fax machine: Could you fax me the application

faze

(=be afraid all the time) Many people in fear Martin screamed in fear. fear of violence. be filled with fear / was suddenly filled with fear. shake/tremble with fear She was shaking with fear. 2 [C] something bad or unpleasant that you are afraid might happen A meeting was set up to try to allay workers + about There are fears about the safety of the fears. nuclear plant. +of This latest case has raised fears of an +for He expressed fears for his missing wife's epidemic. +that Sandbags were placed along the shore amid safety. live in fear (of)

live in

worry

spelling of favor-

able

favoured

1

fear not old-fashioned used for telling someone not to

Br E spelling of favor

/'ferv(3)r9bl/ the

fe-alty /'fiolti/ noun [u] mainly literary loyalty that someone promised to a king or queen in the past fear /fir/ noun ••• 1 [u] the feeling you have when you are frightened: Edward knew it was dangerous, but he felt no fear. +of She eventually managed to overcome her fear of the dark.

Words

best: The bacon / had a lot of old favorite favorites.

teddy bears were my Wuthering Heights is an old favorite with the Japanese. 1a. someone who is treated better than other people because a teacher, parent, etc. prefers them: Eric's always been mom's favorite. 1b. in the past, the special friend of a king or queen 2 the person or team that is expected to win a race or competition: favorite to do sth The Yankees are favorite toys,

feasibility

502

Part-time workers should not receive less +to Government favorable treatment than full-timers. policies were overwhelmingly favorable to employees. 2a. a is cheap or reasonable: price We are offering favorable very favorable terms to our regular customers. 3 showing that something good is likely to happen: a favorable weather forecast Analysts said the outlook was favorable after stocks closed on Friday. 4 giving agreement to something: We are hoping for a favorable reply from the committee.

more favorable.

o

'

make someone

feel con-

FBI, the / ef bi ai/ the Federal Bureau of Investigation: a U.S. government department that deals with serious crimes that affect more than one state FDA, the / ,ef di ei/ the Food and Drug Administration: a U.S. government department that controls the food and drugs that are allowed to be sold FDIC, the /,ef di ai 'si/ the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation: a U.S. organization that takes responsibility for paying you the money you have in your account if your bank is forced to stop doing business

/'firfl/ adj

1

their children indoors.

frightened: Fearful parents kept +(that) We're fearful that fighting

+of Fearful of another attack, civilians fled the capital. 2 informal old-fashioned used for emphasizing how bad someone or something is: She's a a fearful mess/ muddle 3 old-fashioned fearful gossip. frightening —fear-ful-ness noun [u] fear-fuMy /'firfli/ adv 1 in a way that shows you are frightened: She kept looking fearfully over her shoulder. 2 informal old-fashioned extremely: I'm fearfully busy at the moment. fear-less / firbs/ adj not afraid of anyone or anything. This word shows that you admire people like this. fear«less*ly adv. fear-less-ness noun [u] will start

up again.

—

fear-some /

firssm/ adj mainly literary very frightening

fea-si-bil-i-ty /fizsbitati/ noun [u] the chances that something has of happening or being successful: + of an

feasible

unsuitable for development. /'fizabl/ adj • possible or likely to succeed: it is feasible There seems to be only one feasible solution. do sth It is financially feasible to use coal as an energy fea-si-bly adv source. 1 feast /fist/ noun (C) 1 a large meal 1a. a large meal for a lot of people, usually in order to celebrate something 1b. a large amount of a particular food that you enjoy eating: a feast of wild raspberries 2 a large number of good, enjoyable, or interesting things to do or see: a feast of entertainment 3 a religious festival such as Christmas or Passover: the Feast of St. Nicholas

feasible to

federation

503

investigation into the feasibility of building a new bridge a feasibility study A feasibility study found the site

—

a feast for the eyes/ears something that is impressive and enjoyable to look at or hear feast or famine a situation in which there is either far too much of something or not nearly enough feast 2 /fist/ verb [i] to eat and drink a lot on a special occasion

your eyes on to take great pleasure someone or something feast

in looking at

feast on phrasal vb [T] [feast on sth] to eat a lot of a particular food with enjoyment: We feasted on strawberries and ice cream.

fea-ture

2

••• [T]

something features a particular person or thing, they are an important part of it: a concert featuring music by Haydn and Mozart feature sb/sth in sth Her work will be featured in a new feature sb/sth on sth This month's magazine exhibit. feature features the new James Bond on the front cover. sb/sth as The movie features Minnie Driver as a young French student, a. [i] to be an important part or aspect of something: + in She has already featured in two awardwinning movies this year. Jazz and Blues feature promi/'fitjar/ verb

if

nently in the magazine.

feature film noun fea-ture-less

[c]

a movie of standard length

with no interesting or

/'fitjarlas/ adj

noticeable features

Feb. abbrev February fe-brile / Tebral; 'fi.brail/ adj 1 literary excited and full of nervous energy 2 medical relating to a fever Feb-ru-ar-y /'febru.eri/ noun [C/u] *•* the second month of the year, between January and March: Fm starting my new job in FebruaryThey fly to Spain on February 16th. We're due to complete the project next February.

fe-ces

/'fisiz/

noun

[plural]

the solid waste that comes

out of your body

/fit/ noun [c] something impressive that someone be no mean feat does: feats of strength/ endurance/ skill (=not be easy to achieve) We've remained profitable for

feck-less

27 years, and that's no mean feat.

fe-cund /'fekand/ adj very formal 1 able to produce many babies, young animals, or new plants: fertile 2 producing many good new things — fe-cun-di-ty

feat

•

1

/'fedar/ noun [c] one of the narrow tubes with thin soft hairs on each side that cover a bird's body a. [only before noun] filled with feathers: a feather bed/pillow/ duvet

feath-er

a feather in your cap an achievement that you can feel pleased and satisfied about 2 f eath-er / 'fedar/ verb feather your nest to obtain money for yourself, usually by doing something dishonest

4

feath-er-bed-ding

/'fedar.bedin/ noun [u] the practice of employing

Uz^r

more workers than you need in

fig-lire

2

/'figjar/ verb

***

file-name / Tail nam/ noun

1 [I] to be an important part of something: + in Marriage figure prominently This doesn't figure in their plans. issue will figure prominently in the next election. 2 [i/T] informal to believe that something is true, although you do not know for certain: +(that) I figured that Joe would have received my letter by now.

it/that figures spoken 1 used for saying that something seems reasonable 2 used for saying that you are not surprised when something bad happens to you: It figures that I'd break my leg as soon as the ski season started.

figure out phrasal vb [T] 1 to be able to understand something or solve a problem: We had to figure out the + how /what /who connection between the two events. etc. / couldn't figure out what the teacher was talking about. 2 [figure sb out] to understand what someone is like and why they behave in the way they do

figure eight noun [C] Am E the shape of the number 8 fig-ure-head /'figjar hed/ noun [c] 1 a leader who has no real power or influence, especially a leader of a political party 2 a wooden model of a person attached to the front of an old-fashioned ship figure of speech noun [c] an expression in which the words are used figuratively, not in their normal literal meaning figure .skating noun [u] a type of skating in which you have to jump, spin, and move around the ice in a particular

way — 'figure-skater noun

fig-u-rine /'figjarin/ noun

[c]

fill

manager

file noun [c] computing a computer program that organizes computer files into groups and shows you where they are when you need to find them again

someone gives

and their relationship

—

fil-i-gree /'fill gri/ noun [u] delicate patterns thin gold or silver wire, used as decoration

-»C3

filings / failirjz/ noun [plural] very small pieces of metal that have been removed from a larger piece Fil-i-pi-na / fili'pina/ noun [C] a woman or girl from the

1

/filtJV verb [T]

2

/fail/ verb** 1 [T] to put a document into a container with other documents: Please file the invoices in chronological order. file sth under sth Letters of complaint are filed under

"problems." [i] if people

file

somewhere, they walk there in a

line:

+ into /across etc. filed past the podium. Students were filing into the lecture hall.

The soldiers

down

[T] to rub something with a metal 3 file or file tool in order to make it smooth or to cut it: She sat quietlyfiling her nails, file through sth They had somehow managed to file through the metal bars. 4 [T] to take official action, for example to make an

official

verb***

/fil/

fill

or

warm 2 fill

water. or fill

6

emotion strongly

8 put sth + PHRASES

in

make something

up

[i]

to

become

The bar was slowly filling with

hole

full:

in

tooth

Let

me fill

full of

something: +with

people.

Katherine's eyes

3

fill or fill in [t] to put something into a hole or gap so that the hole or gap no longer exists: We used cement to

the cracks.

fill

4

sound, smell, or light fills a place, it is very strong or noticeable: Bright sunlight filled the whole fill sth with sth The air was filled with the scent of room. [t] if

roses.

5

[t] if

someone

fills

a job or position, they are given

that job or position

6

[T] if

you

something fills you with a particular emotion, emotion very strongly: fill sb with sth The His heart was voice filled me with dread.

feel that

sound of his

filled with joy.

7

[T] if you fill a period of time, you spend it doing something: She didn't know how to fill her days. 8 [T] to repair a tooth by putting a hard substance into a hole in it: Most of my teeth have already been filled. fill

a need/gap/void/vacuum to provide something

that is missing or needed: The company is hoping to fill He wondered how he would ever fill a gap in the market. the void left by his son 's death.

Words

frequently used with

nouns

fill

apprehension, dread, fear, foreboding, horror, remorse,

6

terror, trepidation

vb 1 [T] to add information such as your or address in the empty spaces on an official document: fill out: Please fill in your name and address / spent over two hours filling in in the space provided. fill in Fill in the missing words. the application form. the blanks (= to give or learn information that is needed in order to understand something properly) We know roughly how the system works, but Brian is here to fill in the blanks. 2 [T] same as fill 3: The stream is now partly

fill

file extension noun [c] computing the second part of the name of a computer file, which tells you what kind of file it is

to

[T]

feel

7 spend time doing sth

filled with tears.

a way phrasal vb [T] to put a document away in a file: All the relevant documents are filed away with the property

down phrasal vb [T] same as file 2 3: File the edges down order to give a smooth finish. file for phrasal vb [T] [file for sth] to officially ask a court for something, for example ask them to give you a divorce or state officially that you are bankrupt

up

fill

file

in

Phil-

Crowds of spectators Tears filled her eyes. glass. The hut was filled are expected to fill the streets tonight. sth She with thick smoke. fill sth with filled the bowl with

something official, for example

file

someone from the

your

complaint: The family has filed a lawsuit against

the company. 4a. to send a report to a newspaper

[C]

make sth full 2 become full of sth 3 put sth in hole/gap 4 about sound/smell/light 5 be given job/position 1

you keep

contain

other

2

noun

Fil-i-pi«no /fili'pinoo/ ad] 1 someone who is Filipino is from the Philippines 2 relating to the Philippines or its culture

informal to steal something

—picture -> C3 3 a metal tool used for making wood or metal smooth —picture -» tool 4 a line of people walking or standing behind each file

.fili'pinoo/

/

1

information: The insurance company may want to check your medical files. +on The police file on this particular case has now been closed. keep /hold a file on sth/sb The company keeps personal on file (=kept in a file) We have files on all its employees. all your details on file. la. a set of information on a I've computer: First, you have to create a new file. forgotten the file name. 2 a box or container in which papers are kept together

they

1

2

fill

**•

because

— Fil-i-pi-na adj

Philippines

Fil-i-pi-no ippines

a small model of a person

/fail/ noun [C] a set of papers, documents, or records that

made from

filing cabinet noun [c] a tall piece of office furniture with drawers in which you keep documents —picture

thin wire inside a light bulb 1

to their parents

fil-i-bus-ter / till b\star/ noun [C] a situation in which a politician deliberately delays or prevents a proposal from becoming law by continuing to speak until the fiM-bus-ter verb [l] end of a debate

kept as a decoration

filch

name that

file

[c]

1

fil-a-ment /'filamant/ noun [C] 1 a very thin fiber, or an object that looks like a thin fiber 2 technical the

file

computing the

computer

computing a computer that stores information that can be used by people with other computers connected to the same metwork fi-let /li'lei/ another spelling of fillet ftl-i-al / filial/ adj formal concerning sons and daughters

1

[C]

[c]

to a particular

server noun

file

in phrasal

name

1

fin

513

fill filled in with weeds.

3

[T]

[fill

sb

informal to give

in]

someone details about something: My secretary will fill you in on the details. 4 [l] to do someone's job for them while they are away: stand in: +for I'm filling in for the receptionist at the moment. [T] to add information such as your ,fili out phrasal vb 1 name or address in the empty spaces on an official document: kill in: It took a long time to fill out the

2 [i] informal if someone fills out, their body becomes less thin: Sam's really filled out, hasn't he? fill up phrasal vb 1 [T] same as fill i: Jenny kept filling my glass up with champagne. 2 [I] same as fill 2: By eight o'clock the restaurant was beginning to fill up. 3 [l/T] if you fill someone up or they fill up, they eat enough food so that they no longer feel hungry: They filled me up with cakes and sandwiches. 2 fill /fil/ noun eat/drink your fill to keep eating or drinking until you are not hungry or thirsty any more have your fill of sth to experience so much of something that you do not want any more fill-er /'filar/ noun 1 [C] something that you add to a story, broadcast, article, movie, etc. only because you have space or time to fill 2 [u] a substance used for repairing holes in walls and in wood fiMet /fi'lei/ noun 1 [C] a single side of the body of a fish, with the bones removed: a salmon fillet 2 [C/U] a long thin piece of meat with no bones in it: fillet of beef 2 fi Met /ft 'lei/ verb [T] to prepare fish or meat for cooking by removing the bones fill-in noun [C] someone who does another person's application form.

1

1

1

film noir

the world caught in complicated or dangerous situations filnvstrip/'film.stnp/noun [c] 1 a series of still photographs shown on a screen in a particular order like a movie 2 a movie, especially a short movie that gives information, rather than one that tells a story filnvy /'filmi/ adj mainly literary so thin that you can see through it: sheer .filmy chiffon FMO'fax /'failoo.faeks/ trademark a book in which you write people's addresses and telephone numbers, made in a way that allows you to add and remove pages 1 fil«ter /'filtar/ noun [C] •• 1 for

2

fil-ter /'filt3r/verb*

/'filin/ adj

food that

is filling

makes you

feel

quickly

'filling

station noun

[C]

a gas station

fiMip

/'filip/ noun [singular] something that improves a situation or encourages someone: boost

fill-up noun [C] an act of filling something until it is completely full, especially the gas tank of a car fiMy /'fili/ noun [C] 1 a young female horse 2 old-fashioned a young woman. Men used to use this word, but people now consider it offensive. film 1 /film/ noun 1 C / U the material that is used for taking photographs or recording moving pictures: / need some new film for

**•

[

]

my

camera. a roll of film (=film that is held in a round metal container) I've only got one roll of film left. on film The bomb blast was captured on film. 2 [C] moving pictures that you can watch at the movie theater or at home: movie: Have you seen the new James Bond film? -(-about We watched a film about prison life. make /shoot a film The film was made on location in India. 2a. [u] the job or business of making movies: I'd love to work in film. 2b. [only before noun] relating to films or involved in making films: the film industry* the beginning of her film career 3 [C] a very thin layer of something that forms on a surface: There was a film of grease on the water. film 2 /film/ verb [l/T] * to record moving pictures using a camera: The program was filmed entirely in South Africa. We hope to start filming next week. ,film over phrasal vb [I] to become covered in a thin layer of something

'film festival noun [C] an event at which many new movies are shown in movie theaters in one town over a period of several days

film-ic /'filmik/ adj formal a filmic novel, play, etc. is like a movie, especially in the way it describes things or in the

way

it

tells

pass through a

a story

filnving /'filmin/ noun [u] the activity of making a movie or working as an actor in a movie filmmaker /'film.meikar/ noun [C] a movie director, especially an independent director who has full control over the movies he or she makes

4 go somewhere 5 about traffic

filter

2 about light/sound 3 about news/information

:

full

traffic light

or gas: a water filter 2 a glass or plastic object that you put on a camera to change the color or amount of light that passes through the lens 3 a computer program that prevents some types of information from appearing on your computer when you search the Internet 4 a filter tip 5 BrE a traffic light that gives a separate signal to traffic turning in a particular direction

1

in a tooth

filter tip

1 an object or piece of equipment that allows you to remove substances that are not wanted from a liquid

filMng 1

filMng 2

4 5

removing sth

2 on camera 3 on computer

work while they are away / Tilirj / noun 1 [C/U] the cream, fruit, etc. that forms the inside part of a cake or pie a pie with cherry filling 1a. the substance that forms the inside part of something that is soft and made of cloth: stuffing 2 [C] a small mass of metal or plastic used for filling a hole

/.film 'nwar/ noun [u] movies that present as a sad place in which the characters are

1

to pass

[T]

gradually

+ PHRASES

something through a

filter to

remove

particular things contained in it: All e-mails are automatically filtered through our virus software. 2 [l] l+through/in/into, etc.] if light or sound filters into a place, only a little of it enters that place: The August sunlight filtered in through the blinds. The noise of the traffic filtered

3

through the heavy curtains.

[+through/ out/back, etc.] if news or information filters out or through to people, they receive it gradually or after a period of time: News of the decision filtered out to reporters. These new ideas have not yet filtered down [I]

to the salespeople.

4

[I]

[+in/into/out etc.] if people filter

gradually go there: At

7:00

somewhere, they

people began

to filter into the

theater.

5

[I]

left

BrE

when

if traffic filters

somewhere,

it

a separate traffic light gives

turns right or the signal to

it

go

out phrasal vb [T] 1 to remove something that is not wanted using a filter: Reed beds filter out much of the pollution. 2 to remove things from a group: At the first meeting we filter out many of the candidates. 'filter tip noun [C] an object at the end of a cigarette that removes some of the harmful chemicals from the

.filter

smoke

a.

a cigarette with a

filter tip

— filter- .tipped

adj

filth /fil6/ noun [U] 1 informal words or pictures that are very offensive, usually because they deal with sex in an unpleasant way 2 dirt that is especially unpleasant, usually because there is a lot of it 1

filth.y /'fiiei/adj* 1 very dirty 2 informal very offensive, usually because of dealing with sex in an unpleasant way .filthy language 3 BrE informal filthy weather is very unpleasant, usually because there is a lot of rain or snow and wind: filth-i-ly adv, filth-i-ness noun [U] FOUL 2 filtlvy /TilGi/ adv informal filthy dirty extremely dirty filthy rich very rich fil-tra-tion /fil'treifn/ noun [u] science the process of removing something from a substance by passing the substance through a filter fin /fin/ noun [C] 1 a thin flat part on the body of a fish that sticks out 2 a part on the back of an aircraft that sticks out and helps it to move smoothly 3 a thin flat part on the back of a vehicle that is used for decoration 4 Am E informal a five-dollar bill

—

finagle

•••

1

fi-nal

/'fainl/adj existing as the result of a long process: The final score was 21-14. Changes to the production process will not affect the final product. These issues will all be discussed in the final report. 2 [only before noun] last in a series: last: the final episode The final payment is due of this exciting drama series We have time for one final question. next month. 3 [only before noun] showing that something has finished: We scored the winning points as the final buzzer sounded. 1

4

[only before noun)

if

something is

final,

it

2

••

fi-nal /'faml/ noun [c] 1 the last game, race, etc. in a competition. The winner of the final is the winner of the whole competition: Last year the team made it all the way to the final. the World Cup Final finals (=the last few games, races, etc. in a competition) Did you qualify for the Olympic Finals? 2 Am E the last examination that students take before they finish a class at a school or university 3 finals [plural] BrE the last set of examinations that students take before they finish at a college or university: I've got my finals next month.

final-e

/fi'naeli; fi'nali/ noun [c] 1 the last part of a performance, usually one that involves a lot of performers singing or dancing together 2 the last event in a series of events, especially one that is very exciting or impressive

fi-nal-ist /'fam(3)list/ noun [c] a player or team that takes part in the final game in a competition f inality /fai'naelati/ noun [u] formal the fact or feeling that something has ended and has no possible future: the finality of death There was a terrible air of finality

about the whole occasion. f inalize / faml.aiz/ verb [t] to

make the final decisions or arrangements concerning something: We still need to finalize a few details.— Vfna\'\'za-\\on I famli'zeifn/noun [U]

•*•

f inally / fam(3)li/ adv 1 after a long time, process, or series of events:

finally arrived

me go on

We

home at midnight. My father finally agreed the trip.

2

as the last thing that you want to say: Finally, I'd like thank everyone for coming this evening. if something is decided or agreed finally, it is decided in a way that cannot be changed: The exact amount has not been finally decided. Final Solution, the noun a plan made by the Nazis during World War II to kill all the Jews in Europe to

3 formal

finance

1

/'fainaens, fi'nans/ noun

[u] decisions

on how money

•••

spent or invested: He's studying international banking and finance. the company's finance committee 2 finances [plural] the money that is used to pay for something such as a large project: It is unclear where the finances will comefrom for this plan. The college may have to close because of a lack offinances. 2a. your finances are how much money you have and how well you spend it or save it: Students need to be taught how to handle their finances. My finances are in a terrible mess at the moment. 1

is

fi-nance 2

•••

/'fai.naens, fi'naens/ verb [t] to pay for something such as a large project: The scheme is being financed by private enterprise.

finance .company noun [c] a money to companies financial /fi'naenfl, fai'nsnjl/ money: banks and other financial

business that lends adj

•••

institutions

—

cially.

financial year noun [c] BrE a period of twelve months that a company or organization uses to calculate how much profit it has made and how much it owes.

Am E fiscal year fin-an«cier /fman'sir/ noun

[c]

a person or an organ-

manages or lends large amounts

/'famaensin/ noun [u] the

money

that you borrow to buy something large, start a business, or keep an organization running: We need to find some new sources offinancing for the company.

finch /fmtJV noun beak. There are

find

1

verb 1

/faind/ [T]

[C]

many

a small bird with a short thick types of finches.

(past tense and past participle found

/faund/)

•••

discover (by searching)

2 get sth 3 experience emotion 4 have as opinion

etc.

5 make formal decision 6 have enough of sth + PHRASES

1 to discover something or see where it is by searching for it: The police have found a weapon. Illegal drugs were in the singer's luggage. * I can't find my shoes! 1a. to discover something by chance: Everyone dreanu offinding something valuable in the attic. I finally found that CD I've been looking for! 1b. to discover or notice something: We arrived to find the house in darkness. find sb doing sth Ifound her wandering the streets in a complete daze. 1c. to discover a fact or piece of information: We hope to find the answers to some of these questions. No explanation for this phenomenon has yet been found. 1d. to suddenly discover or realize something: + (that) / put my hand into my pocket and found I'd left my keys at home. 1e. be found if something is found in a particular place, it lives, grows, or exists there: a rare flower found only in the French Alps The lowest rates of smoking are found in people aged 60 or over. Specialty foods can be found at your local delicatessen. 2 to get something: Have you found a place to live yet? find work /employment/a job It is very difficult for young

found

people in this area to find work. 3 to experience an emotion that you have not experienced in the past: He found happiness late in life with his second wife. Doug finally found the courage to speak. 3a. to experience something in a particular way: find sth difficult/frightening/relaxing etc. William now finds walking very difficult. * find sb attractive /irritating etc. Men always found her extremely attractive. 4 to have something as an opinion because of things you have noticed or experienced yourself: + (that) I find that children need a lot of encouragement. 5 to make a formal decision about something after listening to all the facts: + (that) The court found that the company was in breach of its contract, find sb guilty/ not guilty //e was found guilty and sentenced to three years in prison. find in sb's favor (^decide that someone is right) After three hours of deliberation, the jury found in our find against sb (=decide that someone is wrong) favor. The court found against the plaintiff. 6 if you find the time or money to do something, you have enough time or money to do it: We have to find some extra money by Friday. / never seem to find time to read these days. find its way if something finds its way somewhere, it is in that place but you do not know how it arrived there: Somehow the letter had found its way onto my boss's desk.

find

your

feet to start to feel confident

and able

to deal

with something find yourself somewhere or find yourself doing sth to realize that you are in a place or doing something without really intending or planning to: Later that evening Ifound myself back at Jason 's apartment. Ifound myself agreeing with everything she said. find your way if you find your way somewhere, you to get to that place: She managed to find her way-

manage home.

involving

financial services We offer a range offinancial services. financial adviser She is an independent financial adviser. fi«nan-cial'ly adv: The decision does not affect us finan-

ization that

financing

cannot be changed: The editor's

decision is final. the final decision/say The board will have the final say over who is appointed.

to let

find

514

fi-na-gle /fi'neigl/ verb [i/t] informal to get something by tricking people or behaving in an unfair way

of

money

find out phrasal vb 1 [i/T] to discover a fact or piece of information: We may never find out the truth about what happened. +who/what/why The police are determined + (that) Her parents found to find out who killed Louise. out that she had a boyfriend. + about / don 1 want anyone else to find out about this. 2 [T] [find sb out] to discover that someone has been dishonest or deceitful: It was only a matter of time before someone found him out.

find 2 /faind/ noun [c] * something good, interesting, or valuable that you find by chance: The statue could be one of the finds of the century. a real find Our new babysitter is

a real find.

finder

fingerprint

515

find-er /'faindar/ noun [C] someone who finds something, especially something valuable that someone else has lost finders keepers (losers weepers) informal used for saying that if you have found something accidentally, you are allowed to keep it fin de sie-cle / fx da 'sjekb/ adj from the last years of

fine-ly /'fainli/adv • 1 into very small pieces: Add one onion, finely chopped. 2 with the great care and skill that is needed to produce something excellent: a finely crafted novel 3 if something such as a situation or a game is finely balanced or finely poised, it is impossible to guess how it

end

will

the 19th century, or typical of that period's reputation as a time of immoral behavior and doubt information that findings /'famdinz/ noun [plural] you discover or opinions that you form after doing research: The government seems to have ignored the findings of its own report.

,fine 'print noun [u] important details of an agreement that are usually printed in very small letters: small

fine /fain/ adj ••• 1 if something is fine, it is good enough and acceptable to you: "Is your room all right?" "Yes, fine, thanks."* "Is +for I'm it okay if we join you later?" "Yes, that's fine."

fi-nesse

•*

1

not very hungry. A sandwich will be fine for me. fine by sb (^acceptable to sb) If that's what he wants, that's fine by me. la. of very good quality: one of the city's finest Victorian buildings She has a remarkably fine singing voice, tfine clothes /food I wine lb. a fine person is good and honest: Mr. Fox was a very fine man. 1c. if you are

your health is good and you have no problems: "How are you?" "Fine, thanks."* Sarah's been very sick, Your blood pressure is absolutely fine. but she's fine now. Id. if the weather is fine, it is sunny and not raining: a fine afternoon for a picnic We'll go to the beach tomorrow fine,

if the

weather's fine.

2 very thin and narrow, not thick or heavy: / have

very

Everything was covered in a fine layer of dust. The rain had slowed to a fine drizzle. 2a. a fine substance is made up of very small pieces: fine sand /gravel/ soil 2b. if someone has fine features, their eyes, nose, etc. look small and delicate: an attractive girl with fine features 2c. fine details are small and sometimes diffine hair.

seems a very fine distinction to make. details/ points He spent hours explaining the finer

ficult to notice: It fine

details of the plan.

a fine figure of a man/woman a man or woman with a strong attractive body a fine line between if there is a fine line between two things, they seem very similar and it is difficult to see a difference between them: There's a very fine line between personal ambition and ruthlessness. finer feelings your finer feelings are feelings such as love, loyalty,

appeal

and care

for others:

Matthew knows how

to

to people's finer feelings.

not to put too fine a point on it used before saying something in a very direct way that may seem rude: Emily is, not to put too fine a point on it, a liar. 2 fine /fain/ adv informal ** in a way that is acceptable and good enough: My car's running fine now. Don't worry if you can't work as quickly as the others, you're doing fine. do (sb) fine (=be enough for someone) A bowl of soup will do me fine. it fine to leave only just enough time to complete something or arrive somewhere 3 fine /fain/ noun [C] ** an amount of money that you have to pay because you have broken the law: He had to pay a hefty fine. * I got a $100 fine for speeding. Companies could face fines of up to $100,000. The court

cut

has the right

Words

to

impose heavy fines.

frequently used with fine

adjectives

heavy, hefty, large,

verbs

face, get, pay, receive

stiff,

substantial

4

fine /fain/ verb [T] * to make someone pay an amount of money as punishment for breaking the law: fine sb for (doing) sth She was fined for speeding. .fine 'art noun [u] objects such as paintings that are created to be looked at because they are beautiful or interesting

have /get something down to a fine art informal to be or become very good at doing something, especially something difficult the fine arts activities in which people create beautiful or interesting objects, for example painting and sculpture

print [u] beautiful clothes and jewelry, especially the sort that people wear only on special

fin-er-y/'famari/noun occasions 1

/fi'nes/ noun [u] 1 a delicate and skillful quality in the way you move or handle something 2 skill in dealing with difficult situations, especially situations in which you might easily offend people

fi-nesse 2

/fi'nes/ verb [i/t] to get something by dealing with people and situations in a skillful way fine-tooth comb or fine-toothed comb noun [C] a comb with very thin parts and very narrow spaces

between them with a fine-tooth comb very carefully, so that you notice or find everything

fine-tune in order to

verb

[T]

make

to

it

make small changes

to

something

as good or effective as possible

fin-ger /'firjgar/ noun [C] *** 1 your fingers are the long thin parts on the end of your hands: He had long bony fingers. She ran her fingers 1

over the smooth wood. la. the part of a piece of clothing that covers one of your fingers: the fingers of her glove 2 a long thin piece of something: Serve with fingers of toast.

be

all fingers

and thumbs

to

be unable to do a small

because you cannot control your fingers enough burn your fingers or get your fingers burned to suffer, especially by losing money, because you became involved in something that was not successful: A lot of difficult job

well

small investors got their fingers burned. cross your fingers or keep your fingers crossed to hope that things will happen in the way you want them to. People sometimes put one of their fingers over another one to show this hope. give sb the finger to express anger at someone in a very rude way by holding up your longest finger toward them with your palm facing you have a finger in every pie informal to be involved in a lot of different things snap/click your fingers to make a sound by rubbing one of your fingers quickly against your thumb, usually in order to attract someone's attention -> LAY POINT2 PULSE SLIP WORK 1

1

,

,

1

,

1

,

2

fin«ger /'firjgar/ verb [T] 1 to touch or feel something with your fingers: He nervously fingered the knife. 2 informal to tell the police that someone has committed a crime 'finger bowl noun [c] a small bowl filled with water and placed on a table so you can wash your fingers after you have eaten fin-ger-ing/'firjgann/noun [c/u] the positions of your fingers and the way you move them when you are playing a musical instrument fin-ger-nail /'fingsr.neil/ noun [C] any of the hard smooth parts that cover the ends of your fingers

hang on by your fingernails to just manage to avoid failure or danger fin-ger-plate /'firjgar.pleit/ noun [c] BrE a flat piece of metal fixed to a door near the handle to protect the door from dirty marks from fingers

fin-ger-print 1 /'fingar'pnnt/ noun [C] a mark that you leave on something when you touch it, showing the pattern of lines on the skin of your fingers sb's fingerprints are on/all over sth used for saying that you can see someone's influence on something fin-ger-print 2 /'fingar'prmt/ verb [T] if the police fingerprint someone, they make a copy of their fingerprints

fingertip fin-ger-tip

516 /

fnjgar.tip/ noun [c] the end of your finger

your fingertips 1 near you or available for you to use immediately: He has all the information he needs at

at

2

you have a subject at your fingertips, you have a thorough knowledge of it and can give useful information to others whenever they ask for it to your fingertips if you are a particular type of person to your fingertips, you are a perfect example of that his fingertips.

if

type of person, in every detail /'finiki/ adj 1 liking things only when they are correct in every detail: Some children are finicky 2 more complicated than necessary and difficult to deal with

fin-ick-y eaters.

c

1

finish /'fmiJVverb

***

finish or finish off [i/T] to do the last part of something so that it is complete: I've nearly finished my work. / wish you'd let me finish my sentence! finish doing sth She had just finished dressing the children when the phone rang. la. to stop happening: All classes finish at noon today. The game finished with the score tied 2 finish or finish off or finish up [T] to eat, drink, or use all of something so that there is none left: We finished a bottle of wine between us. 3 [l/T] to be in a particular position at the end of a race or competition: finish first/second etc. She finished fifth. 1

fire

fink

1

/link/ noun [C] informal a person you dislike, especially because they give information to the police

fink 2 /fink/ verb [1] informal to give the police information about someone: fink on sb We had one rule: You never finked on a friend.

Finn

/fin/ noun [C]

Finn-ish

someone from Finland someone who is Finnish

/'finiJV adj 1

2

Finland

relating to Finland culture: a Finnish folk tale

fiord

or

its

is

from

language or

/another spelling of fjord tall tree with thin sharp leaves that do not fall off in winter. It produces brown woody fruits called cones and can be called a fir or a fir tree. a. [u the wood of a fir tree —picture -» C9 1 fire /fair/ noun /fi'ord; fjord

fir /f3r/

noun

[C]

a

•••

uncontrolled burning

1

2 controlled burning 3 shooting with gun

4 strong feeling 5 equipment for heating + PHRASES

.

4

rub a surface or put a substance on it to smooth and attractive: The table was beautifully

to

[T]

make

it

finished.

the finishing touch/touches the last small details that make something complete finish off phrasal vb 1 [l/T] same as finish i: They hired a smaller company to finish off the job. I just need to finish 1 off a few things first. 2 [T] same as finish 2: Do you want to finish off these sandwiches? 3 [T] informal to kill someone: It was the drink that really finished him off. 4 [T] informal to make someone feel extremely tired: That walk around the lake just about finished me 1

off!

up phrasal vb 1 [I] to be in a particular place or situation at the end of a long series of events: She eventually finished up in Boston. + 1 always finish up doing most of the work. 2 [T] same as finish 2: Finish up your drinks, please. finish with phrasal vb [T] 1 [finish with sth] if you are finished with something, you have stopped using it and no longer need it: When you're finished with the sponge, simply rinse it in cold water. 2 [finish with sb] informal to end a relationship with someone so that they are no longer your boyfriend or girlfriend

.finish

1

fin-ish

2

/'fmijV noun [c] the end of something:

**

A swim in the ocean seemed like a perfect finish to the day. / didn't see the finish of the race. from start to finish The vacation was absolute bliss from start to finish. a close/tight finish Turnbull came in second in a very close finish. 2 the appearance of a surface, for example whether it is smooth or rough: Sand the wood thoroughly for a nice smooth finish. a mat/ shiny / glossy finish 1

finished

/'fmijt/ adj

*

1 something that is finished has been completed: We can move in as soon as construction is finished. None of the paintings looked finished to me. the finished product/ goods It will be nice to see the finished product after all

these months of work. 2 [never before noun] if

pleted the job that minute.

3

1 [C/U] flames and heat from something that is burning an uncontrolled way: The school was badly damaged by fire. Three children died in a fire at their home last night. be destroyed by fire The theater was completely destroyed by fire. start a fire It is thought that lightning may have started the fire. fight /tackle /put out a fire Twenty firefighters tackled the fire. a fire breaks out 43 people died when afire broke out in a Paris nightclub. a forest fire The hot dry weather has increased the risk of

in

forest fires.

2 [C] make

a small pile of burning wood, coal, etc. that you in order to produce heat: a coal fire make/build a fire We went off to collect wood to build afire. light a fire Once the fire was lit, the room seemed more cozy. a blazing/roaring fire We sat in front of a blazing log fire. 3 [U] shots from a gun: We heard a sudden loud burst of machine-gun fire. The police arrived on the scene, and there was an exchange offire. 4 [U] formal strong feelings especially anger or enthusiasm: His words were full offire and passion. 5 [C] Br E a piece of equipment that uses electricity or gas to heat a room

catch

come under

burning: The car overturned and caught

to be criticized: The government will come under fire again when the latest employment figures are released. 2 to be attacked with guns: British troops came under fire again yesterday. draw fire to be severely criticized: The proposed merger is drawing fire from all sides. fight fire with fire to criticize someone who is criticizing you: The President answered his critics by fighting fire 1

fire with fire. hold fire 1 to

wait before you take action: The Federal Reserve has decided to hold fire and not raise interest rates right now. 2 to not shoot at someone: He ordered his men to hold their fire. in the line of fire 1 in a position where you will be hurt if someone shoots a gun: If anyone had started shooting, we would have been right in the line offire. 2 if you are in the line of fire, you are the person who is likely to be criticized for

on

fire

something

burning: The building was

you are no longer able to continue doing something, for example because you do not have any money or because people no longer trust you: Once the scandal breaks, he'll be [never before noun] informal if you are finished,

time or distance: The world's finite resources must be used wisely. 2 linguistics a finite verb is a form of a verb that matches the form of other words in a sentence

something start an old truck,

set fire to

-» LIGHT 3 2

fire /fair/ verb shoot a

•*•

weapon

2 make sb leave their job 3 when engine starts

,skul/ noun

finite /'fai.nait/ adj 1 formal existing only in limited numbers or amounts or continuing only for a limited

:

burning: A group of teenagers had —picture -» burn

1

[C/U] oldfashioned an expensive private school that teaches women young the skills needed to be successful in upper class society

A gunman opened

to start shooting at someone fire in a crowded shopping mall. set fire to sth or set sth on fire to make

finished as a politician. /'finijin

on fire three hours

still

later.

open fire

you are finished, you have comyou were doing: I'll be finished in a

finishing school

fire to start

fire.

1

[l/T] if

4 bake clay 5 ask sb a question + PHRASES

a weapon fires or someone fires

it,

someone

uses it to shoot: She squeezed the trigger, but the gun failed to fire. + at Jed lifted his rifle and fired at the target. + on/upon The police threatened to fire on demonstrators. fire a gun /weapon The rebels fired their machine guns into the air. fire a bullet/round/shot/missile etc. Several shots were fired, and three men were seen running away.

alarm

fire

firewood

517

bonfire

fire .drill noun [C] an occasion when all the people in a building pretend there is a fire inside and practice getting out safely fired up adj informal very excited and enthusiastic fire- .eater noun [c] an entertainer who does tricks with fire,' including putting burning sticks into their mouth

fireplace

.engine noun [C) a large road vehicle that firefighters use for driving to a fire and carrying the equipment they need fire e scape noun [C] a metal staircase on the outside fire

wall of a building that people use to get out of the building when there is a fire inside

ex tinguisher noun [c] a metal container filled with water or a chemical that you pour onto a fire to stop it burning fire-fight-er /'fair.faitar/ noun [c] someone whose job is to put out fires and help people to escape from other dangerous situations— fire-fight-ing noun [u] fire«fly /'fair.flai/ noun [C] an insect that produces a

'fire

flashing light

fire-guard

when

it flies

at night: lightning bug

/'fair.gard/ noun [C] mainly

BrE

a

fire-

screen

.hose noun [C] a long thick rubber tube used for sending water onto a fire to stop it burning fire-house /'fair.haus/ noun [c] Am E a fire station 'fire .hydrant noun [c] a water pipe in a street from which water is taken to stop a fire 'fire .irons noun [plural] tools that you use for putting pieces of wood or coal onto a fire fire-light /'fair.lait/ noun [u] the light that a fire produces fire-man /'fairman/ noun [c] a male firefighter fire-place /'fair.pleis/ noun [c] * a place in a room where a fire burns a. a frame around a fireplace, which is sometimes impressive or part of a room's decoration —picture -» fire fire-plug /Tair.plAg/ noun [C] a fire hydrant fire«pow»er /'fair paor/ noun [u] 1 the weapons available to use against an enemy: NATO's firepower 2 mainly journalism the amount of money or skills 'fire

someone who is shooting at you) The gunmen fired, and the police fired back. 2 [T] to make someone leave their job, sometimes as a punishment: She was fired for refusing to comply with

fire

back (=shoot

safety regulations.

at

He's the person responsible for hiring

and firing. 3 [I] if an engine fires, it starts to work 4 [T] to bake clay at a very high temperature so that it becomes very hard 5 [t] to ask someone a question, especially one that is difficult for them to answer: fire questions at sb Reporters fired questions at her as she fire

away used

for giving

left

the court house.

someone permission

to

ask a

question

imagination to make someone feel very interested in something and excited about it fire sb with enthusiasm to make someone feel very fire sb's

enthusiastic firing on all cylinders putting a lot of energy into doing something

and

effort

off phrasal vb [t] 1 to quickly send a message or give instructions: / sat down and fired off a letter to the newspaper. 2 to shoot with a gun or other weapon: The British ship fired off a few warning shots. fire up phrasal vb [T] to make someone feel very enthusiastic: She's all fired up about this new course she's taking.

,fire

*

a piece of equipment that makes a larm noun [C] a loud noise to warn people that there is a fire and that they must leave the building

'fire

fire-arm /'fair.arm/ noun [c] formal a gun, especially a small gun that you hold in one hand fire-ball /'fair.bDl/ noun [C] 1 a burning cloud of gas at the center of a nuclear explosion 2 informal a ball of FIRE

fire-bomb / 'fair.bam/ noun [c] a bomb that is designed to start a fire when it explodes —firebomb verb [T] fire-brand /'fair.braend/ noun [c] someone who has strong feelings, especially about politics, and wants to change things or encourage other people to feel the same a. someone who has strong feelings of anger or enthusiasm and often expresses them

fire-break /'fair ,breik/ noun [c] a narrow area of land from which all the trees and bushes have been removed in order to prevent fires from spreading from one part of the countryside to another

fire-bug /Tair.bAg/ noun

who

[C]

AmE

fire-crack-er / 'fair.krakar/ noun that

informal someone

deliberately starts fires

makes loud noises when

it

a kind of firework explodes [c]

AmE

department noun [c] * an organization of people whose job is dealing with fires in a particular town or area. Br E fire brigade

'fire

'fire

door

prevent

noun [c] a very strong door that you close to from spreading from one room to another

fire

AmE

available: financial/ intellectual firepower

fire-proof /'fair.pruf/ adj a fireproof object cannot be damaged by fire fire-re-tar-dant /'fair n.tardnt/ adj fire-retardant cloth has chemicals in it that make it difficult to burn 'fire .sale noun [c] an occasion when goods are sold at low prices because a shop or factory has been damaged by fire a. an occasion when something is sold for a very low price 'fire .screen noun [c] a screen that you put in front of a fire as a decoration or for safety fire-side / 'fair.said/ noun [c] the part of a room near a fire: a fireside chair .fireside 'chat noun [C] Am E an informal broadcast by the president or another politician 'fire .station noun [c] the building where firefighters have their office and keep their vehicles and equipment fire-storm /'fair.starm/ noun [C] 1 a very large fire that is caused by bombs 2 mainly journalism a sudden expression of strong protests or criticism

through an area of woods or countryside, used by firefighters if there is a fire, and also by people walking or riding bicycles fire-trap /'fair.traep/ noun [c] a building that would burn easily or would be difficult to get out of if there was a fire 'fire .truck noun [C] AmE a fire engine

'fire .trail noun [c] Australian a path

fire-wall /'fair.wol/ noun [c] 1 a wall built to stop a fire from spreading from one area of a building to another area 2 computing a computer program that prevents people from entering a computer system illegally and stealing information or causing damage fire-wa-ter /'fair.wotar/ noun [u] informal any strong alcoholic drink fire-wood /'fair.wod/ noun [u] wood used as fuel for a fire

firework fire-

work

*

first first /f3rst/ function word

an object that explodes when you and produces colored lights and loud noises: a

[C usually plural]

1

light

o

518 /Tair,w3rk/ noun

it

***

First can be used in the following ways:

number: This

the first car I've ever owned.

fireworks display/ party

as a

2 fireworks

as a pronoun: It's often tougher for a team in their second year than their first.

mainly journalism signs of strong emotions or impressive skills: Any fireworks will come They're a good team, but don't expect later in the trial. any fireworks. fir-ing line /'fainn ,lam/ noun be in/out of the firing line 1 to be/not be criticized or blamed: After any defeat, their manager is always in the firing line. 2 to be/ not be in danger fir-ing squad /'fainn ,skwad/ noun [c] a group of soldiers who shoot and kill someone as a punishment

firm 1 /f3rm/

[plural]

adj

**•

solid but not hard: The ground beneath our feet was / sleep better on a firm fairly firm and not too muddy. mattress. *firm, ripe tomatoes opposite soft 2 steady and fixed in place: Make sure the ladder is firm before you start to climb. 2a. steady and not likely to change: The dollar remained firm against the yen today. 1

—

—

Opposite UNSTABLE 3 definite and not likely to change: Have you set a firm date for the meeting?* a firm commitment We want a firm commitment that resources will be provided. a firm belief/ conviction It is my firm belief that we must encourage debate. a firm believer Mark's a firm believer in discipline a firm favorite The Rams are firm favorites for children. to take the title this year. 3a. definite and reliable: firm evidence No firm evidence links pollution with asthma. firm news All we have at the moment is rumors, no firm news. 4 showing that you are in control of a situation and will not be easily forced to do something: Her staff regard What the party needs now is firm her as firm but fair. leadership. be firm with sb You sometimes have to be firm take firm action The government with young children. must take firm action to stop the fighting. 4a. physically or mentally strong: She took a firm hold of the stick and Her handshake was firm and her smile pulled hard. warm. Bruce put a firm hand on my arm. 4b. hold firm to sth to continue to believe in or support something despite pressure from other people: NATO held firm to their policy on aggression. 4c. stand firm to refuse to change your opinion or policy despite pressure from other people: They are standing firm against pressure from the rest of Europe. 4d. take a firm stand/line to state your opinion and refuse to change it: The government has taken a firm line on illegal immigration.

a firm hand if someone needs a firm hand, they need firm-ly adv: I firmly be controlled in a strict way believe that we must act at once. firm-ness noun [u] firm 2 /f3rm/ noun [C] ** a business or company: a building / engineering / law firm a large firm She works to

—

for a large firm. lawyers

—

+of a firm of accountants /architects/

firm 3 /f3rm/ verb 1 [T] to make something more solid and strong: Gently firm the earth around the new plants. literary to become or appear stronger Anna 'sjaw 1a. to become firmed as she thought of what she must do. 2 [

I

]

:

[

less likely to change:

l

]

Share prices have firmed for the

fourth day in a row.

up phrasal vb 1 [i/T] become more definite or make something more definite: Negotiators will meet later this week to firm up the deal. Voting preferences have firmed up over the past few months. 2 [T] to make the muscles in a part of your body stronger 2a. to give someone or something what they need in order to be stronger: They've agreed to firm up their peacekeeping force. fir-ma-ment, the /'fsrmamsnt/ noun 1 literary the sky 2 mainly journalism the most famous or important people in an area of activity: the stars of the tennis firmament 'firm friends noun [plural] very good friends firm 'offer noun [c] a definite offer to buy something

.firm

for a particular price

firm-ware /'f3rm,wer/ noun for a

[u]

computing instructions

computer that are stored in a memory unit rather

than in software

is

as an adverb: Speak to

me first,

before you do anything.

as a sentence adverb (making a comment on the whole sentence or clause): First, I want to explain the purpose of this meeting. as a noun: That

visit

was a first for me.

before any others or before everything else la. coming, happening, or starting before all the others He has two daughters from his first marriage and a son 1

Julia got there first, but Susan arrived his second. / was first in line so I think I just a few minutes later. should be served first. the first The lecture is the first in a series that will be presented at the university. 1b. if you

from

do something first, you do it before you do anything else: go around the room and introduce ourselves. Can't I just finish reading this article first? 1c. used for

First, let's

introducing the thing that comes before the others in a list: There is a strict procedure you must follow: make sure the safety catch is on. 1d. used for referring to a thing or place that you reach before any other when you are going somewhere: Take the first road on the right. It's the first house that you come to. 2 never done before 2a. used for referring to something that has never happened before, or has not happened since a particular time: This will be Kenny's first trip overseas. I first met him in 1980. the first The strike the first time / is the first in the industry since 1987. remember the first time I went to church. 2b. the first for referring to someone who does something that used no one has ever done before, or that no one has done since a particular time: Who was the first man on the moon? "Has anyone else visited you?" "No, you're the first, "the first to do sth Hillary and Norgay were the first to climb Everest. 2c. a first something that has never happened before and is therefore important or exciting: He cooked me a meal, which was a first for him. 3 at the beginning of something 3a. at the beginning of a period of time, a situation, an activity, etc.: They borrowed $65 million to cover the first six months of 1993. When I first started running, I could do a mile in nine minutes. The first few days of our vacation were wonseries or

first

derful.

4 more

important than anyone or anything else 4a. used for giving an important fact or reason that will be followed by other less important facts: There are four reasons. First, the company has to make money. 4b. used for referring to the main or most important Our first consideration thing: His first love was music. must be the safety of the passengers. 5 better than anyone or anything else better than anyone or anything else in a game, competition, etc.: Karen has always been first in her class. come first Phil Gray came first in the under-12 competition. first prize/ place Crowe's book of poems won first prize in last year's competition.

6

university degree in the U.K. and Australia, the highest grade for an undergraduate degree from a university: get a first in sth He got a first in maths from Imperial College. 7 the lowest gear used for referring to the lowest gear of a car, bicycle, the car in first.

etc.: Shift

down

to first gear.

Now put

at first in the beginning before something changes: At first he wouldn 't even talk about it. at first sight/glance at the moment when you first see something or find out about something, before you know more details: At first glance, the theory seems to

make a lot of sense. There was nothing especially attractive about him at first sight. come first to be the most important person or thing to someone: My children will always come first, and they know that. +with Does business always come first with Luke? first and foremost used for emphasizing the main point or the most important reason for something: He was first and foremost an educator who cared about his students.

"

first aid

when other people already know about it thing (in the morning) at the very beginning of

cially first

the day

would win.

the first that they

in the first instance Br E formal at the beginning of a series of actions: These scholarships will normally be awarded for one year in the first instance, with a likely extension. 1 used for stating the most basic reason for something: There were several reasons he couldn 't sleep. In the first place. Peg snored. 2 at the beginning of a situation: If you don't like her, why invite

in the first place

her in the first place? make the first move to take action before anyone else not know the first thing/not have the first idea about sth to not know anything about a subject or not have the skills to do something put sb/sth first to decide that someone or something is more important than anything else: / always put my marriage first. noun [u] basic medical treatment given as soon as someone is injured or becomes sick first aid-er / ,f3rst 'eidar/ noun [c] BrE someone who

.first 'aid

is

trained to give

aid

first

aid .kit noun [C] a small box or bag with the things you would need to treat someone if they were injured or suddenly became sick

.first

Amendment,

the the part of the U.S. Con stitution that says that people have the right to express their opinions publicly, to practice their own religion, and to meet together in groups

First

'base noun [singular] 1 in the game of baseball, the first of four places the batter must run to after hitting the ball 1a. the position played by the person who guards first base 2 the first successful step in an attempt to achieve something: get to/ past first base Our project never got to first base.

.first

get to first base

Am E

/'fsrst.born/ someone's first child

'class

informal old-fashioned to kiss

1

noun

[u]

noun

[singular]

old-fashioned

*

the best and most expensive seats on an airplane or train, or the best and most expensive accommodation (=place to sleep) on a ship: He's sitting in first class. 2 the class of mail that is used for sending letters 1

2

first class or first- class adj * 1 relating to the best and most expensive seats on an airplane or a train, or the best and most expensive accommodation on a ship: a first-class ticket The price includes first-class rail travel to Paris. 2 relating to the class of mail that is used for sending letters

3

of the best quality or the highest standard: a

class hotel

first-

first-class service 3

'class

adv using the most expensive form of transport or mail: She always travels first class.

.first

'cousin noun

a child of your aunt or uncle first-de gree adj 1 a first-degree murder is the most serious type, in which someone deliberately plans

.first

someone 2 a first-degree burn

is

reading

the least serious

type first edition noun [c] one of the first printed copies of a book a. one of the first printed copies of a newspaper published for a particular day b. the first set of printed copies of a new magazine, newspaper, etc.

First 'Family,

the noun

the family of the president of

the U.S.

AmE

the floor of a building .first 'floor, the noun 1 which is at the same level as the ground outside. Br ground floor: ground floor: The lobby is on the first floor. 2 BrE the second floor of a building

E

.first 'footing noun [u] Scottish the tradition in Scotland of visiting people as soon as the New Year starts .first fruits an activity

noun

[plural]

the

first

successful results of

.first 'gear noun [u] the lowest gear in a vehicle, for starting or moving slowly

gene ration who were

people

and

noun

the

[singular]

first

1

used

the generation of

from their country

to

come

people to do something: Two thirds of the first generation of mill workers were women. 2 the first type of a particular machine or piece of equipment to be produced: the first-gene ration ady.firstfirst generation of cell phones generation immigrants a first-generation satellite /computer game live in

another country 1a. the

first

—

noun [C] * the first part of a sports match first-hand or first-hand /,f3rst'h C9 2 a plant that is grown because its flowers are attractive: I'm going to plant more flowers in the front yard this year.

the flower of sth literary the best part or best example of something: Men were killed in the flower of their youth. flow«er 2 /'flaur/ verb [i] 1 if a plant flowers, it produces flowers 2 to become more successful and completely developed: His musical talent flowered in his twenties.

'flower ar ranging noun [u] the skill of arranging flowers in an attractive way to use for decoration flow*er*bed /'flaor.bed/ noun [c] an area in a yard or park where flowers are grown —picture -» ci

flow*ered

/'flaord/ adj decorated with a pattern of flowers: a flowered sundress —picture -» C4

flower

noun

,girl

[c]

a young girl

who

carries flowers

wedding ceremony

flow-ening

1

/'flooin/ adj (usually before noun) 1 flowing clothes or hair hang in an attractive way: The women wore long flowing skirts. 2 flowing water is moving along: a fast-flowing stream

flown the past participle of fly flow sheet noun [c] Am E a flow 1

chart oz. abbrev fluid ounce flu /flu/ noun [u] * a very common infectious disease that lasts a short time and makes you feel hot or cold, weak, and tired: influenza: He's in bed with flu. the flu

fl.

I've

/'flaonn/

adj [only before noun]

a flowering

plant produces flowers 2

flow»er«ing /'flaonn/ noun [c] the time when something becomes successful and completely developed: the flowering of modern democracy

flow-er-pot /'flaur.pat/ noun [C] a container in which plants are grown 'flower power noun [u] the idea that war is wrong, that love is important, and that money and possessions are not important. This word was used especially about the ideas of hippies in the 1960s and 1970s. flow«er«y /'flaori/ adj 1 decorated with a pattern of flowers: a flowery dress 1a. full of flowers: They picnicked in a flowery meadow. 1b. a flowery smell or taste reminds you of flowers 2 flowery language or writing uses many complicated words that are intended to make it more attractive

got the flu.

AmE

[I/T] informal to make a mistake or do something badly: I'm afraid I might flub my lines. flub noun [C]

flub /flAb/ verb

—

fluc-tu-ate /'fUktfu.eit/ verb [I] to change frequently: The price fluctuates between $1 and $2 per kilo.

fluotu-a-tion

/.flAktJu'eiJn/ noun [C/u] frequent changes in the amount, value, or level of something: Even a minor fluctuation in the water temperature can affect the fish.

flue /flu/ noun [C] a metal tube that takes smoke and heat from a fire to the outside of a building flu»ent /'fluant/adj * 1 able to speak a foreign language very well: +in I'm fluent in three languages, la. spoken well and without difficulty: Steve speaks fluent Japanese.

2 expressing yourself in a clear and confident way, without seeming to make an effort: As a lecturer, she is fluent, witty, but also scholarly.

his fluent uncomplicated

of writing

style

3 a fluent reader can read without any

4

this decision.

flow chart

in a

flunk

532

flow2 /Hoo/

fluent

fluency in

difficulties

movements are smooth and seem

to

be done

— flu«eivcy noun [u]: This job requires Spanish. — flu-ent-ly adv: He speaks English

without any

effort

fluently. 1

fluff /flAf/ noun 1

[u] very small pieces of hair, dust, or cloth that stick together or to the surface of something else 2 [u] soft light fur or feathers from a young animal or bird 3 [U] something that is entertaining but not serious or important: That movie was pure fluff. 4 [C] informal a small mistake that you make when you are speaking or reading to an audience 2

fluff /flAf/ verb [T] 1 fluff or fluff up or fluff out to shake something so that more air goes into it and it becomes larger and softer: Fluff the pillows after you use them. When he's frightened, the cat fluffs up his tail. 2 informal to do something badly: She started to fluff fluff your tasks that should have been childishly simple. lines (=say them badly when acting in a play) Try not to your lines! fluff fluff 'Y /'flAfi/ adj 1 covered with very soft hair or feathers -.fluffy kittens 1a. made of something very soft such as wool: a fluffy sweater 2 food that is fluffy is soft and light because it contains a lot of air: a fluffy cake fluff'i«ness noun [u] flu-id /'fluid/ noun [C/U] * formal a liquid: Drink lots cleaning fluid a. science a of fluids during exercise. liquid or gas -» brake fluid 2 flu«id /'fluid/ adj 1 graceful and continuing without any pauses or sudden changes: a fluid writing style a fluid movement 2 likely to change: The situation remains flu'id-i'ty /flu'idati/ noun [U] fluid.

—

1

—

.fluid 'ounce noun [c] a unit for measuring an amount of liquid, equal to .02957 liters. There are 16 fluid ounces in a pint. [C] informal something that happens unexpectedly because of an accident or good luck: I fluk«y adj think their last win was just a fluke. flum-moxed / 'flAmakst/ adj extremely confused: I was flurrvmox verb [T] flummoxed by her direct question.

fluke /fluk/ noun

—

—

flung the past flunk /fUrjk/

tense and past participle of fling

1

verb informal 1 [i/T] to fail a test or a course in school: John flunked math. 2 [Tl_ to give a student a failing grade

^^

flunk out phrasal vb [l] informal to have to leave a school because your work is not satisfactory: +of Marie has flunked out of college.

flunky

l

flun-ky orflun-key/'n.\r)ki/noun[c] 1 someone who is always eager to please or obey more powerful people 2 someone who does unimportant work fluo«reS'Cent /fbr'resnt/ ad] 1 a fluorescent color is very bright and seems to reflect light: a fluorescent yellow jacket 2 a fluorescent substance produces light when you pass electricity through it — fluo-res-cence noun [U]

fluorescent

.light noun [C] a very bright light that consists of a long glass tube containing fluorescent gas

fluori-date

/'flondeit;

fluoride to water

floan.deit/ verb [t] to add /.flon'deijn/ noun

— fluoridation

[u]

fluoride

/'flo.raid/ noun [u] a chemical that is sometimes added to water and toothpaste because it protects

your teeth

fluor-o-car-bon /.floroo'karban/ noun [c] a chemical that is thought to damage the ozone layer of the Earth's atmosphere

flurry /'fbri/noun

[C] 1

a small

amount

of snow, rain,

or leaves blown around in a twisting movement: small flurries of snow 2 [usually singular] a short period of activity or emotion: There was a flurry of activity right outside the hospital. 2a. a series of things that happen suddenly: a flurry of blows/ punches

flush 1 /HaJ/ verb* 1 [i/t] to make water pass through a toilet la. [T] to get rid of something by putting it into a toilet and flushing it: flush sth down the toilet If any medicine is left over, flush it down the toilet. 1b. [i] if a toilet flushes, water passes through it: The toilet won't flush! 2 [I] if someone flushes, their face becomes red because they are hot or sick, or feeling angry, embarrassed, or +with Mark excited: Lisa flushed and looked away. sb's face/ flushed with annoyance, but said nothing. cheeks flush (with sth) Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

3

[T] to clean something by pouring a lot of water over or through it: Hot water is then flushed through the

it

pipe.

4

flush or flush out [T] to force a person or animal to leave a place where they have been hiding: flush sb from sth The rebels were flushed from their hiding places and shot.

Words frequently used with flush adverbs

angrily, darkly, deeply, guiltily,

hotly

flush out phrasal vb [T] 1 to clean something using a lot of water: Flush the pipes out with clean water. 1a. to remove something by pouring a lot of water through the place where it is: Use plain water to flush out the debris. flush sth out of sth Drinking plenty of water helps to flush harmful substances out of your body. 2 same as flush r. The hounds are sent in to flush out the fox. 1

flush 2

/fl/\J/ noun [C] 1 [usually singular] a red color that appears on someone's face because they are hot or sick, or feeling angry, embarrassed, or excited: A dark flush betrayed her real feelings, la. a sudden strong feeling: a flush of irritation/ embarrassment/ anger /pride 2 an act of making water pass through something: the flush of a toilet 3 a group of cards held by someone in a card game that all belong to the same suit (=one of the four

bowed

flus-ter /'flAStar/ verb [t] to make someone feel conflus-ter noun [singular] fused, embarrassed, or nervous flus-tered /'flAStard/ adj feeling confused, embarrassed, or nervous, especially because you have too much to do or too little time to do something: She arrived

—

at the interview late, flustered and hot. flute /flut/ noun [C] 1 a musical instrument that you hold sideways to your mouth and play by blowing over a hole at one end as you press its keys. A flute is a

woodwind

flush 3

/fl,\J/ adj 1 if two surfaces or edges are flush, they are exactly level with each other: The cabinet doors aren t quite flush. + with Try to trim the hedge so it's flush with the fence. 2 informal with a lot more money than you usually have: Sammy was feeling flush after a win at

the racetrack.

flush 4

/fL\J7 adv fitted so that two surfaces or edges are exactly level: +with hand-painted tiles set flush with the wall

flushed

/fl\Jt/ ad] looking red because you are hot or sick, or feel angry, embarrassed, or excited: Beth 's cheeks

were flushed and her eyes bright and excited. + f rom Jane 's face was flushed from heat and exertion. + with The man

instrument. Someone

who

plays the flute

is

called a flutist in American English and a flautist in British English, —picture -> woodwind 2 a tall narrow glass, especially one for drinking champagne —picture -» GLASS

flut-ed /'flutad/ ad] decorated with long deep parallel lines .fluted columns flut-ist / 'flutist/ noun [C] Am E see flute 1 flut'ter /'fl.\t3r/ verb 1 [i/T] to move up and down or from side to side with short, quick, light movements, or to make something move in this way: Thousands of spectators fluttered Olympic and national flags. Alexandra's hands were fluttering around his head. 1a. [l] to move through the air with short, quick, light movements: Autumn leaves fluttered to the ground. 2 [l/T] if a bird or insect flutters its wings or its wings flutter, the wings make short, quick, light movements up and down 2a. [i] [+ around/from/against] if a bird or insect flutters somewhere, it moves by making short, quick, light movements with its wings: Attracted by the light, moths fluttered against the windows. 3 [i] if your heart or pulse its regular movements suddenly become flutters, quicker because you are excited or nervous 3a. if your stomach flutters, you have an excited or nervous feeling in

it

flutter your eyelashes at sb to try to seem like attractive woman who needs a man's help

an

2

/'flAtar/ noun 1 [c usually singular] a series of short, quick, light movements up and down or from side to side: There was aflutter of wings as the birds took flight. 2 [singular] an excited or nervous feeling: aflutter of surprise Rachel jumped up in aflutter and ran to the door. 3 [C usually singular] a series of quick movements of the heart, caused by excitement or nervousness: Her heart gave a flutter when the phone rang. 3a. medical a medical condition in which your heart beats faster than normal 4 [C] mainly Br E informal a small bet

flut'ter

flu-vi-al /'fluvial/ adj technical relating to rivers

flux /fL\ks/ noun change:

1

a condition of continuous The climate appears to be in a

[u]

in a state of flux

state of flux. in flux The committee's ideas were still in flux. 2 [C/u] science the rate at which matter or energy

flows across a surface or area 3 [u] technical a substance used for joining two pieces of metal together 1 fly /flai/ (past tense flew /flu/; past participle flown /floun/) verb

***

types of a set of cards)

the first flush of youth/success/love/freedom etc. mainly literary the time when something is new and exciting: She was still in the first flush of her huge success.

his head, his face flushed with embarrassment.

flushed with success/triumph etc. very excited and happy in a way that is obvious to other people, when you have achieved something good

1

move with wings

2 3 4 5 6

go by/use airplane

move

7 about ideas/opinions

fast (through air)

about time about flag/kite be blown around

8 when 9 leave 10 hit fly

idea

is

accepted

quickly to escape ball in

baseball

+ PHRASES in

wind

wings to move through the air: Not all insects + past/ over/ up etc. A huge eagle came flying White gulls flew over our heads. -» crow bird 2 [l] to travel by plane: Sometimes it's cheaper to fly. + from/to I flew from Miami to New York to meet the other members of the group. +into We flew into O'Hare on Monday evening. 2a. [i] if an airplane flies, it moves through the air: The bombers were flying over enemy territory. 2b. [i/t] to control a plane when it is in the air: He had always wanted to learn to fly. My grandfather a pilot who flew over 100 flew bombers during the war. missions 2c. [t] to take people or goods somewhere by plane: They flew her home for urgent medical treatment. fly sb/sth in /out Helicopters are helping to fly out survivors. 1

[

can

I

]

to use

fly.

past.

1

,

H i

fly

flyspecked

534

2d. [t] to use a particular company when you are traveling by plane: I'm /lying United this time. 2e. [T] to go across an area of water or land in a plane: How long does it take to fly the Atlantic? 3 [I] to move very fast through the air: + past/ by/ toward/ into A bullet flew past his head. Pieces of glass and concrete were flying in all directions. 3a. to move or go very quickly: + into/along/through/out We flew into each other's arms. Sheila flew along the hall to the control room. fly open The door flew open and the principal

or dying in large numbers very quickly: People are dropping like flies with the flu. (there are) no flies on sb informal used for saying that someone is not stupid and you cannot trick them easily on the fly 1 informal in a very quick and informal way: We grabbed some lunch on the fly. 2 computing while a computer is running sb wouldn't hurt a fly spoken used for saying that someone is very gentle and would not do anything to hurt or upset anyone: Terry may look tough, but he wouldn 't hurt a fly.

marched in. [i] if time flies, it seems to pass very quickly: +by Six months flew by, and it was time to come home again. + past The weekend with her family seemed to fly past. 5 [I/T] if you fly a flag or it flies, it is on the top of a

4

fly-a-way soft,

hold

it

on the end of a long piece of string and

it

fly-,

by

fly-er

8

'fly

(past tense and past participle died; present participle flying)

[l/T]

to hit a fly ball in baseball -» pop fly

injured by flying glass.

with flying colors very successfully: They both passed with flying colors. 2

1

Jeff

send sb/sth flying informal to make someone or somemove quickly through the air by hitting them: Steve came crashing into me and sent me flying.

thing

1

fly at phrasal

vb

[T] [fly

at sb] to attack

someone

violently:

She suddenly flew at me, kicking and scratching. 2 fly /flai/ (plural flies) noun [C]

••

small insect with wings

2 opening in pants 3 hook for fishing

4 5

fly ball in

baseball

flysheet for tent

+ PHRASES

1 a common small insect with wings. Flies eat food, are often found near garbage, and are responsible for spreading many diseases: A trapped fly buzzed against the window pane. a new spray to kill flies and mosquitoes a swarm /cloud /plague of flies There were clouds of river. picture -* ci3 small flies over the 2 the opening at the front of a pair of pants that is fastened with buttons or a zipper. Br E flies: Your fly is open! 3 a small hook made to look like an insect, fixed to the end of a fishing line and used for catching fish 4 Am E a fly ball 5 a flysheet for a tent

—

fly on the wall spoken to be able to watch what people are doing without them noticing you: I'd love to be a fly on the wall when they find out. a fly in the ointment a problem that spoils something or makes it difficult: The only fly in the ointment is that we can't use my house for the party. going down/dropping like flies informal getting sick

be a

[u]

*

the activity of traveling in an aircraft: I'm afraid of

flying.

handle every time the mail is late. go flying informal to move quickly through the air and fall to the ground: / tripped over a tree root and went

1

artificial flies

1

handle informal to suddenly become extremely angry without a good reason: He flies off the

-» NEST

flaisr/ another spelling of flier

/

[u] the activity of catching fish by on the end of a fishing line noun [C] a rugby player who plays in the middle of the field behind the scrum half: stand-off (half) fly-ing /'flanrj/ adj [only before noun] • 1 able to fly: a flying insect la. done by throwing yourself through the air: a flying jump I leapt kick 2 moving fast through the air as a result of an explosion or of being thrown: He was knocked unconscious by a flying debris /glass About 20 people were flying bottle.

off the

throw something: We waited until the enemy was within range and then let fly. 2 to criticize someone angrily: +at One of the teachers really let fly at

bad con-

,fly 'half

become extremely

to shoot or

in it

a flight by a spaceship past a planet

fly-ing /'flann/ noun

flying. let fly 1

and

eggs on

fishing noun

using

angry fly

[C] 1

dirty

—

the face of sth to completely oppose or be completely opposite to something that most people believe or accept: Flying in the face of public opinion, the city council has approved the demolition of the old theater. flying high very happy or successful into a temper/rage to suddenly

noun

1

flies'

businessman cannot be trusted because they are disfly-by-night noun [C] honest or may fail fly-catch-er /'flai.katjsr/ noun [C] a small bird that eats insects by catching them in the air

fly in

fly

a ball hit high into the air in baseball

2 Am E a flyover by airplanes fly-by-night adj informal a fly-by-night company or

blows

in the wind: perfect weather for flying kites 6 [I] to be blown around in the wind: She stood on the hilltop, her gray hair flying in the wind. 7 [I] if ideas or opinions are flying, people are talking about them a lot: The fire was so suspicious that rumors started flying almost immediately. + around There are a lot of wild theories flying around.

1

[c]

fly 'blown /'flai,bloon/ ad) dition 2 flyblown meat has

around

[i] informal if an idea or a statement flies, people accept or approve of it: It's a great idea, but will it fly? 9 [l/T] formal to leave a place suddenly in order to escape from a difficult or dangerous situation: flee: fly the country Thousands flew the country when he came to power.

'flaw wei/ ad) flyaway hair is very thin and it is difficult to keep in a neat hairstyle

fly ball noun

Some of

the buildings were flying the Canadian flag. Every American school has the Stars and Stripes flying outside. 5a. if you fly a kite or it flies, you

pole or building:

/

so that

2 the activity of operating or controlling flying lessons

an

aircraft:

flying 'buttress noun

[c] a curved structure that supports the wall of a building

flying 'doctor noun [c] a doctor, especially in Australia, who uses an airplane to visit sick people who live far away from a town or city flying 'fish noun [c] a fish that can move through the air by using its large fins as wings flying 'fox noun [C] a fruitbat flying saucer noun [C] a round flat object believed to be a spacecraft from another planet —compare ufo 'flying squad noun [C] BrE a group of people, espe,

cially police officers,

who can go

quickly to a place to

deal with a problem

flying 'start noun [c] a very good beginning to a game, or piece of work: Jimenez got off to a flying

race, start,

with two goals in 20 minutes.

flying 'tackle noun [c] a way of stopping someone by jumping at them and holding them around the legs so that they fall

.flying 'visit noun

[C] a very short visit fly-leaf / 'flai.lif / noun [C] the first or last page of a book that is next to the cover and has nothing printed on it an occasion flyover /'flai.ouvar/ noun [C] 1 when several airplanes fly close together for people to watch as part of a ceremony or air show: fly-by 2 BrE an overpass that crosses above another road like a bridge fly-pa-per / 'flai.peipar/ noun [c/u] long pieces of paper covered with a sticky poisonous substance, used for catching and killing flies fly-sheet / 'flaijit/ noun [C] a separate sheet of material used for covering a tent fly-specked /'flai.spekt/ adj covered with very small bits of dirt produced by flies

AmE

flyswatter [c]

an object used

for

killing flies that consists of a flat piece of plastic, etc.

on a long handle

fly-weight weightlifter

/'flaiweit/ noun [C] a boxer, wrestler, or who is light in weight, usually not more

than 112 pounds or 51 kilograms fly-wheel /Tlaiwil; 'flai.hwil/ noun [C] a heavy wheel in a machine or engine that keeps it operating at a steady speed /,ef 'em/ noun [u] frequency modulation: a system used for broadcasting radio signals of high quality. FM radio: radio usually has a better sound quality than KMEL is located at 106.1 on the FM dial. an FM radio

FM

AM

station 1

foal /fool/ noun

[C]

a young horse, or a young donkey

or MULE 2

foal /foul/ verb

foam

1

[i]

to give birth to a foal

/foom/ noun

1 [u] a lot of bubbles that stick together on the surface of a liquid and usually look white: sea foam 1a. [C/u] a thick substance containing a lot of bubbles, used for cleaning, washing, or stopping fires: bath foam 2 [u] a soft light rubber or plastic substance containing many very small holes, used especially for making furniture more comfortable: insulating foam foam mattresses/ pillows/ cushions

foam 2 /foom/ verb

[i] to produce foam at the mouth 1 informal to be very angry 2 to have white foam coming from your mouth foam rubber noun [u] a soft light type of rubber containing many very small holes, used especially for

foam

making furniture more comfortable f oam-y / 'foomi/ adj consisting of or covered with

foam 1 /fab/ verb ,fob off phrasal vb [T) 1 to give someone an answer or explanation that is not true or complete, in order to make them stop asking questions or com-

fob

Vm tired of being fobbed off. fob sb off with sth The politicians on the panel just fob off questioners with banal responses. 2 to give someone something that is not what they want or need: fob sb off with sth Customers complain they're being fobbed off with an inferior model. plaining:

fob 2

/fab/ noun [C] a small chain that connects a fob to your clothing a. a small object used as a decoration for the chain of a fob watch or for a key ring b. a fob watch fob watch noun [c] a watch that you fasten to your clothing with a small chain and keep in a pocket fO'Cal/'fookl/adj 1 of major importance: central: This is the focal theme of the play. 2 medical a focal disease or infection is limited to one part of the body focal length noun [C) science the distance from the center of a lens or mirror to its focal point focal point noun [C usually singular] 1 the most important, interesting, or attractive part of something, that you concentrate on or pay particular attention to: The focal point of the exhibition is a painting by Rembrandt. 2 science the point where light rays meet after being reflected by a mirror or passing through a lens, or the point from which they seem to start to spread fo'c'sle /'fooksl/ noun [C] a forecastle

watch

f O-CUS

1

/

fog

535

fly-swat-ter /flai.swatar/ noun

'fookas/ (present

participle fo«cus*ing

c

fo-cus-sing;

past tense and past participle fo»cused or fo»cussed) verb [l/T]

*•• 1 to concentrate on something and pay particular attention to it: / know you're tired, but try to focus. + on /upon We will focus upon three main topics. focus attention on sth Attention has been focused recently on the dangers of nuclear reactors. focus your mind on sth He found himself struggling to focus his mind on the discussion. focus solely/entirely/particularly/exclusively on sth Schools should not focus exclusively on standardized test results. focus efforts /energy on sth Efforts are now focused on cleaning up the beaches. 2 to turn a part on a camera, telescope, microscope, etc. until you can see something clearly: She leaned on a rock, focusing her binoculars. + on The television cameras were focused on the crowd. 3 if your eyes focus or you focus your eyes, you look at something carefully until you can start to see it clearly: It took a while for my eyes to focus in the dim light

of the cave. focus your eyes/gaze on sb/sth Polly focused her gaze on Nathan. 4 science if a lens or mirror focuses rays of light or they focus, they meet at a particular point

fo-cus 2 /'fookas/ noun 1 thing

2

••*

concentrated on

attention paid to sth

4 when sth is seen 5 focal point

clearly

3 concentrating on goal

the thing that people are concentrating on or paying particular attention to: We seem to agree on which areas need special focus. +of At this point, the The main focus of the war moved to the Eastern Front. focus of the discussion was the way in which women are portrayed in advertising. +for We have chosen six communities as the focus for our study. focus of attention The teaching of basic mathematics has been a particular focus of concern The oil crisis focus of our attention. became the focus of Western concern in the early 1970s. 2 [singular/u] particular attention paid to something: + on Vd like to see more focus on economic policy. strong/ sharp focus The school puts a strong focus on academic achievement. greater focus The report calls for greater focus on the needs of the poor. shift/change/move the focus They are trying to shift the focus more toward domestic policy. bring/throw sth into focus (=make people pay particular attention to it) The issue of pedestrian safety has been brought sharply into focus this week. 3 [singular/u] the act of concentrating on a particular goal and not wasting time or energy on other things: Each course unit has a very clear focus. / think this marketing campaign has lost its focus. lack focus A lot of young adults seem to lack focus in their lives. 4 [u] the state of being able to be seen clearly: in focus (=able to be seen clearly) Some of the photographs aren't quite in focus. come into focus (=start to be seen clearly) Dad's face gradually came into focus in the viewfinder. out of focus (=not able to be seen clearly) Some of the shots seemed to be out of focus. 4a. [C/u] the part of a camera, telescope, microscope, etc. that you turn until you can see something clearly 5 (plural feci) [C] science a focal point 1

[singular]

focused

/'fookast/ adj 1 concentrating on a particular goal and not wasting time or energy on other things: Vm much more focused this year. We need a more focused approach to finally eliminating polio. 2 a focused sound or image is very clear

focus .group

noun [C] a small group of people who are interviewed together and give their opinions about particular subjects, usually to help a company or political party make decisions

f o-cussed

/

'fookast/ another spelling of focused

fod-der

/'fadar/ noun [u] 1 food, especially hay or straw, for animals such as cows and horses 2 someone or something considered useful only for one particular purpose: We are not just voting fodder for professional politicians. -» cannon fodder 3 someone or something that people talk or write about: The band has given plenty offodder to tabloid reporters.

foe /foo/ noun

FoE

[C]

mainly

literary

an enemy

abbrev friends of the earth

foetal /'fitl/ the Br E spelling of fetal f oe-tus / 'fitas/ the Br E spelling of fetus fog /fag/ noun * 1

[C/U] a thick cloud that forms close to the ground or to water and is difficult to see through. Fog is thicker than mist: thick/heavy/dense/freezing fog Heavy fog a patch of fog There may be forced drivers to slow down. some patches offog around dawn. a blanket of fog (=fog that covers everything) a thick blanket offog in the valley fog lifts (=goes away) We'll leave when this fog has lifted. 2 [singular] a cloud of smoke or some other gas: +of a fog of cigar smoke 3 [singular] a confused or confusing situation or state: in a fog My mind is in a complete fog. 1

fog 2

/fag/ verb 1 fog or fog up [i/t] if a window or mirror fogs, or if you fog it, it becomes covered with steam so that you cannot see through it or in it 2 [t] to make someone confused: My brain was fogged by sleep. 2a. to make something confusing or difficult to

fog bank the issue.

fog bank noun

[C]

a large area of thick fog in one

place, especially at sea

fog-bound

/'fog.baund/ adj not able to operate normally because of thick fog: a fogbound airport a. not able to travel because of thick fog: I'm fogbound in Cleveland.

f o-gey

person

/

folk

536

understand: fog the issue Your questions are only fogging

foogi/ noun old fogey

[C]

to a mixture: Fold the cocoa into the cake batter.

2

to

combine things that were previously separate so they can be dealt with together: The bill would fold three agencies into the State Department in a cost-saving plan. fold up phrasal vb 1 [T] to make something smaller by bending it over on itself more than once: His clothes were neatly folded up on a chair. 2 same as fold r. Two months later the company folded up. 1

[

I

]

informal a boring old-fashioned

->

f°9*9y

/'fogi/ adj 1 full of fog or covered with fog: It was too foggy to drive anywhere. a foggy day 2 confused because you cannot think or see clearly: +with Still foggy with sleep, she groped her way down the hall. 3 not clearly remembered or understood: a foggy memory

,

not have the foggiest (idea/notion) spoken used for emphasizing that you do not know anything at all about something: I don't have the foggiest idea why he called me. Foggy Bottom an informal name for the U.S. State Department, the government department responsible for relations with foreign countries called this because of the fog (=air with thick clouds that are difficult to see through) that often surrounds the buildings of the department. It is

fog-horn /'foghorn/ noun

[c]

a piece of equipment that to other ships

makes a loud deep sound as a warning

when

there

is

fog

a voice like a foghorn informal a very loud voice 'fog .light noun [c] a bright light on a car that helps drivers to see in the fog

— picture -* cs

fougi/ another spelling of fogey foi-ble /'fbibl/ noun [c] a way of thinking or behaving that is unusual and strange or annoying foie gras /,fwa 'gra/ noun [u] pate de foie gras 1 foil /foil/ noun 1 [u] very light thin sheets of metal used for wrapping things, especially food: Wrap the f °*9Y

/

cheese in foil to keep it moist. 2 [C usually singular] someone or something that makes another person or thing seem better or more attractive because of the differences between them: +to/for The plain stone floor is a perfect foil to the highly decorated walls. 3 [C] a light thin sword used in the sport of fencing 2

foil /foil/ verb [T] to prevent someone from doing something that they are trying to do: thwart: The escape attempt was foiled by wardens firing in the air.

foist

/foist/ verb 'foist ,on or 'foist

upon

usually passive] [foist sth on/upon sb] to force

phrasal vb [T someone to

accept or deal with something that they do not want: new regulations foisted on them by

Voters are tired of faceless lawmakers.

fold 1 /fould/ verb *• 1 [T] to bend a piece of paper or

cloth and press one over another part: Carrie folded the note and slid it into her purse. fold sth in half /two Fold the paper in half diagonally. fold sth neatly/carefully She folded the towel neatly and hung it over the rail. 1a. to cover something by bending a piece of paper or cloth around it: fold sth in sth She picked up the insect and gently folded it in a handkerchief, fold sth around sth He folded the

part of

it

blanket carefully around the baby. [l/T] if something folds or you can fold it, you can bend part of it so that it becomes smaller and easier to carry or store: Jed folded the pocketknife and put it into his front pocket. fold (sth) up/down/away The bed folds away conveniently for storage. fold (sth) flat The table folds flat for easy storage. 3 fold or fold up [I] if a business folds, it closes because it is not able to make enough money 4 [I] if your legs fold, they suddenly become weak and unable to support your weight, so that you fall to the ground: Sue felt her legs folding under her, then shefainted.

2

fold your arms/hands to cross one arm or hand over the other: The border guard folded his arms across his

and glared. your arms mainly around someone chest

fold sb in

literary to

put your arms

fold in or fold into phrasal vb [T] [fold sth in/into sth] 1 to use a spoon or knife to add something slowly and gently

fold

fold 2 /fould/ noun • 1 [C] a bend or line on a piece of paper or cloth that you make when you press one part of it over another:

Make a second fold 5 inches above the first. Open the paper flat and cut along the fold. 2 [C usually plural] a curved piece of cloth that hangs in a loose way: the soft folds of the curtain Her elegant legs were hidden in the folds of her skirt. 2a. [C] an area of skin that hangs in a loose way on someone's body :/o/ds offat flesh 3 the fold a group of people who share the same ideas or goals or who live or work together: in the fold He is now firmly back in the conservative fold. return /come back to the fold Emily longed to return to the family fold. bring sb back to the fold We are hoping that these policies will bring reluctant voters back to the fold. leave /stray from the fold Many Western Marxists left the Communist fold in the 1970s. 4 [C] a small area enclosed by a fence or wall in a field,

used for keeping sheep -fold /fould/ suffix used with numbers to make adjectives and adverbs describing how much something increases: a fourfold increase (=an increase in an amount that

makes

it

four times larger than before)

f old-a-way / Toulda.wei/ adj foldaway furniture can be folded into a smaller shape to make it easier to carry or store

fold-er/'fouldor/ noun

[c]

*

1 a thin flat container for sheets of paper, usually consisting of a large folded piece of heavy paper 2 a group of programs or documents stored in a computer, shown by a picture of a folder on the screen

fold-ing /'fouldin/

adj folding furniture can be folded into a shape or position that uses less space: a folding chair/ table

fold-out

adj a fold-out table, bed, or page is kept folded in a smaller shape when you are not using it

foliage

/Touliid3/ noun [u] the leaves of a plant or and dark green foliage

tree: red flowers

f o-li-o / fouli.ou/ noun [C] technical 1 a book made with very large pages: a folio volume 2 a loose page or sheet of paper

folk 1 /fouk/ noun

**

1 folk or folks [plural] people in general: .A lot of folks are upset at the changes. 1a. people of a particular type or from a particular place: Many of the older folk will

folk

city

has annual jazz and folk

fes-

tivals.

2

folk art, traditions, folk /fook/ stories, etc. were developed by people in a particular region and have become traditional there: an old Welsh folk tale 2 relating to or based on the beliefs and pracad] [only before noun]

1

ordinary people .folk medicine/ wisdom Chicken a popular folk remedy for the common cold. folk dance noun 1 [c/u] a traditional dance from a particular region or community 2 [C] the music for folk dancing noun [u] doing a folk dance tices of is

—

someone who is admired for their achievements by the ordinary people of a particular

folk hero noun

[c]

region

sisting of short songs about personal or social subjects

folk singer noun

[c]

especially as their job

someone who sings

— folk

singing noun

folk songs, [u]

folk song noun

[c] 1 a traditional song from a parcommunity, especially one that was developed by people who were not professional musicians 2 a modern popular song developed from traditional songs that has a simple tune and is played on a

ticular region or

guitar

folk*sy /'fooksi/ adj 1 made or done in a way that is intended to remind you of traditional art, customs, or stories: a folksy piece of music 2 informal in a friendly way that makes you feel relaxed: the president's folksy speeches

sorry, I don't quite follow you.

Their system

is

easy/difficult to follow

pretty easy to follow.

do the same thing that someone else has done: follow sb into sth (^decide to do the same job as someone else) She decided not to follow her mother into banking. follow sb's example /lead The U.S. may follow Canada's example by banning these products. Other students folfollow suit (=do lowed her lead and boycotted classes. what someone else has done) They began to offer takeout [l/T]

to

and other restaurants followed suit. [T] if you follow a profession or way of life, you do that job or spend your life in that way 10 [T] to believe what a religion or system of ideas teaches and do the things that it tells you to do: I follow the teachings of the Buddha. those who follow Christianity 1 1 [T] to happen according to a particular pattern or course: All the murders have followed the same grisly pattern. Up to now, ozone losses have tended to follow a two-year cycle. 12 [i] if something follows, it must be true because of something else that is true: +from Two important it follows (that) It does not implications follow from this. necessarily follow that all criminals come from deprived

food,

9

backgrounds. 13 [T] to deal with the progress or development of in a book, movie, or television program: The cartoon follows the adventures of an ant

someone or something

'folk tale noun

[c]

an old traditional story

fol-li-cle /'fahkl/ noun [c] a very small hole in your skin that contains the root of a hair

foMow/'faloo/verb

•••

1

walk/drive behind sb

2 3 4 5 6 7

happen

after sth else

watch/listen carefully

obey order/advice go along river/road watch progress understand sth

8 do same as sb else 9 do job or spend life 10 believe in religion etc. 11 happen

etc.

difficult

in a

pattern

12 when sth must be true 13 about book/movie etc. + PHRASES

behind someone, when you are going in the same direction as them: Ralph set off [l/T]

The manufacturer's instructions should always be followed [t] to go where signs and directions tell to go: We followed Joe's directions and found the house Follow the signs for Lancaster. easily. 5 [t] to go along a road, river, etc. in the same direction as it does: Follow the road down the hill into an intersection. 5a. to go along a path parallel to something: The road follows the old stream bed. 6 [T] to be interested in the progress or development of someone or something: My father followed the Yankees Have you been following the election for forty years. campaign? 7 [T often in negatives or questions] to understand something, especially something long or complicated: / I'm couldn't follow what Professor Hope was saying. carefully. 4a.

8

folk-lore /'fooklor/ noun [U] traditional stories, sayings, and beliefs from a particular region or community folk music noun [u] 1 traditional music from a particular country, region, or community, especially music developed by people who were not professional musicians 2 a type of modern popular music developed from traditional folk music, played on guitars and con-

1

to do: You must follow a few simple guidelines. follow sb's advice/suggestion She refused to follow our follow directions/ instructions/ orders/ rules advice.

you

you

a car for his birthday. 3 [U] folk music: The

soup

follower

537

remember Mrs. Poynton. Will local folks get employment in the new business?* city folk 1b. folks [plural] spoken used for talking to a group of people: That's all, folks! What do you folks think? 2 folks [plural] someone's parents: His folks bought him

to walk, drive, etc.

down

the hill, and I followed. follow sb up /down /to/ through /into etc. Jim opened the door and followed me [T] to walk, drive, etc. closely behind to watch them: I felt sure that someone was following me. I think we're being followed. 2 [l/T] to happen or come after something else: The six o'clock news follows shortly. the days/weeks/years etc. that followed In the weeks that followed the situation was very tense. be followed by sth The wedding will be followed by a reception. We had soup followed by lasagna and salad. to follow (^available to be eaten next) There's apple pie and ice cream to follow. there follows sth There followed seven months of hard negotiations. 2a. to happen as a direct result of something else: Wild celebrations followed the announcement. They were warned that if the rebels did not surrender, severe reprisals would follow. 2b. [T] if you follow one thing with another, you do the second after you have done the first: She followed the success of her first book with another remarkable novel. 3 [T] to watch where someone or something is going: His eyes followed the car to the end of the driveway. 3a. to listen carefully to what someone is saying: He followed every word of the trial. 4 [T] to obey an order or do what someone has advised

down the hall. 1a. someone in order

named

Flick.

when you are going to give more details about something follow the crowd/herd to do something because most other people are doing it follow your nose 1 to do what you feel is right in a particular situation, although you are not certain 2 to go straight forward, without turning: Just follow your nose until you see the school parking lot. follow (hard) on the heels of sth to happen very soon after something else: The factory closure follows hard on as follows used

the heels of several others. -» FOOTSTEP

follow a round phrasal vb [T] [follow sb around] to follow someone wherever they go, especially in a way that annoys them: Henry's been following me around like a puppy! follow through phrasal vb 1 [l/T] to continue doing something until it has been completed: Jack is always + with follow through with some very movement of necessary reforms. 2 [l] to continue the your arm or leg after you have hit, kicked, or thrown a ball in a sport follow up phrasal vb 1 [l/T] to try to find out more about something or do something more to deal with it: They The police are now never followed my complaint up. following up some new leads. 2 [T] [+with] to do something in addition to what you have already done, in order to be certain of achieving your goal: Follow up the phone call with a written confirmation. starting projects, but he rarely follows through.

The government needs

to

fol-low-er /'faloosr/ noun [c] •• 1 someone who believes what a religion or system of ideas teaches, or who supports the person who established them: Marx still has many followers in academic circles. followers of Islam 2 someone who is interested in the progress or devel-

1

following opment

of something, especially a sport: supporter: He's a dedicated follower of baseball. 3 someone who supports and travels with an important person such as a military or political leader: supporter: The king escaped the country with 50 of his followers. 1

fol-low-ing /'falooin/ Following can be used

function

word

***

its

decision.

as a pronoun: Please read the following carefully. after something happens or as a result of something that happens: The team blossomed following the appointment of the new manager. Following his military service, Wilkins returned to his hometown. 2 [only before noun] the following day, month, page, etc. is the next one: Sadly, Pietro died the following year. The problem will be discussed in the following chapter. 3 used for referring to something that you are going to say or mention next, especially a list of people or things: Combine the following ingredients: brown sugar, flour, and butter. Make sure you bring the following: sunglasses, suntan lotion, a towel, and a swimsuit. 1

4

a following wind blows behind a boat, airplane, or other vehicle and makes it travel faster 2

fol-low-ing /'falooin/ noun [c] • a group of people who support or admire the work or ideas of a particular person or organization: The band still has a very loyal

memory something that you remember with pleasJane has fond memories of a happy childhood.

— fond-ness noun [u]: his fondness for fast cars

fon*dant / fondant/ noun 1 [c/u] a very soft sweet food made from sugar and water, usually spread over cakes as frosting 2 [c] a small piece of fondant eaten as a piece of candy

fon-dle

/ fandl/ verb [t] to squeeze or rub someone or something gently, especially for sexual pleasure /'fandli/ adv 1 in a way that shows that you like and care about someone: She smiled fondly at her brother and his wife. 1a. with positive or happy feelings: He is fondly remembered as a wonderful teacher. Dave

fond- y

speaks fondly of his days as a football player. 2 in a that is not sensible because what you hope or believe is unlikely to be true: His parents fondly imagined that he would continue the family business.

still

way

fon«due /fan'du/ noun

[c/u] a meal that consists of hot liquid cheese or chocolate or hot oil in a container, into which you put small pieces of food using a long fork

font /font/ noun

[C] 1

[C usually singular] something that is done to continue an activity or effort that began earlier: The summit is a follow-on to last year's Economic Con-

ference.

children's game that the others

.follow-through noun 1 [c/u] the final part of the movement you make when you hit, kick, or throw the ball in a sport 2 [u] something that is done in order to complete a plan or reaction noun 1 [c/u] something that is done in order to complete something: Everyone liked my proposal, but there hasn't been any follow-up. The researchers conducted a follow-up study two years later. 1a. something that is done in order to be certain that an earlier action was effective: Regular follow-up is needed to iden-

follow-up

patients who require further treatment. a follow-up visit to the hospital 2 [C] a book, movie, or article that is based on or develops an earlier one: sequel: +to He's currently working on a follow-up to his last novel. 3 [C] mainly journalism a question that you ask immediately after another question, in order to get more information tify

foMy/ Tali/ noun

1 [C/u] a way of thinking or behaving stupid and careless, and likely to have bad results: The judge described the incident as an act offolly. it is folly to do sth It is absolute folly to go mountain climbing without the proper equipment. the folly of (doing) sth She soon realized the folly of her actions. I pointed out the folly of overspending on that scale. 2 [C] a building that has no practical use and is built as a decoration 2a. mainly journalism a building or project that costs a lot of money and is not useful is

fo-ment /foo'ment/ verb [T]formal to encourage people have angry feelings or to protest or fight: He was blamed for fomenting war in the Balkans. fond /fond/ adj •• 1 [+of] liking and caring about someone very much, to

especially as a result of knowing them well or for a long time: / was very fond of my Uncle Jim. Are you fond of children? la. [usually before noun] loving: a fond father a fond embrace (=holding someone you love close to you)» a fond farewell (=goodbye) She bade a fond farewell to her parents and sister. 2 [+of] mainly Br E getting enjoyment and satisfaction from something, especially often or over a long time: fond of music/ poetry fond of doing sth Anita is fond of playing the piano.

technical a complete set of letters

and numbers in one size and style, used for printing or for computer documents 2 a stone bowl, usually on top of a post, that holds water for the baptism ceremony in the Christian church

•••

food

following in Germany.

follow- on noun

that

that I will find time to see a play.

ure: + of

as an adjective (only before a noun): She arrived the following day.

follow-the- leader noun [u] AmE a in which one child performs actions must copy. BrE follow-my -leader

fond hope /wish /dream etc. 1 something you very much want to happen: It was their fondest hope that the children would do well at school. 2 in the fond hope that hoping that something will happen although it is not very likely: / read theater reviews in the fond hope fond

in these ways:

as a preposition (followed by a noun): Following months of uncertainty, the government has finally

announced

fool

538

/fud/ noun [u] the things that people or animals eat: The prices of food and clothing have risen dramatically in recent years. All the food is cooked and served by volunteers. Doctors stress the importance of eating good fresh food. a. [C/u] a particular type of food: People with this complaint cannot digest certain foods. / can't eat spicy food. frozen /canned food a new range of frozen foods cat/dog/pet/baby food a can of cat food Italian/Chinese/Indian etc food Do you like Chinese food? b. [u] the things that plants need in order to grow: NUTRIENTS

food for thought something that makes you think a lot about a particular subject: Thanks for your comments they have given us plenty offood for thought. food bank noun [C] AmE a place where food collected from stores or individual people is given to poor people for free

food chain

noun [C usually singular] 1 a series of living things that are all connected because each one is eaten by the next in the series: Antibiotics used for treating cattle could get into the food chain. 2 the series of processes in which food is grown, treated, stored, and sold 3 humorous a series of positions in an organization, with each one more important than the one before: / was pretty low on the corporate food chain.

food .coupon noun [c] a food stamp food court noun [c] a group of food stores in a shopping mall with a central area where you can sit at tables eat your food hall noun [C] mainly BrE the section of a department store that sells food food-ie /'fudi/ noun [C] informal someone who enjoys eating or cooking different types of food and talks a lot about food food poisoning noun [u] an illness affecting your stomach, caused by eating food that contains harmful

and

food

bacteria

food processor

noun [C] a piece of electrical equipfor cutting food into very small pieces or different foods together —picture -» C2

ment used mixing

AmE

a or food coupon noun [c] small piece of paper that is used to buy food, given to poor people by the U.S. government: go on food stamps (=receive them from the government) When my father lost his job, we had to go on food stamps. food'Stuff /Tud.stAf/ noun [C/u] formal a type of food

food stamp

fool 1 1

[C]

/ful/ noun

*•

someone who does not behave

in

an

intelligent

fool

foot

539

or sensible way: You're a fool

money again.

that

if you

feel (like) a fool

think you'll ever see

He made me feel

like

such a fool when he used me as an example! look (like) a fool I'm not wearing that; I don't want to look like a fool. -» APKII, TOOL [C] a man in the past whose job was to entertain a king, queen, or other important person by making them laugh: jester 3 [C/U] a sweet food made from crushed cooked fruit mixed with cream and served cold

2

any

fool used for saying that

anyone

at all

or 42.5 centimeters long, used for writing or for printing

books fool's 'gold noun [uj 1 a yellow metal that looks like gold 2 something you are very attracted to that you later find is not worth very much fool's 'paradise noun [singular] a situation in which someone is happy because they are ignoring a problem or do not realize that

foot

can do or

is very easy or it obvious: Any fool can see that she's taking advantage of him. a fool and his money (are soon parted) used for saying that someone who is not sensible spends their money

1

understand something because

carelessly fool enough to do sth so stupid that you do something that is not sensible fools rush in (where angels fear to tread) spoken used for saying that people who are not sensible do things without thinking carefully about what may happen as a result make a fool (out) of sb to deliberately make someone seem stupid, for example by tricking them: I felt that Sally had made a complete fool out of me. make a fool of yourself to make yourself seem stupid by behaving in a silly or embarrassing way: He made a fool of himself by turning up drunk to a TV talk show. (the) more fool you/him/her etc. spoken used for saying that you think someone is doing something stupid: Well, more fool you if you give him any more of

1

/fot/

it

exists

(plural feet /fit/)

noun

•••

4 end of sth 5 in poetry

body part

2 unit of length 3 bottom of sth

+ PHRASES

the part of your body at the end of your leg, on which you stand: Mary slid her feet into her sandals. wipe your feet He wiped his feet on the mat. stamp your feet They stamped their feet to keep warm. shuffle your feet He looked at the teacher and shuffled his feet nervously. beneath /under your feet The deck was slippery beneath her feet. 1a. [C] the part of a piece of clothing that covers your foot: one-piece pajamas with feet 1b. [only before noun] operated using your foot or feet: afoot brake/ pump-* LEFT 2 SHOOT STAND THINK 1

[C]

1

1

,

,

1

,

ankle

your money! no/nobody's fool intelligent and with a lot of experience of life so that you do not allow other people to trick

heel

you

play/act the fool to deliberately behave in a that annoys people

silly

way

2

/ful/ verb [T] * to trick someone by making them believe something that is not true: / was completely fooled The men even carried false documents to fool the by her. police, fool sb into doing sth Don't let anyone fool you into telling them your PIN number. fool yourself She realized she'd been fooling herself he didn't really love her at all.

fool

just/only fooling spoken pretending that something is true, as a joke: Don't look so worried, I was only fooling. you could have fooled me spoken used for saying you do not believe something that someone is telling you: "Sam didn't mean to upset you." "Well, you could have fooled me!"

behave in a silly way for fun: Mark admits he used to fool around in class. 2 to have a sexual relationship with someone who is not your usual partner: He had been fooling around behind her back. -t-with / think he's fooling around with someone from the office. ,fool around with or fool .with phrasal vb [T] [fool (around) with sth] to handle or use something in a stupid or careless way: Someone had been fooling around with the ,fool

around

phrasal vb

(i]

1 to

controls.

fool 3 silly:

Am

/ful/ adj [only before noun] E informal stupid or What's that fool boy done now?

fool-handy

/'ful,hardi/ ad] ignoring obvious dangers in a stupid way: reckless: It was foolhardy to get involved in the first place. fool-har-di-ness noun [u]

fooMsh/'fulif/adj * 1 lacking good sense and judgment: a foolish mistake / did some stupid things when I was young and foolish. it

is

foolish to do sth

mind now.

It would be foolish to change your very/singularly/extremely foolish That was

a singularly foolish thing

to do.

2 embarrassed because

of something stupid you have done: / tried to ask a question, but just made myself look foolish. I felt so foolish when I realized what I had done. fool-ish-ly adv, fool-ish-ness noun [U]

—

fool-proof /'fulpruf/

adj a foolproof method, plan, or so well designed that it cannot go wrong or is certain to succeed: He devised what he thought was a foolproof plan.

system

is

fools-cap

/'fulz,kaep/ noun [u] a large size of paper about 13 inches or 32.5 centimeters wide and 17 inches

big toe

2

(plural feet or foot) [C] a unit used for measuring length, containing 12 inches and equal to about 30 centimeters The house is 275 feet above sea level. The dining room measures 30 foot by 10. We had over two feet of snow last ...feet long/high/wide/tall The boat is 25 feet night. :

long.

3

[singular] [+of] the bottom of a slope, hill, set of stairs, foot of a She paused at the foot of the stairs. mountain /hill /slope /cliff We camped that night at the foot of the mountain. 3a. the bottom of a page or a column of words or numbers: There was an error message etc.:

at the foot of the page.

4

[singular] [+of]

the end of a bed

where you put your

Henry stood at the foot of the bed. 4a. the end of a table opposite to the end where the most important person sits: A young officer at the foot of the table objected to the plan. 5 [C] linguistics a section of a line of poetry that consists of one syllable (=part of a word) that you emphasize when speaking and one or more syllables that you do feet:

not emphasize

back on your feet well or successful again after being sick or having problems: Jim's hoping he'll be back on The new measures are intended to

his feet by next week. get the business back

on its feet. be unsteady on your feet to be unable to stand or walk She was still a little unsteady on her feet.

easily:

humorous if someone leaves a place feet first, they are carried out of it after they are dead: The only way I'm leaving this house is feet first. find your feet to become confident and feel that you know what to do in a new situation: It's bound to take a while to find your feet.

feet first

D

foot get the

feet

wet informal

to start

doing something for

first time get/leap/rise/stagger etc. to your feet to stand up in a particular way after you have been sitting or lying:

Steve pushed the blankets aside and rose to his feet. get off/start off on the right/wrong foot to immediately establish a good/bad relationship with someone

when you first meet them or first start working with them: I got off on the wrong foot with Patrick. have/get cold feet to suddenly feel nervous about doing something that you have planned or agreed to do have feet of clay mainly literary if someone you admire or respect has feet of clay, they are not perfect because they have serious faults have/keep your feet on the ground to keep a sensible and practical attitude to life: Despite her sudden wealth and fame, she manages to keep her feet firmly on the ground.

have a foot in both camps to be friendly with and accepted by two groups of people who oppose each other have one foot in the grave humorous to be very old or sick and likely to die soon land/fall on your feet to be lucky and get into a good situation after being in a difficult one: Simon always manages to land on his feet. my foot old-fashioned used for saying that you do not believe or agree with something that someone has said: "She's an outstanding actress. " "Outstanding my foot!" on your feet standing: I'm exhausted - I've been on my feet all afternoon.

on foot walking: The bus didn't come, so we started out on foot. put your best foot forward to start trying hard to behave or work as well as you can put your feet up to sit down and relax, especially with your feet raised off the ground put your foot down 1 to refuse very firmly

to

do or

accept something: Things can't carry on like this; you'll have to put your foot down. 2 Br E to drive much faster put your foot in your mouth E to accidentally say something that is embarrassing or that upsets or annoys someone. Br E put your foot in it rushed/run off your feet very busy: We'll be rushed off

Am

our feet around lunchtime. set foot to go to a place, especially when there is something special or unusual about you doing this: + in It was the first time she had set foot in the desert. + on He had never before set foot on French soil. six feet under informal dead and buried in the ground under sb's feet in someone's way and annoying them by stopping them from doing what they need to do: The children have been under my feet all day long. -» DOOR foot 2 /fot/ verb foot the bill (for sth) informal to pay for something that is expensive or that someone else should be paying for foot-age /Totid3/ noun [u] 1 film of a particular subject or event: dramatic footage of the raid film/video footage video footage for a number of documentary projects 2 the size of the area covered by a building, especially a store, measured in square feet foot-and-mouth disease noun [u] a very infectious disease of sheep, cows, and pigs football /Tut, bsl/ noun 1 U Am E a game in which two teams of eleven players run with, throw, or kick an oval ball to the end of a

•*•

[

]

Someone who plays

this sport is called a favorite sports are football and hockey. play football Brad had played college football when he was younger. 1a. relating to football: a football game I team I star 2 [C] a ball used for playing football or soccer picture field to score.

football player:

My

—

->BALL

3

footsie

540

your

[U]

Br E soccer

-> AUSTRALIAN RULES

FOOTBALL

Differences between American and British English: football . -

.

In the U.S., football is a sport in which players throw, kick, or carry an oval ball into an area at the end of the field to score points. British speakers call this sport American football. In the U.K., football refers

to a sport in

which players

try to score goals

a round ball into a large net. this sport soccer.

by kicking

American speakers

foot-bridge /Tot

bnd.3/ noun people to walk across

[c]

call

a narrow bridge for

foot-dragging

/'fot.dnegin/ noun [u] a failure to do something immediately or quickly because you do not

really want to do it foot-er /Totor/ noun

a line or piece of writing that

[C]

is repeated at the bottom of every page of a book or computer document —compare header 1

foot-fall /Tot the

number

fol/

noun

of people

1

business a count of walk past a store 2 [C]

[singular]

who

literary a footstep

foot-hills / Tot.hilz/ noun [plural] the low hills next to a high mountain or group of high mountains: the foothills of the Rocky Mountains foot-hold /Tot.hoold/ noun [c] 1 a position from which you can improve your status or become more successful in an organization, profession, or market: gain/get/establish a foothold They have managed to gain a foothold in the South American market. 2 a small hole, crack, or lump on a surface where you can put your foot to support yourself when climbing foot-ing /Totin/ noun [singular] 1 a firm position for your feet on a surface, especially one that is difficult to stand on or walk across: keep /lose /miss your footing She lost her footing and tumbled into the river. 2 the basic conditions in which something operates or develops: on a sound /secure /firm /strong footing The railroad system must be placed on a sound financial footing. 2a. the position of one person, group, or thing in relation to another: on an equal footing (with) Smaller economies cannot compete on an equal footing with larger nations. on the same footing (as) The Chinese negotiators insisted on being treated on the same footing as the Americans.

foo-tle /Tutl/ verb

[i] informal [+around/about] to waste time doing things that are not important or necessary foot-lights / Tot,laits/ noun [plural] a row of very bright lights at the front edge of a theater stage foo-tling /'futlin/ adj old-fashioned not important or

useful and therefore annoying foot-lock-er /'fot.lakar/ noun

AmE

[c] a large strong container for keeping personal possessions, usually placed at the end of a soldier's bed

foot-loose

/Tot.lus/ adj not married or involved in a relationship with anyone

and fancy-free able to travel around and like because you are not married or involved in a relationship with anyone

footloose

behave as you

foot-man /Totmsn/

(plural fooHnen/'fotman/) noun [C] a male servant, especially in the past, who wore a uniform and opened doors for people

foot-mark / Tut.mark/ noun

[c]

a

mark made by a shoe

or foot: FOOTPRINT

foot-note /Tut.nout/ noun [C] 1 a note at the bottom of a page that gives more detailed information about something on the page 2 an additional fact, event, or comment that is not very important: Just as a footnote, it is worth saying that the whole project didn't cost local taxpayers a single cent.

foot-path /Tot.paB/ noun

[C] a path used only for walking, usually in the countryside [C] 1 a mark made by a or animal foot, especially in a soft surface such as earth, snow, or sand: a set of footprints in the sand 1a. a dirty mark made by a foot or shoe on a floor: muddy footprints 2 business the amount of space on a surface that a structure or piece of equipment, especially a computer, uses 2a. technical the area that a broadcast signal, especially one from a satellite, can

foot-print /'fut.prmt/ noun

human

reach

foot-rest / Tot, rest/ noun

[C]

a part of a chair or vehicle

that supports your feet

foot-sie /Totsi/ noun play footsie with sb informal to show sexual interest in someone by touching their feet with yours, usually under a table

1

foot soldier

boring work foot-sore /'fotsor/

adj mainly literary with feet that hurt because of walking a lot foot-step /Tot .step/ noun [C usually plural] * the sound your feet make when you are walking: / heard my husband's footsteps coming up the stairs. follow in sb's footsteps to do the same work or achieve the same success as someone else before you: She followed in her mother's footsteps and became a doctor.

/'fot.stul/ noun [C] a small low piece of furniture for resting your feet on

foot-stool

foot-wear /'fotwer/ noun your

feet,

[u]

things that you wear on You'll need sturdy

such as shoes or boots:

footwear.

/'fut,W3rk/ noun [u] 1 the way you move your feet when you are dancing or playing sports 2 quick or skillful actions to deal with a problem: fancy footwork It took some pretty fancy footwork to sort that problem out. fop /tap/ noun [C] old-fashioned a man who thinks too much about his clothes and appearance —fop-pish adj for / weak far; strong for/ function word ***

foot-work

For can be used in the following ways: as a preposition (followed by a noun): / bought Wait therefor a while. flowers for Chloe.

citizens are very bad.

an advertisement for private health

insurance

9 used

for talking about reasons or causes 9a. as a We're result of something: He was sick for lack of food. all much better people for having known Carl. 9b. mainly literary because: She began to grow nervous, for he had promised to return before nightfall. 9c. used after nouns such as "reason" or "cause": Did he give any reason for The current inflation rate is a cause for arriving so late?

concern.

10 used for stating who or what your feelings are related to used for showing that your feelings are directed toward a particular person or thing: I'm so It's clear that happy for you! I feel sorry for his wife. she has great affection for her grandchildren. / feel nothing but disgust for the whole process. 1 representing sb used for stating who you represent when you say or do something: I'm speaking for everyone here when I say how very grateful we are. 1 2 going to a place used for stating the place you are going to when you leave another place: What time are you leaving for home? He got on the next airplane for San Francisco. 1 3 used for stating who or what does sth used after some adjectives, nouns, and verbs for stating who or what does the action of the following verb: for sb/sth to do sth It was difficult for me to understand what he was

All I want is for you to be happy. It is time for Congress to begin exploring some new approaches. 1 4 in order to celebrate an occasion in order to celebrate a holiday or special occasion: John gave me a tie We haven't decided what to do for Christmas, as usual. for her birthday. 1 5 enough to make sth possible used for stating what a particular amount of time, money, space, etc. makes possible: We don 't have the money for a new car right now. Come in - there's room for two. There just isn't enough time for everyone to have a turn. 16 in sb's opinion used for stating who has a particular feeling or opinion about something: For me personally, it was a complete disaster. The biggest concern for most Americans was the quality of public education. 17 considering what sb or sth is used for saying that a particular fact about someone or something is surprising when you consider who or what they are: She sings amazingly well for a child. It 's awfully expensive for a toy. 1 8 used for showing what sth means used for stating what something means or represents: What's the Italian word for "Goodbye?" Red roses are for love. 19 appropriate for informal used for stating which person a particular thing, activity, or person would be appropriate for: I just know this girl will be the one for Mountain climbing's not for me - it looks way too you. dangerous. saying.

some

as a conjunction (connecting two clauses): / told her to leave, for I was very' tired. 1 intended to help or benefit sb or sth 1a. used for stating who or what is intended to receive something or get the benefit of it: I've brought a glass of water for you. * Claudia, this present is for you. What can I do for you? The academy provides training for young musicians. They '11 have to buy furniture for the new house. 1b. used for saying that someone does something so that someone else does not have to do it: Betty will take care of things for us while we're away. 1c. in order to protect someone or something: We are here today to honor those who died for their country'2 used for stating a purpose 2a. used for stating the purpose of an object or action: We use the basement for storage. The red button is for turning the machine off. 3 used for stating a length of time or a distance 3a. used for stating how long something lasts or continues: There has been a drought for the last two summers. I've been waiting for 20 minutes. for a while We haven 't seen Kim for a while, —see usage note at since 3b. used for stating how far something reaches, or how far someone goes: The desert stretched for hundreds of miles in all directions. They must have walked for at least three miles.

4

intended to happen at a particular time 4a. used for stating the particular time or date that something is planned to happen: The meeting was planned for 10 o'clock. The release of her new album is scheduled for next August.

5 employed by sb or sth used for stating the person or organization that someone is employed by: She works for an accounting firm downtown. 6 used for stating how much money is paid 6a. used for stating the cost of a product or a service: / sold my carfor $1500. How much do you want for those two lamps? They bought the entire business for around $20 million. He says he won t fix the bike for less than 75 dollars. 6b. used for stating how much someone earns: Some laborers were working for less than $5 a day.

for stating who or what you support or prefer 7a. used for stating which person or thing someone supports or agrees with: Everyone says they are for equal opportunities. Support for the government's reform program has been overwhelming. Eight members voted for the proposal and six against. all for (^supporting something completely) I'm all for complete freedom of speech. 7b. if you are for a particular plan or activity, you want to take part in it: I'm for a picnic by the river. Anyone for tennis? 8 relating to sb or sth relating to or concerning someone or something: Living conditions for most of the

7 used

for

541

foot soldier noun [c] 1 a soldier who fights on foot, not on a horse or in a vehicle 2 someone with a junior position in a company, whose job is to do necessary but

be for sb to do sth to be someone's right, responsibility, or duty to do something: It's not for me to decide whether you should quit your job. She wouldn 't tell me; she said it was for me to figure out. for all 1 despite something: For all his complaining, I think he actually enjoyed the day. 2 considering how large or small an amount is: For all the trouble he's caused her, you'd think she'd be happy to see him go. for every/each used for talking about the relationship between one number or amount and another: For every person who complains, there are always hundreds of satFor each basket of apples you pick, you isfied customers.

get $5.

for the first/last etc. time used for talking about how often something has happened: For the first time in my He was late life I realized that I was the powerful one. this morning for the third time this week. for now or for the moment or for the time being for a short time, until a situation changes: There's enough You '11 have to stay here for fuel to keep us going for now. the time being. for one thirtg! .(for another thing) spoken used for giving a reason for something: Why didn't we visit? Well, for one thing, it's too far away. And for another, she never.

invited us.

were not for or were it not for used for saying what prevents the situation from being different: If it

if it

"

forage

principal's

office.

not for anything used for emphasizing that you definitely will not do a particular thing: / wouldn't get married again - not for anything. that's/there's. .for you spoken 1 used for saying that someone should not be surprised or upset when someone behaves in a particular way because that is the way they normally behave: "His room's such a mess. "Well, that's teenagers for you!" 2 used when you are angry or disappointed at the way you or someone else has been treated: They said it was all my own fault. There's justice for you! .

Q

1

forage /Tond3/

verb [i] 1 to search in a wide area for something, especially food: They spend their days foraging for food around the city. 2 to use your hands to search inside something, for example a pocket or a bag

forage 2

/'fbnd3/ noun [u] food for animals, especially crops grown for horses and cows

foray

/'fb.rei/ noun [c] 1 an attempt at doing something new or something you do not usually do: Anna's forays into cooking were never very successful. 2 a sudden quick attack on an enemy 3 a short trip for-ay verb

—

[l]

f

orbade

forbear ticiple

the past tense of forbid

1

/'for.ber/ (past tense fofbore /for'bor/; past parfor«borne/ for 'born/) verb [i] formal to stop yourself

from doing or saying something, especially in a way that shows that you are polite or patient

forbear2 /'for.ber/ another

spelling of forebear

forbearance /fbr'berons/ noun to

[u]

formal the ability

be polite, calm, and patient in difficult situations

forbearing

/ibr'benrj/ adj formal polite, calm, and patient in difficult situations

forbid

/for'bid/ (past tense for*bade /forbeid/

or

for*bad

/for'baed/; past participle for'bid'den/for'bidn/) verb [T]

••

to state that something is not allowed, according to a rule, law, or custom: prohibit: new regulations for1

bidding the sale of landmines forbid sb to do sth/from doing sth Army policy forbids soldiers in uniform from talking to the news media. International law forbids outsiders to interfere in civil wars. la. to tell someone that they must not do something: You're not going out tonight - I absolutely forbid it. forbid sb to do sth/from doing sth The situation is so dangerous that the relief agencies have forbidden their workers to go there. Company directors were forbidden to comment on the crisis. 2 formal to make something impossible or prevent

something from happening: Hannah cian,

although modesty forbids her

to

God/Heaven forbid spoken used

is

say

a natural musiso.

emphasizing that you hope something will not happen: What would we do if, God forbid, that happened to one of our kids.

forbid'den/for'bidn/adj

for

*

not allowed according to a rule, law, or custom: Smoking is forbidden in all parts of the building. strictly/ expressly forbidden The use of cellphones in the library is 1

strictly forbidden.

2

a forbidden place is one that most people are not allowed to enter: An electrified fence marks the forbidden border zone. 3 forbidden activities or subjects are things you should not do, talk about, or know about, for example because they are considered morally bad: for bidden books/ secrets a forbidden romance

forbidden fruit something very nice that you want very much but are not allowed to have forbid*ding /fsr'bidirj/ adj appearing unfriendly or threatening: A university can seem like a forbidding place to

f

new

students.

orbore

force

542

were not for the fact that he is my father, I'd accuse him in if it had not been for/ had it not been for If it had public. not been for your help, I would not have succeeded. I for one... spoken used for emphasizing what you believe or think, even if other people disagree: Nothing has been proved yet, and Ifor one believe that he is innocent. in for it informal used for saying that you are going to be in trouble because of something you have done: "Now we're in for it, " Phillip said as they trooped into the

the past tense of forbear

1

forborne force 1

1

the past participle of forbear

/fors/ noun

•••

physical strength

2 group of police, 3 influence

1

etc.

4 5

scientific effect

military

+ PHRASES

1 [u] physical strength or violence: They accused the police of using excessive force during the arrest. by force The army took control of the region by force. brute force (=simple physical force) You can achieve more by

persuasion than by brute force. 1a. the power or energy produced by one thing hitting another: The office building took the full force of the blast. His body swung around with the force of the blow. 2 [C] a group of people doing military or police work:

Both countries have now withdrawn their forces from the area. a U.N. peacekeeping force 2a. a group of people who work together for a particular purpose: an effective sales force 2b. the force informal the police: Bill was a senior police officer, who joined the force back in 1982. -» TASK FORCE

3 [u] the influence or powerful effect that someone has: We have convinced people by the force of our argument. force of personality He persuaded them to reelect him by sheer force of personality. 3a. [C] something or someone that has a powerful influence on what happens: the social and political forces that shape people's lives For years he was a dominant force in Spanish politics. +for The U.N. is a force for stability. The most obvious force for change in industry is technical advance. driving force (=the most important influence) She was certainly the driving force behind the campaign. 4 [C] science a power that makes an object move or changes the way it moves: the force of gravity electromagnetic forces 4a. used with a number for describing how strong a wind is: a force 9 gale 5 the Forces [plural] BrE the military of a country by/through force of circumstances because of the situation that you are in, which forces you to do a particular thing a force to be reckoned with a person, business, etc., especially an opponent, whose influence or ability deserves to be respected the forces of darkness/evil evil influences, for example the devil the forces of nature powerful aspects of nature and weather, for example wind and storms in force 1 if a law or rule is in force, it is being applied and people must obey it: The ban on arms exports remains in force. The new tax regulations come into force next week. 2 if people do something in force, a lot of people are involved: Demonstrators came in force when Bush arrived in Stockholm. join/combine forces to start to work together in order to achieve a shared goal through/from force of habit without thinking, because you always do a particular thing

force 2 /fbrs/ verb [t] *•• 1 to make someone do something

that they do not to do, for example by using or threatening to use violence: compel: force sb to do sth He claims that police Three judges have officers forced him to sign a confession. been forced to resign because of corruption scandals. force sb into /out of sth Two men forced him into the back force yourself to do sth Despite the pain, she of the van. forcedherselftogetoutofbed. 1a. if an event or situation forces you to do something, you have to do it even if you do not want to: force sb to do sth Bad health forced her to abandon her studies. force sb into /out of sth Lack of skills forces these young men into low-paid jobs. Falling sales eventually forced them out of business. 2 to use physical force to move something in a particular direction: force sth through /into /out of sth She Use a strong jet of forced the package through the slot. water toforce blockages out ofthe pipe. 2a. to use physical force to open something that is locked: Police say the force sth open We had to back window has been forced. force the door open. force a lock (=break it) If she doesn 't have a key, we'll have toforce the lock. 2b. to use physical strength to move somewhere by pushing people or things away: force your way through/into sth She had to force her way through the crowd.

want

forced

forehand

543

Opposition to the plans The Knicks scored in forced a rapid reversal of policy. the closing seconds, forcing the game into overtime. 4 to make a plant grow faster than it would normally, for example by giving it extra heat or light

ford 2

force sb's hand to make someone do something that they did not want to do or make them do something sooner than they intended to do it force the issue to make it necessary for someone to make a decision immediately force the pace mainly Br E to make events happen more quickly than they would usually force a smile/laugh to smile or laugh when you do not

fore 2

3

to

make something happen:

really feel like

it

/'for.arm/ noun [c] the lower part of your arm, between your elbow and your wrist —picture -»

BODY

fore-bear

/'for.ber/ noun [c usually

everyone.

vacation.

force up phrasal vb [T] to make something increase: Increased demand has forced prices up.

Metaphor

-»

her little finger.

POWER

forced

/forst/ adj 1 not sincere or natural: a forced 2 done or happening because the situation makes necessary or because someone makes you do it: forced

smile it

layoffs

the forced resettlement of the refugees

forced labor noun someone is made to do

fore-cast cast

or

what

2

/'for.kaest/ (past tense and past participle fore-

* to make a statement about happen, usually relating to the weather,

fore-cast-ed) verb [T]

is likely to

business, or the economy: More torrential rain is forecast tonight. Analysts are forecasting an increase in profits of up to 16%. + (that) He forecast that the economy's downturn would be short-lived. forecast sth at sth Next year's

growth rate

is forecast

fore-cast-er

at just 1%.

/'for.kaestor/

noun

a statement about what especially relating to the weather

.forced 'landing noun

[c]

the action of

making an

airplane land because of an emergency 'force- .feed verb [t] 1 to force food or drink down a person's or animal's throat, usually with a tube 2 to force someone to learn information or accept opinions: As children we were force-fed religion.

forceful

/'forsfol/ adj

1

confident

and good

at influ-

encing people: assertive: a forceful personality 1a. clear and likely to persuade people: convincing: There are forceful arguments in favor of this. 2 involving the use of force force-ful-ly adv, force-ful-ness noun [u]

—

force ma-jeure

ma^r/

noun [u] 1 legal an unexpected event that stops you from doing something you promised to do in a contract 2 greater strength or /.fors

power

forceps

noun [plural] a medical tool with two long narrow parts, used for holding things during medical operations a. a large medical tool used for helping to pull a baby out of its mother's womb when it is being born f orc-i-ble / 'forsobl/ adj involving the use of force: There are no signs offorcible entry. forcibly adv ford 1 /ford/ verb [T] to cross a stream or river by walking or driving through the water /'for.seps/

—

[c]

someone whose job

[C]

make

is

likely to happen,

the front part of a ship

verb [I] legal to take someone's property because they failed to pay back the money they borrowed to buy it: The bank was threatening to foreclose on his mortgage. fore-clo-sure noun [C/u]

—

fore-court

/'for, kort/ noun [c] an open area in front of a large building or gas station fore-fa-thers /'for.fadorz/ noun [plural] formal people belonging to your family or nation who lived a long time ago: ancestor fore-fin-ger /'for, ling or/ noun [c] the finger that is next to your thumb. Next to your forefinger is your middle finger, then your ring finger, and the smallest is

your

little finger: index finger

fore-foot

/'fbr.fot/ (plural fore»feet/ 'for, fit/) noun [C] one two feet of an animal that has four feet fore-front, the /Tor.frAnt/ noun a leading or import-

of the front

hard physical work that

[u]

a strong unpleasgoing to happen

is

adj literary making you something bad will happen 1 fore-cast /'for.kaest/ noun [c] •• a statement about what is likely to happen, based on available information and usually relating to the weather, business, or the economy: The weather forecast is for a dry sunny day + of The U.N. has revised tomorrow. sales forecasts its forecast of global grain production. The Treasury's forecast assumes that inflation will remain below 3%.

fore-close /for'klooz/

wrap me around

lived a

feel that

fore-cas-tle /'fooksl/ noun

They put pressure on him to go. / was under a lot I felt very pressured. She pushed me into agreeing. He was hauled/ pulled in by the police questioning. They squeezed out of a confession for him. The country was dragged into war. They kept pressing me for an answer. / didn't want to do it, but they twisted my arm. She managed to twist/

who

fore-bod-ing 2 /for'boodin/

them.

of pressure.

formal your

soon

is to

to

[u]

ant feeling that something very bad

do something is like putting physical pressure on them, or pulling or pushing Forcing

plural]

forebears are the people in your family long time ago: ancestor

fore-bod-ing /for'boodin/ noun

force out of phrasal vb [T] [force sth out of sb] to force someone to tell you something: He eventually forced the names out of her. force through phrasal vb [T) to do something so that a proposal is accepted or an issue is dealt with quickly: The Senate hopes to force through legislation before its

someone

/for/ adj the fore parts of a ship, airplane, or at the front

animal are the parts

fore-arm

1

force back phrasal vb [T] if you force back tears, you try very hard not to cry force down phrasal vb [T] 1 to make something become lower: Tough competition is forcing down prices. 2 to eat or drink something even though you do not want to: / managed to force down a sandwich. 3 to force an airplane to land force on or force upon phrasal vb [T] [force sth on/upon sb] to make someone accept something that they do not want: You took over the meeting and forced your views on

summer

/ford/ noun [C] a place in a stream or river where the water is not deep and you can walk or drive across fore 1 /for/ noun to the fore into a position of importance: The issue of taxation has once again come to the fore. The new legislation brings patients' needs to the fore.

ant position: at/ in the forefront (of) We are at the forefront bring sth to the forefront of efforts to tackle inequality. Recent events had brought European issues to the forefront of media attention. fore-gath-er /for'gaeGor/ another spelling of forgather

fore-go /for'goo/ another spelling of forgo fore-going /'for.gooin/ adj very formal used

for refer-

ring to something that has just been mentioned: for the foregoing reasons a. the foregoing the things that have just

been mentioned

fore-gone con-elusion

/.forgon kon'klu3n/ noun a result that you can be certain about before happens: Once again, a defeat for the Conservatives

[singular] it

looked like a foregone conclusion.

fore-ground, the /'for.graund/ noun

the front part of a scene or picture. The part at the back is called the background: She drew a few flowers in the foreground. in the foreground computing being used at the present time. Programs that are running on your computer but not being used are in the background.

fore-ground

/'for.graond/ verb

more importance than something

to give else

[T]

fore-hand

something

/'for.haend/ noun [c] a way of hitting the ball in tennis with the palm of your hand toward your

opponent: a forehand volley —picture

-» ci4

forehead

foreign

/'faran/ adj

*••

from another country or in another country: Working in a foreign country takes some getting used to. Do you speak any foreign languages? They've already had two 1

foreign vacations this year. 1a. dealing with or relating to other countries: foreign policy the part of the newspaper dealing with foreign affairs 2 not typical of something or someone and therefore not expected or familiar: alien: In some versions of freemarket economics, the notion of public service is quite +to She was in a state of deep depression that foreign. was totally foreign to her nature. 3 medical not forming a normal part of the body's immune system: the immune system's response to foreign proteins

foreign body noun entered a place where

formal something that has should not be, especially some-

[c] it

one's body

foreign correspondent noun works their

in another country sending

[c]

a reporter

news

stories

who

back

to

own country

for-eign-er/'faranar/noun[c] ** someone who comes from another country foreign ex'change noun [c/u] a system or institution for changing the money of one country for the money of another country a. [u] the money that a country obtains through this system .Foreign 'Legion, the a part of the French army that consists mainly of soldiers from outside France. It has a reputation for working in difficult conditions such as the desert and for attracting men who no longer want to be part of normal society. Foreign .Office, the the British government department that deals with Britain's relations with foreign countries. Its full name is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The U.S. department that has a similar purpose is the State Department. .Foreign 'Secretary noun [c] the British government official

who

is

responsible for Britain's relationships title for a similar job

with foreign countries. The U.S. is Secretary of State.

fore-knowl-edge

/far'nalid3/ noun [u] formal knowledge of events before they happen fore-leg /Tar.leg/ noun [c] one of the two front legs of an animal that has four legs fore-lock /'far.lak/ noun [C] the front part of a horse's mane that falls forwards between its ears —picture -» horse a. the front part of a person's hair that falls forwards over their forehead fore-man /Tarman/ (plural foreTnen/'farman/) noun [C] 1 a man who is in charge of a team of workers 2 the person who is chosen to be the leader of a jury and to tell the court what decision the jury has reached fore-most /'far.moost/ adj most important or most well known: He is one of Mexico's foremost authorities on

Aztec culture. -» first

fore-name

/Tar.neim/ noun

fore-noon, the

/'far.nun/

formal a first name noun old-fashioned the

[c]

morning fo-ren-sic /fa'renzik/ adj 1 relating to the use of scientific methods to solve crimes and to find out who committed them: Forensic experts searched the house. forensic evidence They have come up with new forensic evidence. 2 relating to lawyers or law courts: forensic debates

fo-ren-sics /fa'renziks/ noun [u] 1 scientific methods used to solve crimes and find out who committed them la. [plural] facts that can be used as forensic evidence 2 [plural] a police department dealing with forensic evidence: We're waiting for forensics to send their report. fore-or-dained /farar'deind/ adj formal if an event is foreordained, it is the necessary result of previous events or has been determined to happen by God

/Tar.plei/ noun [u] sexual kissing and touching that people enjoy before having sex

fore-play

forever

544

/noun [C] • * the upper part fore-head of your face between your eyes and your hair: She had Carter wrinkled his a long face, with a high forehead. forehead in concentration, —picture * head /'farad. Tar, lied

fore-run-ner /Tar.ruiar/ noun

1

[c]

an

institution,

custom, or thing that existed before a newer but similar thing: precursor: +of Small country schools were forerunners of the modern public schools in most American towns. 2 an animal or plant that existed before an animal or plant that it is related to: ancestor: Tree shrews are believed to be forerunners of monkeys.

fore-see

/tarsi/ (past tense fore»saw/far'sa/; past participle fore-seen /far'sin/j verb [T] to see or know something that will happen in the future: predict: Who could have

foreseen such problems?

fore-see-a-ble /for'siabl/ adj a foreseeable event or time is one that can easily be imagined or known about before it happens: predictable: The increased demand for organic produce was not foreseeable ten years ago. for the foreseeable future for as far in the future as

can be determined, based on what

is

known now: For

the foreseeable future, Social Security will be the primary source of retirement income for many Americans. in the foreseeable future at a future time that is not very distant, and that can be at least partly guessed from present conditions: There will certainly be more effective cancer treatments in the foreseeable future.

fore-shad-ow

/for'faedou/ verb [t] if something foreshadows a future event, it shows or gives a warning that it will happen: The storms and rains of that year

foreshadowed a long period of unstable weather conditions. /far'jartnd/ adj if something in a picture is foreshortened, it seems shorter or smaller than it is fore-sight /'far.sait/ noun [u] the good judgment to think and plan before an event, so that you are prepared for whatever may happen: Early planners of New York City showed tremendous foresight in their design of the water system. I'm glad you had the foresight to bring

fore-short-ened

warm

clothes.

fore-skin

/'for ,skm/ noun [c] the loose skin that covers the front part of a man's penis if he has not had the skin removed in an operation called a circumcision

***

a large area of land /'farast/ noun [C/U] covered by trees and other plants growing close together: When we were children, we loved to hike through the forest. Acid rain is already destroying large areas of

for-est

forest

and

lakes in northern Europe.

forest fire

AmE

used for sb can't see the forest for the trees saying that someone is so worried about small details that they do not see the most basic and important features of a situation. Br E can't see the wood for the trees

fore-stall /far'stal/ verb [T] to prevent something from happening by saying or doing something before it can happen: lie's hoped that the bank's measure will forestall a return

to

high inflation.

for-est-ed

/'farastad/ adj covered with trees: heavily/ thickly forested The hills nearby were thickly forested with

oak trees. for-est-er

/'farastar/ noun [c] someone whose job is to take care of a forest, and to cut down and plant trees forest .ranger noun [c] someone whose job is to protect and manage a forest, especially on public land

for-est-ry /'farastri/ noun [u] the science of caring for forests, and the trees and other plants that grow in

them

Forest Service, the

the U.S. government department responsible for taking care of forests fore-taste /Tor.teist/ noun [singular] an example of something that will happen in the future to a greater degree: The summer job had given her a foretaste of office work.

fore-tell

/far'tel/ (past tense and past participle fore-told /far'tould/) verb [T] mainly literary to say what will happen in the future: predict: No one could have foretold such a freak accident.

/TarGat/ noun [u] careful thought and planning that prepares you well for a future event: He wished they had had the forethought to bring extra water. fore-told the past tense and past participle of foretell

fore-thought

for-ev-er/far'evar/adv *• 1 for all time in the future, or for as long as you

"

forevermore

ever.

informal for a long time, usually longer than you like: The movie seemed to go on forever. 2a. take

2

would

much more

forever to take It

download

took forever to

time than you would the

program

files

like:

from

the

Internet.

forever doing sth used for emphasizing that someone does something very often, and that this is very annoying: He is forever going on about how bright his children are.

form different shapes 2 a machine that makes metal soft by heating it into a

adv

/fsr.eva'mDr/

mainly

mold

noun [c] a criminal who makes copies of valuable documents or works of art, and sells the copies illegally to people who think they are original. Someone who copies money is called a counterfeiter.

forgery

/'fordjpri/ noun 1 [u] the crime of making copies of valuable documents or works of art in order to make money by selling them 2 [C] a document, painting, work of art, etc. that is a copy of an original, and has been illegally represented as the original

forget

•**

literary 1

not

/for'worn/ verb [T] to warn someone about a problem or dangerous situation that is likely to happen: The King was forewarned about the plot and escaped in secret, a. forewarned is forearmed used for saying that if you know about a problem before it happens, you can prepare for it

2

not

/'forwomsn/

(plural

a female worker in a factory 2 a chosen to be the leader of a jury

/'for

wimin/) noun

[c]

1

team of workers, usually is

fore-word

/'for

W3rd/ noun

[C]

forex

/'for.eks/

forfeit 1

noun

fore«wom«en leads a

who

woman who

a short introduction to

someone other than the

a book, usually written by writer

[U] business foreign

exchange

be forced to give up a right, a benefit, or something you own, because you have broken a rule or law: If they moved away, they would forfeit all rights to their land. It is the first time she has forfeited a tournament match through injury. 2 to lose something valuable by making a mistake or doing something wrong: By attacking too late, they had forfeited the advantage of surprise. forfeit 2 / 'forfit / noun [c] something that you must give, pay, or do because you have done something wrong: /'forfrt/ verb [t]

1

to

PENALTY

forfeit 3

/'forfit/ adj formal something that is forfeit is taken from you because of something you have done wrong or have failed to do: They knew their lands would

be forfeit if they lost the war.

forfeiture

noun [c/u] legal the loss of a something you own because you do something or have done something

/'forfitjar/

right, a benefit, or

have failed to wrong: They risked

forfeiture if they were late with the

payment.

for-gath-er /for'gsdsr/ verb

[I]

very formal to

meet as

a group

orgave

the past tense of forgive

1

forge /hrd^/ 1

[T]

verb

/far'get/ (present participle for»get*ting; past tense

for«got /far'gat/; past participle for*got*ten /for'yutn/) verb

FOREVER

fore-warn

fore-wom-an

to

f org-er / TDrd33r/

[i/T]

forev-ermore

f

forgetful

545

can imagine: They promised to love each other forever. 1a. forever and ever for now and all time in the future: used for emphasis, especially by children or in children's stories: He promised to be her friend forever and

•

to develop a successful relationship, especially in

business or politics, with another country, organization, or person: The company wanted to forge alliances with other motor manufacturers. forge links During the 1970s, the U.S. forged trade links with China. 1a. to work hard to achieve something: She forged a new career as a

remember fact remember to do

3 not take

sth with

sth

you

4 5

stop thinking about stop planning to do sth

+ PHRASES

1 to be unable to remember a fact or piece of information: I've forgotten her phone number. + about Everyone but me seems to have forgotten about our agreement. + how/why/where/when etc. She's forgotten where she's parked her car. We first met at college, I forget when + (that) I'd forgotten that you already told me exactly. never forget sth I'll about your sister's new boyfriend. never forget the look of disappointment on her face. 2 to not remember to do something that you intended to do: Phil should be here by now. Do you think he's forgotten? + about She had forgotten all about mailing the letter. + forget to do sth Don't forget to lock the door when you leave. / nearly forgot to invite Josie. / keep forgetting to take my tablets. + (that) / completely forgot that I promised to come see you! 3 to not take something with you when you should have: She forgot her sunglasses. + about / remembered everything else but I forgot about the beach towels. thinking, worrying, 4 to stop or caring about something or someone: She was looking forward to the party so she could forget her worries for a few hours. + about Try to forget about him. +that People tend to forget that the rights we enjoy now were won through a great struggle. 5 to stop planning to do something because you realize that it will not be possible: / think we can forget the idea of a vacation this year. * + about We may have to forget about getting a new car.

don't (you) forget it used for telling someone very firmly how they should behave, especially when they have said or done something that you do not approve of: Don't call me "Jim." I'm "Mr. Parker" to you, and don't you forget it! forget it 1 used for telling someone that they should not worry about something because it is not important: "How much do I owe you?" "Oh, forget it - it's nothing. 2 used for showing that you are annoyed because you think someone's comment or suggestion is completely unreasonable: In the end I said to him, "Look, forget it I'm not paying you. " If you're just going to stand there

poet

criticize, forget it. 3 used for telling someone that the situation is completely different from what they think: If your idea of a camping trip is a leaky tent and cold baked beans, forget it! forget yourself to behave in a way that is silly or

2

embarrassing

and songwriter. [t] to illegally copy documents, paper money, or works of art with the intention of cheating people: Someone forged my signature. The police are searching for stolen goods, forged passports, and drugs.

3 [T] to heat metal until it is soft, then hit it with a hammer or pour it into a mold to form different shapes 4 [i] [+on /through] to keep moving forward, with a lot of difficulty: Napoleon's soldiers forged through the snow.

Words frequently used with forge nouns

bond, contact, friendship, partnership, relationship, tie

alliance, link,

1

.forge ahead phrasal vb [l] 1 to make strong steady progress: Export sales continue to forge ahead. He forged ahead with his plans. 2 to move forward in a strong

steady way forge 2 /tbrd3/ noun until

it is

soft,

[c] 1

and then

a place hit

where metal

with a

hammer

is heated or poured

and

Other ways of saying forget

have no recollection of sth to be completely unable to remember something, so that you think that perhaps it never happened: / have absolutely no recollection of ever seeing this man.

be on the tip of your tongue used for saying that you cannot remember a name or fact that you know, but that you think you will remember it soon: What was his name again? It's on the tip of my tongue. my mind's gone blank used for saying that you cannot remember something, especially when someone has asked you a question

for-get-ful /far'getfal/ adj often unable to remember things: She became increasingly forgetful and withdrawn. for«get«fuMy adv. for*get*ful*ness noun [U]

forget-me-not f or

get-me- not noun

form

546 |c]

a very small blue flower with

pointed leaves

for-get-ta-ble /for'getabl/ ad] quickly forgotten because of having no interesting or special qualities: forgettable

TV sitcoms

forgiv-a-ble

/far'givobl/ adj a forgivable action or

very serious, and you can understand —opposite unforgivabi.k

fault is not

forgive

it

it

and

forgive

/far'giv/ (past tense for-gave /far'geiv/; past parfor«given/for givn/) verb [T]

*•

ticiple

you will not be angry with someone offended, upset, or harmed you: His children have never fully forgiven him. forgive sb for doing sth She eventually forgave him for forgetting her birthday. forgive yourself John has never forgiven himself for the accident. forgive sb sth They're nice boys, so we tend to forgive them their occasional bouts of bad behavior. 2 business if a country or bank forgives a debt, they decide that the debt does not have to be paid back: 1

to decide that

who has

CANCEL sb could be forgiven for thinking/ wondering/ believing, etc. used for saying that it is not surprising that someone thinks or believes something, even though they are wrong to do so: Voters could be forgiven for thinking that the major parties have no policies at all for the environment. forgive and forget to decide not to continue being angry

about something someone has done, and not to allow your memory of it to influence your future relationship forgive me (for doing sth)/forgive my doing sth spoken used when you want to say or do something that may offend the person you are talking to: Forgive me, but I Forgive me for asking, but how much must leave now. did you pay for that vase?

forlorn

/far'brn/ adj 1 appearing lonely and sad: We watched her, a forlorn figure alone on the platform. 1a. used about places that are empty and in bad condition: One of the city's best-loved landmarks now stands forlorn and almost derelict. 2 wanted by you very much despite knowing that there is little chance of getting what you want: forlorn hope He knew that winning a medal was a forlorn hope.

form

forgiveness

/fsr'grvnas/ noun [u] the action or feeling of forgiving someone: When she realized what she had done, she begged his forgiveness. They are promoting a policy of peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

f

orgiving

/far'givirj/ adj 1

ings toward someone who has offended or harmed you not causing a major problem if you make a mistake

/for'goo/

(past tense for«went/for'went/; past par-

formal to decide not to do or have something: The board members have decided to forgo any salary increase.

ticiple

tor-gone /for 'gon/) verb [J]

f or-got the past tense of forget

for«got«ten 1 /far'gatn/ adj not thought about or remembered by people any longer: her forgotten early novels f or«got«ten

2

the past participle of forget

/fork/ noun [c] • 1 a metal or plastic object used for eating, consisting of a handle with three or four sharp points on the end: knives, forks, and spoons * Beat the mixture with a fork to blend the ingredients, —picture -> C2 2 a garden tool used for breaking up the earth that consists of a long handle with three or four sharp metal points on the end 3 a place where a road, path, or river divides into two parts to form a shape like a "Y" 3a. one of the parts that a road, path, or river divides into fork 2 /fork/ verb 1 [i] if a road, path, or river forks, it divides into two separate parts: The road forked about two hundred yards in front of her. la. BrE to turn and follow one of the parts that a road, path, or river divides into 2 [t] to move food using a fork: Jessica didn't answer, she was busy forking food into her mouth. 3 [T] to dig the ground or lift something with a garden fork

fork

1

fork out/ over phrasal vb [i/t] informal to spend money on something, especially when you do not want to: + on/ for Fm not forking out 400 bucks on ski clothes!

forked

/forkt/ adj divided into two separate parts in a "Y" shape: a snake's forked tongue a forked tail I branch forked lightning noun [u] lightning that moves across the sky and divides into separate parts when it is near the ground f ork'lift / fork ,hft/ noun [C] a vehicle that uses two long metal bars at the front for lifting and moving heavy objects

/form/ noun

•••

type of sth

2 way sth appears/exists 3 shape of sb/sth 4 level of ability 5 official document

willing to forget bad feel-

2

forgo

1

1

6 about art/music etc. 7 one of parts of word

8

class at school

+ PHRASES

1 [C] a type of something: + of The private automobile is by far the most popular form of transportation. He developed a rare form of cancer. Everyone agrees that the kids must receive some form of punishment. 2 [C/u] the particular way in which something appears or exists: The information is also available in electronic in the form of You can get the medicine in the form form. Help arrived in the form of a nasal spray or as a tablet. take the form of The of six heavily armed police officers. aid might take the form of personal service or of cash. Neglect of children can take a variety offorms. 3 [C] a shape of someone or something: Three forms gradually emerged out of the darkness. She stared at the lifeless form on the driveway. 4 [C] the level of someone's ability at a particular time, especially in a sport: Williams blames a foot injury for her recent loss of form. The band's new CD marks a welcome return to form (=to a previous high standard). in (good etc.) form She is hoping to be in top form in time for the Olympics. 4a. Br E the state of someone's mood and health at a particular time: in good/bad etc. form / saw Sam last night - he was in great form. 4b. in rare/ top etc. form behaving or performing in a way that is especially clever, skillful, amusing, etc.: Toronto's outrageous mayor was in rare form during his speech last

night.

5 [C] an official document that has spaces where you can put in information: Use the order form to get new fill in/out a form Make sure you fill in the application form completely and legibly. of a piece of writing or music or a the structure 6 [U] painting: The form of the novel is complex, with numerous office supplies.

flashbacks. 7 [C] one part of a verb or other word that has several different parts: nouns like "child" that have irregular plural forms It's important to learn all the forms of a verb.

8

[C]

BrE a

class at school

bad form mainly BrE

old-fashioned behavior that considered to be not polite or socially acceptable

is

form /form/ verb

•••

Normally the vote of the state's presidential electors is a mere formality. just a formality The interview is just a

4 influence development 5 make part of word

1 make sth exist/develop 2 move to create shape 3 be (what makes up) sth

formality.

1 [I] to make something exist or develop: A change in temperature may make moisture form on the windows. A A plan began to form in her smile formed on his lips. mind. la. [T] to make something start to exist or He has been develop: The valley was formed by erosion. with the club since it was first formed in 1972. She formed a deep attachment to the child. form an impression of The interview will give you a chance to form an impression of

the company. [i/T] to move together to create a particular shape: The boys and girls formed a line behind their teacher. A dozen or so armed guards formed a ring around the exit.

2

2a.

[T]

to

make something

into a particular shape: form

sth into sth Roll the clay between into

a

formidable

547

form 2

your hands and form

it

ball.

verb to be something or to be the parts that 3 something consists of: Fieldwork forms an important part Mountains form a natural barrier that of the course. keeps invaders out. Land ownership formed the basis of their wealth and power. 4 [T] to influence the development of something: Her character was largely formed by the loss of her family in the war. 5 [t] to make one of the parts of a verb or other word that has several different parts: You normally add "-ing" to form the present participle of English verbs. linking

formal

1

/'fbrml/ adj

••• 4 about writing/art 5 about gardens

1 official

2 about events/clothes 3 about education

etc.

1 following the correct or suitable official methods: The government is promising a formal investigation. They have offered me the job, but I don't yet have a formal contract. We intend to make a formal written complaint.

— Opposite INFORMAL 2

correct or conservative in style, and appropriate for or serious situations or occasions: When we first was a little stiff and formal. Business letters do not always have to be impersonal and formal. "Ameliorate" is a more formal way of saying "improve." 2a. a formal event or social occasion is an important or official one at which people wear special clothes: The Queen will be the host at a formal dinner tonight. 2b. formal clothes are the special clothes that people wear at formal occasions, usually a black jacket and pants for men and a long dress for women —opposite informal 3 formal education or training is obtained from studying rather than from working at a job: She's got a lot of experience but no formal qualifications. 4 [usually before noun] relating to the form or structure of something such as a piece of writing, art, or music: the formal innovations in Mozart's music 5 formal gardens have plants and paths arranged in a set of regular patterns foi-maMy adv official

met, he

—

formal 2

AmE

/'forml/ noun [c] 1 a dance to which people wear formal clothes 2 a long dress that a woman wears to a formal dance

f or-mahde-hyde /fDr'maelda.haid/ noun [u] a gas with no color and a strong smell, used mixed with water for preserving dead things in a laboratory

formalin

/'formalin/ noun [u] a chemical made by mixing formaldehyde with water, used for preserving dead things in a laboratory

for-mal-ise

/

'forml.aiz/a Br

E

spelling of formalize

for-mal-ism

/'forml.izsm/ noun [u] a style or method music etc. in which there is more emphasis on obeying formal rules than expressing meaning or emotion formaHst noun [C] in art, literature,

—

for-mal-i-ty /for'maebti/ noun • 1 [C usually plural] something that must be done as part of an official process or that you are expected to do in a social situation: We went through the usual formalities at customs and passport control. the tiresome formalities of a trial 1a. [C] something that must be done but that does not have much real meaning or importance:

2 [U] formal style of writing, behaving, etc.: Good teachers try to find the right combination of formality and informality in the classroom. degree of formality in

A

dress

is

expected in this business.

/'forml.aiz/ verb [t] to make something such as a plan, system, or agreement official: Plans have been formalized to set up a factory to produce cars in North for'maM'za*tion/ forrnli'zeiJ'n/noun [u] Carolina. format 1 /'for.maet/ noun [c/u] •• 1 the arrangement, design, or organization of something: Changes have been proposed to the format of the competition. 1a. the size, shape, and appearance of a book, magazine, or newspaper: a tabloid/ news magazine format large-print format 1b. the form that a movie, television program, music recording, etc. is produced in: a TV program in wide-screen format 1c. the structure and design of a written document, especially a computer file, for example the size and type of the letters and the width of the written area of the page 2 computing the way that information is arranged and organized on a computer disk

for-mal-ize

—

i

format 2 /'for.maet/ verb

[T]

•

1 computing to prepare a computer disk so that information can be stored on it 2 to arrange written material into a particular format, especially in a computer file for-ma-tion /for'meijn/ noun ••• 1 [u] the process during which something develops or is created: the formation of stones in the kidneys factors that affect the formation of children 's personalities 1a. the process of starting something such as a business, government, or organization for the first time: the formation of the national low-cost housing program 2 [C/U] the way in which a moving group of people or things is organized into a particular shape or pattern: Their unusual defensive formation won the game. The soldiers broke into a run, keeping formation. in formation (=in a fixed pattern) airplanes flying information 2a. [C] the particular shape of something: rock /cloud formations forrrva-tive /'formativ/ adj [usually before noun] strongly influencing the development of someone's character and beliefs: Her first year at college was a formative experience. / spent my formative years in the Middle East.

former

1

/'formar/ function word

Former can be used

•••

in the following

ways:

as an adjective (only before a noun): She

still visits

her former husband. as a pronoun (after "the"): Given the choice between rose pink and olive green, I'd choose the former every time.

used for describing someone or something that had a particular job, title, status, etc. in the past, but not now: The ceremony honored all the former presidents who are still living. the former Soviet Union He abandoned his former career as a geologist. 2 formal used for referring to times in the past: Marble pillars and high painted ceilings remain from former times. 1

be a shadow/ghost of your former self to be much less healthy or successful, or to be in much worse condition than before the former formal used for referring to the first of two people or things that you have mentioned. Use the latter to refer to the second person or thing: Both Williams and Andrews claim the property. The former insists that it was a gift. former2 /'formar/ noun first/second/third, etc. former Br E old-fashioned a student in the first/second/ third etc. year of secondary school

•*

formerly

/'farmarli/ adv in the past: Mr. Jones in a New York firm. Ho Chi Minh formerly called Saigon

was formerly a partner City,

Formi'ca

/far'maika/ trademark a hard plastic used and working areas in kitchens

for covering tables

formi-da-ble/'farmidabl; far'midabl/adj very impressive in size, power, or skill and therefore deserving respect and often difficult to deal with: Meeting the energy

—

—

formless demands of a big city is a formidable task. The company has built up a formidable reputation for quality. a for-

—

f or*mi-da»bly adv midable opponent/ challenge form-less /'formbs/ adj with no definite real or imagined shape: A dark formless danger terrified her. fornvless-ness noun [U]

form

.letter noun [C] a standard letter that is used by businesses for a particular type of situ-

especially ation

formula

/'formjob/ (plural for*mu*las or for*mu*lae /'fbrmjali/) noun 1 [C] a plan or method for dealing with a problem or achieving a result: The company's winning formula

**

includes excellent service

and

quality products.

+for

What's your formula for a long and happy marriage? magic formula There is no magic formula for economic success.

2 [C] a group of letters or numbers that represents a rule in science or mathematics: a simple mathematical +for the formula for calculating the area of a

formula circle

3

of the exact amounts of the ingredients that are used for making something: +for The formulas for the drinks are closely guarded secrets. 3a. an exact description of the chemical elements that make up a particular substance or compound, written with chemical symbols: a chemical formula 4 [U] BABY MILK [C]

a

list

for*mu*la*ic /.formja'lenk/

adj

using

a

standard

pattern that has been used many times before and therefore not interesting or original

formulate /Torrmb.leit/ verb

[t]

is

•

1 to develop a plan, system, or proposal carefully, thinking about all of its details: The government is formulating a new strategy to combat crime. The Bush team is formulating its response to the global warming treaty. 1a. [often passive] to prepare a product by combining substances or chemicals in the right amounts: The milk is specially formulated for babies. 2 to express an idea or opinion in a careful organized way: It took her a moment to formulate a reply.

for-mu-la-tion /.formjs'leijn/ noun 1 [u] the development of a plan, system, or proposal: foreign policy + of the formulation of new guidelines for formulation more efficient use of fuel 2 [C/u] the way an idea or opinion is expressed in words 3 [C/u] the quantities of different substances that must be mixed together to make a particular product such as a drug or skin cream 3a. [C] a product such as a drug or skin cream forni-cate /'forni.keit/ verb [i] old-fashioned to have sex with someone you are not married to. This word shows you think this is morally wrong. fofni«ca«tion /,forni'keijn/noun ,f or-

profit

make

[U],

for*ni*ca*tor noun [C]

adj business

/far'seik/ (past tense for*sook /far'suk/; past participle for»sak«en/f3r'seikon/) verb [T] 1 mainly literary to leave someone or stop helping or taking care of them,

need you: abandon: Forsaken by her friends, she sank deeper into depression. 2 formal to stop doing, using, or having something forsooth /for'suG/ adv an old word meaning "cer-

forth /forO/ adv 1 away from a

literary

place:

used as an

••

Go

and spread

forth

the

word of

God.

2 forward

or out: He drew forth an envelope. novel brought forth the scorn of critics.

from that day/moment/time that day, moment, time, etc

Her first

etc. forth literary after

1

-» so

forth-conving/forG'kAminVadj

••

1 [only before noun] happening or coming soon: a candidate in the forthcoming Presidential election the title track from their forthcoming album Forthcoming events include a concert and a trip to the mountains. 2 [never before noun] formal provided or available when needed or asked for: No response was forthcoming. 3 [never before noun] helpful and willing to tell you things: James was more forthcoming than I expected.

forth-right /TorG.rait/ adj * saying what you think and feel directly and honestly, without being afraid of other people's reactions: a forthright politician forthright comment /statement /apology

a

forth'With

/forG'wiG; forG'wi6/ adv formal legal immeThe property is to be disposed offorthwith. fortieth /TortbG/ number 1 in the place or position counted as number 40: her fortieth birthday 2 one of 40 equal parts of something diately:

forti«fi'Ca«tion/,fDrtifi'keifn/noun 1 [u] the process of making buildings, walls, etc. stronger in order to defend a place 1a. the process of making something stronger 2 fortifications [plural] strong buildings, walls, towers, etc. built around a place in order to defend it

wine /.fortifaid 'wain/ noun [c/u] an alcoholic drink made by adding a small amount of brandy alcoholic drink to wine. Sherry and port are or other

forti*fied

fortified wines. /'forti.fai/ verb [t] 1 to protect a place against attack by building strong walls, towers, or other structures around it 2 formal to make yourself or someone else feel more determined, powerful, or full of energy: They resumed the search, fortified by a hearty breakfast. 2a. to make something more powerful and more likely to be successful: The deal will help the Democrats to fortify their hold on Congress. 3 [usually passive] to add a substance to food or drink to make it stronger or healthier: fortify sth with sth All of our cereals are fortified with extra vitamins and minerals.

for«ti«fy

for«tiS'Si-mo /for'tisimou/ adv used as an instruction in music

fortitude

technical very loudly:

for*tis*si*mo adj

/'forti.tud/ noun [u] formal a brave and attitude: She bore her long illness with great

fortitude.

Knox

/,fort

or guarded that

'naks/ a place that is so well locked almost impossible to enter it

it is

a military base in Kentucky where the

Fort

Knox

U.S.

government keeps

is

its gold.

BrE

fort-night

/'fort.nait/ noun [C] once a fortnight (=every two

weeks: a fortnight.

a period of two weeks) I see her once

fortress

tainly" participle fofsworn /fbr'sworn/) verb [T] very formal to agree to give up something or stop doing something

for-syth-i-a /for'siGb/ noun [c/u] a tall bush that produces a lot of small yellow flowers in early spring fort /fort/ noun [c] • 1 a strong building, often with a high wall around it, used by soldiers for defending a place: an iron-age fort 2 AmE a place where an army lives or trains: Fort Irwin

hold the fort (for sb)

to take care of or

do something

someone while they are busy doing something

forte

/'far.tei;

still

forswear /for'swer/ (past tense for»swore/for'swor/; past

1

Torti/ adv technical loudly: instruction in music for«te adj

Fort

forsake

for

forte 2

determined

a for-profit organization aims to

a profit

when they

fortunate

548

else

noun 1 [singular] something that someone is very good at or knows a lot about: Public speaking isn't really my forte. 2 [C] a musical note or piece of music that should be played or sung loudly /'fDr.tei; fort/

/'fortrss/ noun [C] a strong well-protected building used for defending a place

fortuitous

/for'tuitos/

adj

formal happening by

chance, especially in a way that is lucky or convenient: The timing of her departure was entirely fortuitous. for'tu«i«tous*ly adv

—

for-tu-nate /'fortfsnat/ adj ** lucky, especially because you have more advantages than other people: Not everyone is as fortunate as we are. The state provides fortunate textbooks for the less fortunate students. (enough) to do sth / was fortunate enough to have a very supportive family, a. lucky because you have avoided something bad: fortunate to do sth She was extremely fortunate to escape without injury, b. used about a situation or event that is lucky for you: These schools are in the fortunate position of being able to choose the best it is fortunate that It is very fortunate that the students. doctor was here today.

fortunately

foster

549

*•

used for emphasizing that something good has happened, especially because of good luck: luckily: There was a proposal to change the exam system again, but fortunately it was Fortunately for the Dodgers, Murphy's injury rejected. appears to be relatively minor. fortune /'fort Jan/ noun •• 1 [C usually singular] a very large amount of money: Jordan had inherited a considerable personal fortune from

fortu-nate-ly

/

Tortfanath/ adv

about or planning for the future, especially in a hopeful way: We are looking forward to new possibilities. 3b. progressing or getting better as time passes: Officials concede that the way forward will not be easy. a giant leap forward in computer technology 3c. from that day/ time/moment etc. forward starting at that day/ time etc. and continuing on into the future: From that day forward, he never read another book. 4 confident very confident and direct about saying what you think, in a way that is not socially appropriate: Was I being too forward when I asked to stay the weekend? 5 to a later time on a clock if you set a clock or watch forward, you change the time it shows to a later time

make /amass a fortune He had made a fortune his uncle. make your fortune (=become very rich) from mining. Henry Ford made his fortune with the Model T. la. [singular] informal a lot of money: cost a fortune Apartments spend /pay a fortune They in this area cost a fortune. must have spent a fortune on flowers alone. 1b. U money and success: the first step toward fame and fortune* young people who come to the city to seek their fortune 1c. a small fortune informal a lot of money: We paid a small [

fortune for this vacation. 2 [u] luck, especially good luck: It was his good fortune a to take over the company at exactly the right time. change of fortune Ms friends were delighted with his fortune to do sth / had change of fortune. have the good the good fortune to meet Mike through mutual friends. 3 fortunes [plural] the things that happen to someone or something and the changing degree to which they are successful: a career that illustrates the changing fortunes of the Democratic Party The new board will work to restore the

forward of formal in front of someone or something: The men were fighting forward of the main line of defense.

]

company's fortunes.

fortune smiles on sb/sth used for saying that someone or something is lucky and successful tell sb's fortune to say what will happen to someone in the future using what are claimed to be magic powers

Forward and forwards have similar meanings and American English usually use the form forward. Speakers of British English often use the form forwards for senses 1. 2, and 5. uses, but speakers of

forward 2

/'forward/ verb [T] 1 to send a letter, package, e-mail, etc. that has been sent to your address to someone else at another address: Your enquiry has been forwarded to our head office. 2 to help something to progress or get better: a good opportunity to forward your cause

forward 3 /'forward/ noun

[C] a player in a game such as basketball, soccer, or hockey whose job is to attack the other team and score picture -» ci4. cio

—

for-ward-ing ad-dress

-» SEEK

Fortune 500, the largest

companies

/, fort Jan

h.\ndrad/ the 500

farv

in the U.S.

fortune cookie noun

[c] a hard thin Chinese cookie that has a piece of paper inside with a message about

your future on

it

fortune hunter noun become rich quickly and married

[c]

someone who hopes to by getting

easily, especially

person fortune-teller noun [c] someone who looks at your hand, a special set of cards, etc. in order to tell you what is going to happen to you in the future. This to a rich

activity is called fortune-telling.

forty

/ 'forti/

number the number 40

winks noun [u] informal a short sleep, especially during the day: nap fo-rum /'foram/ noun [c] •* 1 an organized event or meeting at which people discuss something: the World Economic Forum +on an international forum on health issues 1a. a Web site, newspaper, television program, etc. where people can express their ideas and opinions: For years the club has provided a forum for political discussion. We hope that these pages will act as a forum for debate. 2 a place in ancient Roman towns where people met to discuss politics or business forty

forward

1

/'forward/ function word

Forward can be used

f

orward-looking / future in a positive

Fortune, the name of the U.S. business magazine that regularly publishes a list of the companies' names.

From

•••

in the following ways:

as an adjective: / hope you don t think Fm being too The marines took up forward positions.

forward.

of:

[c]

forward

.lukirj/ adj

way and happy to

try

looking at the

new

ideas and

methods: progressive: a forward-looking policy I strategy I plan forward market noun [c] mainly BrE business a FUTURES MARKET forwardness /'forwardnas/ noun [u] behavior that is too confident and does not show enough respect for other people

forward

roll noun [c] an exercise in which you bend the top of your head on the floor in front and push your body and legs over your head forwards /'forwardz/ adv forward forward .slash noun [c] the symbol /, often used in internet addresses and computer instructions

down and put of you.

for- went the past tense of forgo f OS-sick /'fasik/ verb

thing

among

[i] Australian to look for somea lot of other things fos-sick-er noun [C]

—

••

fos-sil /'fasl/ noun [c] 1 an animal or plant, or part of one, that lived many thousands of years ago and is preserved in rock or as a piece of rock: fossils of shellfish

2 impolite an insulting word for someone who is old and has old-fashioned ideas fossil fuel noun [C/u] a fuel such as coal or oil, made from decayed material from animals or plants that lived

many thousands of years ago fos-sil-ize /'fasal.aiz/ verb [i/T] to become a fossil by being preserved in rock for thousands or millions of years, or to preserve something in this way fos-sil-i-za-tion / fasali'zeijn/ noun [u] fos-sil-ized /'fasal,aizd/adj 1 preserved in rock or as rock: fossilized dinosaur bones 2 fixed and unlikely to

—

as an adverb: / stepped forward to greet him.

as part of the preposition phrase forward yards forward of the vehicle

/'forwardin .aedres/ noun

an address that you leave with someone when you go to live somewhere else, so they can send your letters on to you

two

1 in the direction in front of you la. moving in the direction in front of you: The car started to roll forward very slowly. Suddenly the door opened, blocking my forward movement. / reached forward to touch her hand, but she moved it away. 1b. looking in the direction that is in front of you 2 nearer the front in a position toward the front of a room or vehicle: Let's sit farther forward so we can see the stage better. the forward part of the train 3 toward the future or a better state 3a. thinking

change and become more modern: Our spelling system isn 1 as fossilized as you might think.

fos-ter

•

1

/'fastar/ verb to help something to develop over a period of time: promote: This approach will foster an understanding 1

[T]

of environmental issues. Overuse of antibiotics may foster the spread of drug-resistant bacteria. 2 [i/T] to take care of a child as part of your family for a period of time because the child's parents cannot take care of them compare adopt

—

fos-ter

2

/'fastar/ adj [only before noun] relating to fostering a child. child who is taken care of in someone

A

fought

fought the

past tense

foul 1 /faol/adj

and past

participle of fight

1

• 4 about weather 5 unpleasant/evil

1 dirty

2 not allowed by 3 angry

rules

1 very dirty, or smelling or tasting unpleasant: What's that foul smell?* The air within the cell was foul. foulsmelling/foul-tasting etc. a foul-tasting medicine 2 a foul move or throw in a game is one that is not allowed by the rules 3 if someone has a foul temper or is in a foul mood,

they are angry about something and can be annoyed very easily 4 foul weather is very unpleasant, with rain, snow, or

wind

5 mainly Br E spoken very bad or unpleasant: / thought his shirt was foul. 5a. literary evil: in the castle.

2

the most basic part of something from which the rest of it develops: basis: He believes that religion is the foundation of a civilized society. The first two years of study provide a solid foundation in computing. Their current economic prosperity rests on rather weak foundations. 2a. shake /rock the foundations of sth or shake /rock sth to its foundations to bring major changes or cause serious damage to an institution, set of beliefs, etc., especially by making people question their basic ideas 3 [C] an organization that provides money for things such as medical research or for a charity 4 [u] the process of creating or establishing a place or organization: the foundation of the state of Israel 5 [C/U] a cream the same color as your skin that you put on your face before the rest of your makeup —picture [C]

makeup be without foundation or have no foundation not based on fact and not possible to prove

-»

Words frequently used with foundation verbs

build, establish, form, lay, provide,

2

strengthen

Foul deeds were afoot

foun'dation .course noun

of to do something that annoys someone or breaks a law or rule: Farmers falling foul of the pesticide law face large fines. foul language swear words fouMy adv fall foul

—

-» FAIR

four

550

home

for a period of time is called a foster child, and the people who take care of the child are called foster parents: She had a good relationship with her foster home /family Both foster care foster mother. children have been placed with foster families. else's

1

[C] in the U.K., a course at a university or college that covers a range of subjects at a basic level and prepares students for a longer, more advanced course

foun'dation garment noun that

2

1 [I] to do something in a game that is not allowed by the rules 1a. [t] to do something to another player that is not allowed by the rules: Johnson was fouled while trying to make a shot. 1b. [I/T] to hit a ball outside the limits of the playing area during a game of baseball 2 [T] to make something very dirty: The oil

foul /faol/ verb

women

[c] a piece of underwear wore, especially in the past, to give their

body more shape or support

foun'dation stone noun [c] details of when a building was

a large stone with placed at the bottom of the building, usually as part of a ceremony 2 the basic ideas, principles, facts, etc. that something depends on or develops from 1

built, that is

*

spillage fouled several miles of beaches. 3 foul or foul up [l/T] to become twisted around part of a machine, engine, vehicle, etc. so that it cannot move

founder

out phrasal vb [i] in basketball, to be forced to leave a game after committing more than the allowed number

foun-der 2

of fouls

founder 'member noun [c] BrEa charter member founding fa-ther /.faondin 'fadar/ noun [C often

,foul

do something wrong or spoil something, especially by making mistakes 2 same as

,foul 'up phrasal vb [l/T] 1 to

fOUl 2

3

something that you do in a game or sport that is not allowed by the rules a. foul or foul ball a ball that has been hit outside the limits of the [C]

game

playing area in a

of baseball

'foul line noun [C] 1 in basketball, either of the lines that players get a chance to score points from after an opponent has committed a foul 2 in baseball, either of the lines that show the limits of the playing area. /

faol

'mao3d,

,faol

'maoG/

adj

using

a lot of swear words

,foul 'play noun [u] 1 legal violence or criminal actions that cause someone's death: The police had no reason to suspect foul play. 2 behavior that is not fair or honest or does not keep to accepted rules

foul-up noun

[C] informal a mistake in a process or system that means it cannot work effectively 1 found /faond/ verb [t often passive] *** to start an organization, company, political party, etc.: The newspaper was founded in 1909. a. to start an institution such as a school or college, especially by providing money b. to start building a new town, or forming a new community: The monastery was founded in ad. 798.

be founded on/upon

to be based on a particular idea, principle, fact, or quality: a society founded on the belief that all men are equal good relationship has to be

A

founded on

found 2

trust.

the past tense and past participle of find

f oun-da-tion

/'faondar/ verb [i] 1 to begin to fail 2 if a ship or boat founders, it becomes full of water and sinks

one of the people who first started an organcommunity, set of ideas, etc. the Founding Fathers the group of people who wrote the U.S. Constitution in 1787, when the U.S. began to exist as a country foundling /'faondlin/ noun [C] mainly literary a baby that is left in a public place, so that it can be found by plural]

ization,

foul 3 /faol/ noun

foul-mouthed

1

/'faondar/ noun [c] someone who starts a school, organization, business, or community: one of the original founders of the Libertarian party

/faon'deijn/ noun

1

***

someone who

will take care of it /'faondri/ noun [C] a factory where metal or heated and made into different objects /faont/ noun [C] literary a fountain

found-ry glass

fount

is

a fount of knowledge/wisdom/ advice/ideas, etc. often humorous a person, organization, book etc. that provides a lot of information, advice, or ideas foun-tain /'faontn/ noun [C] * a structure through which a stream of water is pumped into the air and falls down again: The park's ornamental fountain is carved from marble, a. a piece of equipment that you drink water from, usually in a public place: drinking fountain b. a stream of liquid that rises into the air: .4 fountain of blood spurted from the wound in his chest. a fountain of sth literary someone or something that provides a supply of something / 'faontn bed/ foun-tain-head noun [singular] mainly literary the origin of something: source fountain pen noun [c] a pen that has a container inside that you fill with ink in order to write with it —picture -» pen 1

1

base

of building

2 most basic part 3 an organization 1

[C often plural]

the part of a structure of a building

below the ground and supports the rest of

that

is

How

long will

it

four four2

4 creating an organization 5 face cream/powder + PHRASES

take to finish digging the foundations?

it:

/for/

number the number

4

/for/ noun 1 [u] 4 o'clock: at four Meet me at four. 2 [C] a group fountain of four people or things: Stack the crates in fours. 3 [C] a narrow rowboat for four people, used in a boat race 3a. the team of people who row the

boat

four-by-four all

drive

'four-,eyes noun

[singular] offensive

an insulting word

someone who wears glasses

for

informal

a leaf from a clover plant that has four parts instead of the usual three, and that people think will bring them good luck

four-leaf 'clover noun

[c)

four-letter word noun [C] one of the short words considered rude or offensive by most people four-poster or fourpost-er bed noun [C] an oldfashioned bed with four tall posts at the corners, which were originally used for supporting a cover over the top and curtains around the sides —picture -» bed four-some /'forsam/ noun [C] a group of four people: a foursome for bridge 1

for ,skwer/ adv formal firmly and definlies foursquare with the government. * I stand foursquare behind the board's decision. itely:

The

/

responsibility

foursquare 2

/'for ,skwer/ adj square in shape, with four equal sides: a foursquare building

four- star

adj a four-star hotel, restaurant, very high standard or quality

of a

etc. is

four-star 'general noun [c] AmE an officer with a very high rank in the U.S. Army or Air Force fourteen /for'tin/ number the number 14 fourteenth /for'tinG/ number 1 in the place or position counted as number 14: It's Consuelo's fourteenth birthday on Saturday. 2 one of 14 equal parts of some-

thing

fourth /forG/ number 1 in the place or position counted as number 4: the fourth of January We came in fourth in the race. 2 one of 4 equal parts of something: quarter: Only about a fourth of the children had heard of Shakespeare.

fourth di'mension noun

[singular]

used to refer to

and writers of science The other three dimensions are length, width,

time, especially by scientists fiction.

and height.

fourth e'state noun

reporters and the newspapers, magazines, television, and radio that they work [singular]

for

From

the idea that reporters are equally important in public life as the three traditional "estates" of society: the aristocracy, the Church, and the ordinary people.

.Fourth of July noun

a U.S. public holiday celebrated every July 4th to mark the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. It is traditionally celebrated with fireworks. It is also called Inde[singular]

a system that provides four wheels of a vehicle a. [C] a vehicle [u]

to all that has this system

/faol/ (plural fowl or fowls) noun [C] 1 a bird that is kept on a farm for its eggs and meat, for example a chicken or a duck 2 an old word for "bird" -» fish 1

1

**

a wild animal similar to a small dog, with redfur, a pointed face, and a thick tail 1a. [U] the fur of a fox, used to make or decorate coats —picture -» 1

[C]

brown C13

someone who is clever at tricking people: Mr. old fox, tricked us into working late. informal someone who is very sexually attractive, especially a woman

2

[c]

Ellis, sly

3

[C]

fox 2

/faks/ verb [T] to confuse you and be impossible for you to understand or solve

fox-glove /Taks.glAv/ noun

[c] a tall plant with purple or white flowers shaped like bells fox-hound /'faks.haond/ noun [c] a dog that is trained to hunt foxes

fox-hunting noun

[u] an activity in which people on horses chase a fox with dogs that are trained to catch

and

kill it

[c]

a small dog that

is

white with

fox-trot /'faks ,trat/ noun [c/U] 1 a dance done by two people together in which some slow steps are followed by some quick steps 2 [usually singular] a piece of music dancing the foxtrot good at tricking or cheating people

f ox-y / faksi/ adj 1

2 informal sexually attractive foy-er /'foiar; 'fwajei/ noun [c]

AmE

1 a small room or space just inside the front door of a house or apartment 2 a large open space near the entrance inside a building, hotel, or theater: lobby

Father: used before the name of a priest (=the money used in France and some other countries) 3 France or French

Fr. abbrev 1

2 franc

fracas

/'freikas; 'frskas/

noun

[singular]

a noisy fight

or argument

fraction

/'fraekjan/ noun [c]

••

1

a division or part of a whole number, for example

or

\

\

2 a small part or amount of something: + of His shares are now worth a fraction of their former value. a fraction of a second/an inch Joe glanced at her for a fraction of a second before answering. a small /tiny fraction Unions recruit only a small fraction of the workers.

frac-tion-al /'fraekjanl/ increases in price

2

adj 1 very small: fractional relating to fractions

frac-tion-al-ly /'fraekfanh/ adv by a very small amount: slightly: The market closed fractionally higher. frac-tious /'fraekjas/ adj 1 easily upset or annoyed: a fractious child 2 causing problems and difficult to control: troublesome

frac-ture

1

/'fraekijar/ noun [C] a break or crack in a bone: She was admitted to the hospital with fractures of both legs. a. a break or crack in a very hard substance: The earthquake produced fractures in the concrete bridge

supports.

frac-ture 2

/'fraekijar/ verb [i/t] 1 if something hard fractures or is fractured, it breaks or cracks: He fell off a ladder and fractured his hip. 2 formal if a group or organization fractures or is fractured, it is no longer

united

frac-tured

/'fraektfard/ adj broken or cracked: She suffered two fractured ribs in the accident.

frag-ile /'fraed33l/ adj * 1 easy to break or damage: Most of the exhibits are too fragile to be sent abroad. 1a. used about a situation, agreement, or relationship that can easily be damaged or destroyed: A fragile ceasefire is now in place. the fragile fishing- based economies of the South Pacific 1b. getting upset or losing confidence very easily: It was part of her job to boost fragile egos. 1c. looking very delicate: her fragile beauty 2 not very strong or healthy His health has always been fragile. 2a. BrE someone who feels fragile feels weak, for example because they are sick: I'm feeling a bit fragile this morning. fra-gil-i-ty/fra'd3ilati/noun [u]

— fox-hunt noun [C]

—

/'fraegmant/ noun [C] * a small piece of a larger object that has broken, often into a lot of pieces: The vase hit the wall and shattered into fragments. + of Police found fragments of glass on his clothing, a. a small part of something larger: +of Fragments of their conversation drifted up to her. b. a small part of something that remains when the rest has been lost or destroyed: architectural fragments from Mayan sites + of a fragment of text frag-ment 2 / ineg.ment/ verb [i/t] if something fragments or is fragmented, it breaks into a lot of separate pieces or parts: The plane fragmented on impact. frag-ment-ed adj: We had become a fragmented society during the depression.

frag-ment

fowl

fox /faks/ noun

.terrier noun some dark spots

:

pendence Day.

four-wheel 'drive noun power

fox

for

fourffush-er /Tor.flAjar/ noun [C] AmE someone who tries to cheat or trick people

foursquare

fragrance

551

fours with your hands, knees, and feet on the ground: crawling around on all fours —picture -» posture four-by-'four noun [c] a vehicle that has four-wheel

on

1

—

frag-men-tar-y /'fraegman.teri/ adj made up

of a lot of separate pieces that are not connected: Fragmentary reports were coming in from the battlefield.

fragmentation

/.frsgman'teifn/ noun [u] the process of breaking into many pieces or separate parts: the fragmentation of the Soviet Union into separate states

fra-grance

/'freigrans/ noun [c/u] 1 a pleasant smell: flowers that are noted for their fragrance + of the fra-

D

fragrant

fra-grant/ 'fragrant /adj with a pleasant sme\\: fragrant flowers/herbs frail /freil/adj* 1 physically weak and not very healthy: He is frail, but still manages to walk with a cane. 2 not strong and therefore likely to be damaged or destroyed: a garden with a frail wooden fence around it attempts to rebuild the frail economy

frail'ty /'freilti/noun 1 [u] the condition of being physically weak and not in good health 2 C/ U the condition of having a weak character or weak moral standards: Figures of authority are all too prone to human frailty. ]

[

frame 1

1

/freim/ noun

•*

[c]

4 shape of sb's body 5 box on Internet page 6 part of game of bowling

border of picture etc.

2 part of object 3 one photograph on

film

1 a structure that forms a border for a picture or mirror and holds it in place: a silver picture frame 1a. a border around a door or window: The window frames

need painting. 2 a structure that forms part of an object and gives it its strength and shape: a kite with a rigid frame a rusty bed frame 2a. frames [plural] the part of a pair of glasses that holds the glass or plastic lenses and has pieces that go over your ears 3 one of the single photographs that together form a piece film for a movie or video 4 [usually singular] mainly literary the particular shape or size of someone's body: A shiver shook her small frame. 5 computing a box on an Internet page that contains information you can scroll through (=go up and down by using the mouse). Pages usually contain several frames. 6 one of the parts in a game of bowling -» frame of mind, frame of reference

frame 2

/freim/ verb

1 put picture in

[T]

• 4 develop plan/law etc. 5 form border around sth

frame

2 makesb seem guilty 3 express sth carefully

1 [often passive] to put a picture or photograph in a frame: That's a nice photo - you ought to have it framed. 2 informal to make someone seem guilty of a crime when they are not, for example by lying to the police or producing false evidence 3 to express something carefully in a particular way: The judge instructed him to frame the question differently. 4 to develop or make up something such as a plan or law :Many people were involved in framing these proposals. 5 literary to form a border around something: Long red hair framed her smiling face.

-framed /freimd/ suffix 1 used make adjectives describing what thing

has: silver-framed

with some nouns to type of frame someglasses aluminum-framed

windows 2 used with some adjectives to make adjectives describing the size and shape of someone's body: a small-framed woman frame of 'mind noun [c] the mood that someone is in,

which influences their attitudes or feelings: I'm not in the right frame of mind for jokes just now. .frame of 'reference noun [C] a particular set of principles or ideas that you base your behavior, judgments, or attitudes on: The correct frame of reference is what the consumer wants, not what we find it easiest to sell.

frame-up someone

frantic

552

grance of freshly mowed grass 2 a perfume (=a liquid with a pleasant smell that people put on their skin). This word is often used in advertisements,

noun

tries to

[C]

informal a situation in which innocent person seem guilty

make an

of a crime, by lying or producing false evidence

frame-work /'freim ,w3rk/

noun

[C]

**

1 a set of principles, ideas, etc. that you use when you are forming your decisions and judgments: +for a framework for the study of television's effect on society provide/establish/create a framework Einstein 's research provided much of the theoretical framework for particle physics. 1a. a system of rules, laws, agreements, etc. that establish the way something operates in business, politics, or society: +of the democratic framework of

within a framework A free market economy operates within a framework of minimal state intervention. a legal / regulatory /constitutional framework The universities had considerable independence, within a legal framework laid down by the state. 2 a structure that supports something and makes it a particular shape: The building had a metal framework. society

franc

/fraenk/ noun [c] the unit of money in France, Belgium, and some other countries franchise 1 /'fraentjaiz/ noun • 1 [C/U] a formal agreement for someone to sell a company's products or services in a particular place, in exchange for a payment or part of the profits: Several teams bid for the franchise, la. [C] an arrangement under which a television or radio company is allowed to broadcast in a particular area of the country: the nationwide shopping television franchise 1b. [C] a business that operates under a franchise system: Most of the Burger King outlets operate as franchises. 2 [singular/U] the right to vote in elections: the extension of the franchise to women the principle of universal franchise

franchise 2

/'fraen.tfaiz/ verb [T] to sell someone the right to sell your goods or services in a particular place: delivery service has been franchised. the milk of

Much

fran-chis-ee //raentjai'zi/ noun [C] a person or company that has the franchise to sell a particular type of goods or services

fran-chis-er

/'fraen.tjaizar/

noun

[c]

a business that

Sells FRANCHISES

Fran-co-

/fraerjkou/ prefix 1 France or French: used to make adjectives and nouns: a Francophile (=someone who likes France and French things) 2 with or against France: used with some adjectives and nouns: the

Franco-Prussian

War

f ran-co-phone /'fraenka.foun/ adj

speaking French as is francophone can be called a francophone. fran-glais /fran'glei/ noun [u] informal a humorous language that mixes French and English frank 1 /fraenk/ adj * honest about the situation or your opinions, even if this offends people: brutally frank He was brutally frank in his assessment of our chances. a. used about what someone says: a frank exchange of the

main language. Someone who

views

me be frank used when you are going something that other people might not like to hear: To be frank, Freddie, you're just not up to the job. to be frank/let to say

— frank-ness noun [U] frank 2 frank 3

/fraenk/ noun

[C]

AmE informal a frankfurter

/fraenk/ verb [T] to put a mark on a letter to that the charge for mailing it has been paid

show Frank-en-stein /'fraenkan, stain/ noun [C] something that someone has created but cannot control

From a character in Frankenstein, a 19th-century novel by the British writer Mary Shelley. frank-furt-er /Traenk,f3rt3r/ noun sausage that HOT DOG

is

[C] a long thin often eaten inside a long thin bread roll:

frankincense

/'fraenkm.sens/ noun [U] a substance

burned to produce a nice smell in some religious ceremonies. Frankincense is a type of incense. that

is

franking ma-chine

/'fraepkin

ma.Jin/

noun

[C]

BrEa machine that prints a mark on a letter to show the date and place that it was mailed from. Am E usually postage meter frank-ly /'fraenkli/ adv * 1 mainly spoken used for emphasizing that what you mainly

are about to say is your honest opinion, even though the person you are talking to might not like it: Frankly, quite frankly Quite 1 couldn't care less what he thinks. frankly, I didn't know what to do. 2 in an open, honest, and direct manner: She talks frankly about her unhappy childhood.

*

done in a very urgent way: /'fraentik/ adj frantic attempts to dig out survivors of the earthquake Her parents are absolutely frantic with worry, a. used about people: If I look a bit frantic, it's because I'm running

fran-tic

late.

— f ran-ti-cal-ly

/

fraentikli/

adv

frappe

free

553

frap-pe /frs'pei, fraep/ noun [C] 1 AmE a cold thick drink made with milk and flavored with fruit 2 a sweet alcoholic drink served with a lot of small pieces of ice

frat /fraet/ noun [C] AmE informal a student fraternity fra-ter-nal /fre't3rnl/ adj 1 belonging to brothers or between brothers 1a. between friends or people who share the same interests or opinions: fraternal feelings

2 used about certain organizations formed by people who share the same interests: a fraternal association/ order

ternal twin noun [c] an ordinary twin born at the same time as another baby from two different eggs. Two babies born from a single egg look a lot like each other and are called identical twins. fra'tenni-ty /fra'tarnati/ noun 1 [C]AmE a type of private club for male students at a university or college f ra

A

similar type of club for female students is in the U.S. called a sorority

frazzle

/'fraezl/

noun worn to a frazzle informal

extremely tired

fraz-zled

/'fraezld/ adj informal 1 extremely tired, annoyed, and unable to deal with things 2 BrE burned 1 freak /frik/ noun [C] 1 something with very unusual features that make it very different from other things of its type 1a. someone who looks strange or behaves in a strange way: If you don't like sports they regard you as a freak. 2 informal someone who is extremely

interested in a particular subject or activity: a fitness/ health freak

a freak of fate/fortune/chance mainly literary something that happens by chance although it was very unlikely to happen freak of nature an animal or plant that develops physinormal for its type

cal features that are not

freak 2

and unexpected: a He was killed in a freak

/frik/ adj extremely unusual

summer

freak hailstorm in accident.

The name

of each fraternity is traditionally based on Greek letters, so members of these societies are sometimes called Greeks. They often live together in a large frat house on the university campus.

2 [C/U] people who do the same job or share the same interests, or the organization they belong to: Our group included two members of the legal fraternity. 3 [u] feelings of friendship, trust, and support between people: the traand fraternity

dition of liberty, equality,

frat*er»nize /'fraetar.naiz/ verb [I] formal to spend time with someone as friends: Military regulations absolutely prohibit male officers from fraternizing with female personnel.

— frat'erni'za'tion/.fraetsrni'zeifn/noun [u]

frat*ri*cid*al /.fraetn'saidl/ adj involving killing members of your own family or social group: a fratricidal

freak 3

/frik/ verb

[i/t]

freak or freak out informal

freaked

me

alarm went

off.

all these years really

out

when

the fire

orate fraud.

Everybody freaked

out.

Am

f reak-ing / 'frikirj / adv E very informal used instead of fucking to emphasize what you are saying when you not want to be offensive: She's always so freaking late. do f reak-ing adj: The freaking movie was sold out.

—

freak-ish

/'frikiJV adj not

normal or natural: freakish

weather

freak«y

very strange and a

/'friki/ adj informal

little

frightening: weird

brown brown

freck*le

/'frekl/ noun [C] a small permanent raised one's skin. skin is called a mole.

A

war frat'ri-cide /'fraetn.said/ noun formal [u] the crime in which someone kills their own brother a. [C] a person who kills their own brother fraud /fred/ noun •* 1 [C/U] the crime of obtaining money from someone by tricking them: Police are investigating a complex fraud involving several bogus contractors. tax / insurance / benefit fraud 1a. [only before noun] relating to fraud.fraud trials/cases 1b. [u] the action of producing false documents or information in order to get what you want: electoral fraud 2 [C] someone who pretends to be an official or professional person in order to trick people 2a. something that is not what people claim it is, and is designed to trick people: The whole research program was an elab-

if

you are freaked out or if something freaks you out, you become so angry, surprised, excited, or frightened that you cannot control yourself: Meeting my dad again after

f reek-led /'frekld/

or freck-ly

spot on somespot on your

/'frekli/ ad)

covered

in freckles

free 1

1

/fri/ adj

*•• 6 not affected by sth bad 7 when you talk/give a lot 8 time with no work to do 9 in science + PHRASES

not costing anything

2 not prisoner/slave/held 3 not tied/fixed

4 5

available for sth

not limited by rules

something that

is free does not cost anything: All talks start at 2:30 p.m. and admission is free. There is plenty offree parking. +to/for The swimming pool is free to hotel guests. free gift You can claim your free gift with

1

your first order. 2 not a prisoner or a slave He will soon be a free man again. set sb/sth free He opened the cage and set the :

'Fraud .Squad, the noun BrE a part

of the British

police force that deals with fraud

fraud-ster /'frodstar/ noun [c] mainly BrE someone who commits the crime of fraud fraud'U'lent /'frDd33bnt/ adj made with the intention of tricking someone, especially illegally .fraudulent hosfraud-u-lent-ly adv

pital accounts

—

fraught

/fret/ adj fraught with sth full of problems, difficulties, or things that are confusing: a thousand-

word statement fraught with ambiguities 2 mainly Br E involving problems that worry you: Things have been a home. She sounded a little fraught.

bit fraught at

fray

/frei/ verb [i/t] 1 if a rope or piece of cloth frays frayed, the fibers in it become loose and start to come apart: The shirt cuffs are beginning to fray. 2 if

or

is

someone's nerves or their temper frays or they start to get angry or nervous

is

frayed,

fraying at/around the edges gradually being destroyed or becoming weaker: Support for the proposals was fraying at the edges. fray, the /frei/ noun an exciting activity or situation in which someone competes with other people: Other bidders are now likely to enter the fray. a. a fight or

argument

frayed

/freid/ adj 1 with fibers that are

coming apart: your nerves or

frayed jeans —picture -» crack 2 if temper are frayed, you are angry or nervous

eagle free. 3 not held, tied, or fixed to somewhere: Hand me the free end of the rope. With his free hand he carefully unfastened his belt. get free Sally struggled to get free from the branches.

4

available to see someone, do something, or go somewhere: I'm busy at the moment, but I'll be free this afternoon. +for Are you free for lunch? 4a. available for someone to use: Is this seat free? There are no free dressing rooms at the moment. 5 not limited or controlled by rules: Officials want free access to all suspect nuclear sites. People should have a free choice of lawyers. free to do sth You are free to come and go as you please. 5a. allowed to decide for yourself what you do, say, or think, especially without being controlled by someone in authority a free people a free country/society We like to believe we live in a free society. free speech We'll defend their right to free speech. a :

free election the first free elections in Germany since 1946 6 [+from/of] not containing or involving something unpleasant: We want to give all children a world free from violence. It was a relaxing atmosphere, free of tension. 7 |+with] if you are free with your opinions or com-

ments, you say so much that it annoys other people 7a. if you are free with something, especially money, you spend or give a lot of it: He's never been particularly free with his cash. 8 free time is time

when you do

not have any

work

to

free

free and clear without any limits or conditions free and easy relaxed and pleasant (there's no such thing as) a free lunch mainly spoken used for saying that even if something seems to not cost anything, there is usually a hidden cost or obligation make free with sth Br E to use something that does not belong to you as though it does belong to you -> FEEL 1

free 1

2

free

554

do, so you can do whatever you want: spare: Do you have any free time this weekend? I'll keep a day free next week for our meeting. 9 science not combined with another substance, or not attached to anything else:/ree radicals

/fri/ verb [T]

to let

••

someone leave a prison or a place where they

have been forced to stay: release: Amnesty International works to free political prisoners. The hostages were freed unharmed. 1a. to help someone get out of a place: Rescuers

managed

sth from sth

free sb/ to free the trapped climbers. They helped free the injured driver from the

wreckage. to remove something unpleasant that affects someone or limits their behavior: free sb/sth from sth Morphine was given to free her from pain. free sb/sth of sth He is to be freed of direct responsibility for his staff. 3 free or free up to make someone or something available to be used for something else: By scrapping this scheme, the government has freed vital resources. free sb/ sth for sth We need to free more police officers for street free sb/sth to do sth A classroom assistant frees duties.

2

teachers to concentrate on teaching.

up phrasal vb [T] same as free 2 3: We can probably free up $20,000 for new computer equipment. free 3 /fri/ adv 1 without paying any money: We got in do sth for free You can't get anything for free in this free. world. free of charge Children can stay free of charge. 2 out of a fixed position or out of a place where you are being kept: / wriggled one hand free from his grasp. break free Their prisoner suddenly broke free and ran towards the car. 3 without being controlled or stopped: dogs running free go/walk free (=not be put in prison) She is appalled that her kidnappers have walked free. -free /fri/ suffix used with many nouns to make adjectives meaning without a particular thing:/oods that are almost fat-free Any money you earn would be tax-free (=you would not pay tax on it). ,f ree 'agent noun [c] * 1 someone who is free to do what they want because they are not responsible for anyone else 2 a player who is available to sign a contract with any

.free

team ,free associ'ation noun [u] 1 in psychology, a connection that you make in your mind between things that are not similar to each other in an obvious way 2 a person's right to meet and talk to other people free-base /'fri.beis/ verb [i/t] to smoke a very pure form of cocaine free-bie /'fribi/ noun [c] informal something that

someone gives you free free-born /'fri.born/ adj not born

Newspapers now enjoy much restricts religious freedom freedom to do sth greater freedom under the new laws. My parents gave me total freedom to do whatever I liked. freedom of choice The school gives students freedom of choice about what to wear. 1a. a situation where you are able to go where you want because you are not in prison: his first taste of freedom 1b. the ability to do what you want because you have no obligations or responsibilities: With the children grown up, she is enjoying her new-found freedom. 1c. the ability to move or go where you want because there is nothing physically stopping you: Police road blocks were seen as an attempt of movement.

2 [U] [+from] a situation in which you are not affected by something unpleasant .freedom from hunger /disease/ poverty

3 freedoms

[plural]

different types of freedom: basic/

fundamental/ political freedoms

market

someone who opposes a

.freedom of expression noun

[u] the right to

express

your opinions

freedom of information

noun [u] the right of citizens of a country to see official information that gov-

ernments and other institutions keep about them

.Freedom of Information Act, the

the U.S. law that allows people to obtain copies of any government documents except those that might cause harm

.freedom of 'speech noun

[u]

right to say what you believe prevented or punished

the legal or natural

is true,

without being

.freedom of the 'press noun

[u] the right of newspapers to publish stories and articles without being

controlled by the government

.free 'enterprise noun [u] an economic system in which businesses can compete with each other without being controlled by government

'free .fall noun [u] 1 an occasion when a price or value suddenly becomes much lower 2 the part of a parachute jump when someone falls quickly toward the free-fall verb [l] ground before the parachute opens

—

.free- floating adj 1 not fixed to anything, and able to move anywhere 2 not connected with any particular company or organization 3 not controlled or fixed by any particular system 'free-for-.all noun [C] informal 1 an uncontrolled situation in which people are competing with each other to gain as much as they can for themselves 2 a noisy fight or argument involving a lot of people: brawl

'hand noun [singular] the ability to make your decisions, without having to ask permission

.free

free-hand

/'fri.haend/ adj

own

drawn without using a ruler

or other equipment— free-hand adv .free 'kick noun [C] in soccer, an occasion when a player is allowed to kick the ball without any opposition, because a player from the other team has broken a rule free-lance 1 /'fri.laens/ adj freelance work is done by a person who is not permanently employed by a particular company but sells their services to more than one company: a freelance designer /photographer /reporter free-lance 2 /'fri.laens/ verb [i] to sell your work or

many

companies or free-lance /'fri.laens/ noun [C] a self-employed person who does work for various companies free-load-er /'fri.loudar/ noun [C] informal someone who expects to get food, money, or a place to stay from someone else, without giving anything in return services to

free-lanc-er

love

freedom they

[l]

[u] the idea that people should have the have sex with as many different people as whether or not they are married or in a

noun

to

like,

different

/'fri.laensar/

— free-load verb

.free

f ree-ly

[U]

to restrict freedom

[c]

cruel or unfair government by fighting against it using weapons, usually as part of an organized group. This word is used by people who support these actions.

/'fridsm/ noun the right to do what you want, make your own decisions, and express your own opinions: a law that 1

noun

relationship into slavery

*•*

free-dom

freedom fighter

/ frili/

adv

••

1

without controls/limits

2

easily

and smoothly

4 without hiding anything 5 in many places

3 generously

without being stopped or controlled by rules or laws: a freely elected government The shares could be traded freely on the open market. 2 easily and smoothly, without being stopped or interrupted: The traffic is moving quite freely this morning. 3 generously or in a willing way Preservatives are added much too freely to most processed foods. Please give freely to support our cause. 4 without trying to hide anything: openly: He freely admits he is jealous. 5 something that is freely available is easy to obtain 1

:

or buy

.free

'market noun

[C]

an economic system

in

which

things such as prices and pay are set as a result of competition between different businesses and are not controlled by a government

v

free marketeer

Mason. ,free 'period noun [c] a part of the school day when a student or teacher does not have a class .free port noun [c] a port or airport where no tax is paid on goods that are delivered because they are then going to be sent to other countries ,free radical noun [C] science a molecule that has an extra electron and can react very easily with other molecules. Free radicals sometimes form in the human body and can cause cancer. free-range adj free-range chickens, pigs, and other farm animals are allowed to move around and feed naturally. This is considered to be a kinder method of farming than intensive methods, a. free-range eggs come from free-range chickens compare battery

—

,free rein noun [u] permission to deal with a particular situation or do a particular job in the way you think is best

,free ride noun [c] informal if someone gets a free ride, they get something without paying or working for it. This word usually shows that you think this is unfair.

free-sia /'hi^sf noun

[C]

a small plant with yellow, have a sweet smell

pink, purple, or white flowers that

,free

'speech noun

[u]

freedom of speech

,free spirit noun [c] someone who lives life the way they want to and does not care about rules or customs

free-stand-ing

/'fri.stasndin/ adj a freestanding piece is not attached to a surface

of furniture or equipment such as a wall or floor

free-style

1

/'fri.stail/ adj 1 in swimming, using the crawl: the 800 meters freestyle champion 2 in sports, using whatever style or method you want to

— free-style ad 2

free-style / fri.stail/ noun [c] a race use any style or method you want to

in

which you can

free-think-er/,fri'8irjk3r/or /free thinker noun [c] someone who forms their own opinions rather than following what other people think or believe ,free trade noun [u] * a system of international trade in which companies do not have to pay high taxes on the goods bought from or sold in other countries: a free trade agreement /zone ,free 'verse noun [u] a type of poetry that does not have a regular rhythm or rhyme

free-ware

computing computer software that is available free on cd-rom or from the Internet. Software that you use free for a short time then pay for is called shareware: freeware programs/ games free-way / fri.wei/ noun [c] * a large divided highway that does not cost anything to use. A road that does cost money is called a toll road. /'fri.wer/

noun

[u]

AmE

freewheeling

/'friwihn; 'fri.hwilin/ adj not limited rules, customs, or responsibilities: a freewheeling

by

,free 'will noun [u] the idea that people can choose what to do and are responsible for their own actions, especially compared to the theory that everything people do is already decided by God or fate of your own free will doing something because you want to do it, not because you are forced to /friz/ (past tense froze /frooz/; past participle frozen

/Troozn/) verb 1

minus 209 degrees Celsius. 1b. if a substance freezes or something freezes it, it becomes very cold and hard: The soil was frozen, —opposite thaw 1c. if a pipe freezes or the weather freezes it, the water inside it becomes ice 1 d. if something such as a lock or a machine freezes or something freezes it, it gets stuck and cannot move: The blanket had frozen to the windscreen. 2 [T] to preserve food or drink by making it extremely cold in a freezer I'll freeze the other pack of sausages. 2a. [i] if food freezes, it is preserved in this way: Strawberries don't freeze very well. 2b. [T] if you freeze a human body or a part of the body, you preserve it by making it extremely cold: The embryos are frozen at minus 20 degrees and stored. 3 [i] to feel extremely cold: You'll freeze if you go out in that thin coat. freeze to death (=die from being very cold) The lambs looked as if they had frozen to death in at

:

the snow.

4

if it freezes, the temperature of the air goes down degrees Celsius or below to stop moving and keep completely still: Freeze! Don't move a muscle! Kate froze in horror when she saw all the blood. frozen to the spot (=unable to move because you are frightened or shocked) / stood frozen to the spot, unable to believe my eyes. 5a. [i] to stop moving or making progress: Their wine glasses frozen in mid-air, they all stared at me. It seemed as though time had frozen. 5b. [i/T] computing if a computer screen freezes or something freezes it, the images on it become completely still and you cannot move them because there is something wrong with the computer 5c. [t] to stop a video or film from moving forward, especially so you can look closely at one particular picture 6 [T] to say officially that the rate or level of something must stay the same and not increase: Wages were frozen until the end of December. We are freezing prices at 2001 [i]

to

5

[i]

levels.

7 [T] to legally stop a supply of money from being available to someone: The courts have frozen her bank account. freeze sb's assets (=stop someone selling their property to make money) The company's assets could be frozen by the banks. .freeze out phrasal vb [T] informal to prevent someone from taking part in something: He was frozen out of official

life.

freeze over phrasal vb

[i]

to

become covered with a layer

of ice

freeze up phrasal vb [l] informal 1 if something freezes up it becomes so cold that it does not work or cannot move: Our plumbing froze up last winter. 2 to be unable to think of anything to say, especially because you are

nervous

freeze 2

/friz/

an number, 1

[C]

freeze

noun

•

decision to prevent any increase in the level, or rate of something: a pay /wage /price + on There has been a freeze on the number ofpolice official

officers.

2

a drop in temperature to

[singular]

or below:

time

A

when

freeze

is

degrees Celsius 2a. a period of extremely cold: the big freeze

expected tonight.

the weather

is

of 1941

freeze- dried

lifestyle

freeze 1

freight

555

marketeer

noun [C] someone who supports the idea of a free market, especially a politician Free-ma-son /'fri.meisn/ noun [c] a member of an international secret society of men who agree to help each other. A Freemason is often simply called a

,free

when

**

liquid turns solid

2 preserve by making cold 3 feel extremely cold 4 weather: reach 0°C

5 stop moving/working 6 stop officially 7 stop sb's money + PHRASES

1 [i/T] if water freezes or something freezes it, it gets very cold and changes into ice: The lake freezes in winter. frozen solid (^completely hard) The water in the cat's bowl was frozen solid, —opposite melt 1a. if a liquid freezes or something freezes it, it becomes solid because it has reached a low temperature: Liquid nitrogen freezes

adj food that is freeze-dried is made dry very quickly at very low temperatures in order to preserve it. freeze-dried chopped herbs freeze- .frame noun [u] the process of stopping a movie on a video in order to look at one particular image a. [C] a single image produced when you stop a movie

—

in this way freeze- frame verb [T] freez-er /'frizsr/ noun [c] + a large piece of electrical equipment used for freezing food: deep-freeze freez-ing 1 /'frizirj/ adj informal * very cold: Hurry up!

I'm freezing! It's absolutely freezing in here. cold Your hands are freezing cold!

freez-ing

freezing

2

/'frizin/ noun [u] the temperature at which water freezes and becomes ice: five degrees below freezing freezing point noun [C] the temperature at which a

particular liquid freezes /freit/ noun • goods that are carried by vehicles: a railroad network equipped for both passengers and freight la. the transportation system that carries goods: rail /air freight

freight 1

[U]

1

freight

depots/ terminals

2

[C]

Am E informal a

freight 2

freight train

goods on a vehicle: The be freighted to the factory site.

/freit/ verb [T] to carry

heavy machinery had

freight-er

to

noun

/'freitar/

[C]

a large ship or airplane

that carries goods

freight train noun

French

[C]

a train that carries goods

1

/frentjV noun 1 the French the people of France. You refer to one person from France as a French person, a Frenchman, or a Frenchwoman: The French produce wonderful wines. 2 [u] the language that people speak in France, Belgium, parts of Canada, and several other countries: Max speaks fluent French. The people here have French as a second language.

French 2 /frentjV adj 1 someone who is French is from France: My mother is French. 2 relating to France or its culture: one of the best French restaurants in Boston 2a. relating to the language of France: He knows a few French words.

pardon/excuse my French spoken used for saying you are sorry for swearing French 'bean noun [c] a string bean French 'bread noun [u] bread in the form of a long thin stick that is soft on the inside and hard on the outside

fresh

556

The medical supplies were shipped by airfreight to Jordan. 1b. [only before noun) used in the transportation of goods: specially strengthened freight wagons freight yards/

— picture -» bread

became suspicious of the frequency and

noun 1 [c] someone from the part of Canada where most people speak French: He married a French Canadian. 2 [u] the type of French that is spoken in Canada .French 'doors noun [plural] a pair of doors made mostly of glass that both open from the middle —picture -» ci French 'dressing noun [C/u] a pink salad dressing containing cream and tomatoes a. a salad dressing made from oil and vinegar .French 'fries noun [plural] * long thin pieces of ftued potato (=cooked in boiling oil). French fries are often simply called fries. BrE chips .French 'horn noun [c] a musical instrument consisting of a long curved metal tube that is very wide at one end, played by blowing through it. A French horn is a picture -» brass brass instrument. French 'kiss noun [c] a kiss between two people with their mouths open and tongues touching French-man /'frentjman/ (plural French-men /'frentj man/) noun [C] a man from France .French polish noun [u] a clear liquid that you put on wooden furniture to give it a shiny hard surface

2 [C/U] science the rate at which a sound wave, light wave, or radio wave vibrates (=moves up and down): a frequency of 7.5 MHz 2a. the wavelength on which a radio program is broadcast /'frikwant/ adj •• happening often: Their arguments were becoming more and more frequent. frequent contact The President is infrequent telephone contact

fre-quent

AmE

—

[T]

French toast

noun [u] bread covered in raw egg and milk and cooked in hot fat .French windows noun [plural] a pair of glass doors that lead to a garden

French'Wonvan/ 'frentj .woman/ (plural French-wonven / 'frentj ,wimm/) noun [C] a woman from France fre-net-ic /fra'netik/ adj done very fast and with a lot of energy, often by someone who is in a hurry fre-net-i-caMy /'fra'netikli/ adv fren-zied /'frenzid/ adj done in an extremely uncontrolled way, often by someone who is crazy: a frenzied

—

attack

— fren-ziecMy adv

fren-zy

/'frenzi/ noun 1

1

at frequent intervals with the German Chancellor. (^regularly) Inspections must be carried out at frequent intervals, a. doing something often: He was a frequent visitor to

our house.

fre-quent 2

/'frikwant/ verb [T] formal a place, you go there regularly

if

you frequent

[c] 1 someone who often travels by airplane, especially with the same airline 2 [only before noun] relating to a system in which people who often travel by air can get airline tickets free or at a reduced price: frequent flier miles/ programs/ discounts fre-quent-ly /'frikwantli/ adv •** often: He has frequently been compared to Michael Jackson. The ten most

.frequent flier noun

frequently asked questions are listed below. rarely, seldom

— opposite

fres-co /'freskoo/

(plural fres-coes or fres*cos) noun [C] a picture that is painted onto wet plaster on a wall, for example in a church -» fresco

fresh

AmE

polish verb

bank

withdrawals.

al fresco outside: dining alfresco

French Ca'nadian

— .French

size of his

[c/u] a state of uncontrolled next speaker whipped the crowd

activity or emotion: The She was in a frenzy of rage. 2 [C] a up into a frenzy. period of great energy and activity: Her arrival always triggers a media frenzy.

fre-quen-cy /'frikwansi/ noun *** 1 [u] the number of times that something happens during a period of time: +of Changes

in sea temperature

with increasing frequency (=more often) Accidents occur here with increasing frequency. 1a. the number of instances of something: + of We hope this treatment will reduce the frequency high/low frequency Words with higher of heart disease. frequency are likely to have more complex behavior. 1b. used for saying that something happens a lot: We will increase the frequency of hurricanes.

/frej/ adj

•••

1

food: recently prepared

2

flowers: recently picked

7 water: with no

salt

3 recently done/made etc. 4 clearly new and different

8 with feeling of energy 9 behaving rudely 10 cold and windy

5 smelling/tasting

11 recently arrived

6

natural

clean/bright/attractive

+ PHRASES

fresh food has been recently picked, caught, or preYou can pared: Fresh salmon is much nicer than frozen. use fresh or tinned tomatoes for this recipe. +from/out of garden. still good 1a. Our vegetables are fresh from the to eat because of being prepared or produced recently: Cooked meat will keep fresh for several days in the fridge. opposite stale 2 fresh flowers have been recently picked (=taken from the place they were growing in) 3 recently done, made, or experienced: fresh footprints The details are still fresh in my mind. in the snow 4 [usually before noun] clearly new and different: We need a completely fresh approach to the problem. The program takes afresh look at this difficult issue. 4a. replacing or adding to a previous thing or amount: The police made afresh appeal for witnesses. *Fve put fresh towels in your room. 5 if something smells or tastes fresh, it smells or tastes pleasant and clean: The air smelled clean and fresh after I like drinks with a fresh lemony the smoky little hut. 1

—

flavor.

6 clean, bright, and attractive in appearance: His cotton her lovely fresh complexion shirt looked crisp and fresh. 6a. used about colors: The walls were painted in a lovely fresh blue. 7 fresh water

is

water in lakes and rivers that does not

contain any salt

8 9

you have a lot of energy: refreshed informal behaving in a way that is rude or does not show respect to someone: cheeky, familiar 9a. behaving in a way that is slightly rude but shows that you are sexually attracted to someone 10 if the weather is fresh, it is fairly cold and the wind opposite humid is blowing 1 1 [+from/out of] if someone is fresh from a particular place or situation, they have recently come from there: He was just a kid, fresh out of law school. He came to Wimbledon fresh from his victory in the American Open. if

you

feel fresh,

—

as fresh as a daisy looking or feeling completely fresh fresh out of sth informal used for saying that you have just finished all of your supply of a particular thing:

Fm

sorry,

Fm fresh

out of coffee.

a fresh start a complete change in your

way

of

life

fresh-

—

fresh

'air noun [u] the air outside that is pleasant to breathe -» breath fresh-en /'frefn/ verb 1 [t] if you freshen someone's drink, you give them more to drink: top 2 freshen or freshen up [T] to make something fresher, cleaner, or more attractive: Brushing your teeth freshens your mouth. She quickly freshened her makeup. 3 [l] if the wind freshens, it becomes colder and stronger

.freshen up phrasal vb 1 [l/T] to wash your hands and face and make yourself cleaner and neater: Would you like to freshen yourself up before dinner? 2 [T] same as freshen r. Freshen up your walls and ceilings with a coat of paint. 3 [T] to improve your skill or knowledge of something: You could freshen up your Spanish with some conversation classes.

freslver

/'frejar/

fresh-faced

noun

BrE a

[C]

/.frej'feist/ adj

freshman

healthy and with a face

young a. used for emphasizing that someone young: a photograph of me when I was a fresh-faced youth fresh-ly /'frejli/ adv * recently: used with past participles:/res/z/v caught fish freshly grated cheese a student who is frestvman /'frejman/ noun [c] in their first year at a high school or university that looks is

AmE

In the U.S., the freshman year of high school is also called the ninth grade, so students in this year are sometimes called ninth graders.

fresh-wa-ter

/'frej wotsr/ adj consisting of water that does not contain salt: a freshwater lake a. living in water that does not contain salt: freshwater fish compare saltwater

—

1

/fret/ verb [I] to worry about something conThere's no point in tinuously: Don't fret, I'll be fine. fretting about things you can't change.

fret

friendly

557

or the way you do things, especially after you have fresh-ness noun [U] previously been unsuccessful fresh- /freJV prefix new or recent: used with past participles: the smell offresh-baked bread

2

fret /fret/ noun [C] one of the raised lines across the narrow part of a guitar where you put your fingers to play the different notes

fret«ful /'fretfl/ adj worried and unhappy, especially because of being nervous or tired

fret«saw

/'fret.so/

noun

design into thin wood. frame.

a tool used for cutting a consists of a thin blade on a

[C]

It

work /'fret ,w3rk/ noun [u] designs that you make by cutting pieces out of a thin piece of wood or metal

Fri-day /'fraidei/ noun [c/u] ••• the day after Thursday and before Saturday: Let's go swimming on Friday.

My birthday is on a Friday this year. The museum closes He could see you this Friday Fridays (=every Friday). She leaves next Friday. on Fridays (=every morning. Friday) We usually meet on Fridays. fridge /fnd3/ noun

*

fridge-freezer noun

[c]

[c] a piece of equipment used for storing food at low temperatures: refrigerator: Chill the wine in the fridge first. You can spread this butter straight from the fridge (=it remains soft when it is cold).

f ried /fraid/ adj

BrEa

refrigerator-freezer

*• cooked in hot oil: fried fish/ potatoes/

shrimp

friend /frend/ noun ••* 1 [C] someone you know well and

like that is not a of your family: She's visiting friends in Illinois. is a close friend Helga close/good/great friend of mine. friends and relatives /neighbors /acquaintances We friend of the stayed with various friends and relatives. family/family friend May I introduce Peter Flint, a very old friend of the family. old friend (=one that you have had for a long time) He's meeting an old friend for lunch. circle of friends (=group of friends) She has a wide circle of friends. 1a. used for referring to a person without mentioning their name: acquaintance: I'll ask my friend at the office if she knows. The letter was signed simply "A friend." 1b. friends [plural] if two people are friends, each one is a friend of the other: They used to be good friends, but they've fallen out recently. *A lot of couples remain friends after their marriage ends. + with I've been friends with him for years. 2 [C] a country that has a good relationship with another country: Japan is a valued friend and partner of this country, —opposite enemy 3 [C] someone who supports a particular organization, political movement, etc., especially by giving them money: Annabel is a friend of the Metropolitan Museum.

member

friends in high places people who are powerful and important and who will help you just (good) friends used for emphasizing that two people are not having a romantic relationship. People sometimes use this expression to suggest that two people really are having a romantic relationship, even though they claim they are not. make friends 1 to become friends: +with They made friends with the children next door. 2 to form friendships: You'll make a lot of new friends at college. no friend of used for emphasizing that you oppose someone or something: I personally am no friend offeminism.

f ret*

Freu>di«an /'froidian/ adj relating to the ideas and methods of the psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, especially his theories

and

about people's subconscious thoughts

feelings

.Freudian 'slip noun [c] something you say that is not what you intended to say but might show what you are

Words

fri«ar«y /'fraisri/ noun

[c]

a building where a group of

friars lives

fricas-see of pieces of

/.fnka'si/ noun [c/u] a meal that consists in a thick white sauce

meat cooked

frioa'tive/'frikativ/ noun

[c] linguistics a speech sound is made by pushing air out through a small space with your mouth almost closed. "F," "z," and "th" are

that

fricatives.

— frica-tive adj

friction /'fnkjan/ noun 1 [u] the fact that one thing rubs against another: He had burn marks from the friction of the ropes on his skin. 1a. science the physical force that makes it difficult for one surface to move over another 2 [C/U] disagreement: + between There is some friction between the various departments. + with The decision is likely to lead to friction with neighboring countries.

pleasant and helpful

2 liking each other 3 about a country

broken into

fri>ar /'fraiar/ noun [C] a man who is a member of a particular group in the Christian religion. In the past, friars traveled around teaching people about God.

1

1

Fri, abbrev Friday

easily

good,

friend-less / 'frendtas/ adj with no friends: She felt alone and friendless. friend-ly /'frendli/ adj *•• 1

technical

best, close, closest, dear,

great, lifelong, old, trusted

really thinking

fri-a-ble /'fraiabl/ adj smaller pieces: crumbly

frequently used with friend

adjectives

4 game: not in competition 5 about takeover

1 someone who is friendly is always pleasant and helpful toward other people: I enjoy working there, everyone is so friendly. He will be remembered as a kind friendly person. + toward /to The local people went out of their way to be friendly toward us. 1a. used about people's behavior: a friendly smile /manner/ welcome The receptionist greeted us with a friendly smile. 1b. used about places and situations: There's a warm and friendly atmosphere at the club. It's not a very friendly city. opposite unfriendly 2 if you are friendly with someone, you are their friend: Janet and I used to be very friendly. +with Doctors shouldn't get too friendly with their patients. on friendly terms We parted on friendly terms. 3 a friendly country or government has a good relationship with your country and is not your enemy: To the Allies, Switzerland was a friendly neutral country. The new country hopes to establish friendly relations with all its neighbors. 3a. on the same side as you in a war: friendly aircraft opposite hostile

—

—

friendly

4

frisk

558

game

not part of a competition but is played for fun or to practice skills: Would you care for a friendly game of chess? 4a. used for saying that people compete with each other but are friends: There was a friendly rivalry between them. 5 business a friendly takeover is one in which a a friendly

is

Bruckner was watching him with wide, frightened eyes. frightened to do sth Now he is frightened to go out at night. + about /of There's nothing to be frightened about. I've always been frightened of wasps. * +that / was frightened that he might see us. a. very nervous or worried: I'm always so frightened of offending anyone.

frightened.

company has agreed that another company should buy it— opposite HOSTILE friend-li-ness noun [U] friencMy2 /'frendli/ noun [c] BrE a game that is not part of a competition but

is

played for fun or to practice

skills

-friendly /frendli/ suffix sometimes used with nouns to make a new adjective meaning that something helps or

harm a particular type of person or thing: the wildlife-friendly farming Science teachers take a more girl-friendly approach (=that helps girls to be interested in science).

Frightened describes how you feel: I She looked very frightened.

Frightening describes things or situations that make you feel frightened: The look on his face was extremely frightening. It was an extremely frightening experience.

does not

Only people and animals can be described as frightened.

campaign for need

to

.friendly 'fire noun [u] shots fired at you accidentally by soldiers from your own army friendly so ciety noun [c] an organization in the U.K. that saves money for people money regularly

who

friend-ship /Trend Jip/ noun

give small amounts of

[C]

.Friends of the 'Earth trademark an international organization that tries to persuade governments and companies to protect the environment f ri«er

/

frair/ another spelling of fryer

fries /fraiz/ noun [plural] French fries Frie*sian /'fri3n/ noun [c] a type of black and white cow that produces a lot of milk frieze /friz/ noun [c] a line of decoration around the walls of a

room

or building

frig»ate /'fngat/ noun [C] a small fast ship used by a navy to protect other ships frig-ging /'fngin/ adj spoken offensive used for adding emphasis to what you are saying when you are angry fright /frait/ noun 1 [C] an experience that makes you feel suddenly afraid: scare: / got such a fright when Joe burst through the door. Sorry, I didn mean to give you a fright. 1a. [u] a sudden strong feeling of being afraid: fear: / nearly died of fright when I heard his voice behind me. 2 [C] informal old-fashioned someone or something that looks very messy: sight: I must look an absolute 't

fright!

give sb the fright of their life informal to make someone suddenly feel extremely afraid take fright 1 to be suddenly frightened by something and want to get away from it 2 to suddenly feel that you do not want to be involved with something

•*

to make someone feel afraid, especially suddenly: scare: Stop it! You're frightening the children! a. to make someone feel nervous or

fright-en

/'fraitn/ verb [T]

worried: The thought of war frightens me.

me how

quickly children

It

frightens

grow up

these days. b. [frighten sb into/out of doing sth] to persuade someone to do or not do something by making them feel afraid: adverts that frighten people into buying expensive security equip-

ment frighten the to

life

out of sb/frighten sb to death informal feel extremely afraid or nervous

make someone

away

or frighten off phrasal vb [T] 1 to make a person or animal so afraid that they run away 2 to make someone so worried or nervous that they decide not to become involved with something: The fall in share prices has frightened off possible investors.

frighten

fright-ened

*

•

frightening

/'fraitnin/ adj making you feel afraid: to be a horror film but it wasn't very used about things that make you feel nervous or worried: It's frightening that someone like Adolf Hitler could come to power in a democratic election. -* frightened It

was supposed

frightening,

a.

frighteningly

••

a relationship between people who are friends: The reunion gave us a chance to renew old friendships. +with His friendship with a local businessman led to allegations of corruption. sb's friendship Whatever happened, I did not want to lose Sarah's friendship. close friendship Sheformed a closefriendship with Vera Brittain. 1a. [u] the feeling of being friends with someone or of being with friendly people: The group provides support and friendship for old people. 2 [C/U] a good relationship between countries or governments, in which they help and support each other: They've signed a friendship and cooperation treaty. 1

am frightened of

spiders.

/'fraitnd/ adj feeling or showing fear, especially suddenly: scared: The puppy looked cold and

in a way that looked frighteningly unfamiliar in the fog. 2 informal used for emphasizing something: a frighteningly expensive watch /'fraitninli/ adv

1

makes you feel afraid or nervous: The town

fright'ful

/'fraitfl/ adj

informal old-fashioned extremely

serious or unpleasant

fright-fuMy

/'fraitfli/

adv mainly

BrE

informal old-

fashioned extremely

frig-id/ Tnd3id/adj 1 extremely formal and unfriendly: icy: her frigid tones 2 a frigid woman does not enjoy having sex 3 very formal extremely cold: freezing

— fri«gid'i'ty/fn'd3Zid3ti/noun[u]

frill /fnl/

noun

[C]

a decoration that consists of a long

narrow piece of cloth with many small folds in it no frills used for referring to something that is good enough but has no unnecessary extra features: a nofrills camp site frilled

/ fnld / adj

frill-y / blouse

'frili /

adj

decorated with a

decorated with a

1

fringe /frmd3/ noun

[c]

frill

lot of frills:

a

frilly

*

cut in bangs: My fringe needs cutting. 1a. a of fibers or thin pieces of cloth that hangs down from a piece of cloth or clothing: a blue scarf with long black fringes 2 the outer edge of something: industrial developments situated on the northern fringe of the city 3 people or activities that are considered strange or extreme: Their views belong to the wilder fringes of European politics. lunatic fringe Vegetarianism is no longer considered the preserve of the lunatic fringe. on the fringe/ fringes He has been forced to live on the fringes of society. 3a. activities that are connected with a major public event but are not an official part of it: the Edinburgh Festival Fringe He made a speech on the fringe of the conference. 3b. [only before noun] belonging to the fringe of a society, organization, or event: a small right-wing fringe group 1

BrE hair

row

fringe 2 /frmd3/

verb [t usually passive] to form a line around the edge of something: border noun 'fringe .benefit [c] 1 something that you get in addition to your salary, for example a car: perk 2 any extra thing that you get unexpectedly fringed /frmd3d/ adj decorated with a fringe or fringes frip«per«y /'fnpari/ noun [c/u] something useless but attractive or enjoyable

Fris-bee /'frizbi/ trademark a round piece of plastic that you throw to another person in a game played outside

Fris-co /'fnskou/ informal the U.S.

city of

San Fran-

cisco

frisk /frisk/ verb 1 frisk or frisk down [t] to search someone with your hands in order to see if they are carrying anything illegal such as a gun or drugs: All of the passengers were frisked by the airport police.

young animals

frisk,

they run and jump:

frolic,

2

[l]

if

gambol

frisky 2

adj

1

fris-son /fri'soun/ noun

[C]

a sudden strong feeling of

excitement, fear, or pleasure 1

frit'ter /fntar/ noun [c] a food made by covering a piece of food in batter and cooking it in hot fat: apple fritters

2

f rit«ter / fntar / verb .fritter a 'way phrasal vb [T] to waste time or money on things that are not necessary or important: Over the next year he frittered away all his winnings.

fritz /frits/ noun on the fritz Am E informal if a machine is or goes on the fritz, it has stopped or stops working correctly

fri-voM'ty /fn'vabti/ noun

[U] silly behavior or attitudes: frivolousness a. [c] something that is silly friv-O'lous /'fnvabs/ adj 1 behaving in a silly way in situations where you should be behaving in a serious or sensible way 2 lacking any real purpose or impor-

tance: frivolous complaints

lousTiess noun

— frivo*lous*ly

adv, frivo-

[U]

frizz /friz/ noun

[u] hair that has very small tight stiff curls a. the condition of hair that has very small tight stiff curls

f riz-zle it

front

559

feeling lively and full of fun informal feeling that you want to have sex

frisk-y /'fnski/

/

makes

'fnzl/ verb [T] spoken if heat frizzles it

dry, hard,

something,

[C]

and curly

a coat that

men wore

in the 19th

century /frog/ noun [c] • 1 a small animal with smooth skin that uses its long back legs to jump from place to place. Frogs are amphibians (=they can live in water and on land) and they develop from tadpoles, —compare toad 2 offensive an insulting word for a French person have a frog in your throat to be unable to speak clearly for a short time because your throat is dry or blocked frog*man / 'frogman/ (plural frog-men /frogman/) noun [C] someone who does police or military work under water using special clothes and equipment frogmarch / 'frag .mart J7 verb [T] Br E if two people frogmarch you somewhere, they force you to walk there while each of them holds one of your arms tightly 1 frol'ic /'fralik/ verb [I] to play in a happy way with a lot of energy and movement 2 frol'ic / fralik/ noun [C] a happy lively game or activity froMc'Some /fraliksam/ adj mainly literary enjoying

frog

or involving playing in a happy lively

way

***

from I weak fram;

strong from/ preposition given, sent, or provided by sb used for stating who gives or sends you something or provides you with 1

something: You'll have to borrow the money from someone She wanted an apology from the president. The watch is a birthday present from his daughter. used for 2 stating sb's/sth's origin 2a. used for stating the place where someone lives or used to live, or their general situation in life: I'm originally from North Carolina. Rosie Miller from Eugene, Oregon, received the award. She married a pharmacist who comes from Boston. Those from poor backgrounds should not have to pay. 2b. used for stating the place where something was made: red wine from California imports from Japan She collects postcards from all over the world. 2c. used for stating what something was originally a part of: the music from Offenbach's opera 3 starting at a particular point and moving away 3a. starting at a particular place and moving away: He's on the 3 o'clock flight from Chicago. Start from that tree over there and run to the house. from. ..to We're planning to drive from Los Angeles to Denver. 3b. starting at a particular time and continuing: from. ..to He's else.

usually in his office from around 9:00 to 5:00. She's interested in the period from the early 1940s to now. from now/

then /that day on different

around

From now on

here.

/ lived with

.

gallon in just a couple of months. 4 used for stating where sb or sth is removed from 4a. used for stating where someone or something was before leaving or being removed: Frank grabbed the pen from Cindy. He took a hammer from his toolbox. Remove the pan from the heat. 4b. used for stating an amount that is reduced by having part of it taken away: Several points were taken from the total. Seventeen from thirtysix

is

nineteen.

5 used for giving distances used for saying how far away something is in relation to something else: We live a few miles from the city. We spent the night about eight kilometers from the Uganda-Kenya border. 6 because of sth 6a. as a result of something: Her hair was still damp from her walk in the rain. She's been suffering badly from stress. 6b. used for giving the reason for a judgment or opinion: / can tell from your eyes you 're a good man. From what I hear, Mr. Mar low is not a man to be trusted. 7 used for giving a range of things used for stating one end of a range of things: Tickets for the concerts cost from $25 to $50. from. .to Evans is charged with offenses .

ranging from burglary to armed assault. The company a range of products from haircare tofootcare. 8 employed by sth belonging to a particular organization: a team of experts from the Farm Bureau 9 returning after an activity used for stating where someone was or what they were doing before they came back: We hardly recognized him when he came back from She was injured in a car crash while returning the war. from a dance. used for stating where sb does sth used for stating 1 where someone is when they see, hear, or do something: He works from home three days a week. Let's watch the offers

friz«zy /'fnzi/ adj frizzy hair has small tight stiff curls fro /frou/see to and fro frock /frak/ noun [C] 1 old-fashioned a dress 2 a long loose piece of clothing with sleeves that some priests

and monks wear 'frock coat noun

him from the age of twenty. 3d. starting at one amount and increasing or becoming less: from. .to The price of gas went from $1.50 to $2 a

and continuing:

things are going to be 3c. starting at a particular age

fireworks from the roof. 1 1 made of sth used for stating what substance has been used for making something: The toys are made from very durable plastic. 1 2 hanging off or sticking out of sth used for stating what something is hanging off or sticking out of: The room was divided by a blanket hanging from the ceiling. Her toe was sticking out from the hole in her shoe. 1 3 used for describing the situation before a change used for stating what someone or something was before

something else: Colesville has changed from town to a bustling city. 1 4 used for stating what is prevented used for stating what has been prevented or protected against: Reporters were prevented from visiting the scene of the accident. The machine is protected from the weather by a heavy cover. His restlessness kept him from sleeping. 15 used for showing differences used for talking about differences between two or more people or things: This recipe is different from the one I usually use. He should know right from wrong by now. from hour to hour/place to place etc. used for showing that something changes every hour/is different in every place etc.: The situation changes from hour to hour. Conditions vary from place to place. from place to place/room to room etc. going to many different places/rooms etc. one after another f rom-age f rais /froo,ma3 frei/ noun [u] a soft smooth white cheese used like yogurt frond /frond/ noun [c] a large long leaf divided into many narrow sections: fern /palm fronds a. a long narrow piece of seaweed front 1 /frAnt/ noun •*• changing a sleepy

to

little

1

surface facing forward

6

2

part farthest forward

7 group for/against sth

1

weather

activity to hide secret

8 in war 9 area on sea/lake edge

not sincere behavior

+ PHRASES

3 aspect

4 5

in

of situation

[C often singular] the surface of

something that faces

forward: house/ building fronts (=the parts that face the road) the front of sth Staple a recent photograph to the front of your application. on the front a book with a picture of a tiger on the front down the front The dress

front the front. 1a. [C] the part of your body that faces forward, especially your chest: / always sleep on my front. 1b. [singular/u] the area outside the part of a building that faces forward: Go round to the front and I'll let you in. 1c. [C] an outer wall of a large building that faces in a particular direction: the north /south/ east/west front of sth Monet's famous series of paintings opposite back of the west front of Rouen cathedral 2 the front the part of something that is nearest the direction it faces: The glasses are in the cabinet near the in/at the front (of sth) Tom was sitting at the front front. of the bus. the man at the front of the line If you can't see the blackboard, come and sit at the front. He showed them where he had signed his name in the front of the book.

—

— opposite BACK

3 [C) a particular aspect of a situation: There's bad news on the job front - two factories are going to close. His main problems were in math and science, but he has made progress on both fronts. 4 [C] an organization or activity that exists to hide an illegal or secret one: +for They used the store as a front for dealing in stolen goods. 5 [singular] behavior that to hide

She's putting on a brave front, but she's really very worried. 6 [C] technical a line where a large area of cold air meets a large area of warm air: a warm /cold front 7 [singular] a political organization that fights for or against something: the National Liberation Front 8 [C] a front line in a war

9

area along the edge of the sea or a lake in a town: a walk along the front-* seafront [C usually singular] the

in front 1 a little farther forward than someone or something: I passed the car in front. 2 winning a competition, game, or election that is not yet finished: Owen scored to put his team in front. 3 outside the part of a building that faces forward: a house with a yard in front in (the) front in the part of a car where the driver and the controls are in front of sb 1 if something is in front of you, it is in a position where you can see it if you look forward: In front of her, the highway stretched for miles. 2 in a situation where someone is there with you: I would never say this in front of my mother. 3 in a situation where someone is watching you do something: The game took place in front of a crowd of 60,000 people. 4 used for saying what is going to happen to you in the future: I think she's got a brilliant career in front of her. in front of sth 1 in a position where you can see a particular thing when you look forward: She just sits in front of the television all day long. 2 into a place where a moving vehicle might hit you: He stepped into the road in front of a bus. out front in the part of a theater where the audience sits

out (the) front outside the part of a building that faces forward: There seem to be some press photographers waiting out front. out in front 1 a fairly large distance farther forward than someone or something: They hurried along the road with George out in front. 2 winning a competition, game, or election that is not yet finished by a fairly large amount: Wilson is still out in front in the opinion polls. up front 1 in the part of a car where the driver and the controls are 2 with payment made before goods or services are provided or work is started: I'll need $500 up front for the cost of materials. 3 playing near the other team's goal and trying to score in a game such as soccer -» upfront -» BACK TO FRONT

front 2 /frAnt/

adj [only before noun]

4

linguistics

a front vowel

•••

1 at, in, or on the front of something: You can go and play in the front yard. *A tall woman in the front row was blocking my view. Stephen was still sitting in the front seat of the car. front legs/paws I've broken one of my front teeth. 2 intended to hide an illegal or secret activity: Arms exports were conducted secretly using front companies. 3 playing near the other team's goal and trying to score in a sport such as soccer: the front two/three Themidfield players aren't giving enough support to the front two.

is

made

in the front part of

your mouth front 3 /frAnt/

verb 1 [i/T] if an area or building fronts something or fronts on or onto it, it has that thing at the front of it: The theater is housed in a large building fronting Canning Street. The estate fronts onto the bay. 1a. [t] to be in front of something: A spacious forecourt fronts the handsome house. 2 [t] to be the leader or main representative of a group: a financial consortium fronted by Charles Villiers 2a. to be the main singer or musician in a band: I'd love to front my own jazz band. 2b. to be the main person appearing in a television program and telling people what is happening in each part of the program: What is it like to front such a popular TV show?

front for phrasal vb [T] [front for sb/sth] to be a person or company that hides an illegal or secret activity for another person or organization

front-age /TrAntid3/ noun

[c/u] 1 the area in front of something such as a building or street 2 the outer front part of a building

frontage road

is not sincere because you your real feelings: He always pretended he didn't care but we knew it was just a front. put on a front

want

front-line

560

had buttons down

noun

[c]

AmE

a minor road built from the

parallel to a highway that vehicles use to get highway to places or buildings at the side

fron*tal

/'frAntl/ adj formal 1 at, in, or on the front part of something: In this position the troops would be vulnerable to a frontal attack. 1a. relating to the front part of the head or brain 2 direct and severe: a frontal assault on the government's latest proposals 3 relating to a weather front a frontal system :

.front

and center adj, adv Am E

1 considered important and worth your attention: The human rights issue is on the agenda. 2 spoken used

clearly front and center for telling someone to

come closer and pay attention because you are going to say something important front burner noun on the front burner considered very important and urgent front 'desk noun [c] the place inside the main entrance of a building where you go when you arrive or to get information front door noun [c] • the main door at the front of a house fron-tier /frAn'tir/ noun 1 [C] a border between two countries, especially one with official points where people or vehicles cross: + between the frontier between Israel and Lebanon + with Italy's frontier with Switzerland on/at the frontier troops massing at the frontier 1a. [C usually singular] the outer edge of a country or area that is the farthest point where people have started to live and build towns 1b. [singular] the western edge of the U.S. that Europeans had reached in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries

••

1c. [only before noun] on or relating to a frontier:/ron^er controls a frontier town frontier post (=official place for crossing) Armed police manned the frontier post.

2

[C usually plural] the

most advanced or recent ideas

about something: the frontiers of knowledge /science/ technology Their work was on the frontiers of science. extend /push back the frontiers (=discover more) We are dedicated to experimentation, to pushing back the frontiers. fron-tiers-man /frAn'tirzman/ (plural fron-tiers-men /frAn'tirzman/) noun [C] a man who lived on the western frontier of the U.S. in the past

fron-tis-piece /'frAntis.pis/ noun [C] a picture at the beginning of a book on the page opposite the one with the title on it ,front line noun [c] the area where two armies face each other and fight during a war in/at/ on the front line 1 doing the hardest or most important work: These dedicated people are on the front line of health care. 2 in a position, especially in an organization or group, where you are the most likely be criticized or attacked front-line adj [only before noun] 1 directly involved in fighting during a war: front-line troops 1a. front-line states have a border with an area of another country where there is fighting 2 with a leading or important position in an activity: a front-line campaigner in the 1987

to

election

man

front

a man whose job is to represent an organization by talking to reporters or other people, especially in order to improve the organization's reputation: He serves as a front man for the tobacco industry. 1a. someone whose job is to hide an illegal or secret activity for another person or organization 2 a man who is the main singer in a group of musicians front matter noun [u] technical the information at the beginning of a book before the main part starts [c] 1

front 'office, the noun 1 AmE the managers of a company or organization 2 BrE the people in a company that deal with members of the public front 'page noun [c] the first page of a newspaper: The scandal was all over the front page. adj [only before noun] important enough to be printed on the first page of a newspaper: front-page news /stories /headlines front 'room noun [C] mainly Br E the main room at the front of a house where you sit, watch television etc: LIVING ROOM f ront- runner noun [c] the person or thing considered the most likely to win a competition, game, or election

front-page

front- running adj most game, or election

likely to

win a competition,

a system in which the engine supplies power to the front wheels of a car a. [C] a car with this system [u]

/frost/ noun * a thin white layer of ice that looks like powder and forms on things outside when the weather is very 1

covered with or consisting of froth: frothy coffee/ milk Beat the egg whites until frothy. 2 enjoyable but not serious or important: His new movie is a frothy romantic comedy. 3 forming a soft, light, and delicate mass: a frothy white wedding dress frown 1 /fraon/ verb [i] •• to move your eyebrows down and closer together because you are annoyed, worried, or thinking hard: Sarah frowned and shook her + at Stephen frowned at Lily over the top of the head. Sunday paper, —picture -* wink

froth'Y /Tro0i/

frown on

or

adj

1

frown upon

phrasal vb

[T]

[frown on sb/sth]

to not approve of something: Personal phone calls are frowned on at work. frown 2 /fraon/ noun [C] * an expression on your face made by moving your eyebrows down and closer together that shows you are annoyed, worried, or thinking hard: He put down his book with a slight frown. frowz-y /'frauzi/ adj AmE 1 a frowzy person has a messy or dirty appearance 2 a frowzy room has an unpleasant smell because it does not have fresh air in it

AmE

fro-yo

/,froo 'joo/ noun [C/U] yogurt that you eat like ice cream

froze the past tense of freeze fro-zen /'froozn/ adj •

informal frozen

1

1

front-wheel 'drive noun

frost

fruit cocktail

561

man noun

front

1

[U]

cold: bushes covered with frost

preserved by being made extremely cold and stored at a very low temperature .frozen vegetables /fish I yogurt frozen food/ meals 2 frozen ground has become very hard because the weather is very cold 2a. frozen water or snow is covered with a layer of ice 3 spoken feeling very cold I'm frozen - can 't we go inside? frozen stiff (=extremely cold) Her fingers were frozen 1

:

2

[C/U] a period of weather cold enough to form frost: an early/ late frost = in early fall/late spring) A late frost in May could easily kill these delicate plants. (

frost

2

/frost/ verb

[T]

Am E to put

frosting on a cake

frost over or frost 'up phrasal vb [l/T] to cover something completely with frost or become completely covered with frost: The windows were all frosted over.

frost-bite / frost ,bait/ noun [u] a medical condition in which cold weather seriously damages your fingers, toes, ears, or

nose

frost-bit-ten

frost-ed

/'frost ,bitn/ adj affected

/'frostod/

adj

[usually

by

before

frostbite

noun]

1

AmE

covered with frosting: a pink frosted birthday cake 2 containing small pieces of a shiny substance .frosted lipstick 3 mainly literary covered with frost frosted 'glass noun [u] glass that has a rough surface so that you cannot see clearly through it

frost-ing

AmE

/'frostin/ noun [u] 1 a smooth sweet substance usually made from sugar, butter, and liquid, used for covering cakes: icing 2 a rough surface produced on a transparent or shiny substance such as glass or metal

frost-y

/'frosti/ adj 1 cold enough to produce frost: a frosty morning 1a. covered with frost -.frosty streets 2 unfriendly and showing that you do not approve of someone or something: A lex 's mother gave him a frosty frost'Hy adv, f rost-i-ness noun [u] look.

—

froth

1

/froG/ noun 1 [singular/U] a mass of small air bubbles that form on the surface of a liquid: The coffee had a milky froth on top. 1a. a mass of small white bubbles of saliva coming from a person's or animal's mouth, especially because they are sick 2 [U] something that seems pleasant or enjoyable, although it has no useful purpose or importance: Most of the shows on TV are froth and trivia.

a froth of sth a large amount of something soft, light, and delicate froth 2 /froG/ verb 1 froth or froth up [i/t] if a liquid froths or you froth it, small air bubbles form on its surface: The sea heaved and frothed as the winds rose. 2 [l] if a person or animal froths, froth comes from their mouth, especially because they are sick: froth at the mouth She fell to the floor, frothing at the mouth. 3 [I]

informal to be very annoyed, upset, or excited about something: froth at the mouth Having to wait even a minute always makes him froth at the mouth.

stiff

4

unable

to

move because

of fear or surprise: She stood Someone shouted "Run!", but I was

frozen with terror. frozen to the spot.

fro-zen 2 the past participle of freeze fruc-tose /TrAk.toos/ noun [u] a type in some fruits and honey 1

of sugar found

fru-gal /'frugl/ adj 1 spending very little money and only on things that are really necessary 2 a frugal meal is simple, inexpensive, and not very big— fru«gal«i«ty /fru'gaebti/ noun [U], f ru-gal-ly adv 1

fruit /frut/ noun

•••

[C/U] a type of food that grows on It tastes sweet and contains seeds or a Apples and oranges are fruit. Ripe fruit is ready to fresh/dried/canned eat: Peaches are my favorite fruit. a piece of fruit Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. fruit (=one apple, orange, etc.) She always has a piece 1

(plural fruit or fruits)

trees or plants. pit.

offruit for dessert. 1a. [C] the part of a tree or plant that contains its seeds: a shrub with white flowers and small red fruits lb. [only before noun] made from fruit or relating to fruit: a fruit tree fruit juice/yogurt Would you like water or fruit juice? 2 [C] offensive an offensive word for a man who is gay

bear fruit 1 to have a successful result: Our policies must be given time to bear fruit. 2 if a tree or plant bears it produces fruit the fruit /fruits of sth the good results that you get from something such as hard work: The book is the fruit fruit,

the fruits of of a collaboration between several groups. your labor Retirement is a time to relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor. the fruits of nature /the earth all the things that are produced as part of nature, that people can eat or use in fruit if a tree or plant is in fruit, it has fruit growing

on it 2 fruit /frut/ verb [I] technical if a tree or plant fruits, it produces fruit fruit-bat /'frut.baet/ noun [c] a bat that eats fruit and lives in tropical regions

fruit-cake

/'frut.keik/ noun 1 [C/U] a heavy cake 2 [C] informal an insulting word someone who you think is strange or crazy ,fruit 'cocktail noun [C/u] a food consisting of small

containing dried fruit

for

pieces of different types of fruit, often sold in cans

fruit fly [c]

a very small

fly

that eats decaying

fruit

fruit-ful/'frutfsl/adj

•

—

fruition.

fruitless / 'fruttas/ adj producing no good

results, espe-

work: All their efforts to find her fruitless. fruit*less»ly adv, opposite fruitful fruit'less'ness noun [u]

cially despite a lot of

—

proved

—

ma

fruit chine noun [c] BrE a slot machine fruit 'salad noun [C/u] a food consisting of small pieces of different types of fresh fruit, usually eaten as a dessert

fruit-y /'fruti/ adj 1 tasting or smelling like fruit: a fruity red wine 1a. containing a lot of fruit: a rich fruity pie 2 a fruity voice or laugh is deep and strong in a pleasant way 3 BrE informal dealing with sex in a humorous or slightly shocking way frump /fr.\mp/ noun [c] an insulting word for a woman who dresses in a way that is not attractive or fashionable

frump«y /TrAmpi/ or frump-ish

/'frAmpiJV

adj

wearing clothes that are not attractive or fashionable /'frA.streit/ verb [t]

*

to

make someone

feel

annoyed and impatient by preventing them from doing or getting something: She has always been frustrated by her inability to draw. Activists and reformers are frustrated by the public's lack of interest, a. to prevent someone or something from succeeding: frustrate sb's attempts/efforts Their attitude frustrated all our efforts to introduce improvements. frustrate sb's plans/intentions The weather continues to frustrate the builders' plans. f rus-trat-ed /'frA.streitad/ adj

*

1 feeling annoyed and impatient because you are prevented from achieving something: Frustrated passengers have started to use other forms of transportation. +with

Parents are increasingly frustrated with the local school + at He gets so frustrated at not being able to do system. things for himself anymore, la. feeling unhappy because of a lack of sex: sexually frustrated 2 [only before noun] wanting to be involved in a particular activity but not successful at it: a frustrated actor/ writer

frus-trat-ing /TrA.streitmg/ adj * making you feel annoyed and impatient because you are prevented from achieving something: It's frustrating to wait all day for a frus-trat-ingly adv: repairman who doesn't show up.

—

frustratingly slow f rus-tra-tion /frA'streiJn/ 1

[C/U]

noun

•

an annoyed or impatient feeling that you get are prevented from doing what you want: + at

when you

He expressed his frustration at not being able to

talk openly.

in /with frustration My friend shouted in frustration, "Hurry up!" a sense/feeling of frustration There is a growing sense offrustration among hospital staff. 1a. an unhappy feeling because of a lack of sex: her jealousy

and sexual frustration

2

[U] [+of]

the act of preventing something or

from being successful: Their

objective

was

someone

the frustration

of the peace agreement.

fry /frai/verb • 1 [T] to cook food in hot oil or fat: Heat the oil in a large pan and fry the onion and garlic for 5 minutes. 1a. [l] to be cooked in hot oil or fat: the smell of chicken frying in 1

the kitchen -» stir-fry 2 [i] informal to get too hot, for

sun

3

is

example because the

very strong: Wear a hat or you'll fry.

AmE

informal to kill someone officially as a punishment using the electric chair, or to be killed in [I/T]

this 2

fry

fry

f ry«er / frair/ noun [c] you fry in a pan

AmE a small young chicken that

pan /'franrj ,psn/ noun [c] a flat metal pan with a long handle, used for cooking food in hot oil or —picture -> C2

fry-ing

producing good results: This area of enquiry did finally We have had a friendly and very fruitful prove fruitful. discussion, —opposite fruitless 2 literary producing a lot of crops or fruit 2a. literary producing a lot of children fruit'fuMy adv, fruitful-ness noun [u] fru-i-tion /fru'ijn/ noun [u] formal the result that you wanted to achieve from a plan or idea: come to fruition Nobody was sure whether the deal would ever come to 1

frustrate

fuchsia

562

fruit fly noun

way /frai/ noun [plural] very small

young

fish -» snl^ll

fat: skillet

out of the frying pan (and) into the that

someone who was

in a

fire used for saying bad situation is now in a

worse situation fry- up noun [c]

BrE informal a meal of fried food, especially consisting of eggs, bacon, and sausages

ft. abbrev foot or feet: a 3 ft. deep

Ft. abbrev Fort: used in the Colorado

pond

names

FT 100 Share Index, the

/,ef

of places:

ti

Ft. Collins,

WAn tundrad

Jer

,mdeks/ noun the ftse index

FTC, the U.S.

/,ef

ti

'si/

the Federal Trade Commission: a

government department that makes companies do

business in a fair

FT ln-dex, the

way

/,ef

ti

'indeks/ noun the ftse index

FTP /,ef

ti 'pi/ abbrev computing file transfer protocol: a set of rules for moving computer files from one computer to another in a network, especially over the Inter-

net

FTSE

ln-dex, the / fotsi mdeks/ the Financial Times Stock Exchange Index: an average of the prices of shares from the 100 most important companies on the London stock exchange fuch'Sia/'fjuJa/noun 1 [u] a bright pink color 2 [C/u] a small bush with pink, red, or white flowers that hang

down —picture

fuck

-» C9

1

/fAk/ verb [i/T] offensive an extremely offensive expression that means to have sex with someone

fuck it/you/them etc. offensive an extremely offensive expression used for showing anger at someone or something

fuck a round phrasal vb

an extremely offensive offensive expression that means to waste time, especially by doing things that are silly or unnecessary a. [T] [fuck sb around] an extremely offensive expression that means to waste someone else's time or treat them in a bad way fuck off phrasal vb [i] offensive an extremely offensive expression used for telling someone to go away when you are angry with them fuck over phrasal vb [T] offensive an extremely offensive expression that means to treat someone in a bad or unfair way fuck up phrasal vb offensive 1 [T] an extremely offensive expression that means to spoil or damage something completely 2 [i] an extremely offensive expression that means to make a serious mistake or fail completely 3 [T] an extremely offensive expression that means to make someone very confused, unhappy, or mentally ill fuck with phrasal vb [T] offensive [fuck with sb] an extremely offensive expression that means to treat someone in an unfair way or trick them, in a way that shows you do not respect them [

I

]

AmE

fuck 2

/fAk/ interjection offensive an extremely offensive expression used for showing anger or surprise

fuck 3 /fAk/

noun offensive 1 [C] an extremely offensive act of having sex with someone 2 the fuck an extremely offensive expression used for emphasizing something, to show anger or surprise 3 [C] an extremely offensive word for a stupid or annoying person not give a (flying) fuck an extremely offensive expression used for emphasizing that you do not care at all about someone or something fucked /fAkt/ adj offensive 1 an extremely offensive word that means having no chance of success 2 an extremely offensive word that means completely broken or destroyed fucked up adj offensive 1 an extremely offensive expression that means so confused, unhappy, or mentally ill that it is hard to live a normal life 2 an extremely offensive expression that means completely broken or in a very bad state fuck-er /'fAkar/ noun [C] offensive an extremely offensive word for a stupid or annoying person

word for an

C1

HOUSE fence

chimney

flowerbed

garden shed/ shed

roof

tool

gutter

^" - mailbox

conservatory

doorstep

bay

window French doors

lawn

basement

downspout

apartment building

colonial

house

C2

KITCHEN

C3

OFFICE

paper

clip

cellphone

stapler

mouse pad

C4

CLOTHES AND PATTERNS

jacket

C5

CLOTHES AND PATTERNS

nightdress

pajamas

C6

HIGHWAY AND TYPES OF VEHICLE

sports car sport

utility

vehicle

convertible

C7

TRANSPORTATION

subway

luggage rack

windshield wiper

hubcap

door handle

gas cap exhaust pipe

reverse light

turn signal

tail

light

mudguard

fuddled

person

fuck«ing

full

563

/'fAkfeis/ noun [C] mainly BrE offensive an extremely offensive word for a stupid or annoying

fuck-face

/'fAkin/

adj,

adv offensive an extremely offenswhat you are

ive expression used for emphasizing saying, especially to show anger

fuck- up noun

[C] offensive an extremely offensive word serious mistake or a complete failure a. an extremely offensive word for someone who often makes serious mistakes or fails completely fud-dled /'fAdld/ adj informal unable to think clearly

for a

fud«dy-dud'dy /'fAdi.dAdi/ noun [C] informal someone who has old-fashioned attitudes and is rather boring fudge /fAd3/ noun [u] a soft brown sweet food made 1

from sugar, butter, and milk or cream a. Am E a sweet soft chocolate that is spread on cakes or poured over ice cream fudge 2 /fAd3/ verb 1 [T] to change the details of something or leave out information: Journalists have always tended to fudge the facts. 2 [i/T] to avoid giving a clear decision or answer: People have accused us offudging the issue.

*••

n

fu«el /fjusl/ noun 1 [C/U] a substance such as oil, gas, coal, or wood that produces heat or power when it is burned. Coal and wood are sometimes called solid fuel: Drivers are being encouraged to save fuel. a shortage of food and fuel 1a. [U] gas or diesel used in vehicles: The stolen car was abandoned when it ran out of fuel. a car that runs on unleaded fuel lb. [only before noun] used as fuel or relating to fuel:/ue/ oil tfuel consumption *fuel tank/'pump/ gauge 2 [U] [+to/for] mainly journalism something that someone can use to support their argument: The report's

a long-cherished dream. fulfill an aim/objective fulfill sb's They hope to fulfill their objectives by 2004. expectations (=be as good as they expect) Supporters feel that the team has not fulfilled their expectations. 2a. fulfill your potential to achieve as much as your natural ability makes possible: He never really fulfilled his potential as a player. 3 to do what you must do, for example as part of a job: fulfill an obligation /duty /commitment Landlords who

fulfilled

refuse to fulfill their obligations may be liable to fines. 3a. to do what you have said you will do: fulfill a promise /pledge The government has failed to fulfill its election promises. Sadly, this pledge was never fulfilled. 4 to make you happy and satisfied because you are using your abilities: Being a wife and mother doesn't really fulfill me.

fulfilled /ful'fild/ ad) happy and satisfied, especially because you are doing something important or using your abilities ful-fill-ing /fulfilin/ adj making you feel fulfilled: a fulfilling career

fulfillment /fulfilmsnt/ noun

1 [u] a feeling of happiness and satisfaction, especially because you are doing something important or using your abilities: Being a doctor gives me a real sense of fulfillment. 2 [u] the act of doing something that is promised or expected: + of She has been assiduous in the fulfillment of her duties. 2a. [C/U] the act of making something happen: +of fulfillment of a prediction/ prophecy

fulfilment

2

/fjual/ (past

participle fu-eling or fu-el-ing; past tense

and past participle fu*eled

nalism to

or

fuelled) verb 1

make something

increase or

[T]

mainly jour-

become worse,

especially something unpleasant: Grafs back problem fueled speculation that she might soon retire. People's fear of crime is fueled by sensationalist reports. 2 fuel or fuel up [i/T] to put gas into your vehicle

Words nouns

criticism, debate, expectations,

1

rumors, speculation, worries fears,

'fuel cell noun [C] technical the equipment that produces power in an electric vehicle

injection noun [u] a system in some cars that makes them go faster by forcing gas into the cylinders fu-gi-tive /'fjud33tiv/ noun [C] someone who has done something illegal and is trying to avoid being caught by the police fugue /fjug/ noun [c] technical a piece of classical music that repeats a simple tune and develops it into a complicated pattern using different instruments or voices ful-crum /Tulkram/ noun [C] 1 science the point on which an object balances or turns 2 the person or thing that everything else depends on: Many people see marriage as the fulcrum of their lives.

'fuel

ful'fil /fulfil/ the

BrE

spelling of fulfill

••

ful-fill /fulfil/ verb [t] 1 to do a particular job or have a particular purpose: fulfill a function /role /purpose The church fulfills an important role in this town. We know which part of the human brain fulfills this function. 1a. to reach a

particular standard or have the qualities that are necessary for something: fulfill requirements/criteria Several of the applicants do not fulfill the entry requirements for the course. fulfill conditions Aid is dependent on certain political conditions being fulfilled. 1b. fulfill a need to provide something that people need: The bus fulfills an important community need. 2 to achieve something that you wanted to do, or get something you hoped for fulfill a dream/ambition The trip :

spelling

of ful-

6 busy

1

containing

2 3 4 5

complete

7 body: large

having a

8 clothing: loose on body 9 about flavor

all

that

fits

lot of sth

unable to eat more as

much as

possible

+ PHRASES

containing the largest amount that will fit in a particular place: The gas tank is almost full. a full parking lot + + of cans full of garbage* full to capacity (=with every seat taken) The stadium is expected to be full to capacity for the game. 1a. used for talking about how much of something there is in a container or place: How full should I fill this pot? half /three-quarters etc. full This 1

potato chip bag

frequently used with fuel

BrE

*•*

full /ful/ adj

conclusions givefuel to the criticism that the administration has abandoned the principles of the party. add fuel to sth (=make people argue more) Reports from Manila only added fuel to the controversy.

fu«el

/fulfilment/ the

fillment

is

only halffull.

2 [only before noun] complete: She is expected to make a a soldier dressed in full uniform full full recovery. to details/ instructions / spent three full days in Paris. your full potential (=as well as you can) He is not yet playing to his full potential. 2a. a full member of an organization has all the rights a member can have 3 [+of] having or containing a lot of something: Her life always seemed full of excitement. Your pants are full of holes!

4

full or full up not wanting to eat any more because lot: "Would you like some dessert?" "No thanks, I'm full." on a full stomach (=right after you have eaten a lot) You should never exercise on a full stomach. 5 used for emphasizing that something is as loud, powerful, fast etc. as possible: He turned the radio on full volume. Why is the heating on full blast on such a warm day? 5a. at full speed/tilt/throttle as fast as possible 6 busy: I've had a full day at the office. lead/have a full life (=with many different activities) She leads a very full

you have eaten a

life.

7 if part of someone's body is full, it is large, wide, or has a round shape, especially in a way that is attractive: full lips 7a. a full/fuller figure a polite way of talking about the body of a large woman 8 a full piece of clothing is loose on your body because it

9

contains a lot of cloth: a full skirt a full flavor is strong in a pleasant

be

full

self or

way

of yourself informal always talking about youryour achievements in a way that annoys other

people

be

full of shit/crap/it offensive often saying things that are not true, especially in order to impress people full of beans old-fashioned very lively and full of energy full on the mouth/chin etc. directly on your mouth/

^

fullback

the fullest. -» PUMP2 STEAM 1

life to

/'fol.baek/ noun [c/u] 1 in football, the offense position behind the quarterback, or a player in this position 2 in sports such as soccer or hockey, a defensive position near your team's goal or a player in this position

fol 'blAdsd/adj 1 having parents who both belong to the same race: a full-blooded Scotsman 2 enthusiastic and determined: Both teams played good fu 1 1- blooded footba 11. full-blown adj 1 in its most complete and developed form: a full-blown economic crisis full-blown AIDS Not all HIV patients develop full-blown AIDS. 2 a full-blown flower is completely open full 'board noun [u] mainly BrE the service you get at

full-blood-ed/

when you

your meals there

eat all

full 'bore adv with as

much

speed or effort as possible

full-court 'press noun [singular] 1 a method of playing basketball in which one team puts pressure on their opponents in all parts of the court 2 Am E informal the use of strong pressure to get what you want full 'dress noun [u] a soldier's formal uniform special occasions

worn on

earth /'fubrz ,3r0/ noun [u] a type of clay used for making liquids clearer or removing oil from

ful-ler's cloth

full-face

adj showing all of someone's face looking straight at you: a full-face photograph

full-fledged

AmE

completely developed: a fullfledged riot I battle 2 completely trained: a full-fledged doctor 3 a full-fledged bird has grown all its feathers adj

1

and is able to fly full-frontal adj 1 shown or seen from the front, wearing no clothes: a full-frontal view of a nude model 2 direct and violent: a full-frontal attack /assault

full-grown adj fully-grown full 'house noun 1 [singular] a

situation in which every seat in a building, for example a theater or sports stadium, has someone sitting in it 2 [C] in a card game, a combination of three cards with a particular value

and two with another value full-length adj 1 a full-length coat, dress, or skirt goes down to your feet 1a. a full-length mirror or picture shows someone's whole body including their feet 1b. a full-length sleeve goes to your wrist 1c. full-length curtains go to the floor 2 a full-length book, movie, etc. is the normal length, not shorter

full marks noun [plural] BrEt the highest score that a student can get on an examination 2 [+for] mainly spoken praise that someone deserves

full mon«ty, the / ,fol 'manti/noun mainly Br E humorous every possible thing: She ordered the full monty: sausages, eggs, chips,

moon

and

beans.

moon when it looks like a complete circle compare half-moon, new moon full 'name noun [C] * your whole name, including your FIRST NAME, MIDDLE NAME, and LAST NAME full-ness /'fulnas/ noun [u] the quality of being full: the fullness of her lips in the fullness of time formal after some time has passed: eventually full- page adj printed on a whole page of a newspaper

full

noun

—

[C]

the

or magazine

professor

noun

AmE

a teacher at a U.S. college or university who has the highest status and has the right to keep their job as long as they want. An associate professor has a lower rank than a full professor, and an assistant professor has a lower rank than an associate professor.

full

full-scale

full- size or full-sized /,fol 'saizd/ adj 1 a full-size object is the normal size for that object, not smaller: a snooker room with three full-size tables 2 a full-size model or drawing of something is as big as the real thing

stop noun [C] BrE a period used in writing come to a full stop 1 if a vehicle comes to a full stop, it slows until it is completely still 2 to end, especially

full

,

fullback

a hotel

fun

564

chin etc, especially with a lot of force: She kissed him full on the lips. in full completely, including the whole of something: Fines must be paid in full within 30 days. to the fullest as much as possible: My goal is to enjoy

[c]

adj 1 complete or not limited in any way: a full-scale investigation into the murder a full-scale emergency 2 a full-scale model or drawing of something is as big as the real thing

suddenly or unexpectedly adj a full-term baby is born after the normal length of time in its mother's body full-time adj [usually before noun] •• done for the number of hours that people normally work in a complete week. Part-time work or study is done during just some of these hours: It is hard to combine study with a full-time job. a. doing full-time work or study: a

full-term

1

discount for full-time students

mom

full-time

spends

all

a woman who does not have a job and her time taking care of her children

2

.full-time adv • during the number of hours that people normally work in a complete week: Her youngest child

is

in

daycare full-time.

.full-timer noun

[c]

someone who works or studies

full-

time

fuMy/'foli/adv*** 1 completely: He was lying on the bed, fully dressed. / did not fully appreciate the seriousness of the situation. She still hasn't fully recovered from her shoulder injury. 2 thoroughly and in detail: The report did not fully explain the reasons for their son's death. 3 used for emphasizing the size, number, or amount of something: He kicked the ball fully 30 yards.

Words

frequently used with fully

verbs

appreciate, realize,

comprehend, expect,

1

understand

fully- fledged adj full-fledged fully- grown adj a fully-grown person or animal has reached its biggest size and will not grow any more ful-mi-nate /'foimi.neit/ verb [i] formal to speak or write angrily about something ful-some /'fulsam/ adj formal praising or thanking someone a lot, especially in a way that does not seem fiil-some-ly adv sincere

—

fum-ble

1

/'fAmbl/ verb 1 [i] to try to hold, move, or something using your hands in a way that is not skillful or graceful: +for She fumbled for her keys in her purse. +with Robert began to fumble with his buttons. + around He fumbled around in the dark looking for some matches, la. [i/T] to drop a ball, especially a football: Smith fumbled at the goal line. picture -» ci5 2 [l/T] to say something in a way that is not skillful or effective: fumble for words He stood there, a fumbled explanation fumbling for words. fum-ble 2 / fAmbl/ noun [C] 1 a failure to hold or catch a ball in sports: Marino was charged with three interceptions and a fumble in his worst game of the season. 2 an attempt to hold, move, or find something using your hands in a way that is not skillful or graceful fume /fjum/ verb [i] 1 to feel or show a lot of anger: Citizens are fuming over the latest gas shortages. 2 to send out smoke or gas fumes /fjumz/ noun [plural] • smoke or gas that has an unpleasant smell, especially harmful smoke cr gas: Traffic fumes raised pollution to record levels yesterday. find

—

Several residents of the area were overcome by toxic fumes. /'fjumi.geit/ verb [T] to treat a place or object with fumes from chemicals in order to kill bacfu«mi«ga«tion /.fjumi'geijn/ noun [u] teria or insects

fu-mi-gate

—

fun

1

**

enjoyment, especially from an [u] activity that is not important or serious: I hate to spoil have fun We your fun but it's time to go home now. great/ good fun We had haven't had such fun for years. a lot of fun /lots great fun comparing our baby pictures. a little of fun The kids had a lot offun with that old tent. /fAn/ noun

little harmless fun. a. an enjoyable That was fun, Spending money sure is fun! be good /great fun Science can be fun. wasn't it? Do come, it'll be good fun. b. someone who you enjoy

fun

It

was just a

activity:

fun

fundamentally

565

operating in the correct way: fully functional The new aircraft isn't fully functional yet but should be very soon. 3 relating to the purpose or function of something: His report portrays a purely functional view of the military. structural and functional descriptions of language 4 technical helping something to operate well or correctly: The author sees sports events as functional to

2

spending time with, especially because you enjoy the same activities: be good/great fun You'll loveJamal, he's great fun.

be full of fun to get a lot of enjoyment from the things you do be no fun/not be any fun to not be enjoyable: It's no fun living by yourself for fun/for the fun of it because something is enjoyable or funny, not for any important or serious reason fun and games 1 enjoyable activities: Being an actor isn t all fun and games. 2 humorous used about a situation that you do not enjoy dealing with: The fun and games begin when we try to put the children to bed. fun-nlled/fun-packed full of enjoyable things to do: a fun-packed vacation to do something that you enjoy or think funny, especially something that annoys someone else: You've had your fun; now go home! in fun said or done as a joke, and not intended to annoy

society.

func-tion-al-ism /'fAnkJanl.izsm/ noun [u] the belief that things should be designed and built to be useful and practical rather than attractive — function-aMst noun [C], adj func-tion-al-ly /'fArjkfanh/ adv 1 relating to the purpose or use of something: The systems are visually and functionally similar. 2 in a way that is useful and

have your fun is

anyone like fun

Am E

spoken used

when you

are disagreeing you borrow his car." "Like

with someone: "Dad will let fun he will!" make fun of or poke fun at to make jokes about someone or something in an unkind way: The other children made fun of her because she was always so serious. not my idea of fun mainly spoken used for saying that you do not enjoy an activity that someone else thinks is

enjoyable

sound like fun to seem to be something that enjoy: The weekend away sounds like fun.

you would

fun 2

/fAn/ adj [only before noun] •• enjoyable: Scuba diving is a fun thing to do. a fun day at the zoo

Funny is used for talking about something or someone makes you laugh: He told a funny joke. She's one of the funniest people I know. Don laugh; it isn that

't

't

funny.

Fun is used for talking about something that is enjoyable or someone that you enjoy being with: Barcelona is a fun city. Our day at the beach was really fun. My sister is a fun person.

function

practical: a functionally designed kitchen

func>tion*ar*y /'fAnkJsn.eri/ noun [c] an official who works for a government or a political party, especially one with unimportant or boring office duties /'fAnkjanin/ noun [u] the ability of something to work correctly 'function ,key noun [c] computing a special button on a computer keyboard that is used for a particular operation in a program. The keys near the top of a keyboard marked "Fl" to "F12" are function keys. function word noun [C] linguistics a word used mainly for expressing relationships between other words in a sentence, for example a conjunction like '"but" or a preposition like "with" fund 1 /fAnd/ noun [c] ••• 1 an amount of money that you collect, save, or invest: a fund to buy instruments for young musicians an investment /retirement fund 1a. a financial organization that manages an amount of money by investing it lb. used in the names of organizations that collect money for a particular purpose: the Worldwide Fund for Nature -» trust fund 2 [+of] a large supply of something, especially something useful: She had a huge fund of knowledge, skill, and

functioning

experience.

3 funds

/'fAnkJsn/ noun 1 [C/U] the job that something

is designed to do: The function of advertising is to create a unique image for your company. perform a function All the backup systems performed their function flawlessly. 1a. [C] someone's job or particular responsibility: a manager's supervisory functions 1b. [C/u] something that happens in your body or something that a part of you body does: He has no muscle function in his upper arms. Free radicals have the ability to disrupt bodily functions. 1c. [C] computing the purpose of a computer program or piece of computer equipment: accounting / spreadsheet functions 1d. [C] computing a single basic operation performed by a com-

puter

2 [C] a social event such as a party, especially one for a large number of people: / sometimes attend official functions with my wife. a function of sth 1 the result of a change in something: Decreased gas mileage is largely a function of today's bigger engines. 2 technical in mathematics, if one quantity is a function of another, it changes according to how the second quantity changes

function

2

••

/'fAnkfan/ verb [i] in the correct way: His new kidney began functioning immediately. a functioning communications system 1a. to work or operate in a particular way: We need to get this department functioning 1

to

work or operate

efficiently.

to do all the things that you normally do: patients cannot function without their drugs.

3 [+as] to operate in the same way as something a phrase that functions as an adverb

functional 1

/'fArjkJanl/ adj

Some else:

•*

designed to be good at doing a particular job: These

traditional tools are both functional and attractive, highly functional the highly functional arrangement of the control

panel 1a. practical and simple, with no unnecessary features or decorations: a house filled with functional furniture

money: I'm a little low on funds just now. money) I'm not sure I can raise the if someone is in

funds for the trip. 3a. in funds formal funds, they have a lot of money -» FUNDING

fund 2

/fAnd/ verb [t] ••• to provide the money for something that costs a lot: The National Asthma Campaign is funding research into allergy and air pollution. publicly funded legal services

f

undamental

/.fAnda 'mentl/ adj

•••

1 relating to the basic nature or character of something: a fundamental flaw/weakness (=something basic that is wrong) Some people see this as a fundamental flaw in his argument. fundamental changes We'll have to make some fundamental changes in the way we do business. fundamental difference There was an even more fundamental difference in attitude between us. fundamental principle /issue /question fundamental principle of Anglo-American law is that crimes must be clearly defined. 2 [+to] essential to the existence, development, or success of something: My relationship with the actors is

A

fundamental

to

my work

as a director.

fundamentalism

[u] / fAnds'mentl.izsm/ noun and political laws should be followed very strictly and not be changed 2 the belief of some Christians that every word in the

1

the belief that original religious

Bible

is

exactly true

fundamentalist 1

2

[plural]

raise funds (=collect

•••

1

noun [c] /.fAnda'mentlist/ that original religious and

someone who believes

laws should be followed very strictly and not be changed 2 a Christian who believes that the exact meaning of every word in the Bible is the true meaning political

— fun-da-men'taHst adj

fun-da-men-tal-ly /.fAnda'mentli/adv

•

1 in a very important or basic way: The Internet has fundamentally changed the way people communicate. a choice between two fundamentally different concepts fundamentally flawed /wrong His entire approach to the problem is fundamentally flawed. 2 used for emphasizing the basic nature or character

1

fundamentals

funny

566

of something: Fundamentally, she

is

fun-nel 2

a children s writer.

fundamentals

Uncte'mentlz/ noun [plural] the most basic and important aspects of something: the fundamentals of sth The course deals with the fun-

damentals of classic French cookery: /'f\ndip/ noun [u] •• money that a government or organization provides for a specific purpose: + for The government is still failing to provide adequate funding for research. + of an increase in the funding of health care government/ public /state funding Public funding of the arts is essential. fund manager noun [c] someone whose job is managing and investing money for a financial organization fundraiser f.\nd reizar/ noun [c] 1 a social event organized to make money for a specific purpose, especially for a charity or political party 2 someone whose job is to persuade people or organizations to give money for a specific purpose, especially for a charity or po-

participle

fundrais-ing /f\ndreizin/ noun

[u] the activity of trying to persuade people or organizations to give money for a specific purpose, especially for a charity or political party

••

/ 'fjunotol/ noun [c] a ceremony that takes place after someone dies, usually including a religious ceremony, and the formal process of taking the body to the place where it is buried or cremated: He flew home to arrange for his father's funeral, a. [only before noun] relating to a funeral: a funeral sen-ice

fu-ner-al

procession it's/that's sb's funeral spoken

used for saying that someone must accept the unpleasant results of doing something stupid or harmful funeral di rector noun [c] someone whose job is to organize funerals: undertaker

funeral home or funeral parlor noun [c] a place where the body of a dead person is prepared and kept before the funeral, and where relatives and friends may go to see

it

fu-ner>ar-y

/

Tjuna.reri/ adj formal relating to funerals

participle

fune-re-al

fungal

very slow or serious a carnival medical caused by a fungus: a

/fjs'nirisl/ adj

t\n for

I

BrE

f\rjgl/ adj 1 infection 2 science relating to a fungus, or similar /

fungal to a FUNGUS

fun-gi-cid-al /fAnd^'saidl;

,f.\ngi'saidl/ adj

used for

killing a fungus

fun-gi-cide

iAngisaid/ noun [C/U] a substance used for killing a fungus f \nd31 said;

fun-gus

/'f.\ng3s/ (plural fun«gi f\n d5ai fvrjgai/; or noun [C/u] a type of plant without leaves, flowers, or green color that grows especially in wet fun«gus«es)

conditions or on decaying matter. There are many different types of fungi, including mushrooms, mildews, yeasts, and molds.

fun house noun

[C] a building in an amusement park containing things to frighten you or make you laugh

funic-u-lar /fpmkptar/ or funicular railway noun [C] a railroad with cars that are pulled up a steep slope by a cable

funk /iAnk/

noun 1 [u] a type of music that developed in the late 1960s from soul and early rock and roll. containing lively drum beats, repeated electric bass lines, and also often singing 2 [singular] informal oldfashioned sadness, worry, or anger 2a. in a (blue) funk Br E old-fashioned very frightened

f unk-y /

f\nki/ adj 1 funky music has a strong simple beat that is good for dancing 2 fashionable in a way that is unusual and shows a lot of imagination 3 Am E with a strong and unpleasant smell: W7wr*s so funky in here?

fun- loving adj a fun-loving person enjoys having fun fun-nel / f.\nl/ noun [c] 1 a tube that is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, used for pouring liquid or powder into a container 2 a tube that lets out smoke and steam from the engine of a boat or old-fashioned 1

train

or

fun-

funnelled

fun-neled

or

1

move, or make something move, from one place to another through a narrow pipe, or passage: Underwater hoses funnel water from the reservoir to a

tube.

purification plant.

2

[T]

to

supply money or goods to a person or organization, not directly but by using another person, organization, or system: Congress hasfunneled over SI. 5

f

million to local businesses

through the Economic Development Program. fun-neled an AmE past tense and past participle of funnel funnel fun-nel-ing an AmE present participle of funnel funnies, the /'f.vniz/ noun the section of a newspaper that contains the comic strtps (=series of drawings that tell

a story)

f un-ni-ly /

T\nih7 adv in a strange or unusual way: She

my

reacted funnily to

question.

funnily enough spoken used for saying that you think something is surprising or unusual: Funnily enough, I heard someone say exactly the same thing this morning.

*••

f un-ny /'f.\ni/ adj

someone or something

1

that

is

funny makes you

laugh: a funny one of America's funniest comedians / don think that's at all funny. Wouldn 't it be funny if we played a trick on him? 1a. it's/that's this is not funny spoken used for telling someone you are annoyed by something they are doing 1b. very funny spoken used for telling someone you do not believe what they have said: think Lie lost your car keys'" "Veryfunny, now hand them over." 1c. what's so funny? spoken used for telling someone you do not understand why they are laughing, and that you are slightly annoyed by it: N7iar's so funny about my hair?-* ran 2 strange or unusual: This milk tastes funny. The drugs did funny things to her head. You're in a funny mood There's something funny going on. today. If you love her. you've got a funny way of showing it. 2a. it's/that's funny spoken used for saying that a situation seems strange: It's funny but I feel like I've met you before. That 's funny, she was here a minute ago. + how It's funnyhow she never seems to do any work. 2b. the funny thing is spoken used for saying you think something is strange: The funny thing is, they stole my CDs but didn't take my stereo. 2c. funny little spoken strange and small: He's got a funny little car. hasn't he? 3 dishonest or illegal: Do you think there's something funny about their business proposal? story joke 't

1

or graves f un-f ai r

(present

fun*nel*ing

past tense and past

nel-ling,

fund-ing

litical parts-

t\nl/

feel funny informal to feel slightly sick: I've been feeling funny all day. funny strange/weird or funny ha-ha spoken used for saying or asking whether the word •'funny" is being used to mean "strange" or "amusing" see the funny side of sth to realize that something bad that happens can also be funny: Fortunately. Sharon saw fun-ni-ness noun [u] the funny side of my mistake.

—

Other ways of saying funny fairly funny, in a way that makes you smile: Eddie was full ofjokes and amusing stories.

amusing

humorous used for describing stories or remarks that are meant to be funny: a humorous account of his years in professional football comical or comic funny and we met was quite comical.

silly

or strange: The

way

way that makes you laugh: his comedy routines strange, but I think they're hilarious. hilarious very funny, in a

Some people find

funny bone

remark light-hearted fairly funny and meant to entertain people: used especially when the subject you are talking about is usually considered in a serious way: a light-hearted look at the life of a medical student

jokey meant to make people laugh: She found his jokey comments annoying.

funny bone

noun [singular] informal the part of your elbow that hurts when you hit it against something 'funny .business noun [u] dishonest or illegal activities

'funny .farm noun

who

are mentally

funny ha-ha

[c] offensive

a hospital for people

humorous adj

unusual in appearance: a funny-

looking dog

man

a man whose job people by telling jokes: comedian

noun

[c]

is to

entertain

'funny money noun [u] informal 1 money that is illegal because it has not been printed by the government 1a. money that has been obtained illegally 2 money whose value changes often funny papers, the noun Am E the funnies 'fun ,run noun [c] an event in which many people run a long distance, usually in order to make money for a CHARITY

•

fur 1

/f3r/ noun U the soft hair that covers the body of some animals the dog's thick glossy fur 1a. [C/u] an animal skin covered with soft hair, used for making clothes: a black cloak trimmed with fur The original settlers traded furs and skins for food and tobacco. 1b. [C] a piece of clothing, especially a coat, that is made from fur: Loren arrived wearing an expensive-looking fur. 1c. [only before noun] made of fur or relating to fur: a fur coat/ hat /collar the fur trade 2 [u] material that is made to look and feel like fur, and is used for making clothes and toys. It is sometimes called fake fur, synthetic fur, or fun fur. 1

[

]

the fur starts to fly or the fur is flying used for saying that people are very angry and arguing with each other

fur2

/f3r/ verb fur up phrasal vb [\/J]BrE 1 if an artery furs up or is furred up, it becomes blocked 2 if a pipe or container for water furs up or is furred up, it becomes covered inside with limescale (=a hard white substance)

furbished made

/'f3rbijt7 adj

improved or repaired, and

new: refurbished Fu-ries, the /'furiz/ noun three female gods in Greek mythology whose hair was made of snakes and who punished crimes to look

furious

/'fjurias/ ad]

••

extremely angry: Judge Roberts' comments provoked a furious public response. +with Dad was furious with us. + that Rosie was absolutely furious that I'd borrowed her car without asking. + at They were furious at not being 1

invited to the party.

2 done with a

lot of energy and determination: Haig's was greeted by furious applause. 2a. very fast: The game was played at a furious pace. fuTi-ous-ly adv: Strachan reacted furiously to rumors that he was going to

speech

resign.

—

Reporters surrounded her, furiously taking notes.

furl /f3rl/ verb [T] mainly literary to fold or roll a piece of cloth or paper: a furled sail

furlong

/'f3r,bn/ noun tance in horse races

furlough

1

[c]

a unit for measuring dis-

/'f3rlou/ noun [C/U] a period of time during

which someone

is

*

furnish

/'f3rniJ7 verb [T] 1 to provide furniture for a room or house: Furnishing a new home can be very expensive. be furnished with Her study was furnished with an antique desk and chair.

2

to provide someone with something that they need, especially information: furnish sb with sth Lyall's evidence may have furnished the police with a vital clue. Basic equipment will be furnished to all new recruits.

furnished

/'fsrnijt/ adj 1 a furnished house, apartment, or room is one that you rent with furniture already in it 2 with a particular type or amount of furniture: comfortably furnished in a traditional style a fully furnished office furnishings /'f3rnijinz/ noun [plural] such things as

furniture, carpets,

and curtains

•••

f ur-ni-ture / 'fsrnitfar/

ill

adj

funny- looking 'funny

further

567

witty used for describing remarks that are funny and intelligent, or people who often make this kind of

allowed to be away from a job or the

military 2

fur-lough /'f3rloo/ verb [T] Am E business to allow or order someone to leave work for a period of time

furnace

/'f3rnis/ noun [c] a large enclosed container in which you burn fuel, used for heating a building or for an industrial process such as making metal liquid -» BLAST FURNACE

like a furnace spoken very hot

noun [u] the chairs, tables, beds, etc. that you put in a room or house so you can live in it: modern/ antique furniture part of the furniture humorous someone or worked somewhere for a long time

fu-ror /'fjuror/ noun

[singular/u]

excitement, or activity: The

among conservatives. fu-rore /'fju.rDr/ noun

bill is

[singular]

AmE

who has

lived

a lot of anger,

certain to spark a furor

BrE a

furor

furred

/f3rd/ adj covered with fur or with something that looks like fur

furri-er /'fsriar/ noun [c] someone whose job design and sell clothes made of fur

furrow

to

is

1

/'f3rou/ noun [C] 1 a line that a farmer digs in the dirt with a plow where he or she plans to plant a crop 2 a deep line on the surface of something 2a. a deep line in the skin of someone's face, especially their forehead

furrow2

/'f3rou/ verb 1 [i/t] if your brow furrows or you furrow it, deep lines appear on your forehead, for example because you are concentrating or worrying 2 [T] to make a deep line in something furrowed /f3roud/ adj covered with deep lines: a furrowed brow a tree with furrowed bark

furry

/'f3ri/adj

covered with

1

2 covered with

• fur: kittens with soft furry bodies

a substance that looks and feels like

fur .furry toys

3

a furry tongue feels rough and white or yellow substance

further

1

/'fsrdar/ function word

is

covered with a

*••

Further can be used in the following ways: as an adverb: She walked further up the after the verb "to be":

only six miles, but

From our house

it's further if

to

hill.

downtown

you follow the

is

river.

as an adjective (only before a noun): Further details are available from the office. as a sentence adverb: We will not accept any work that is not of a satisfactory standard. Further, you will not be paid for such work. 1 a longer distance 1 a going a longer distance / don 't want to drive any further today. The family had moved again, a hundred miles further west. +than Paul threw the ball further than Steve. 1b. at a greater distance away from a place, or a greater distance in a particular direction: +from / would like to live further from the interstate. further away/back/ahead etc A little further ahead, you'll come to a crossroads. They're further back in the crowd. 2 to a greater degree used for saying that something exists or happens more, or to a greater degree: Matters were further complicated by the unexpected arrival of Stuart. still /even further Her health may worsen even further and further if she doesn't have the operation. further (=gradually more) The party was moving further and further away from its socialist principles. 3 additional used for talking about an additional thing or amount: No further steps have been taken to avoid the crisis. Further information is available from the secretary. / have nothing further to say on the subject. a further five/ten/hundred etc. He says the company plans a further 100 stores. 4 past a certain point [usually in negatives] 4a. past a .

:

^

"

"

further certain place or point: The fog was so thick that I could no further than thefront gate. He had never progressed further than Grade 2 in his musical studies. 4b. used when saying how long before or after a particular time something is: Most of the songs date back no further than the 18th century: further on /back His problems started a lot further back than his divorce. Six years further on and still there's been no decision. 5 adding another statement formal used for introducing another statement that you are adding to what you have just said, especially when you are trying to emphasize or prove something: furthermore: The new service will be considerably more expensive. Further, it will only be available in certain areas. see

be no further forward to have made no progress: We are still no further forward in solving this mystery. further to Br E formal used especially in letters to show that you are referring to a previous letter or conversation go further 1 to say or do something more extreme: By sending Lister to prison, the judge went further than the law normally allows. go one step further Most historians use archives but Professor Bramanti has gone one step further by creating his own. 2 to continue telling someone something: I'm going to stop you before you go any further. 3 go no further or not go any further if you do not want something to go any further, you do not want anyone else to be told about it: This is sensitive information - please don 't let it go any further.

nothing could be further from my mind used for saying that you are not thinking about or intending something, when someone has suggested that you are: "You just want my money. " "Nothing could be further from

my mind - I'm

necessary. -» FAR. LOOK. NOTICE2 2

fsrcter/ verb [t] to help the progress of something so that it is more likely to be successful: efforts to The best way offurthering your further the peace process career might be to leave your present job.

furtherance

fsrdi^ir^ns/ noun [u] formal the process of helping something develop successfully: He The govdevoted his life to the furtherance of peace. ernment has pledged to spend the money in furtherance of its

education policy-

••

furthermore

fsrcor mor/ adv formal used before a statement that is connected to what you have just said and adds something to it: Mr. Brown has earned the respect offarmers everywhere. Furthermore, they know they can trust him.

furthermost

fsrcormcust/adj/orma/ most distant: boundary of the property f urthest f3rctest/ adj. adv • 1 to a greater degree than anyone else or than ever before The Athenians progressedfurthest towards developing a truly democratic society. 2 at the greatest distance from something: +from Which furthest away from My planet is furthest from the sun car is parked in the space furthest away from the building. the furthermost

:

2a. [only before noun] most distant: Merlin's spread to the furthest corners of the land.

fame had

the furthest thing from sb"s mind something that someone is not thinking about at all because they are thinking about other things

furtive /'farm/

adj done quickly and secretly to avoid being noticed: a furtive glance a. behaving in a way that makes people think you do not want to be noticed

— fur-tive-ly sz

.

fur*tive-ness

-

:

/ fjuri/ noun [singular/u] -k a feeling of very strong anger that usually does not very long: + at Workers expressed their fury at the tax increases. with fury She was speechless with fury. Hy into a fury (=suddenly become very angry) Rob flew into a fury and stormed out of the room. 2 the noise and force of a strong wind, storm, or flood

fu«ry 1

last

do sth like fury to do something with a and determination

lot of

energy

/fjuz/ noun [Cl • 1 an object in electrical equipment that makes it stop working when there is too much electricity flowing through it 2 fuse fuze an object like string that burns slowly to make a bomb, firework, etc. explode 2a. fuse fuze a piece of electrical equipment used for exploding a bomb, firework, etc. from a distance blow a fuse 1 to make the fuse in electrical equipment operate and make the equipment stop working 2 informal to suddenly become very angry have a short fuse be on a short fuse informal to become angry or upset very easily light a fuse mainly journalism to make a dangerous or angry situation worse fuse 2 fjuz/ verb [it] * if two substances fuse or you fuse them, they become joined to form one thing: + with The sperm fuses with the egg. +to a steel sheet with a

fuse

1

:

coating of tin fused to its surface a. if different styles, ideas, designs, etc. fuse or you fuse them, they combine to form something new: Opera and pantomime fuse to create pure magic.

fuse box noun

[C] a box containing the fuses for the system in a building tjuzd adj 1 a piece of electrical equipment that

electrical

fused

is fused contains a fuse 2 medical fused bones, fingers, or toes are joined together when they should be separate

fuselage

fjuz? 103/ noun [c] the aircraft that the wings are fixed to

fusilier

:juziln7 noun [c] a soldier

main part of an

who fought

in the

past using a musket

only trying to help.

take sth further 1 to develop something such as an opinion or theory: You could take the argument further and say that smoking should be made illegal 2 to make an official complaint or to take legal action: We are prepared to take this matter further and go to court if

f urther

fustian

568

fusillade

fjuzileid/ noun [c] 1 a series of shots fired from several guns at the same time 2 a lot of complaints, criticisms, questions, etc. coming quickly one after another

•

fusion /'fju5n/ noun

1 [C/u] a process in which different styles, ideas, designs, etc. combine to form something new: +of Leonardo represents the fusion of art and science. 2 [C/u] a process in which two substances or pieces of a substance join together to form one thing: a bone fusion 3 ^ ] science the process in which atoms combine to [

form nuclear energy

4

[singular u ] a type of modern music that of different styles: jazz fusion

is

a mixture

fusion bomb -en [c] a hydrogen bomb fuss /ias/ noun [singular/u] * a lot of unnecessary 1

worn- or excitement about something: What

is all

the

fuss about? We got everything done with a minimum of + about/over a lot offuss over the new technology fuss. make /kick up a fuss Stop making such a fuss! a fuss about nothing If you ask me. it's a fuss about nothing.

make

a fuss over to give a person or animal a lot of attention to show that you love them

fuss2

/f.vs/ \/erb [•] to behave in a way that shows you are nervous or worried, especially about unimportant things: + about/over / spent days fussing about the travel arrangements, a. [+with] to touch or handle something continuously in a nervous way: He kept fussing with his tie.

_

fuss over sb/sth] to give a person fuss over ;--asa .: or animal a lot of attention to show that you love them: Everyone was fussing over the new baby. ;

fuss-budget who worries a

;

bks.DAdpt/ noun [C] AmE someone about unimportant things

lot

fuss-pot Ens pot/ noun [C] Br E a fussbudget fuss-y :•.>: =3 1 only satisfied if things are exactly as you want them to be: Don t worry about me, I'm not a fussy eater. "Which movie should we see?" "I'm not fussy. + about .Amy's always been fussy about her personal appearance. 2 E a fussy baby cries easily 3 containing too many small parts or details fussy wallpaper fuss-My adv, fuss*i*ness noun [U]

Am

:

—

fustian

\stjian/ noun [u] rough cotton, worn especially :

1

cloth

made

of thick

in the past 2 literary a speech or piece of writing that sounds impressive but is

unimportant

fusty

FYI

569

fusty smells old, dusty, or damp: musty 2 old-fashioned in appearance, style, or attitude: a grand but somewhat fusty hotel

.future perfect, the noun linguistics the verb tense used for showing that an action will be finished at a

adj unsuccessful or useless: a futile rescue attempt It's futile trying to get him to change his mind. The peace talks have proved futile.

English is formed using "will have," as in "He will have finished the work by Friday," or "shall have," as in "I shall have gone to work by the time you get up". future shock noun [u] the difficulty that some people experience in dealing with changes in technology and

fuS'ty

/'fASti/ adj 1

something that

is

fu*tile /'fjutl/

fu-tiM'ty

/tju'tilati/

noun

[u]

a lack of purpose, impor-

tance, or effectiveness: His efforts were accompanied by a sense offutility and doubt.

an exercise in

futility a useless action that

cannot

particular time in the future.

[c]

business the activity of

buying and selling shares, goods, or currency at an

fu*ton

/'fu.tan/ noun [C) a type of firm mattress, used as a bed or sofa. Futons were originally used in Japan.

fu-ture /'fjutjar/ noun ••• 1 the future the time that follows the present time: It's important to plan for the future. These young people are 1

the leaders of the future. in the future Check if the computer can be upgraded in the future. in the near/ not-toodistant/ immediate future (=soon) / have no plans to travel what the future holds /will bring in the near future. (=what will happen) She has no idea what the future might hold for her. look to the future (=plan what you will do in the future) He can now look to the future with confidence again. 1a. the future events that have not yet taken place: The future will depend on our willingness to conserve energy now. 1b. [C usually singular] the opportunity for someone to develop or succeed: Jack went on vacation to think about his future. uncertain/painful/ bleak etc. future The people of Grozny face an uncertain future. a bright future Joe has a bright future in athletics. have a future (=be successful) You won't have much of a future unless you start working harder. 1c. [C usually singular] the chance that something will continue to exist or be successful: We need to safeguard our planet's future. We see no future in continuing the negotiations. + of The future of the business is in doubt. 1d. [C usually singular] someone or something that will make something continue or succeed: Children are this country's future. 2 the future linguistics the future tense of a verb 3 futures [plural] business contracts to buy or sell shares, goods, or currency (= money of a country) at an agreed price to be delivered at a time in the future

agreed price to be delivered at a time in the future .future tense, the noun linguistics the verb tense used for talking about future time fu*tur*ism /'fjutfa.nzam/ noun [u] a movement in art and literature in the early 20th century that used technology as its subject fu*tur>ist /'fjutjsnst/ noun [C] 1 someone who studies the future and says what they think life will be like 2 a writer or artist who was part of the futurism

movement

futuristic seems

/ 'fjutjsr/ adj [only before noun]

that

it

/.fjutjVratad/ji/ noun [u] the study of how people will live, work, and communicate. Someone who studies the future in this

the future, including

way

is

called a futurologist.

f utz /fAts/ verb informal ,futz 'around phrasal vb [l] informal to spend a lot of time doing something without

achieving much fuze /fjuz/an AmE spelling of fuse fuzz /fAz/ noun [U] 1 a lot of short

1

soft hairs or fibers like hairs .peach fuzz 1a. a small mass of fluff 2 E a small mass of fibers that usually come from clothes: fluff 3 the fuzz informal old-fashioned an insulting word for the police

Am

f uzz-y / fAzi/ adj 1

a fuzzy picture or image is not clear so that you cannot see all its details 2 covered with short soft hairs or fibers like hair: a fuzzy animal/ chin/apricot 3 difficult to understand or not explained clearly 4 informal full of love and kindness: a warm fuzz-My adv, fuzz-i-ness noun [u] fuzzy feeling

—

•••

for future reference 1 so that you can find some information in the future: Keep this document with your insurance policy for future reference. 2 used for telling someone something that you feel they should know, often when you are slightly annoyed with them: For future reference, I expect all employees to be punctual.

modern

fu-tur-ol-o-gy

-» foreseeable

expected to exist or happen during the time following the present time: an agreement to repay the money at some future date la. used about situations or events in the future: the future growth of the company 1b. used about someone's existence or development in the future: Cassidy looks like a future champion. We need to protect the rain forest for future generations. 1c. used about a family relationship after you get married: I'd like you to meet my future wife, Alice. 2 relating to the future tense of a verb

so

1

—

clothes.

1

/.fjutja'nstik/ adj

belong to the future: the futuristic design of the in the future: a series of futuristic novels fu-tur-is'tical-ly adv fu«tu«ri«ty /fju'tjorati/ noun formal 1 [u] future time 2 [C] a future event to

museum 2 dealing with events

in (the) future from the present time continuing forward in time: In future, ask before you borrow my

2

perfect in

society

futures market noun

succeed

f uture

The future

fuzzy 'logic noun

[u] computing a type of logic used in computers that are designed to behave like humans fwd abbrev forward FWIW abbrev for what it's worth: used in e-mails and

text messages for saying that someone be interested in what you have to say

may

or

may

not

the noun informal used for talking about the offensive word fuck so that you do not have to say it: / got told offfor using the f-word in class.

'f-,word,

wy abbrev Am E freeway FX / ,ef 'eks/ abbrev 1 special effect FY abbrev Am E fiscal year

f

FYI abbrev

for

2

foreign exchange

your information: used in e-mails and

text messages as a information

way

of introducing a useful piece of

g/d3i/ (plural g's) or

G

(plural G's) noun [C/u] 1 the seventh English alphabet. G is a consonant. 2 G the fifth note in the musical scale of C major -» g-man,

letter of the

G-SPOT, G-STRING

G Idyl noun [C]

1

force of gravity

measurement of the spoken grand: one thousand

science gravity: a

2

Am E

He made 70Gs on the deal. g. /d3i/ abbrev gram G. /d3i/ abbrev Am E General Audiences: used for saying that a movie is appropriate for anyone to watch. BrE dollars:

U

E

'

G7, the

noun the Group became a member G8, the noun the Group

of Seven: the

G8 before Russia

of Eight: the eight most induscountries in the world, which are the U.S., the U.K., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Russia. Officials from these countries meet regularly to discuss international economic policies. trial

& T noun [C/u] informal gin and tonic GA abbrev Georgia

,G

Ga.

abbrev Georgia

gab

1

gab

2

made

when

this

thick cloth, usually from cotton or wool, used especially for coats and [u]

suits

Gab-ba

/'gaebs/ Australian an informal name for the Woolloongabba Cricket Ground in Brisbane, Australia 1 /'gaebl/ verb [i/t] informal to speak or say something very quickly and without making your meaning clear, usually because you are nervous or

gab-ble excited

gabble 2

/'gaebl/ noun [singular] the sound of a lot of very quickly at the same time a. [singular/u] words that someone says very quickly and without making their meaning clear, usually

people

talking

because they are nervous or excited

gab-by

/'gasbi/ adj informal talking a lot, especially in

gab-er-dine / 'gaebar, din/ another spelling of gabardine gab-fest /'gaeb,fest/ noun [C] informal a long informal discussion

gamble

/'geibl/ noun [C] the top part of a wall of a building just below the roof, that is shaped like a tri-

angle

gabled / 'geibld/ adj

a gabled building has one or

more

gables

gag

old-fashioned to go from place to place enjoying yourself, especially when you should be doing something else: He's out gadding around town. [I]

gada-bout

noun [c] old-fashioned /'gaeda.baut/ someone who goes from place to place enjoying themselves, especially when they should be doing something

else

mainly literary someone who continuously annoys another person or an organization, usually by criticizing them 2 a fly that bites cows and horses gadg-et /'gaed33t/ noun [c] a small tool or piece of equipment that does something useful or impressive: kitchen gadgets gadg-et-ry /'gaed33tri/ noun [u] small tools or pieces of equipment that do useful or impressive things: the latest electronic gadgetry 1 Gael-ic /'geihk/ noun [u] a Celtic language that people speak in parts of Scotland a. a Celtic language that people speak in parts of Ireland 2 Gael-ic /'geihk/ adj relating to Gaelic or the culture of the people who speak it /'gaed.flai/

noun

[C] 1

someone whose job is to when a movie is being

1

/gaeg/ verb 1 [i] to be unable to swallow because you feel as if you are going to vomit (=bring food back up from your stomach): Frank gagged on his seafood.

2 [T] to tie a piece of cloth over someone's mouth so that they cannot speak or make a noise: They gagged him with his own silk tie. 3 [T] to officially prevent a person, newspaper, etc. from talking about or publishing something /gaeg/ noun

a piece of cloth tied over some-

[C] 1

mouth to stop them from speaking or making a 2 informal a joke, trick, or story that makes people laugh 3 an official order that prevents a person, newspaper, etc. from talking about or publishing something: a gag on the press ga-ga /'ga.ga/ adj informal 1 not thinking clearly because you have very strong feelings of love for someone or because you are very enthusiastic or excited about something: Teenage girls have gone gaga over the band's lead singer. 2 impolite no longer able to think clearly because you are getting very old gage /geid3/ an Am E spelling of gauge gag-gle /'gasgl/ noun [c] 1 a group of geese: a noisy gaggle of geese 2 informal a group of people, especially a noisy and uncontrolled group: a gaggle of children in the park 'gag order noun [C] an order from a judge stopping reporters from talking or writing about a case that has not yet been decided 'gag rule noun [c] AmE a rule made in a legislature limiting the amount of discussion on an issue gai-e-ty /'geisti/ noun old-fashioned 1 [u] a feeling or state of happiness and fun: joy: There was genuine gaiety

2 gaieties

[plural]

events or activities

that are fun

gai-jin /'gai,d3in/ (plural gai-jin) noun Japan to mean a foreigner

[C]

a word used in

/'geili/ adv 1 in a happy and lively way: She greeted us gaily with a wave. 2 in a way that shows you

gai-ly

do not understand or care

how what you do

affects

other people: James gaily continued to offend everyone with his remarks. 3 with bright attractive colors: brightly: gaily

gad /gaed/ verb

1

control the use of the lights made 2 informal an old man

in his laughter.

an annoying way

gad-fly

someone: blunder, faux pas /'gaefar/ noun [c]

gaf-fer

one's noise

/gaeb/ noun the gift of gab informal the ability to

gabardine /'gaebar.din/ noun

for pulling large fish out of water

gaffe /gaef/ noun [c] an embarrassing mistake that you make in public, especially one that offends or upsets

gag 2

/gaeb/ verb [i] informal to talk a lot and for a long time about unimportant things: What were you two gabbing about all evening? talk a lot without feeling shy, especially means you can get out of difficult situations

.Gaelic football noun [u] a game played in Ireland, in which two teams of 15 players try to kick or hit a large round ball into or over a goal in order to score points gaff /gaef/ noun [C) a pole with a hook on the end, used

1

lit

gain /gem/ verb 1

store

windows

*•*

get/achieve sth

2 get benefit/advantage 3 increase in value

4 when clock goes too 5 arrive somewhere

fast

+ PHRASES

1 [T] to get or achieve something, usually as a result of a lot of effort: Extremist political parties gained 11 % of the vote. Bolivia gained independence from Spain in 1825. In her final exam she gained a B grade, gain access/ admittance/entry to sth He gained entry to the building by showing a fake pass. 1a. [i/T] to get more of something, usually as a result of a gradual process: Her theories gain sth from /by have only recently gained acceptance. (doing) sth She hopes to gain experience by working abroad + in The property has gained steadily in value for a year. gain weight I've gained a lot of since they bought it. weight this winter. gain speed /momentum The toboggan sped down the hill, gaining momentum. 2 [i/T] to get a benefit or advantage for yourself: gain sth from (doing) sth There is a lot to be gained from schools working together. there is nothing to be gained from/by doing sth We should act immediately. There is nothing to +from Whether you succeed or be gained from waiting.

gain to

the business is sold, all the brothers stand to gain. [l/T] if a share of stock or the stock market gains its IBM value increases: The NASDAQ gained 45 points. shares gained overnight. fast so that too the operates 4 [l/T) if a clock gains, it time it shows is later than the actual time: The clock on my computer gains a minute every day. —opposite lose 5 [T] mainly literary to arrive at a place, especially one that is difficult to reach: They finally gained the summit.

3

gain ground 1 to become more successful, popular, or accepted: The Democratic candidate is rapidly gaining ground in many states. 2 to get control of more of an area in a war gain time to get more time for yourself in order to do something or while you wait for something to happen

Words frequently used with gain nouns

closer to

[T]

[gain on sb/sth] to gradually get to

someone or something that you are trying

catch

gain 2 /gem/ noun

gain-ful /'geinfal/

adj [usually before noun] formal providing money or profit: a gainful occupation —gainfully adv: gainfully employed

gain-say /.gem'sei/ verb [T]/orma/ to say that someone is wrong or that something is not true: deny: You may not have liked

her,

but no one could gainsay her determination. [singular]

the

way

that

someone walks:

his distinctive rolling gait

gai-ter

/ 'geitar/ noun [c] a piece of leather or cloth that covers and protects your leg from the knee to the ankle

[C] Am E informal a girl or woman gal. abbrev gallon ga-la /'geib; 'gala/ noun [C] 1 a special performance or event to celebrate something: a gala performance of Swan Lake 2 BrE a sports competition, especially a swimming competition ga-lac-tic /gs'lsektik/ adj [only before noun] relating to a

gal /gx\/ noun

galaxy: a galactic system

There is a galaxy of talented singers in Nashville, but only a few become famous.

gale

/geil/ noun [C] 1 a very strong wind: It's blowing a gale (=there is a strong wind). 2 a sudden loud noise of people laughing: Gales of laughter floated up from the apartment below.

gale- force

adj a gale-force wind is very strong and often causes damage to buildings and trees Gal-i-lee /'gaelili/ the area in the north part of Israel, where, according to the bible, Jesus lived and spread

his ideas

angry,

[t]

especially gall-ing adj 1

make someone

because

/'gsebnt/ ad]

knights of

man who

to

feel

something

annoyed or is

not

fair

1 literary brave: the gallant /'gsebnt; gs'laent/ old-fashioned a gallant treats women in an extremely polite

Came lot 2

is

who way

treats

women

noun in

[c] old-fashioned

an extremely

gal-lant-ry /'gaebntri/ noun

[u]

a young

polite

formal

1

man

and helpful

brave behav-

when

fighting in a war: bravery: an old-fashioned extremely polite and helpful treatment of a woman by a man: chivalry ior,

especially

award for gallantry 2

gall .bladder noun [c] the organ next to your liver where your body stores a liquid called bile gal-leon /'gaelbn/ noun [c] a large ship with sails used mainly by the Spanish between the 15th and 17th centuries for fighting and for carrying goods gal-ler-y /'gael(a)ri/ noun •• 1 [C] a public building where you can look at paintings art: the

National Portrait Gallery

visiting galleries

and museums.

1 a. a room in a museum or gallery containing paintings or other works of art: The Turner exhibit occupies all the galleries on the first floor. 1b. a private building where you can look at and buy paintings and other types of art: His work was last shown at the Peter Nathan gallery

in Zurich. [C] an upper level in a building such as a church, court, etc: balcony: Reporters and members of the public packed the Senate gallery. 2a. old-fashioned the highest level of a theater where the least expensive seats are 3 [C] a passage or long narrow room inside a building 3a. an underground passage in a mine or cave: tunnel 4 [singular] [+of] a group of similar people or things: a gallery of balding middle-aged men

play to the gallery to say what you think people want to hear in order to gain popularity: The senator has been accused of playing to the gallery rather than taking a stand on the issues. -» peanut gallery, press gallery, shooting gallery gal-ley / gaeli/ noun [c] 1 the kitchen on a boat or airplane 2 a long Ancient Greek or Roman ship that used sails and slaves with oars to move it 3 galley or galley proof a long sheet of paper on which a book is first printed, so that any mistakes can be corrected before the final pages are printed 3a. a long flat container that holds type (=small blocks with letters on them), used for printing books Gal-lic / 'gaelik/ adj formal French or considered typical of France or French people: Gallic charm Gal-lip-o-li /ga'lipali/ an area of northern Turkey where thousands of Australian and New Zealand soldiers were killed fighting against Turkish soldiers in

World War

I

gal-li-vant /'gaeli.vaent/ verb [i] informal old-fashioned to go from place to place looking for enjoyment gal-Ion /'gaebn/ noun [C] ** a unit for measuring an

amount

gal-ax-y /'gaebksi/ noun * 1 [C] an extremely large group of stars and planets: the Andromeda galaxy Edwin Hubble discovered that distant galaxies are moving away from us. la. the Galaxy the large group of stars and planets that the Earth and our sun are part of 2 [singular] informal a large number of famous people:

gall /gol/ verb

— gal-lant-ly adv

2

••

1 [C/u] an improvement or increase in something: The baby's weight gain during the first six months was normal. The Green Party made big gains in the local elections. + in We have seen impressive gains in productivity over the last twelve months. 2 [C] a benefit or advantage: It is a policy that will bring significant gains to all sections of the community. 3 [u] the money or other benefits that you can get from something: for personal/material/financial gain He seems to have entered politics solely for personal gain. -> ILL-GOTTEN GAINS

gait /geit/ noun

succeed

gaMant 2 /ga'laent/

She spent her free time

1

understanding

gain on phrasal vb

and helpful way: chivalrous 3 a gallant effort, attempt, or fight is one in which you try very hard, but do not

and other works of

acceptance, confidence, experience, ideas, information, insight, popularity, recognition,

gal-lant

gallows

571

you will undoubtedly gain from the experience. stand gain (=be likely to get money or other benefits) When

fail,

of liquid, especially gas or water. In the U.S., a is equal to 3.79 liters. In the U.K., a gallon is equal to 4.55 liters. A gallon contains 8 pints or 4 quarts: +of a gallon of gas gallon

1 gal-lop /'gaebp/ verb

•

1 [i] if a horse gallops, it runs at its fastest speed: The jockeys were up early galloping their horses around the track. 1a. [l/T] to ride a horse very fast: +away/off/ across etc. Jason jumped on his horse and went galloping

off in the wrong direction. 2 [I] to move, pass, or develop

very quickly: The year has just galloped by. gallop .through phrasal vb [t] [gallop through sth] to do something very quickly gal-lop 2 /'gaebp/ noun 1 [singular] the fastest speed of a horse: at a gallop The pony went off at a gallop. break into a gallop (=start to gallop) The horse broke into a gallop. 2 [C] a fast ride on a horse: an early-morning gallop along the beach 3 [singular] an extremely fast speed: at a gallop Technology is moving at a gallop. gal-lop-ing /'gaebpin/ adj developing or increasing in a very fast uncontrolled way: galloping inflation gal-lows /'gaelooz/ (plural gal-lows) noun [c] a wooden frame used for killing criminals by hanging them from it with a rope around their neck

gallows humor

gamesmanship

572

gallows humor noun

humor about unpleasant

or

you gamble money, that depends on luck instead of skill

gol.stoon/ noun [C] a small hard mass that can form in your gall bladder

2 [C usually singular] a type of sport: They take the game offootball very' seriously here. 2a. the way that someone plays a sport: He has worked hard to improve his game. 3 [c] a particular event in which people take part in a

[u]

serious things such as death or disease

gallstone /

Gallup

poll /'gaebp .pool/ trademark a way of finding out what most people think about an issue by asking a number of them questions, especially in order to find out how they will vote in an election

ga-lore /go'br/

adj [never before noun) used for emphasizing how large an amount or quantity is: There will be competitions galore, with terrific vacations to be won.

galoshes /g^'lajaz/ noun that it

[plural]

you wear over ordinary shoes

special rubber shoes to protect

them when

rains

ga-lumph /ga'lAmf/verb noisy

way

that

is

informalto not graceful

gal-van-ic /gaelVaenik/

[i]

move in a heavy

producing elec2 shocking enough to produce a strong and immediate reaction: The barracks bombing had a galvanic effect on public tricity,

especially

by

ad)

science

1

chemical

action

opinion.

galvanize

/'gaelva.naiz/ verb [t] to shock or affect to produce a strong and immediate reaction: galvanize sb into (doing) sth The results of the study galvanized residents into action.

someone enough

gal-va-nized /'gaelvanaizd/

galvanized metal is covered with a layer of zl\c (=a blue- white metal) to protect it from being damaged ad]

gambit

/'gasmbit/ noun [C] 1 something you say or do in an attempt to gain an advantage: a diplomatic gambit designed to break the stalemate opening gambit (=first words or actions) an opening gambit in a game of seduction 2 a series of moves that you can make at the beginning of a game of chess

gamble

*

1

/'gaembl/ verb [i/t] or something valuable in the hope of if you are lucky or if you guess something correctly: We used to gamble at the casinos in Atlantic 1

to risk

money

winning more City.

to do something that involves risks but may result if things happen as you hope they will: +on The improved atmosphere persuaded some foreign investors to gamble on a recovery. +that Mr. Bush is gambling that his idea will attract support from the public. gamble away phrasal vb [t] to lose all of an amount of money by gambling gam-ble 2 /'gaembl/ noun [singular] an action or plan that involves risks but will bring important benefits if

2

in benefits

successful: His bankers opposed the move, but the successful). take a gamble (on sb/ sth) They may be taking a gamble on a young player bypaying him so much. it

is

gamble paid off (=was

gam-bler /'gaembbr/ noun

[c]

1

someone who

likes

playing games that involve gambling or likes risking their money on the result of races and competitions: a compulsive gambler 2 someone who is ready to take risks in order to be more successful: In business, he was a gambler.

ganvbling/'gaemblin/noun [u] 1 an activity in which you risk money in the hope of winning more money if you are lucky or if you guess something correctly 2 a situation in which you take a risk on something that can give you important benefits: gambling on the stock market

ganvbol

/'gaembl/ verb

[I]

mainly

literary' to

run, jump,

and play like a young child or animal 1 /geim/ noun ***

game 1

activity

you do for fun

2 type of sport 3 particular competition 4 activity like a game

5 sth not treated seriously 6 event with many sports 7 hunted animals + PHRASES

etc.

1 [C] an activity that you do for fun that has rules, and that you can win or lose: Monopoly is a game for all the ball/card/board/party game Do you know any family. good party games? computer /video game The kids all love playing computer games, la. an activity that children do for fun that may not have rules or a winner: The children were playing noisy games in the yard. lb. a game of chance an activity, especially one in which

competition He won the money in a poker game. Are you going to watch the game on TV tonight? + of Let's have a game of volleyball. 3a. one of the series of separate parts that make up a particular event in some sports, such as tennis: He won the first set 6 games to 4. 4 [C usually singular] an activity or type of work that is like a game, for example because it has rules that you must follow: In this business, you have to know the rules of the game. He worked in the building game all his life. 5 (C) an activity or situation that someone seems to be treating less seriously than it should be treated: Marriage is just a game to them. They are playing political :

games with

people's safety.

6 games [plural] an organized event where people from many countries compete in different sports such as running, jumping, and swimming: the Olympic Games 7 [u] wild animals, birds, and fish that people hunt, usually for food

ahead of the game in a situation that is likely to lead to success as the result of good planning, advice, luck, etc.

part of the game or all in the game a normal part of a particular activity: For teachers, being unpopular is all part of the game. beat sb at their own game to do better at an activity than someone who has a reputation for being very good at it: Hollywood did not enjoy being beaten by the British all

its own game. the game is up spoken used for saying that the truth has been discovered, especially when someone has been doing something wrong and will have to stop give the game away to let people know a secret or surprise when you did not want or intend to let them know: The expression on her face gave the game away. on the game mainly Br E informal working as a prostitute (=someone who has sex for money) the only game in town the only thing of a particular type available: At that hour, the hotel bar was the only

at

game

in town.

what's your/his/her game? spoken used for asking their true intentions are when you think they are not being honest -» BALL GAME, BOARD GAME. FAIR GAME, NAME 2 /geim/ adj 1 prepared to join in with or to try a new, difficult, or dangerous activity: He's such fun always game for anything. 2 a game knee or leg sometimes feels stiff or sore, often because of an old injury game-ly adv bird noun [c] a bird that people hunt and kill for sport game-keep-er /'geim kipar/ noun [c] someone whose job is to take care of the wild animals on a piece of private land and to stop anyone from hunting them without permission plan noun [c] the things that you decide you have to do in order to win a competition or succeed in achieving a goal game-play /'geim.plei/ noun [u] the story and structure of a computer game, and the way that it is played

someone what

1

game

—

game

game

game point

noun [c/u] in a game such as tennis, a situation in which a player will win the game if they win the next point

game preserve

noun [c] a large area of land where wild animals are either allowed to live safely or to be hunted in a controlled way for sport gamer /'geimar/ noun [c] 1 someone who plays games, especially computer games or games in which you pretend to be a character 2 informal a player's action in a sports competition that wins the game for their team game .reserve noun [c] a game preserve game show noun [C] a television program in which people play games or answer questions in order to win prizes

games-man-ship /'geimzmanjip/

noun

[u]

a

way

of

increasing your chances of success against an opponent by doing things to make your opponent lose confidence

game warden

gangsta rap

573

^ children's

'game warden

noun

someone whose job

see preserve are obeyed, especially

[C]

is to

that the rules in a game those relating to hunting

ganvey

/ 'geimi/ another spelling of gamy ga-mine /'gae.min/ noun [C] a small, thin, attractive girl or woman who looks like a boy ganving /'geimirj/ noun [u] the business of gambling,

especially

when

it is

legal: the

gaming industry

gam-ma

/'gaema/ noun [c/U] the third letter of the Greek alphabet

gam-ma globulin

/.gaema 'glabjalin/ noun [U] a natural protein substance that is part of blood, and that protects you against some types of disease

'gamma

rays noun

[plural]

science a type of radiation

with a very short wavelength, that can pass through /'gaemat/ noun [singular] the complete range of things of a particular type: recipes for the whole gamut run the gamut (=include the widest of culinary tastes possible range) Prices in the restaurants run the gamut from cheap to very expensive.

gam-y

/'geimi/ adj with the strong flavor of a wild animal or bird

gan-der

/'gaendar/ noun [c] a male goose have /take a gander at spoken to look quickly something

gang /gam/

noun

[c]

at

••

1 a group of young people who spend time together and often cause trouble: A gang called the Bloods has

been terrorizing people in the South Bronx. He asked me to join his gang. a study of Chicago street gangs a group of criminals working together: Detectives are hunting an armed gang that stole construction materials worth $200,000. +of a gang of thieves 3 informal a group of friends, especially young people: Do you want to go to the movies with the gang tonight? 4 a group of workers who do physical work: A gang of workmen were shoveling rubble onto a truck.

2

gang 2 /gam/ verb gang 'up on

phrasal vb [T] [gang up on group to hurt, frighten, or fight that international community is someone: They feel the ganging up on them. sb] to join together in a

'gang bang noun

[C] impolite 1 a situation in which a group of people have sex with one person, usually using force 2 a situation in which a lot of people have sex together at the same time gang'bang-er/'gaen.baerpr/ noun [C] 1 someone who takes part in a gang bang 2 Am E someone who is a member of a gang

gang-land

/'gaen.laend/ adj [only before noun] relating to

organized crime or the people who are involved in fears of a new gangland drug war

gan-gling arms and

solid objects

gam-ut

1

games

/'gasrjglirj/ adj

legs,

very

tall

and

it:

thin, with long

and not graceful

ganglion

/'gaenglian/ noun [C] medical 1 a group of nerve cells 2 a painful lump full of liquid on your skin, often on the back of the wrist

gang-ly

/'gaengli/ adj gangling

gang-plank

/'gaen.plaenk/ noun [C] a long narrow board that you can put between a boat and the land, or between two boats, so that you can walk across 'gang rape noun [c/u] a situation in which a group of people forces someone to have sex with each member of the group gang- rape verb [t] to force someone to have sex with each member of a group gan-grene /'gaen.grin; gaen'grin/ noun [u] a serious medical condition in which a part of someone's body decays when the blood stops flowing to it because of an

injury or disease

gan-gre-nous

/'gaengranas/ adj decaying because an injury or illness caused blood to stop flowing

gangsta rap /'gaenstar

,nep/ noun [U] a type of black life in the city, especially

music that talks about about guns, violence, and sex U.S. rap

gangster

in the 1920s

gang-way

1

/'gaen,wei/ noun [c] a flat board or metal structure that can be put in place between a ship and land to let people get off or on the ship

gang-way 2

/'gsenwei/

interjection

used to warn a

crowd of people to move apart and form a passage because someone or something is coming through gan-ja /'ganc^a; 'gaend33/ noun [u] marijuana, especially of a

very strong kind

gan-net /'gsnat/ noun on

lives

[c]

a large white sea bird that

cliffs

gan-try / 'gaentri/ noun used for supporting

[C] 1

a large

tall

metal structure

lights, signals, etc.,

or for moving

heavy equipment on tracks 2 technical a large structure that is used to build and repair a rocket or other space vehicle

gaol

/d3eil/ a Br

E

spelling of jail

1

gaoler / 'd3eibr/ a Br E spelling of jailer gap /gap/ noun [C] *•• 1

between things: Fill in any gaps around windows and doors. + between Through the gaps between the trees I + in We waited for a gap could see a river in the distance. in the busy traffic and crossed the street. 1a. a low area between mountains that people use to cross them: The more southerly route lay across a gap in the mountains. 2 [+in] something missing from a situation or a system that prevents it from being complete or perfect: We will then carry out research to fill in the gaps in our knowledge. His death leaves a huge gap in the theatrical life of New York.

3

a large difference between things or groups: The president is concerned about the gaps in health coverage + between The gap between farm that exist for children. close/ incomes and land values is wider than ever. narrow/ reduce /bridge the gap The book clearly bridges the gap between theory and practice. 4 a period of time in which something does not happen: + of The second volume in the series came out after a gap of seven years.

a gap in the market an opportunity to produce something that is not yet available but that people would

have

gape /geip/ verb

[I] 1 to look at something or someone with your mouth open because you are very surprised 2 to open wide or be wide open: Suddenly he was at the door, his pajama top gaping open. gap-ing /'geipirj/ adj a gaping hole or space is very large: a gaping wound gap-toothed /,gaep 'tu0t/ adj with large spaces between your teeth ga-rage /ga'ra^; ga'rad3/ noun ** 1 [C] a building for keeping a car in, especially one that is connected to or near your house: a house with a two-car garage 1a. an area inside or below a building where you can leave your car: an underground garage —picture -» ci 2 [C] a place that repairs cars: They took the car to a local garage to get it fixed. 3 [U] a type of U.S. dance music that developed from house music in the 1980s and is influenced by disco music 3a. a type of U.S. rock music that developed in the 1960s and is influenced by British rock and roll. It was mainly played by people who were not professional musicians. 4 [C] a place where you go to buy gas: gas station ga-rage 2 /g9'ra3; ga'rad3/ verb [t] to keep a vehicle inside a building: The old barn is used for garaging the 1

vehicles.

'garage ,sale noun

[C]

Am E an occasion when someone

sells furniture, clothes,

not want any

books, toys,

etc.

garbage /'garbid3/

noun

•

[u]

1 waste material that you are throwing away, for example spoiled food or empty containers. Br E usually rubbish 2 informal something someone says or writes that is

completely

or wrong

false, silly,

garbage out/GIGO computing used for you put bad information into a computer, the results it produces will also be bad garbage bag noun [C] AmE a large plastic bag used for holding garbage garbage can noun [C] AmE a large deep container with a lid that you keep outside for holding garbage that is ready to be collected. Br E dustbin garbage col, lector noun [c]AmE someone whose job garbage

in,

saying that

if

the garbage

left outside in bags or cans noun [c] AmE a piece of electrical equipment under the kitchen sink ^container for holding water and for washing dishes.) that cuts food waste into very small pieces so that water will carry it is to collect

garbage dis posal

away

a space or opening in the middle of something or

like to

gargantuan

574

gang-ster/'gaenstar/noun [c] * a member of an organized group of criminals: a movie about Chicago gangsters

that they do

garbage .dump noun

[c] a public area, usually outside their garbage /'garbid3,maen/ noun [C] a man whose job is to collect garbage garbage truck noun [c] a large truck used for collecting garbage garbanzo /gar banzou/ or garbanzo bean noun [C]AmEa chickpea garbed /garbd/ adj [never before noun] literary dressed in a particular type of clothing: garbed in black

of a town,

AmE

AmE

garble

/'garbl/ verb

[T]

communicate something

to

badly in speech or writing, so that it is confusing or not accurate: The military must improve its communications to avoid garbling vital transmissions. garbled /'garbld/ adj confusing or not accurate: a garbled and unconvincing explanation Gar-da, the /'garda/ noun the police force in the Republic of Ireland garden 1 /'gardn/ noun 1 [C] an area of land next to or near a house that is used for growing flowers or vegetables 1a. BrE a yard 2 [C usually plural] a large area of grass, flowers, trees, etc. that is open to the public for their enjoyment: They spent the afternoon wandering around the Botanical

***

Gardens. -» KITCHEN garden

garden 2 /'gardn/ verb its

[i] to take care of a garden plants: She spends most weekends gardening.

'garden apartment noun

[c]

AmE

1

and

an apartment

that is on the lowest floor of a building and that leads directly to a yard 2 any one of a group of apartment buildings that surround a yard or garden

'garden .center noun

[c]

a large store that sells plants,

and the tools and equipment you need for taking care of a garden .garden city noun [C] a community of homes that includes many parks and public gardens gar-den-er /'gardnar/ noun [c] * 1 someone whose job is to take care of a garden: the head gardener on an estate 2 someone who enjoys growing plants and is good at flowers,

it

gar-de-nia /gar'dinia/ noun

[C]

a large white flower

that smells very sweet

gardening

/'gardmn/ noun [u] the activity of planning and looking after a garden: He enjoys gardening. a gardening manual/ book garden .party noun [c] a formal party in a large yard for a lot of people

.garden 'shed noun garden

more

where people can leave

garbage-man

tools, bicycles,

[c]

a small building for storing

and other equipment —picture -*

ci

Garage sales are also called yard sales because people usually have them in their garage, driveway, or yard next to their home.

garb /garb/

noun

[u]

a particular type of clothing, for life or

example clothing that shows your situation in work you do: his customary military garb

the

garden-va riety and not very in

New

adj

[only before noun]

AmE

ordinary

We saw a show when we were was nothing special -just your garden-

interesting:

York but

it

variety musical.

gargantuan

/gar'gaentjusn/

gargantuan appetite

adj

extremely big: a

gargle

garter snake

575

garden tools

gargle

1

/'gargl/ verb

[i]

move

to

back of your mouth, in order to

around in the clean your mouth and liquid

throat

gargle 2

/'gargl/ noun 1 [c/u] a liquid that you use your mouth and throat 2 [singular] the

for cleaning

process or sound of gargling

gargoyle /'gar.gDil/ noun

a stone statue of an ugly creature, used mainly on old churches for directing water away from the roof garish /'genJV ad] very bright and colorful in an ugly way: garish [c]

—

colors pictures / signs gar-ish-ly adv, gar-ish-ness noun [U]

gar-land

1

/ 'garbnd/ noun [c] a ring of flowers, leaves, etc. that you wear around your head or neck or use for

decorating something gargoyle

gar-land 2 / 'garbnd/ verb [T] mainly literary' to decorate someone or

something with flowers gar-lie /'garhk/ noun [u] • a round white vegetable with small sections called cloves which you add to food for a strong pleasant flavor. The whole garlic is called a bulb or head, —picture -» en gar-lick-y /'garliki/ adj smelling or tasting of garlic garment /'garmsnt/ noun [c] formal •* a piece of clothing. This word is used especially when talking about the production and sale of clothes: waterproof outer garments The garment workers were being paid very low wages. the fashion garment industry garner /'garnsr/ verb [J] formal to collect or obtain a large amount of something useful or important: His attorneys have garnered considerable evidence in his defense.

garnet

/'gainst/ noun [c/u] a dark, clear, red stone

used in jewelry

garnish

1

/'garniJV verb [t] 1 to add something to a dish of food to make it look more attractive: garnish sth

with sth Garnish the fish with lemon slices. 2 garnish or garnishee to take a part of the money that someone earns in order to pay a debt that they owe: They're garnishing his salary for child support.

garnish 2 / 'garni J7 noun

[c]

something that you add

to

a dish of food to make it look more attractive: Use some of the parsley as a garnish. garret /'gerat/ noun [c] a very basic room just under the roof of a house 1 gar-ri-son /'gens(3)n/ noun [c] a group of soldiers living in and defending a particular place: The army's regiments spread over the area in small garrisons, a. the place that a group of soldiers are living in and defending: a garrison town garri-son 2 /'gens(a)n/ verb [T usually passive] to put soldiers in a place to live there and defend it: International troops are now garrisoned in the area. a. to live in a place and defend it as a soldier: The district is garrisoned by 1,200 troops. garrotte 1 /ga'rat/ verb [T] to kill someone by pulling something very tight around their neck, especially a

wire

garrotte 2

/ga'rat/ noun

[c]

a wire that

is

pulled tight

around someone's neck to kill them gar-ru-lous /'geratas/ ad| a garrulous person lot

talks a

— gar-ru-lous-ly adv, gar-ru-lous-ness noun [u]

garter /

a ring made of elastic that you wear around your sock or stocking to prevent it from falling down 2 a short piece of elastic hanging from a piece of women's underwear that can be fastened to her stockings to prevent them from falling

gartsr/ noun

[c] 1

AmE

down. Br E suspender garter .belt noun [c] AmE a piece of women's underwear worn around the waist, with garters hanging down that are fastened to stockings to prevent them from falling down. Br E suspender belt garter .snake noun [c] a small harmless snake that is found in North America and usually has three white stripes on it

gas gas

/gses/ noun E liquid fuel that is used for producing power 1 [u) in the engines of cars. Br E petrol: gasoline: get gas We need to get some gas before we leave town. 2 [C/u] a substance such as air that is neither a solid nor a liquid: regulations to cut the emissions of gases such as carbon dioxide They detected high levels of radon gas in the building. 2a. [u] a gas burned as fuel, for example to heat your house or cook food: a gas stove /heater/ boiler She couldn 1 pay her gas bill. Can you smell gas? 2b. [u] a gas used for harming or killing people or affecting their behavior: Police used gas to disperse the crowd. *A nerve gas attack left hundreds injured. 2c. [U] E a gas produced inside your body by your stomach. BrE usually wind If you pass gas, air comes out of your bottom. 2d. [u] a gas given to people before an operation or medical treatment so they will feel no pain

Am

Am

Am E to no longer have the energy to continue or finish something sb/sth is a gas spoken used for saying that someone/ something makes you laugh a lot give it some gas spoken used for telling someone to go faster or press the gas pedal in a car run out of gas

Differences between English: gas

American and

British

/gses/ verb

1

[T]

talk a lot about

someone by

to attack or kill

making them breathe a poisonous gas 2

[i]

informal to

unimportant things

AmE informal to put gas

gas

'up phrasal vb [l/T] or other vehicle: Let's gas

in a car

up before we get on the highway. gas-bag /'gaes.baeg/ noun [C] informal old-fashioned someone who talks all the time but says nothing important

'gas cap noun [C] AmE the cover that where you put the gas in your car

gas .chamber officials kill

gas-e-ous

fits

on the hole

a building or room where prisoners by filling the air with poison gas

noun

[c]

/'gaesiss/ adj in the form of a gas or similar than a solid or liquid

to a gas, rather

'gas

,fire

noun

or stove that

gas-fired

[c]

a piece of equipment like a fireplace

makes a room warm by burning gas

/'gaes.faird/ adj old-fashioned using gas as a

fuel: gas-fired central heating

gas guzzler / 'gaes

,gAzbr/ noun [C] informal a car that expensive to drive because it uses too much gas 1 gash /gaeJV noun [c] a long deep cut in your skin or in the surface of something: Blood poured from a gash in is

his forehead.

gash 2

/gaeJV verb [t] to make a long deep cut in something, usually accidentally: Her leg was badly gashed.

gasholder / 'gaes.houldar/ noun tainer for storing gas before to buildings

it is

gas meter

noun

[c]

a

machine

that

measures the

amount of gas you have used in your house, so that the gas company knows how much money to charge you gas-o-hol /'g;eso,hol/ noun [u] AmE a fuel for cars, consisting of gas with a small amount of alcohol added gas«0'line/'gaesa,lin; .gaess'lin/noun [c/u] AmE-k gas that you put in your car. Br E petrol: a rise in gasoline prices

gas-om-e-ter /ga'sDmatsr/ noun

[C] a gasholder 1 verb [I] mainly literary * to breathe in suddenly, for example because you are surprised, shocked, or in pain: + at / literally gasped at how beautiful it was. He gasped as the freezing water hit his body. a. to make a violent effort to breathe because you need more air: gasp for air/ breath Laura coughed and spluttered as she gasped for air. gasp 2 /gaesp/ noun [C] mainly literary a sudden noisy breath that is usually caused by surprise, shock, or pain: +of a gasp of pain/ surprise/ relief' give/let out a gasp Michelle recognized him and gave a gasp of shock. a. an attempt to get enough air into your lungs by breathing in quickly: She fought for breath, taking in great gasps of air.

gasp /gssp/

gasp 1 the end of something: the last gasp of economic activity in this depressed part of the country 2 the last breath that someone takes before dying 'gas pedal noun [C] Am E informal the flat object you press with your foot to make a vehicle go faster: / stepped hard on the gas pedal and the car sped away. gas permeable 'lens noun [c] a type of contact lens (=a piece of plastic you wear on your eye so that you can see clearly) that allows air to reach your eye gasp-ing /gaespin/ adj BrE spoken 1 very thirsty 2 [+for] wanting something very much: I'm gasping for a cigarette! noun [c] Am E the machines at a gas station 'gas that the gas you put in your car comes out of 'gas .ring noun [c] BrE a burner on a stove 'gas .station noun [c] Am E * a place that sells gas, oil, and other things you need for your car. BrE petrol last

In the U.S., gas often refers to a type of liquid fuel that is used to produce power in cars: We'd better get gas on our way out of town.. The usual British word for this is petrol. Gas can also refer to a substance like air that is burned to cook food or to heat your house, and it can be used with this meaning in both the U.S. and the U.K.: a gas furnace.

gas 2

gate

576

•••

1

[C] a large metal concarried through pipes

gas-i'fy /'gaesi.fai/ verb [l/T] to change from liquid or solid form to a gas, or to make something do this gas-ket / 'gaeskat/ noun [c] a flat ring of rubber, metal, or plastic that you put between two surfaces in a pipe or machine so that liquid or gas cannot escape

blow a gasket spoken 1 informal to suddenly become very angry 2 if a machine blows a gasket, too much pressure inside breaks a gasket and causes liquid or gas to come out gas-light /'gaes.lait/ noun 1 [u] the light that burning gas produces 2 gaslight or gas lamp [C] an object that produces light by burning gas, mainly used during the 19th and early 20th centuries gas-man /'gaes.maen/ noun [C] a man whose job is to repair machines that burn gas or check your gas meter 'gas mask noun [C] a special covering for your face that protects you from poisonous gas

pump

station

gas-sy

— picture -» C6

/ 'gaesi/ ad)

'gas .tank noun

containing or creating a

lot of

gas

AmE the

container inside a car or other vehicle that holds the gas that it uses in order to [C]

run gas-trie / 'gaestnk/ adj medical relating to your stomach: gastric u leer / lesions / surgery

.gastric juices noun [plural] substances created by your stomach gas-tritis /gae'straitis/ noun [U] medical an illness in which the inner layer of your stomach swells and becomes painful gas-tro-en-ter-i-tis /.gaestrou.enta'raitis/ noun [u] medical a short painful illness affecting your stomach and intestines that is caused by bacteria in food or a virus and makes you go to the toilet frequently

gas-tro-nom-ic

/.gaestrs'namik/ adj

[only before noun]

formal relating to skillful cooking and the enjoyment of good food: a gastronomic festival/ tradition gas-tron-o-my /gae'stranami/ noun [u] formal the activity of cooking and enjoying especially good food gas turbine noun [c] a type of engine in which hot gas produced by burning fuel turns a wheel gas-works /'gaes,w3rks/ (plural gas-works) noun [C] a factory where gas for fuel is produced gate /geit/ noun *** 1 [C] a door in a fence or wall that you go through to enter or leave a place: He walked through a wooden gate Be sure to close the gate to the driveway into the field. when you leave. 1a. [usually plural] the entrance to a large public building or place that a lot of people visit: A Wait crowd had gathered at the gates of the palace. for me outside the school gates. 1b. [usually singular] the entrance to a sports event or other entertainment where people pay for or show their tickets 2 [C] the place at an airport where people get on an airplane: Flight 267 is boarding now from Gate 12. 3 the gate the number of people who go to see a sports event or other entertainment 3a. the total amount of

-gate money

from people who see a sports event or

the gates of heaven/hell mainly literary the beginning of an extremely good/bad experience -gate /geit/ suffix mainly journalism sometimes used with nouns to make a name for a political scandal, especially one that affects the president or government of the U.S.

From Watergate,

a U.S. political scandal in 1972 that caused President Nixon to leave his job.

ga-teau /ga'tou/

(plural

ga»teaux /gae'tooz/) noun [c/u]

mainly BrE a large cake decorated or filled with sweet foods such as fruit, cream, and chocolate

gate-crash-er

/'geit.kraejar/ noun [C] to a party or social event without

someone who being invited

gat-ed com-mun-ity

/.geitad ka'mjunati/ noun [C] E a group of houses or apartments in an area surrounded by a fence or wall that can be entered only by people who live there and their guests

Am

gate-house

/'geit.haos/ noun [C] a small house built park or large property

at the entrance to a

gate-keep-er /'geit.kipar/ noun [C] 1 someone who makes decisions about which people can use something or see someone 2 an old word for someone whose job open and close a gate for people gate-leg table noun [c] a table you can make larger with an extra leg and surface that fold out gate-post / 'geit.poost/ noun [c] one of the two upright is to

posts that a gate

is

attached to

between you, me, and the gatepost spoken used for saying that you are telling someone a secret that they should not repeat to anyone gate-way /'geit.wei/ noun [C] 1 an entrance that is opened and closed with a gate: You'll see the house as soon as you go through the gateway. 2 [usually singular] [+to] a place that allows you to reach or enter a larger place: Bombay was considered the gateway to India. 3 [usually singular] [+to] something that allows you to do or achieve something: the gateway to mathematics/ understanding /life 4 a way of connecting two computer networks so that information can pass between them

gath-er 1

1

come

/'gaedar/ verb together

2 search for and find 3 increase 4 bring things together

long time: Too

often,

expensive toys just gather dust.

gather your strength/courage/energy/wits

other entertainment

comes

gauze

577 collected

*••

+ PHRASES

1 [l/T] if people gather or someone gathers them, they come together in one place to see or do something: A crowd gathered outside the hotel. Football fans gathered around the TV in the corner of the bar. She gathered her children and ran for shelter. There were 60,000 fans

gathered in the stadium. 2 [T] to look for and find information or documents in different places: Our report is based on information gathered from all parts of the country. The police have been gathering evidence against him. / need to gather together our tax documents. 2a. to search for and find similar things that you need or want: They live by gathering shellfish and snails. Bees were gathering pollen from the wild flowers. 3 [T] if something gathers force, speed, or strength, its force, speed, or strength increases: The train pulled away slowly, then gathered speed. 3a. gather momentum to become gradually stronger or more successful: Opposition to the new law is gathering momentum. 4 [T] to bring things closer together, for example to protect something or make it tidy: Gathering her robe around her, Maria ran upstairs. She gathered her hair into a knot at the back of her head. 5 [T] mainly spoken to believe that something is true, although no one has directly told you about it: You're new here, I gather. From what I can gather she's madly in love with him. + (that) I gather that the storm caused a

power failure.

6

[I] if clouds gather, they start to appear and cover part of the sky 7 [T usually passive] to make a lot of small folds in cloth: The dress is gathered at the waist with elastic.

gather dust to not be used or touched by anyone for a

prepare

.gather in phrasal vb [T] literary to bring crops from the field when they are ready gather up phrasal vb [T] to pick up things from several different places and put them together: Janet quickly gathered up her books and left the classroom.

gath-er2

/'gaedar/ noun [c often plural] a small fold that has been made in cloth, usually sewn in place gath-er-er /'gasGarar/ noun [C] someone who looks for and finds something: Internet users are either information

providers or information gatherers. -» hunter-gatherer

gath-er- ing /'gae5(a)nn/ noun • 1 [C] a group of people meeting together: a large 1

social

gathering the greatest ever gathering of world leaders in one place at one time Easter is one of the best times for a family gathering. 2 [U] the process or activity of collecting information: a secret intelligence gathering operation

gath-er-ing 2

/'ga;5(a)nr)/ adj mainly literary gradually increasing: gathering darkness/dusk/gloom We watched the boats return through the gathering gloom.

a gathering storm 1 mainly journalism trouble that is coming: the gathering storm of a close election 2 mainly literary a storm that is coming ga-tor /'geitar/ noun [C] Am E informal an alligator Ga-tor-ade / 'geitar ,eid/ AmE trademark a brightly colored drink that is popular with people who play sports

'Gator Bowl, the an important

college football

game

is played every year in Jacksonville, Florida, on or around January 1st

that

gauche /gouJV adj way

behaving in a rude or inappropriate

in a social situation

gau-cho / 'gau.tjou/ noun [C] a South American cowboy gaud-y /'gadi/ adj brightly colored and ugly or of bad

— gaud-i-ly adv: a gaudily painted sign

quality

5 believe when not told 6 when clouds appear 7 make many folds in cloth

to

yourself for a difficult situation or action gather sb into your arms mainly literary to put your arms around someone, especially to protect them gather yourself (together) mainly literary to calm yourself, usually so you can do something you must do

/geid3/ noun [c] * a piece of equipment that measures the amount of something: the fuel /gas /pressure gauge a rain/ snow/ hail gauge picture -> cs 2 [usually singular] a fact or event that can be used for judging someone or something: New orders are a gauge of how well manufacturers are doing. 3 a way of saying how thick something is, especially something made of metal, wire, or plastic: a small-gauge needle heavy-gauge plastic 3a. the width of the barrel of a gun (=the part you fire the bullet through): a 12gauge shotgun 3b. the distance between the two metal rails (^tracks) of a railroad, or between the wheels of the train: a narrow-gauge railroad gauge 2 /geid3/ verb [T] 1 to make a judgment or guess about a situation, action, or person based on the information that you have: I failed to gauge the strength of her dislike. Gauging by the polls, it's not likely he'll win the election. 2 to measure the amount of something, or its strength or speed, using a piece of equipment or a

gauge

1

1

—

particular

gaunt

method

adj very thin, usually because you are sick, tired, or worried: His face was pale and gaunt.

/gant/

gaunt-ness noun

[U]

gaunt-let /'gantlat/ noun [C] a thick heavy glove that you wear to protect your hand and lower arm run the gauntlet to experience a difficult situation, for example a either get

lot of questions, criticism, or attacks + of It's a job or run the gauntlet of unemployment :

officials.

throw down the gauntlet to make it clear that you want to argue or fight with someone about something

gauze /gaz/

noun

[u] 1

white cotton cloth that

is

very

woven in a loose way, used in layers and treating an injury 2 thin white material with holes in that is used especially for making thin and has been

for protecting

curtains

— gauz-y adj

gave

G.D.R.

small wooden hammer that someone in authority knocks on a table to emphasize a decision, or so that people will listen

gavotte

/gs'vat/ noun [c] a quick dance popular in France in the 18th century, or the music for this dance

gawd

/god/ interjection informal a written form of a pronunciation of the word "God," used humorously for expressing surprise, fear or shock

gawk

/gok/ verb [I] informal to look at someone or something for a long time in a rude or stupid way: + at What are you gawking at? gawk'V /'goki/ adj tall and thin, and moving in a way does

that

seem

not

— gawki-ness noun [U] gay

E

geisha

578

gave the past tense of give gavel /'g«evl/ noun [C] a

graceful

or

comfortable

••

1

/gei/ adj 1 sexually attracted to people of the same sex. This word is mainly used about men: homosexual: Gay men and lesbians were represented in almost equal numbers. the gay community a gay bar I club I disco 2 old-fashioned brightly-colored or attractive: The shops were gay with Christmas decorations. 3 old-fashioned happy and excited: She gave a gay laugh.

— gayness noun [U] Words

German Democratic Republic: the name given to East Germany when it was separate from West Germany gear /gir/ noun •• /

d3i di 'ar/ abbrev

1

C / U the part of an engine that changes engine power into movement. Most cars in the U.S. are automatics, so the engine changes between gears without the driver having to do anything: change gears Helen changed gears as she approached the intersection. first/ second /third etc. gear / put the car into fourth gear when I got onto the highway. low/ high gear Always use a low gear when driving down a steep hill. grind the gears (=make a noise when changing gear because you do not do it correctly) You 'll ruin the transmission if you keep grinding the gears like that. in gear (=with one of the gears connected so that the power of the engine will make the wheels move) The car won't move unless you're in gear. out of gear (=with no gears connected) Take the car out of gear. 2 [U] the special clothes and equipment that you use for a particular activity: Don't forget to bring hiking gear. We took down the tent and packed all the gear away. police dressed in riot gear 3 [u] a machine or part of a machine that does a particular job: Firefighters with heavy lifting gear battled 1

[

]

survivors from the wreckage. informal illegal drugs, especially heroin

to free the

that avoid giving offense:

gay

4

[u]

Use gay

get/click into gear to start working effectively or

to other

making progress: Her electoral campaign

to describe men who are sexually attracted men. Gay can also be used about women who are sexually attracted to other women, but the more usual word is lesbian.

gay 2

someone who is sexually attracted same sex. This word is mainly used

/gei/ noun [c]

to people of the

about men.

gay-dar / 'gei.dar/ noun

[u] informal the ability of a gay person to recognize other people who are gay ,gay 'rights noun [plural] the right of gay people to have the same legal and social rights as everyone else gaze 1 /geiz/ verb [i] •• to look at someone or something for a long time, for example because they are attractive or interesting, or because you are thinking of something else: + at/into/toward/upon/up at We gazed in wonder at He lay on the bed gazing up at the the scene before us. ceiling. They gazed into each other's eyes. 2 [singular] ** someone's way of /geiz/ noun gaze looking at someone or something: As he spoke, his gaze remained fixed on the letter in his hand. Under his accushold sb's gaze (=continue ing gaze we both blushed. looking at someone who is looking at you) She looked meet sb's gaze (=look away, unable to hold my gaze. directly at someone who is looking at you) / tried to

catch his eye, but he refused to meet

my gaze.

the public gaze attention from the public: They did their best to shield their children from the public gaze.

is finally getting into gear. Suddenly my brain clicked into gear and I realized what was happening.

in/ into high gear working very fast or effectively: Everybody is in high gear at work these days. Retailers are moving into high gear as the holiday season approaches. put/throw sth out of gear to stop something from working as it should shift/switch gears to change the way you think about or do something: If this idea doesn't work, we're going to have to shift gears. gear2 /gir/ verb [i/t usually passive] to prepare something or make it suitable for a particular situation, group, or use: + toward The museum is geared toward children. gear sth to do /doing sth The committee is not geared to carrying out regular school inspections. +for We were geared for the visit and are disappointed that it was canceled.

.gear

up

phrasal vb [i/T] to prepare yourself or prepare

something for an activity or event: The town is gearing up for the carnival this weekend. gear yourself up Most banks have geared themselves up for an electronic future. The tobacco companies are gearing up to fight the new tax.

gear-box /'gir.baks/ noun [c] 1 mainly Br E a vehicle's transmission 2 a cover or container that protects a set of gears

ga-ze-bo /ga'zibou/ noun

'gear .stick noun [C] BrE a stick shift geck'O /'gekoo/ noun [c] a type of small lizard that lives mainly in hot countries

ga*zelle /ga'zel/ noun [C] a small brown African or Asian animal similar to a deer, with long thin legs and

GED

[c] a small building, usually in a garden, intended for people to sit in and look out over a beautiful view

large eyes

ga-zette

1

/ga'zet/ noun [c] 1 used in the names of newspapers: The Stonestown Gazette 2 Br E an official newspaper that publishes lists of people in government, legal, military, 2

or university jobs

/ga'zet/ verb [T] Br E formal to give someone an official job, especially in the military gaz-et-teer /.gaezs'tir/ noun [c] a list of place names given at the end of an atlas (=book of maps), or in a dictionary that lists and describes places

ga-zette

AmE

general equivalency / ,d3i i 'di/ noun [C] diploma: a document given to students who have not completed high school but have passed an examination in several subjects at that level

gee /d3i/

interjection

used to express a reaction such as

surprise or admiration

gee-gaw

I'gi,go/ noun [C] a small inexpensive decoration, especially a piece of jewelry

geek

/gik/ noun [c] informal someone who is boring, especially because they seem to be interested only in

computers

— geek«y adj

geese the plural of goose gee 'whiz interjection AmE 1

ga-zil-lion /ga'ziljan/ noun

[C]

very informal a very

number or amount gaz-pa-cho /gaz'patjou/ noun [u] a cold Spanish soup made mainly with raw tomatoes, onions, garlic and large

g'day

Britain

/ga'dei/ interjection Australian informal hello di 'pi/ noun [C] gross domestic product: the value of the goods and services that a country produces in a year, not including income received from money invested in other countries— compare gnp

GDP

total

/ ,d3i

/'gizar/ noun [C] BrE informal old-fashioned insulting word for an old man

gee*zer

CUCUMBER

G.B. abbrev Great

old-fashioned used for expressing a reaction such as surprise or admiration geez l&yzl another spelling of jeez

Geiger count-er

/'gaigsr .kaontsr/ noun

[C]

an

a piece

equipment that finds and measures radioactivity gija/ noun [c] a Japanese woman whose job is to entertain men by singing, dancing, playing music, and making conversation of

gei-sha / 'geija;

gel

generalize

579

gel 1 /d3el/ noun

[c/u] a sticky substance that is used in products for the hair and skin: hair/ shower gel 2 [c] a thin piece of colored plastic that is put over a light to create a special effect in the theater or in a movie 1

gel 2 /d3el/ verb 1 [i] when a group gels, the people in it start to form a good relationship with each other or start working together effectively: We never really gelled as a group. 2 [i] if a thought or idea gels, it becomes clearer or more definite 3 [i] if a substance gels, it becomes thicker or more solid 4 [T] to put hair gel onto your hair gel-a-tin /'d3ebtn/ noun [u] a clear substance without any flavor, used in cooking for making liquids firm gel-a«tine /'d3ebtn/the BrE spelling of gelatin ge-lat-i-nous /d33'laetnas/ adj in a wet sticky state between solid and liquid geld /geld/ verb [t] to remove the testicles of a horse geld*ing /'geldin/ noun [c] a male horse that has been gelded

gel-ig-nite /'d3ehg,nait/ noun [u] a substance used to cause explosions, especially under water gem /d3em/ noun [C] 1 a beautiful expensive stone that is used to make jewelry: a ring set with precious gems 2 someone who is special in some way, especially because they are useful or helpful 2a. something that is special or beautiful in some way: He came up with a gem of an idea. Gem»i*ni /'d3emi,nai/ noun [C/u] one of the twelve signs of the zodiac, represented by twins. A Gemini is someone born between May 22 and June 21, believed to be influenced by this sign. genvstone /'d3em,stoun/ noun [c] a gem Gen. abbrev General: used in the name of an officer of high rank in the army, air force, or marines gen-darme /^an.darm/ noun [c] a French police

2

true for most people, things, or situations, or affecting most of them: There was general agreement that the The fighting could escalate into plan was too expensive. a more general war. * Family planning has now become general practice. It's in the general interest that we should as a general rule As a have a well-run health service. general rule, shorter sentences are easier to understand. 3 [only before noun] used for describing the whole of something, without considering the details: / get the He has general impression that they aren't very happy. this general attitude of superiority toward his colleagues. Your general physical condition seems remarkably good. 4 dealing with all areas of a subject or activity, rather than concentrating on a particular area: a good general the general reader/ viewer introduction to linguistics (=someone who is not an expert) science programs that are accessible to the general viewer general contractor/ insurer The building and plumbing work will be done by a general contractor. 5 used, especially in job titles, for saying that someone is responsible for the whole of something: general manager /secretary Peter Klimt is the new European general manager. -» secretary-general

the general direction/area/location of sth an area near or toward something, though perhaps not at that exact place: We were heading in the general direction of the ocean.

in general 1 in most situations or for most people: In general, my view is that politicians who break the law should be punished. I don 't think people in general give much thought to the environment. 2 as a whole, without giving details: In general, the standard of your work is very high.

Words

frequently used with general

nouns

account, conclusion, description, information, principle, rule,

1

statement

officer

gen-der /^endar/ noun

••

[C/u] formal the fact of being either male or female: sex: The job is open to all applicants regardless of age, race, or gender. The study examines gender roles in Latin 1

America.

2

[C] all

male people or

female people:

all

sex: the entire

male gender

3

[C/U] in

it

is

grammar, the gender of a word is whether masculine, feminine, or neuter. In English, only like "he" and "she" and possessive determiners like "his" have gender, but in other languages such as French all nouns, pronouns, etc. have gender. pronouns

'gender .bender noun [c] informal someone, especially an entertainer, who dresses and behaves like a person of the opposite sex

gender-spe

cific

adj relating

only either to males or

to females: a gender-specific disease

gene Id^ml

noun

•*

a pattern of chemicals within a cell that carries information about the qualities passed on to a living thing from its parents: +for a gene for breast cancer (=that makes you likely to get it) in the genes (=passed on through the genes) He believes that shyness is in the genes. [c]

ge-ne-al-o-gy

/ d3ini'aebd3i/ noun 1 [u] the study of the history of families using historical documents to discover the relationships between people 2 [C] the history of one family, showing how all the people are related to each other ge*ne*a*log*i*cal /^inia i

—

'lad3ikl/ adj, ge*ne*aho»gist

/

,d3ini'aebd3ist/

noun

[C]

'gene pool noun

[c] the total of all the genes within a species (=a group of animals or plants)

gen*e*ra

the plural of

general

1

genus

/'d3en(3)ral/adj

1 not specific/detailed

2 relevant to most cases 3 true of whole of sth

••• 4 dealing with all of sth 5 responsible for whole + PHRASES

not specific, exact, or detailed: Could you just give us a general description of the work you do? Her predictions are so general that they could apply to anybody. in general terms We are prepared to discuss the deal in general terms, but the details are confidential. general idea I'm probably not making myself very clear, but you get the general idea. 1

2 gen-er-al /'d3en(3)r3l/ noun [c] ** an officer of high rank in the army, air force, or marines .general anesthetic noun [c/u] a substance that a doctor puts into your body so that you will sleep and not feel any pain during an operation compare local

—

anesthetic

.general delivery noun [u] AmEa post office that you use when you are traveling. Letters are sent there for you and kept until you pick them up. .general election noun [c] an election in which every adult in the country can vote for the people represent them in government

who

will

.general 'headquarters noun [plural] the office or building from which an organization controls its activities, for example a military operation .general 'hospital noun [c] a hospital that can treat most people and that does not limit itself to one particular type of medical problem gen-eral-i-sa-tion /,d3en(3)r3li'zeijri/a BrE spelling of generalization

gen-eral-ise

/

'd3en(3)r3,laiz/ a

BrE

spelling of gen-

eralize

gen-er-al-ist /'d3en(3)r3hst/ noun

[C]

someone who

knows a lot about a wide range of subjects gen*er*aM*ty /,d3en3'rael3ti/ noun 1 [c usually

plural] a statement that is not specific but that covers a wide range of situations: The speech was full of bland generalities. 1a. [u] the fact that a statement is general rather than specific 2 [singular]/orma/ the majority of something, for example most of the people in a group gen*er*aM*za*tion /,d3en(3)r3h'zeifn/ noun [c/u] a statement that is true in most situations: We can draw

some

interesting generalizations from this data. a. a state-

ment

that seems to be true in most situations but is based on too few facts or only a small number of instances: It's unfair to make generalizations about teenagers being lazy and messy. Such sweeping generalizations reveal the writer's prejudices.

gerver-al-ize /'d3en(3)r3,laiz/ verb 1 [i] to make a statement or remark about a group of people or things without going into any detail: We can generalize and say that most of our students are middle-class. 1a. to give an opinion about a group of people or things based on too

^

generalized 't

erally.

3 by most

people or in most instances: Government analysts generally believe that the recession is over. generally accepted /regarded /considered He is generally accepted as the world's greatest expert in the field. 4 without being specific or giving details: She spoke generally about the challenges of being a single parent. -» SPEAK

meeting noun [c] a meeting of all the of a group or organization

.general

members

.general 'practice noun

1

[u]

the

work

of a doctor

who treats people for a wide range of medical problems, rather than concentrating on a specific type of medical problem 2 [C] the place or organization where a doctor in general practice works: Dr. Macpherson has a general practice in Grand Rapids.

.general practitioner noun

[c]

a doctor

who

is

in

general practice

* ordinary people in than people who are considered to be important or who belong to a particular group: The meeting is not open to the general public.

.general 'public, the noun society, rather

general- purpose

1 a generalappropriate for most situations: a general-purpose cleaning fluid 2 not limited to one use or purpose: Some of the money would come from the general-purpose funds. adj

[only before noun]

purpose product or vehicle

general-ship position of an

is

/'d3en(3)r3ljrp/ noun [u] the skills or

army general

.general 'staff noun [u] a group of military officers of middle rank who are under a commanding officer (=an officer of

high rank)

[c] AmE a store that sells a wide range of products, often found in small communities

general .store noun

[c] a situation in which most or the workers in a particular industry or country stop working in order to force their employers to provide better conditions or higher pay

.general 'strike noun all

•**

generate

/'d3ena,reit/ verb [t] business is not generating enough revenue to cover its costs. More and more of the money in 1

to

make money: The

state budgets is generated by state and local lotteries. 1a. to create jobs or work: The new car factory will

generate a

of jobs in the area. a lot of people express feelings or opinions about something: The advertising campaign generated a the controversy generated by lot of interest in our work.

2

to

lot

make

the report

3

if a computer generates a report, image, etc., duces it: computer-generated animation 4 to produce power: 75% of France's electricity

it

pro-

is

gen-

erated by nuclear reactors.

gen-er-a-tion /,d3en3'reijn/ noun

•••

of a family who are of a similar age and whose parents are of a similar age: My mother in her generation to go to university. was the only one + of The novel is about several generations of an immigrant family, la. the number of years that usually pass 1

[C] all

the

genetic code

580

few facts or only a small number of instances: + about You can generalize about the entire population like that. 2 [I/T] to apply a particular fact or example to a larger number of facts or examples: It is too soon to generalize the study's findings beyond the study group. gen-er-al-ized /'d3en(3)r3,laizd/ ad] 1 dealing with various different things in a general rather than a specific way: a generalized discussion / book 2 medical affecting most of the body rather than just one area: generalized pain 2a. with a general cause or effect, rather than a specific one: generalized anxiety 3 happening, existing, or felt over a wide area or among a lot of people: a generalized anger against the government The conflict has become more generalized. .general knowledge noun [u] knowledge about a wide range of subjects rather than detailed knowledge of a particular subject: a general knowledge test gen«er«al«ly /'d3en(3)r3li/ adv ••• 1 used for saying what is usually true or typical: She was generally an early riser. 2 used for describing something as a whole, without considering details: His attitude to me was generally unfriendly. J had been feeling tired and run-down gen-

members

between the birth of a person and the birth of that person's children: Within a generation, the family had lost all its

2

wealth.

a group of people in society who are born and live around the same time: The site was preserved as a [C]

monument for future generations. People retiring today are wealthier than the previous generation. 2a. [+of] a particular group existing at a particular time: His work has been rediscovered by a younger generation of artists. Generations of schoolchildren have sat at these desks. 2b. the older/younger generation the people in society at a particular time who are old or young: New technology need not be the preserve of the younger generation.

3

[C] a group of products that were made at about the same time, intended as an improvement on those that came before them: a new generation of cellphones

4

[u]

the process of producing something: cheap elec gervei-a-tiorval adj: generational dif-

tricity generation ferences

—

generation

.gap, the noun the difference in opinions or behavior between older and younger people which often causes problems between them

.Generation X noun the people born in the 1960s and 1970s, who are sometimes seen as having no strong moral values

.Generation

'Y noun the people born in the 1980s and

1990s

gen'er-a'tive/'d^ens.reitiv; 'd3en(3)r3tiv/ad] technical capable of producing something

.generative grammar noun [c/u] linguistics a type grammar based on a set of rules that can be used produce

all

of to

the sentences possible in a language

/'d^ens.reitsr/ noun [c] * a machine that produces electricity ge-ner-ic /d33'nenk/ adj * 1 formal relating to or appropriate for a range or class

gen-er-a-tor

of similar things: generic software, suitable for use with generic term/word/name "Hoover" both Macs and PCs is often used as a generic term for all vacuum cleaners.

2

a generic drug or other product does not have a trademark and is sold without a company's name on it 3 relating to a genus ge«ner*i*caMy /d33'nenkli/ adv gen»er'OS«i'ty /,d3en3'ras3ti/ noun [u] kindness, especially in giving things to people: He was known for his

—

generosity to his colleagues.

gen«er«ous

/'d3en(3)r3s/ adj

**

1 giving people more of your time or money than is usual or expected: Merton is clearly a warm and generous human being. + to Billy was very generous to people who had less than he did. + with Lawyers have been generous generous of sb (to do sth) with their time and talents. That's very generous of you. 1a. a generous present is larger or more expensive than is usual or expected: The committee expressed thanks to everyone for their generous donations. a generous gift 1b. a generous action takes more time or effort than is usual or expected: a generous

gesture 2 kind, friendly, erous comments.

and

helpful:

Thank you for your

gen-

3

a generous amount is larger than is usual or necesa generous court sary: a generous helping of salad settlement There are generous discounts to groups of ten gerver-ous-ly adv: They gave generously to or more. local charities. "I'll take the kids, " Nicky offered gen-

—

erously.

gen-e-sis / 'd3en3Sis/ nou n formal the genesis of sth the beginning, birth, or origin of something [u] a medical treatment in which genes are put into cells in the body in order to cure some types of illness ge-net-ic /d33'netik/ adj relating to genes and the study of them: Doctors believe the condition is caused by ge*net*i«caMy /d33 'netikli/ adv a genetic defect.

'gene .therapy noun

**

—

ge-netical-ly mod-i-fied

/d33,netikli 'madi.faid/ a genetically modified substance or crop has had its genetic structure changed in order to make it more suited to a particular purpose

adj

ge netic 'code

noun

[c]

the arrangement of genes that in a particular way

makes an individual develop

genetic engineering

purpose

genetic

/dpnetik figgar fin-ger-print-ing .pnntin/ noun [u] a method of examining someone's dna which is individual to them and not

(^genetic structure)

shared by anyone else ge-net-i-cist /dp'netasist/ noun [C] a scientist who studies or works in genetics ge-net-ics /d.p'netiks/ noun [u] the study of how the individual features and behavior of living things are passed on through their genes ge netic screening noun [u] the practice of examining someone's genes in order to find out what illnesses

may

be likely to affect them

Geneva

Con-ven-tion, the /d33,niva kan.venfsn/ noun an international agreement that describes how people should be treated when they are prisoners in a war

Gen-ghis Khan /^engis 'kan; .gengis 'kan/ noun someone who is very cruel to their enemies From the first ruler of the Mongolian empire who lived in the 12th century.

gen-ial /denial/ adj friendly and kind ^ge-ni-al-i-ty /,d3ini'ael3ti/ noun [u], gen-ial-ly adv ge-nie / d3ini/ noun [c] an imaginary spirit with magic powers in ancient Middle Eastern stories let the genie out of the bottle to do something that causes a situation to change, so that it is no longer possible to go back to an earlier state gen-i-tal /'d3enitl/ adj relating to the outer sex organs gen-i-tal-ly adv of a person or animal: the genital area gen-i-tals /'d3enitlz/ noun [plural] the outer sex organs of a person or animal gen-i-tive / 'd3enitiv/ noun [singular] linguistics a form of

—

the

noun or pronoun

in the

grammar of some languages,

used to show possession. In English, this is shown by adding '"s" at the end of the word, for example "Sarah's birthday gen-i-tive adj ".

—

genius /^inias/

noun

someone who

•

much more

intelligent or skillful than other people: Bach's Magnificat is clearly the work She was a mathematical genius. of a genius. 2 [U] a very high level of skill or ability: Dante, Leonardo, and Milton were men of genius. * Baking allows you 1

[C]

is

show your creative genius. a stroke of genius (=a very clever act or idea) At the time, his appointment seemed a stroke of genius. to

have a genius for (doing) sth

to

be very good at some-

thing

you don't have

to be a genius or it doesn't take a genius spoken used for saying that something is obvious: You don't have to be a genius to see that it's not going to work.

you're a genius spoken used for telling someone that you are very impressed with something they have just done or said

genius

lo-ci / dsinias 'loo.sai/ noun [singular] formal the typical character or atmosphere of a place

gen-o-cide /djena^aid/ noun [u] the murder of large numbers of people belonging to a particular race gen-o-cid-al /^ena'saidl/ adj

ge-nome

/'d3i,noum/ noun

[C] science

of genes in a living thing: the

gen-re /'^anrs/ noun

the complete set

human genome

*

a particular style used in film, writing, or art. which can be recognized by certain features: The novel did not really exist as a genre before the nth century. There's a whole genre of movies about [C]

city-dwellers lost in the wilderness. !

gent /d^ent/ noun

[c]

informal old-fashioned a gentleman

gents informal old-fashioned a way of speaking to or referring to the men in a large group: Ladies and gents, could I have your attention? the gents mainly Br E the men's bathroom in a public place

gentrification

581

genetic engineering noun [u] the practice or science of changing the genes of a living thing, especially in order to make it more useful for a particular

gen«teel/d3cn

typical of polite people belonging to a high social class: genteel manners 1a. lived in by rich polite people: a genteel seaside town 2 trying to appear as if you belong to a high social class gen-teel-ly adv til/adj 1

gen-tian /'d3enjsn/ noun

[c] a plant with small dark blue flowers that grows in the mountains of western

Europe

gentian violet noun

[u] a purple-blue liquid that people used to put on injuries to prevent infection 1

gen-tile Jewish 2 gen-tile

/'d3en,tail/ noun /'d3en,tail/ ad]

someone who

is

not

concerning religions and

cul-

[c]

tures that are not Jewish gen-til-i-ty /djen'tibti/ noun [u] 1 a polite way of behaving, considered typical of people belonging to a high social class 1a. the people who belong to a high social class, thought of as a group 2 a false way of behaving that is intended to make people believe you belong to a high social class

gen-tle

/'d3entl/ adj

•*

kind and calm: Joe is such a gentle, loving boy. la. used about people's behavior: Mother's manner was always gentle. a gentle smile 2 gentle movement does not use or need a lot of force She gave a gentle pull or effort: a gentle riverside stroll on the dog 's leash. 3 a gentle slope or shape is gradual, with no sudden changes: The road began to climb gentle sandy hills. the gentle curve of the bay 4 gentle wind or rain is not strong or unpleasant: a gen-tle-ness soft June morning with a gentle breeze noun [u] gen-tle-folk /'d3entl,fook/ noun [plural] an old word for people who come from families in a high social class gentleman /'d3entlm3n/ (plural gen-tle-men /'d^eml man/) noun [c] ** 1 a man who is always polite and honest and considers other people's needs: Everyone always said that James 1

a gentle person

is

—

was a

real gentleman.

2 formal used for referring to a man whose name you do not know: Please could you call a taxi for this gentleman?

gentlemen [plural] used for speaking to men in a group or audience: Gentlemen, shall we begin?* Welcome, ladies and gentlemen. 2b. gentlemen [plural] used for speaking about men in a group: There were flowers for 2a.

and cigars for the gentlemen. old word for a man from a family in a high social class: Christian came from a long line of English country gentlemen. 4 E spoken formal used by a member of a legislature when speaking or referring to another member: Does the gentleman from Oregon agree? the ladies

3 an

Am

gentleman farmer noun

[c] Br E a rich man who has a farm on his land but does not need it for his main

income

gen-tle-man-ly /'d3entlm3nli/ adj a gentlemanly man behaves in a polite way and considers other people's feelings

gentleman's a greement ment

in

which people

noun [c] a business agreetrust each other without a written

contract

gen-tle-wom-an

/'dsentlwoman/ (plural gen»tlewom-en /'d3entl wimm/) noun [C] 1 Am E formal used by a member of a legislature for referring to a woman member 2 an old word for a woman who was well educated or from a high social class

gen-tly

*••

/'d3entli/ adv carefully, without a lot of force or sudden change in the shoulder. Gently peel the paper off. 1a. with small or slow movements: The trees swayed gently in the breeze. 2 in a kind way, being careful not to frighten or upset someone: As gently as possible, he told her the bad news. Tell your child gently hut firmly, "No." 1

movement: She tapped him gently on

3

gradually, with no steep slopes or direction: a gently rising hill

gentrification

sudden change

in

/.dsentnfi'keifn/ noun [u] the process by which an area of a city where poor people live becomes an area where middle-class people live.

gentry them

gen*tri*fy

gen-try fdjeatrif noun [singular) an old word for someone from a high social class: the landed gentry gervu-flect /'d3enJ3,flekt/ verb [I] formal to bend your knee as a sign of worship or respect a. to show a lot more respect than is usual or necessary — genu-

rather than pretended or false: Morley looked at her with genuine concern. We are doing everything we can to help people to work towards genuine democracy. It was a genuine mistake and we ought to forgive him. 1a. used about people: He is a genuine political refugee who has reason to fear persecution. 1b. used about objects: It was undoubtedly a genuine 18th century desk. opposite FAKE 2 honest, friendly and sincere: Greg was a humble, genuine person. real,

—

the genuine article an example of something that is real and not false: the real thing gen>u«ine noun [U]

—

gen«u«ine»ly /'d3enjumli/adv

*

honestly or in a sincere way: I'm genuinely sorry for the problems I've caused you. Sara's a genuinely nice person. / think David genuinely believed he was going to 1

win.

2 mainly Br E really: used for emphasizing a particular quality: These are genuinely difficult issues.

genus

/'d3in3s/ (plural gen*er*a /'d3en3r3/) noun [c] group that includes all living things that have similar features compare species

science a

—

geo- /d3ioo/

prefix earth: used to make adjectives and nouns: geomagnetic (=relating to the earth's force of

geology (=the study of the structure of the

attraction) earth)

ge-om-e'try /d3i'am3tri/ noun

*

mathematics that deals with the relationships between lines, angles, and surfaces 2 [singular] the way in which different things are arranged in relation to each other: The room had a 1

[U] the part of

it.

ge-ophys-icist /o^ioo'fizisist/ noun who studies geophysics

study of the chemical elements in the earth ge*o*chenvi*cal adj geodesic /,d3ioo,desik 'doom/ noun [c] a building with a high round frame made of shapes with angles that fit together entific

—

dome

/dsi'ugrgfsr/ noun [c] a scientist who studies the earth's physical features and the people, plants, and animals that live in different regions

ge-og-ra-pher

geographical

/,d3i3'gra;fikl/ or ge-o-graph-ic ** relating to an area or place, or geography: The hospital has an ideal geographical location. a broad geographical distribution of students ge-o-graph'i'cal'iy /,d3i3'graefikli/ adv: The country can be split into three geographically distinct areas.

/,d3i3'graefik/ adj its

—

ge«og«ra«phy/d3i'agr3fi/noun

**

1 [u] the study of the earth's physical features and the people, plants, and animals that live in different regions of the world: a geography teacher/ lesson 2 [singular] the physical features of an area: Housing development is limited by the geography of the valley. 3 [singular] the way in which people or things are arranged in an area: the geography of electoral support adj * relating to geology or the features of the earth's surface: a geological survey ge-o'log-i-cally /,d3i3'lad3ikli/ a geological period

ge»o«log«i'Cal /,d3i3'lad3ikl/

—

adv

geol-ogist

/d3i'abd3ist/ noun

[c]

a scientist

who

studies geology

ge«ol«o«gy/d3i'al3d3i/ noun * 1 [U] the scientific study of the structure of the earth, the way in which it was formed, and how it has changed over time 2 [singular] the way that particular rocks or areas of the earth's surface are formed: the geology of oilfields ge*o*met*ric /,d3i3'metnk/ or ge-o-met-ri-cal adj 1 relating to the methods and principles of geometry 2 relating to simple shapes, especially when these form regular patterns: an oriental rug

/^is'metnkl/

with geometric designs

geometric progression in

noun

which each number

a series of multiplied by a

[C] is

a scientist

[c]

geophysics

/,d3ioo'fiziks/ noun [u] the scientific study of the physical processes and forces that affect the earth ge-o-phys-i-cal adj

geopolitics

/o^ioo'palstiks/ noun [u] the study of a country's position, economy, and population influence its politics, especially in relation to other countries ge-o-po'lit-i-cal /o^ioops'litikl/ adj

how

—

Geor-die

/'d3ordi/ noun [C] someone from Tyneside in northeastern England a. [u] the type of English that people speak in northeastern England

George,

St. /d3ord3/ the patron saint of England

geor«gette /d3or'd3et/ noun

[u] a thin

type of silk cloth

Georgian

/'d3ord33n/ adj 1 in a style typical of the U.K. and the U.S. in the 18th century: a Georgian house 2 someone who is Georgian is from the central Asian country of Georgia 2a. relating to the country of Georgia, or its language or culture 3 someone from the state of Georgia

ge-o-sta-tion-ar-y

/.dsioo'steijn.eri/ adj a geostationary satellite appears to remain in the same place, because it travels at the same speed as the earth

ge-o-ther-mal /,d3ioo'03rml/

ad] relating to

the heat

at the center of the earth: geothermal energy

ge*ra>ni«um /^s'reiniam/ noun

ge-o-cen-tric /^iou'sentnk/ adj using the earth as the center from which other things are measured ge-o«chenviS'try /,d3iou'kemistri/ noun [U] the sci-

numbers

particular quantity in order to get the next number, for example 1, 5, 25, 125

pleasing geometry about

flection /'d3enj3,flekjn/ noun [C/U] gen'U'ine/'d3enjuin/adj ** 1

germinate

582

as they buy the houses and repair /'d3entri,fai/ verb [T]

[C]

a plant with

soft

round leaves and bright flowers that are usually pink, red, or white

— picture -» C9

ger-bil /'d33rbl/ noun [c] a small animal like a mouse with long back legs, that children often keep as a pet ger'i'at'ric/,d3eri'aetnk/adj 1 [only before noun] medical relating to old age or the process of getting older: a geriatric ward 2 informal old. People usually use this word in a humorous way but some people consider it to be offensive. ger-i-at-rics / d3eri'aetnks/ noun [u] the medical study, treatment, and care of old people and their diseases germ /d33rm/ noun 1 [C] a form of bacteria that spreads disease among people or animals: Strep is very c

germ that causes ordinary sore throats. something that could develop into a greater germ of an idea -» wheatgerm German /'d33rman/ noun 1 [C] someone from Germany 2 [u] the official language of Germany, Austria, and Liechtenstein, and one of the official languages of Switzerland different from the

2

[singular]

idea or plan: the 1

German 2 /o^rman/ adj is

of

1 someone who is German from Germany 2 relating to the language or culture Germany: a German restaurant

germane /d33r'mein/ adj formal relevant

to a subject

being discussed Germanic /d3ar'm£enik/ that

is

adj 1 relating to or considered typical of Germany or its people, language, or culture 2 relating to the family of languages that includes English, German, Dutch, and other northern European languages .German 'measles noun [u] an infectious disease that causes red spots on the skin. German measles is a minor illness in children and adults, but can cause serious physical damage to babies before they are born: rubella .German 'shepherd noun [C] a large dog with thick dark hair, pointed ears, and a long narrow nose and jaw. German shepherds are often used by the police.

germi'Cide /'d33rmi,said/ noun kills

[c/u] a substance that

bacteria

[i/T] to develop from plant, or to make a seed begin to develop into a plant: It's been too cold for seeds to germinate properly. 2 [i] if an idea or feeling

ger'mi«nate/'d33rmi,neit/verb 1 a seed, and begin to grow into a

germ warfare

— germrna'tion noun [U]

germ warfare noun

[u] the use of bacteria and viruses numbers of people during a war ger-on-tol-o-gy /^eran'tabdsi/ noun [u] the sci-

to kill large entific

study of old age

ger-ry-man-der-ing

/'dseri.rruendann/ noun [u] the process of dividing a region in which people vote in a way that gives one political group an unfair advantage gerrymander verb [T]

—

gerund

/'d3ersnd/ noun [C] linguistics a noun formed from a verb by adding "ing" that describes an action, such as "running" or "believing" Gestalt psychol-o-gy /ga'Jtalt sai.kabd^i/ noun [U] a form of psychology that considers behavior, feelings, beliefs, etc. as part of a greater whole, not as

simple and separate reactions

Ge-sta-po /ga'stapoo/

adj

[only before noun]

used for

referring to cruel actions by officials with complete power over people: Gestapo tactics

From under

the

name

of the Nazi secret police in

Germany

Hitler.

ges-ta-tion /d33'steifn/ noun [u] 1 the time and process during which a human or animal baby develops its mother: gestation period (=the time gestation Human infants have a gestation period of nine months. 2 the development in your mind of an idea or plan, before you talk about it to other people

inside takes)

ges-tic-u-late /d33'stikj3,leit/ verb li] to make movements with your hands and arms when you are talking, usually because you want to emphasize what you are saying or because you are excited ges*tic*u*la*tion /d33,stikj3'leijn/ noun [C/u] 1 ges-ture /'d3estjar/ noun •* 1 [C] a movement that communicates a feeling or

—

instructions help less /impatient /dramatic gesture* make a gesture Ellen rose gesture of rising too.

from the table, and they made the obscene gesture Maxham held up

two fingers in an obscene gesture.

1a. [u] the use of

movement to communicate, especially in dance 2 [C] something that you do to communicate your intentions towards someone, especially good intentions: was a very generous gesture. a symbolic gesture + of a gesture of support/ solidarity I goodwill It

ges-ture 2

/'d3estj3r/ verb [i] to make a movement with your hands or head in order to show or tell someone something: Maria gestured expressively as she talked. + at/in the direction of /toward "What about the these?"

she asked, gesturing at the dirty dishes. +for He gestured for her to sit down. +to Jack gestured to us from across the room.

ge-sund-heit

/gs'zont.hait/ interjection used wishing someone good health after they sneeze

From

get

a

/get/

verb

German word meaning

for

"health."

(past tense got /gat/; past participle gotten /'gatn/)

**•

1

obtain/receive

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

become/start to be do sth/have sth done

move to/from progress

in activity

fit/put sth in a

get

583

develops from something very small: A germinates, sense of unease began to germinate in the group. it

place

understand be able/allowed to do sth

9 kill/attack/punish 10 answer door/telephone 11 use particular vehicle

12 13 14 15 +

receive broadcast

prepare meal

annoy reach sb by telephone PHRASES

1 [T never passive] to obtain, receive, or be given something: Ross's father got a new job. Did you get tickets for the game?* I got a ticket for reckless driving. You get ten points for each correct answer. get sth from sb She got a ring from her grandmother. get sb sth/get sth for sb The agency got the family a new apartment and clothes for the children. get an answer/ reply etc. She called out to him but got no reply. get the chance /opportunity Young players will get the chance to meet one of their heroes. get permission/approval etc. We got permission from the city council to start building, la. to buy something: Where did you get that wonderful carpet? They had to stop and

get sb sth/get sth for sb For his birthday get sth for $5/ $100 etc. this year, I got my dad a sweater. You can get a jacket from a thrift shop for just a few dollars. 1b. to go and bring something back from somewhere else: She went and got a photograph from the desk. get sb sth/get sth for sb Will you get me a glass of water? 1c. to earn or receive an amount of money: / think nurses should get more. Helen only gets $6 an hour. get $20/5100 etc. for sth I'll bet you could get at least $50 for the painting. 1d. to obtain information: Where did you get this story? / need to get some details from you about the accident. 1e. to start to have an idea or feeling: Sometimes he gets these weird ideas. I got a strange feeling get the in my stomach as we walked toward the house. idea/impression/feeling (that) I got the impression they were finding the work difficult. If. to start to have an illness or medical condition: I hope I don 'tget the flu this winter. She eats standing up and then gets indigestion. 1g. to obtain a benefit or have a positive feeling when you do something: He gets a lot of pleasure from spending time with his grandchildren. What do you get out of all this exercise? 1h. to obtain a particular result: Add more water to get a thinner batter. What do you get if you mix red and yellow? 1i. to be able to receive particular broadcasts on your television or radio: Do you get cable here? 2 [linking verb] to start to be in a particular state or have a particular quality: become: It's getting late - I have to go. If that spot gets any bigger you should go to the doctor. get wet/cold/tired/sick etc. It was raining and we all get angry /mad /upset etc. If you had gotten got wet. angry at me for this, I wouldn't blame you. get difficult/ interesting etc. Things are starting to get difficult at home. get to sleep Do you ever have problems getting to sleep? get hot/cold/humid etc. It's been getting more and more humid all afternoon. 2a. [linking verb] to become: used with past participles to form passives The team is determined not to get beaten again. I'm sick of getting yelled at for things that aren't my fault. Somehow the paper got ripped. You should wash that cut - it might get infected. 2b. [T] to cause someone or something to be in a particular state: I'll get the children dressed. Let's get you completely ready to go before we call a cab. It took them three hours to get the fire under control. get sb/sth dirty/ wet etc. He got his suit all dirty. 2c. [linking verb] to put on or take off clothing: +into/out of/on/off It's almost three o'clock and you still have to get into your uniform. She looks forward to getting out of her business suit and into comfortable clothes at the end of the day. 3 [T never passive] to do something or have it done for you: get sth done You need to get your hair cut. / should be able to get the first chapter finished by tonight. They tried to get Marly sent to prison. get sth doing sth Hal managed to get my e-mail working again. She worked all afternoon on the car but never got it running. 3a. to make someone do something or persuade them to do it: get sb to do sth I'll get Andrew to give you a call. She couldn 't get them to understand what she was saying. If we could only get him to try harder. 4 [i] to move to or from a position or place: + down Abby had climbed a tree and couldn't get down. He'd gotten down off his bike to come over and talk tous.* + \n/ into Dad stopped the car and told me to get in. She forgot her keys and got into the house through the window. + off The hill was so steep we had to get off and push our bikes. + on /onto Watch your step when getting on the bus. + out A car stopped and two men got out. +up Half the audience got up and walked out. 4a. [T never passive] to make someone or something move to or from a position or place: get sb/sth down Firefighters got him down using a ladder, sb/sth in /into Let's get you into the house where it's warm. * get sb/sth off It's impossible to get him the and make him do anything. get sb/sth on/ sofa off onto They managed to get him on the bed. get sb/sth out Get that dog out of my kitchen. get sb/sth up I don 't know how we'll get this box up the stairs. 4b. [l] to arrive at a place: + from /to How long does it take to get from St. Louis to Chicago? get home What time did you get home last night?* get to work/school etc. / usually get to work at about 8:30. get here /there When will we get there? 4c. [i] to come to be in a position or place: How did this button get in my purse? 4d. [T never passive] to send something to a person or place: They can get a package across the get some

gas.

:

get

get

i

:

to get

somewhere

in her career.

I've

worked

all

day on

this, but I feel as if I'm getting nowhere. 5d. sb's getting there spoken used for saying that someone is close to achieving something, especially when this is difficult or is taking a long time: Everyone finds driving difficult at first, but you're getting there. 5e. it's getting to the used for saying that a situation stage/point where. has reached a very bad stage: Things are getting to the point where we can stand to be in the same room. 6 [T never passive] [get sth into/in/onto sth] to fit or put something in a place: You can get a lot of things into this bag. She couldn't quite get all the text onto the page. 7 [T never passive] informal to understand someone or something: Everyone laughed, but Harold didn't seem to get the joke. get it/ don't get it - what's happening?* Oh, I get it now. get why/what etc. I don't really get why she couldn't do it herself. 7a. get sb wrong spoken to not understand someone: You've got me all wrong, I never meant to hurt you. * I guess I got you wrong. I thought you .

.

't

meant Tuesday, not today. don't get me wrong (=please understand what I'm saying) Don 't get me wrong, he's not a bad guy. It's just that he can be selfish sometimes. 8 [I/T never passive] [get to do sth] to have the opportunity or be able to do something: Did you get to visit the Vietnam Memorial when you were in Washington? Her brothers went out a lot, but Lisa never got to go. 9 [T never passive] informal to kill someone: It was cancer that got him in the end. 9a. to attack someone: He's threatened to get me if he ever catches me alone. 9b. to catch or punish someone: The police need to get the person who did this. out to get sb (=determined to harm or punish someone) The way he acts, it's like he's out to get me. 9c. get it to be punished for something: You're going to get it if you don 't stop teasing me! 10 [T never passive] spoken to answer the door or telephone: It's OK, I'll get it. 1 1 [T never passive] to use a particular vehicle to travel somewhere: It's easiest if you get a taxi from the station. He usually tries to get the 9:03 train. 12 [T never passive] to be able to receive particular broadcasts on your television or radio: Do you get cable here? 12a. to regularly receive a newspaper or magazine: We get the New York Times on Sundays. 13 [T never passive] to prepare a meal: It's time to start get sb breakfast/ lunch /dinner Sit down getting dinner. and I'll get you lunch. 14 [T never passive] spoken to annoy someone: it gets me It really gets me how everyone laughs at all her stupid jokes. what gets me What gets me is the way he's so smug all the time.

15

get

584

get sth to sb/sth We'll get the Atlantic within 24 hours. schedule to you as soon as we have it. 4e. [T never passive] to travel a particular distance: How far do you hope to He got halfway along the road, then get before lunch? remembered he had left his wallet behind. 5 [I] to progress to a particular point when you are doing something: How far did you get with your homework?* + to I got to page 100 of this book before I understood what was going on. 5a. [l] informal to start doing something, making progress, or going somewhere: get to work Enough talking, let's get to work. get going/moving/ cracking They need to get going with this building work if they are going to finish before the winter. It's time you got cracking on that assignment. 5b. [T never passive] to make or help someone or something start doing something. making progress, or going somewhere get sb / sth g o n g / moving etc. A new manager was brought in to get things moving. We'd better get the kids going or they'll be late. not get sb anywhere (=will not help sb to succeed) That aggressive attitude won't get you anywhere with her. somewhere/anywhere/nowhere to make 5c. get some/no progress, or have some/no success: I'm not getting anywhere with this paper. At last she is starting

[T

never passive] to reach

Could you get me the

you/we

New

York

someone by telephone: office right

away, please.

spoken used for saying that something exists or can be seen in a place: You get a lot of people get.

.

.

who don't know what they're talking We get a huge variety of wildlife in this area. you've got me (there) spoken you got me spoken used for saying that you do not know the answer criticizing teachers

about.

-» HOLD

2 ,

KNOW

1

get about phrasal vb [l] spoken get about the business of doing sth to begin to do

something get a cross phrasal vb [T) to make people understand something: He sometimes has trouble getting his meaning across in English. get sth across to sb What message are you trying to get across to the consumer? + how /what etc. / was trying to get across how much I admired them. get a head phrasal vb [i] to be more successful or progress more quickly than other people: The best way to get ahead is through hard work. +in Sometimes you have to

be ruthless to get ahead in business.

get a long phrasal vb [l] 1 get along or get on or get on with if people get along, they like each other and are friendly to each other: Richard and his sister don't get + with I get along well with most of my colleagues. along. 2 spoken to leave a place: You'd better be getting along now. 3 to manage to continue doing something or make progress in a situation: / got along much better in my + with How are you getting along with your new job. schoolwork? * + without You know I couldn't get along without you.

get a round phrasal vb 1 [i] to go or travel to different places: At the age of 85 Milly still gets around quite well. 2 [i] if news gets around, a lot of people hear it: It didn't take long for news of his resignation to get around. 3 [T] [get around sth] to solve a problem or avoid a difficulty that something is causing: There are ways of getting around the tax rules. You can get around the fact she lied. 4 [i] spoken to have sexual relationships with a lot of different people 4a. [I] to go out a lot and be involved in many activities 5 [T] [get around sb] mainly BrE to persuade someone to do something, especially by being 't

nice to

them

get around to phrasal vb

[t] [get around to sth] to do something after you have intended to do it for some time: I meant to call you, but somehow I never got around to it. get around to doing sth We have to get around to

cleaning those windows. get at phrasal vb [T] 1 [usually progressive] [get at sth] to try to suggest something without saying it directly: What are you getting at? 2 [get at sth] to discover the true facts about something: This was an attempt to stop reporters from getting at the truth. 3 [get at sth] to manage reach or touch something: / keep the cookies up here where the children can't get at them. 4 [get at sb] BrE informal to criticize someone again and again in a way

to

that

get a

is

unfair

way

phrasal vb

[i]

1 to

escape from a person or place: but he got away. +from The

A police officer grabbed him,

dog got away from me in the park. 2 to manage to leave a place, especially your work: He said he'd meet me for lunch

if

he could get away.

from where you

to go

somewhere

different

have a

rest or vacation: days like today, I just want to get

get away from it all On away from it all. away from phrasal vb

get

3

live in order to

[T] 1 [get

away from

sth] to stop

having a particular idea or belief that is old-fashioned or not helpful: We want to get away from this idea that in a divorce one partner has to be blamed. 2 [get away from sth] to talk about something different from what you should be talking about: J think we're getting away from the point. 3 [get away from sb/sth] used for telling someone to move away from a person or place: Get away from there! It's hot!

you can't get away from sth/there's no getting away from sth used for saying that a fact or situation must be accepted and cannot be avoided get away with phrasal vb [T] [get away with sth] 1 to manage to do something bad without being punished or criticized for it: They have repeatedly broken the law and gotten away with it. get away with doing sth How can he get away with speaking to her like that? 2 informal to manage to do something without any bad results: You ought to allow three sandwiches per person, although you could get away with two. get back phrasal vb 1 [l] to return to a place: It's late, I ought to get back. Dad always got back home in time for + from /to What time does Sara get back from dinner. work? 2 [T] to receive or have something again after a time when it was taken or lost: She left her briefcase on

get the train and she doesn't know how to get it back. 2a. if you get your money back, the money that you paid for something is given back to you 3 [t] [get sb back] to do something to hurt or upset someone because they have done something to hurt or upset you 4 [T] [get sth back] to make something return to the state or condition it was in before: It won't take long for us to get things back the way they were. 4a. [ to return to the state or condition you were in before: + to /in/ into / woke early and couldn 't get back to sleep. She needs to get back in control of her life. 5 [I] to begin doing something again after not doing it for a period of time: + to /into She was eager to get back A year after his band to work after she had her baby. broke up, he wants to get back into music again. l

get

back spoken used

]

for telling

someone

to

move away

because they are in danger back at phrasal vb [T] [get back at sb] to do something to hurt or upset someone after they have hurt or upset you: She was trying to get back at him for humiliating her. get back to phrasal vb [T] spoken [get back to sb] to call, write, or speak to someone at a later time because you were busy or could not answer their question earlier: + on Can you get back to me on those figures by the end of the day? ,get behind phrasal vb 1 [i] if you get behind with work or payments, you have not done as much work or made as many payments as you should have 2 [T] [get behind sb/sth] to support an idea, project, etc., or help someone in what they are trying to do ,get by phrasal vb [i] to have just enough of something such as money or knowledge so that you can do what you need to do: My arithmetic isn't very good, but I get by. +on / can get by on $1,500 a month if I'm careful. + with You could probably get by with that computer, but a more powerful one would be better. ,get down phrasal vb 1 [T] to write something somewhere: Let me get your address down. Someone managed to get ,get

down

the license plate

number of

the car.

2

[T] [get

sb

down] to make someone feel sad or lose hope: Doing the same thing every day can get you down. 2a. [l] to start feeling sad or losing hope: She gets down at times, but mostly she copes very well. 3 [T] to manage to swallow food or a drink: Even though you are sick, you should try

down a little food. down to phrasal vb [T] [get down doing something seriously or with a to get

,get

to sth] 1

to start

lot of effort: After

lunch we got down to discussing the issue of redundancies. to have only a few things left to use or deal with ,get 'in phrasal vb 1 [i] to arrive at home or at work: You got in very late last night! Mark never gets in before 9:30. 1a. if a train, plane, etc. gets in, it arrives: Our flight got

2

in on time. The London train gets in at 10.05. 2 [l to be accepted to study at a school or chosen to play for a team, etc.: It's a very exclusive school and you have to pass an exam to get in. 3 [l] to be elected for a political job: In 1994 a Republican majority got in. 4 [T] to deliver or send something to a person or place: / have to get this homework in by the end of the week. 5 [T] to manage to fit something such as an activity or comment into a small amount of time 6 [T] BrE to ask someone to come to your house, office, etc. in order to do something for you: We're getting a plumber in to fix the leak. 7 [T] BrE to buy or collect things that you need ,get in on phrasal vb [T] [get in on sth] to become involved in something that other people are doing that is fun or interesting, or that makes money ,get into phrasal vb [T] 1 [get into sth] to start enjoying something or become enthusiastic about it: You feel shy when you start your speech, but then you get into it. She's really getting into the Internet. 2 [get into sth] informal to begin to discuss something: / don't think we have time to get into that now. 3 [get into sth] if a train, airplane, etc. gets into a place, it arrives there 3a. to arrive at work or school 4 [get into sth] to be accepted to study at a school or chosen to play for a team, etc. 4a. to be elected to a political job 5 to become involved in a bad situation: get into a fight/argument, etc. (with sb) / don want to get ]

't

into

an argument with him.

get into trouble/difficulties

Those kids are always getting into trouble. 6 [get into sth] if you get into a temper, a bad mood, etc., you start being angry or in a bad mood 7 [get into sth] to start doing something regularly in a particular way: etc.

get

585 Try

to

get into the habit of drinking a glass of water every

hour.

what's gotten into sb? spoken used for asking why someone is behaving in an unusual or annoying way get in with phrasal vb [T] [get in with sb] 1 to begin to be involved with a particular person or group 2 mainly Br E to persuade someone who can help you to be your friend or like you: If you want to be elected to the club, she's the person you need to get in with. get off phrasal vb 1 [T] [get sth off] to have a particular period of time as a vacation. I'll try to come, but I'm not sure I'll be able to get that week off Do you get much time

2 [i/T] to leave the place you work at What the end of the day: We get off early on Fridays. time do you get off work? 2a. [t] [get sb off] to help someone be ready to leave a place at the right time: / try to get the kids off in the mornings by 8:30. 3 [T] [get sth off] to send something, for example in the mail: Have you gotten your application form off yet?* get sth off to sb I'll get the documents off to you this afternoon. 4 [i] to not be punished severely or at all for something you have been accused of in court: He was charged with manslaughter, but got off. + with At best you can hope to get off with a $100 fine. 4a. [T] [get sb off] to help someone avoid being punished by a court 5 i/t usually in imperative] used for telling someone to stop touching someone or something: Get off- you're hurting my back. get off sb/ sth Get off the grass right now! 5a. [t] [get sb/sth off sb/ sth] used for telling someone to stop another person or thing from touching someone or something: Get your dog off me or I'll call the police. Would you please get your feet off the table? 6 [T] [get sth off sb] to borrow or take something from someone 7 [\/T] E spoken to have an orgasm, or make someone have an orgasm 8 [T] [get sb off] Br E to help someone to fall asleep 8a. get off to sleep Br E to fall asleep off at Christmas?

[

Am

get off

my

want them

back spoken used for telling someone you annoying or criticizing you

to stop

where they can get off/ where to get off spoken to tell someone rudely that you are angry or annoyed at them where does sb get off doing sth? spoken used for saying that you think someone is wrong to behave in a particular way get off on phrasal vb [T] informal to enjoy and become tell

sb

very excited about something, especially in a sexual

way get on phrasal vb 1 get on or get onto [T] [get on sth] to be chosen to be part of a group or team: Clare got on the school board. 1a. [get sb on sth] to persuade or choose someone to be part of a group: They want to get more women on the editorial team. 2 get on or get onto [T] [get on sth] to be allowed to be on a television or radio program: She even got on TV talking about her invention. 2a. [get sb on sth] to put someone on a television or radio program: A famous TV interviewer wanted to get her on his show. 3 [T] [get on sb] Am E to remind someone to do something, especially when you have to do it more than once: Get on Bill to see if he can come up with those numbers for you. 4 [t] [get on sth] to finally do something you have been intending to do for a while 5 [i] BrE to continue doing something, especially with more effort or more quickly than before: Can we please get on, because there are a lot of things still to discuss. 6 [l] Br E to be successful in life or at work: He is prepared to do anything in order to get on. 7 [i] BrE used for asking or talking about how well someone has done a particular activity: + with /in How did you get on in your exams?* Jim seems Br E same to be getting on very well with the cleaning. 8 as get along My parents and I don get on. [

i

l

]

't

:

Am E impolite to have

get it on getting on

1

fairly old:

My

sex grandfather

2 Br E fairly late getting on for almost a particular

is

getting on in

years.

number, age, when she got home

time,

etc.: It was getting on for ten o'clock from work. get onto or get on to phrasal vb [T]

1

[get onto Sth] to

start talking about a subject: Let's get on to the next item on our agenda. * How did we get onto this subject? 2 [get

onto sth] same as get on 2: He managed to get onto a local radio show. 3 [get onto sth] same as get on 1: Things selection committee. 4 [get

changed when he got onto the

get to write or

1

get

on with your

life to stop

thinking or worrying

about something bad that happened in the past and start living a normal life again get out phrasal vb 1 [i] used for telling someone to leave: The teacher screamed at him to get out. + of Get out of my house! 1a. [T] [get sb out] to make another person leave: Get that man out of my bedroom! 2 [T] to remove something that is inside or mixed with something else: / washed the shirt twice, but I couldn't get the stain out. get sth out of sth Mike got a sliver of glass out of Jenny's toe. 3 [I] to go to different places and spend time enjoying yourself: We don't get out much, since we have a young baby. 4 [i] if something secret gets out, a lot of people find out about it: There was a huge public outcry when the news got out. +that It quickly got out that Mariel was leaving Danny. 5 [T] to manage to say something: He tried to protest, but couldn't get the words out. 6 [T] to make something such as a new book available for people

buy 7 [T] [get sb out] to remove someone from their from a position of political power: They were confident they could get the Democrats out. 8 [l always in imperative] Am E spoken used for saying you are surprised by something or do not believe it ,get 'out of phrasal vb [T] 1 [get out of sth] to avoid doing something that you should do or said you would do: / said I'd meet him, but now I want to get out of it. get out of doing sth Ruth always tries to get out of doing the dishes. la. [get sb out of sth] to help someone avoid doing something: Can you get me out of going to this meeting? 2 [get sth out of sth] to get pleasure or a benefit from something: He gets a lot of satisfaction out of being a teacher. / don't understand what she gets out of her relationship with him. 3 [get out of sth] to take off clothes so that you can put on more comfortable clothes 4 [get sth out of sb] to persuade someone to give you information or money to

job, especially

get out of here spoken 1 used for telling someone to leave 2 used for saying you do not believe what someone is

getaway

586

BrE

speak to someone in order to ask them to do something for you: You need to get onto your landlord about that leaky roof. get on with phrasal vb [T] 1 [get on with sth] to give your time to something and make progress with it: The sooner we finish the speeches, the sooner we can get on with the celebration. get on with the job /business /work of sth Our priority now is to get on with the job of developing a comprehensive test ban treaty. get on with doing sth Congress must get on with addressing these long-standing issues. 2 [get on with sb] same as get along onto sb]

telling

you

get over phrasal vb [T] 1 [get over sth] to start to feel happy or well again after something bad has happened to you: It can take weeks to get over an illness like that. Don's pretty upset, but he'll get over it. 1a. [get over sb] to start to forget someone and feel happy again after a relationship has ended 2 [get over sth] to find a way to solve or deal with a difficult problem: There are many hurdles still to get over before the new restaurant can open. 3 get over or get over with [get sth over] to do something or allow something to happen, because you want it to be finished or you want to start something else: We decided to get the vacation over before we started decorating the house. 4 Br E same as get across

can't get over sth used for saying that you are very surprised by something or think it is funny: I just can't how well we played! get over here/there spoken used for telling someone to come or go somewhere get over it spoken used for telling someone to stop worrying, complaining, or being upset about something get over with phrasal vb [T] [get sth over with] same as get over 3: / wanted to get the interview over with as quickly as possible. ,get round phrasal vb Br E 1 [l] same as get around 2: The news soon got round that people were going to lose their jobs. 2 [T] same as get around 3: We had to get round the problem that none of us spoke the same language. 3 [T] same as get around 5: She gets round her dad easily, but her mother is stricter. get round to phrasal vb [T] Br £ [get round to sth] same as get over

get

around

to: I finally

got round

to

reading that book

you lent me. get through phrasal vb 1 [T] [get through sth] to manage to deal with a difficult situation or stay alive until it is over: The refugees will need help to get through the winter. / just have to get through the first five minutes of my speech, and then I'll be fine. 1a. [get sb through/get sb through sth] to help someone deal with a difficult situation or stay alive until it is over: She was relying on luck to get her through. He needs a lot of coffee to get him through the day. 2 [i] to be connected to a place by telephone: / couldn 't get through - the line was busy. +to I finally got through to Warren on his cellphone. 3 [T] [get through sth] to finish dealing with some work, a subject, etc.: There was a lot to get through in the meeting. 4 [T] [get through sth] to reach a good enough standard to pass a test: How did he ever get through his driving test? 4a. [t] [get sb through sth] to help someone pass a test, etc. 5 [T] [get sth through sth] to have a new law accepted by a legislature: Getting a bill through Congress is a long process. 5a. [i] if a law gets through, it is accepted by a legislature 6 [T] [get through sth] BrE to use or finish something: How do we get through so much milk? get through to phrasal vb [T] 1 [get through to sb] to make someone understand what you are trying to say: The teacher feels he is not getting through to some of the kids in his class. 2 [get through to sth] to go forward to the next stage of a process, for example a competition, because you have succeeded in the previous stage: She got through to the final round of interviews. get to phrasal vb [T] informal 1 [get to sb] to annoy or upset someone: After a while his teasing started to get to me. 2 [get to doing sth] to start doing something: He got to

thinking that

it

was

all his fault.

where has sb/sth gotten to? Am E spoken used asking where someone or something is

for

get together phrasal vb 1 [l] if people get together, they meet in order to do something or to spend time together: The whole family usually gets together at least once a year. + with He got together with some friends to plan a party for her. 1a. [t] [get sb together] to ask or make people come together in one place: Lou got the girls together and told them about Anna's accident. 2 [l] to reach an agreement on an issue that people have had different opinions about: + on / hope the committee can get together on this issue. 3 [T] to organize or produce something that has many separate parts: We've got to get this report together by tomorrow. 4 [T] to find or bring things that you need, so that they are in one place and ready to use: / got together a list of all their names and phone numbers. 4a. to obtain an amount of money that you need 5 [i] informal if two people get together, they start a romantic or sexual relationship get it together to be in control of your life, so that you are successful and doing what you want to do get yourself together to become calm and in control of

your emotions get up phrasal vb 1 [i] to get out of bed after sleeping: He never gets up before nine. la. [T] [get sb up] to wake someone and tell them to get out of bed: Will you get me up at six tomorrow? 2 [T] Br E to organize something by asking different people to take part in it or provide help 3 [T] Br E to dress someone in a particular way: She got herself up as Annie Oakley. 4 [1] if the wind gets up, it starts blowing strongly

up very informal to have an erection up for sth spoken to become enthusiastic about doing something that you expect to be an effort: I'm not get get

it

it

sure I can get it up for this party tonight. ,get up to phrasal vb [T] spoken [get up to sth] to do something, especially something that you should not do: The children get up to all sorts of mischief when I'm not here. get with phrasal vb mainly spoken get with it to know about what is happening or things that are fashionable at the present time: If you've never used the Internet, you need to get with it. get with it/the program to pay attention to what is happening and start doing what you should be doing: He's not doing very well in school - it'll be too late if he doesn t get with it soon.

get -a -way / 'geta.wei/ noun [C] informal 1 a place away from home where you can relax: We had four days at

get-go 2

a short vacation: a weekend

getaway car/van/vehicle the vehicle that criminals use when they are driving away, for example from a bank where they have stolen money make a getaway 1 to escape after committing a crime 2 to get away from a boring social situation: / decided to make my getaway as soon as I got the chance. get- go noun AmE informal from the get-go from the very beginning: They disliked each other from the get-go. get- out adj mainly Br E informal allowing you to avoid an obligation or a difficult situation: a get-out clause as all get-out Am E mainly spoken used for emphasizing

how

strong a quality or behavior mean /pretty as all get-out

is:

as boring/smart/

get-rich- quick

ad] [only before noun] informal a get-richquick plan is designed to earn you a lot of money in a short period of time, often in a way that is slightly dishonest or not sensible get-to gether noun [c] an informal social occasion Get-tys-burg Ad-dress, the /getizb3rg a'dres/ an important speech that was given by President Abraham Lincoln in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, during the Civil War in 1863. It includes the famous expression "gov-

ernment of the people, by the people,

for the people."

get-up

noun [C] informal the clothes that someone is wearing, used especially when you think they look silly get-up-and-'go noun [u] informal energy and enthusiasm gew-gaw /'gju,go/ noun [C] informal a geegaw gey-ser /'gaizar/ noun [c] hot water and steam that shoot up out of the earth ghast-ly /'gaestli/ adj 1 shocking in a way that frightens or upsets you: She had a ghastly expression on her face. 2 very bad or unpleasant: a really ghastly wine

ghat

/gat/ noun

leading

down

[c]

Indian English in India, the steps where people wash

to a river or lake

themselves ghee /gi/ noun

[u]

butter used in Indian cooking

gherkin

/'g3rkm/ noun [c] a small green vegetable preserved in vinegar and eaten cold with meals

ghet-to /'getoo/ noun

in a city where usually in poor conditions: an inner-city ghetto 2 a part of a European town or city where Jewish people were forced to live in the past

an area

1

[c]

people of a particular type

live,

ghet-to blast-er /'getoo .blaestar/ noun [c] informal a boom box. This word is sometimes considered offensive. ghet-to-ize / 'getoo ,aiz/ verb

[T] 1

to force a particular

group of people to live in a particular area, usually in poor conditions 2 to turn an area into a ghetto ghost 1 /goost/ noun [c] ** the spirit of a dead person that someone sees or hears: Do you believe in ghosts?* the ghost of sb The ghost of a murdered dairymaid is said to walk the farmyard at night. a /the ghost of sth a slight sign or possibility of something: the ghost of a smile a ghost of a chance give up the ghost humorous 1 to stop trying to do something because your efforts have been unsuccessful

2

if a car or other machine gives up the ghost, it stops working completely 3 to die look as if you have seen a ghost to look very frightened and upset ghost 2 /goost/ verb [i/T] ghost or ghostwrite to write something for someone else whose name will appear on it

9 ift

587

our mountain getaway. getaway

as the writer

ghost-ing

/'goostin/ noun [u] the appearance of a double image on a television screen, caused by problems with your reception

ghost-ly

/'goostli/ adj reminding you of a ghost: a ghostly light /form /sound ghostly pale

'ghost .story noun 'ghost town noun

[C]

a frightening story about ghosts

[C]

a town where most people have

left

ghost-writ-er /'goost Tartar/ noun [C] someone who writes something for someone else whose name will appear on

it

as the writer

— ghost* write verb

[I

/T]

ghoul /gul/ noun [C] 1 an imaginary creature that eats dead people 2 someone who is interested in or enjoys unpleasant situations involving death or injury 1 reminding you of death in an unpleasant and frightening way 2 getting pleasure ghoulfrom unpleasant situations involving death ish-ly adv, ghoul-ish-ness noun [U] G.H.Q. /,d3i eitj 'kju/ noun [u] BrE General Headquarters: the place from which a senior military officer controls operations GI / ,d3i 'ai/ noun [C] Am E a soldier in uniform, especially one who is not an officer gi-ant /'d3ai3nt/ noun [C] 1 mainly journalism a very large and successful company: the Dutch electronics giant Philips the giants of European soccer la. used for referring to someone who is very successful and important, especially in the arts: giants of the keyboard such as Rachmaninov 2 an imaginary person in stories, who is extremely

ghouMsh /'guliJV adj

—

**

1

strong, and often evil 2a. a man who is much taller and stronger than most men 2 gi-ant /'d3aiant/ adj [only before noun] ** extremely tall,

large: giant video screens a. used in the names of

are

much

a giant industrial corporation

some animals and plants that same type: a giant

larger than others of the

tortoise/ clam/ redwood a giant step/leap/stride important progress that has been made gi-ant-ess /^aiantas/ noun [c] an imaginary woman who is extremely tall, strong, and often evil 'giant .killer noun [C] BrE mainly journalism someone who defeats a much more powerful, skillful, or famous opponent in sports giant 'panda noun [c] a panda gib-ber /'d3ibar/ verb [i/T] to speak in a way that is hard to understand because you are sick, cold, or

frightened

gib-ber-ing /'d^ibann/

adj often

humorous unable

to

speak in a sensible way, especially because you are frightened or shocked: After a day with the kids I'm a gibbering wreck.

gib-ber-ish /^ibanJV noun [u] informal nonsense gib-bet /'d3ibit/ noun [C] a tall wooden structure from which criminals were hanged in the past gib-bon /'gibsn/ noun [C] an animal that looks like a monkey with long arms and no tail that lives in the forests of India and Indonesia gibe /d3aib/ noun [C] a remark that is intended to hurt someone or make them feel stupid gib-lets /'d3ibbts/ noun (plural] the liver, heart, and neck of poultry that you remove before you cook it gid-dy /'gidi/ adj 1 very excited and happy 2 suddenly feeling that you might become unconscious and fall: dizzy

Gid-e-on Bi-ble /.gidian 'baibl/ noun [c] a Bible put in a hotel room for the people staying there to read

GIF /,d3i

ai 'ef/ noun [u] computing Graphic Interchange Format: a type of computer file that contains an image. is also used as part of a file name. gift /gift/ noun [C] 1 something that you give to someone as a present: He bought generous gifts for all his family. The video camera was a retirement gift from colleagues. She made a $50,000

GIF

**•

gift to charity.

2

a natural ability to do something well: Making quick +for She gets her is not one of my greatest gifts. gift for languages from her mother. 3 something good that you are grateful to have: + of the gift of sight/ life / love 4 [usually singular] informal something that you get easily that gives you an advantage: +to The scandal was a gift to the Republicans. decisions

be in sb's gift Br E formal if something is in your gift, you have the right to give it to someone don't/never look a gift horse in the mouth used for saying that if you are given something good, you should not complain about it or try to find things that are wrong with it -> gab2 god's gift ,

gift aid

588

gift aid noun

[u]

BrE an arrangement

charity that you give the government

money

to, to

that allows a

get extra

money from

AmE

gift certificate noun [c] a document that you buy in a store as a present for someone, so they can

come to the store later and exchange it for something they want gift-ed /'gifuxl/adj with an impressive natural ability: +in She's exceptionally gifted

a gifted child

in music.

shop

noun [C] a store selling things that people like to give and receive as presents gift wrap noun [u] attractive colored paper that you use to wrap presents gift-wrapped /'gift,nept/ adj covered in attractive paper to be given as a present: a gift-wrapped birthday gift

present

—gift-wrap verb

gig 1 /gig/ noun

[c]

[T]

•

a public performance, especially of jazz or popular music: Live gigs are the most enjoyable part of my work. play/do a gig Buffalo Tom play a one-off gig at London 's Powerhaus on March 21. 2 Am E a piece of work that you do for money, especially if you are self-employed: a typing I gardening / writing gig 3 a vehicle with two wheels pulled by a horse, used in the past 1

gig 2 /gig/

verb [i] to perform music in public: started gigging again last year.

gi-gabyte

The band

/'gigs.bait/ noun [C] computing a unit for

measuring computer information, equal

to 1,024 mega-

bytes,

gi-gan-tic /d3ai'gaentik/

adj

extremely large

/'gigl/ verb [I] • to laugh in a nervous, excited, or silly way that is difficult to control: The children +at whispered and giggled all the way through the film.

giggle

1

She giggles at the smallest thing. /'gigl/ noun 1 [C] a high laugh, especially a nervous or silly one: The sound of giggles came from the girls' room. 2 [singular] Br E spoken something that you do for fun because you think it is funny

giggle 2

get/have the giggles During his speech, I got

to be unable to stop giggling: the giggles and had to leave. make someone giggle and be

give sb the giggles to

unable to stop

giggly or

silly

/

gigli/ adj laughing a lot in a nervous, excited,

out: the idea that a computer program as the information that is put into it

is

only as good

gig-o-lo / 'd3ig3loo7 noun [C] a man who is paid to have romantic or sexual relationships with women G il-bert and Sullivan / .gilbsrt an 'sAlivn/ two 19thcentury British writers of music who wrote funny operettas

gild /gild/ verb

[t] 1

to cover a surface with a very thin if light gilds something, it makes

layer of gold 2 literary it look golden

gild-ed /'gildsd/ adj 1 covered with a very thin layer of gold: a gilded frame 2 shining like gold 1

/gil/ noun [C usually

plural]

the head of a fish that allows

one of the organs behind it to breathe —picture -»

FISH

to the gills as full as possible: The room the gills. 2

gill /d3il/ noun [C] a unit for to one quarter of a pint

was packed

measuring liquids equal

[c] Am E informal something that you can easily win: The match was a gimme for Petrova

who will win the tournament. ginvmick/'gimik/noun [C] something

that is intended impress and interest you but is really not useful at not a real education policy, it's just a gimmick to win votes. ginvmick»y adj ginvmick*ry /'gimikri/ noun [u] the use of gimmicks gin /d3in/ noun [u] a strong clear alcoholic drink made from grain and small fruits called juniper berries to add flavor a. [C] a glass of gin -» gin rummy gin-ger 1 /'d3ind33r/ noun [u] a thick light brown root with a strong flavor that is used as a spice in cooking to

all: It's

— picture -» en — gin*ger*y adj

gin-ger 2 /'d3ind33r/

adj

2

gilt /gilt/ adj covered with a thin substance that looks like gold or is made of gold: a gilt frame /chair gilt-edged /,gilt 'ed3d/ adj 1 gilt-edged investments are considered to be very safe and reliable 1a. used about other things that are very valuable or reliable: a gilt-edged promise 2 with gold edges: a gilt-edged mirror /'d3im,kraek/ adj mainly

1

containing or tasting of fur is orange-

2 ginger hair or

ginger: ginger cookies

brown 'ginger ale noun a.

[C]

[u] a sweet drink with a ginger flavor a glass or bottle of ginger ale

'ginger beer noun

[u] a drink similar to ginger ale, with a stronger flavor, made with fermented ginger a. [C] a glass or bottle of ginger beer gingerbread / 'd3ind39r,bred/ noun [u] a type of cake made with ginger gingerbread man noun [c] a cookie with a ginger flavor in the shape of a person gin-ger-ly /'d3ind33rli/ adv mainly literary in a very slow and careful way, usually because you are injured or afraid of something ginger snap noun [c] a type of cookie that has a strong

ginger flavor

ging-ham /'gupm/

noun [u] thin cloth made from cotton with a pattern of small colored and white squares: a gingham shirt

gingivi-tis /,d3ind3i'vaitis/ noun [u] a medical condition that makes your gums painful gi-normous ^ai'normas/ adj BrE humorous extremely large: huge rummy or gin noun in

which players try

[u]

a card

game for two people

to collect sets of cards

gin-seng /'d3in,sen/ noun [u] the root of a wild plant that many people believe gives them strength and energy: ginseng tea /capsules

an alcoholic drink made by mixing and lemon or lime gipsy / 'd3ipsi/ a Br E spelling of gypsy gi-raff e /d33'raef/ noun [C] * a tall African animal that has a very long neck and legs —picture -> ci2 gird /g3rd/ verb [T] to prepare for a difficult activity: The army is girding itself for a renewed assault by the rebels, a. gird up your loins often humorous or gird yourself (up) to prepare for something difficult or dan-

gin 'sling noun

[c]

gin with water, sugar,

gerous

gird-er /'g3rdsr/ noun [C] a very large metal bar used for making the frame of a building, bridge, or other

girdle

1

/'g3rdl/ noun [C] 1 a piece of very tight under-

wear that women wore in the past to make them look thinner 2 a soft narrow belt that you tie around your waist

1

gim-crack

versation

ginvme 2 / 'gimi/ noun

large structure to

/gilt/ noun [u] a thin layer of gold or something like gold, used for decorating objects: lettered in gilt

gilt

1

,gin

way

GIGO /'gai.gou/ noun [u] computing garbage in, garbage

gill

girl

ginvlet /'gimtot/ noun [Cj 1 a small tool used for making holes in leather or wood 2 an alcoholic drink made with gin or vodka and lime juice ginvme /'gimi/ short form informal a way of writing "give me" that shows how it sounds in informal con-

BrE

gimcrack

objects appear attractive and expensive, but are in fact badly made and of little value

girdle 2

/

'g3rdl/ verb

girl /g3rl/ noun

[c]

[T] literary

to

surround something

•**

1 a female child: There are 12 boys and 15 girls in my little girl What a pretty little girl! 1a. a daughter: Mary's two girls still live at home. 2 a female adult, especially a young one. This use is considered offensive by many women: Who was that beautiful girl I saw you with last night? 2a. girls [plural] used for talking to or about a group of women, especially by women who are the same age or older. This is often considered offensive when used by men: So how are you

son's class.

girl

Friday

589

the girls (=a woman's female friends) I'm going out with the girls tonight. 2b. sb's girl old-

girls doing today?

fashioned someone's girlfriend: Do you want to see a picture of my girl? 2c. old-fashioned a young woman who works as a servant or in a store, office etc.: a shop/ an office/ a factory girl

3

[often before noun] a female animal, especially a pet: a girl dog or a boy dog?

it

Words

that

may cause

Is

offense: girl

People sometimes say girl to refer to a young adult woman, but this use may cause offense. Avoid using girl if it would seem wrong to use boy about a young man of the same age. Do not use girl about an adult

woman. '

girl Friday or gal 'Friday noun fashioned a female secretary

[c]

informal old-

girl-friend /'g3rl,frend/ noun [c] *• 1 a woman who you are having a romantic or sexual relationship with: I'd had lots of girlfriends, but never one like her. Have you got a girlfriend?

2

woman: A

a female friend of a

girlfriends every day. 2a.

some women use when

girl needs to talk to her

Am E informal a friendly name calling or talking to each other:

Listen to me, girlfriend!

girl-hood /'g3rl,hod/ noun a

woman

is

[u]

the period of time

when

a girl

/ g3rli/ adj informal 1 a girlie show or magazine shows women wearing no clothes 2 looking or behaving like a young girl: She's very girlie, all frills and curls. 3 suitable for girls and women rather than boys or men: girlie names girl-ish /'g3rliJ7 ad) looking or behaving like a young

girl-ie

girl:

She gave a girlish

giggle.

girl-y /'g3rli/ another spelling of girlie

AmE

a girl who is a member of ,Girl 'Scout noun [C] the Scout Association, an organization that encourages young people to learn practical skills and help other people

girth /g3r9/ noun 1 [c/u] the distance around something thick and round, for example a tree 1a. mainly literary the distance around someone's waist, especially someone large 2 [C] a wide belt that you put around the middle of a horse to hold the saddle on —picture -» HORSE

gis-mo /'gizmoo/ another spelling of gizmo gist, the /d3ist/ noun the main idea or most

important

point of something that someone has written or said: get/catch the gist of sth / only got the gist of what he was saying.

git /git/ noun

[c]

for a stupid or

give 1 /giv/ /'givn/) verb

BrE

very informal

an insulting word

annoying person

(past tense

gave /geiv/; past

participle

given

***

1

provide sb with sth

2 3 4 5 6 7

make sb owner

of sth

put medicine

sb

in

cause effect/experience communicate perform action

8 pass illness to sb else 9 pay money 10 stretch/bend/break 11 change decision 12 use all time/energy + PHRASES

allow sb to do sth

put something in someone's hand or pass something to someone: give sb sth Could you give me that pen? give sth to sb She gave the flowers to me to hold. 1a. [T] to let someone have or keep something as a present: 1

[T] to

give sb sth We don't know what to give Dad for Christmas. 1b. [i/t] to do something good or helpful for someone: a relationship where one partner gives more than the other Aid will be given to areas hardest hit by the flooding. give sb help/support/encouragement Thanks for all the support you 've given us.

2

[T] to make someone the owner of something that you owned: give sb sth Will the new tax laws make people give the government more of their property? give sth to sb There are tax advantages if you give the house to your

children.

3

[T] to put medicine into someone's body using a particular method: Can't you give her anything for the

9 ,ve pain?* The drug is normally given by injection. 4 [T] to cause a general result or effect: The motor oil The gives good performance in all weather conditions. removal of trade restrictions could give the economy a substantial boost. 4a. to make someone feel or experience something: give sb sth These stories have given people enormous pleasure over the years. The results gave us a give sb trouble/problems/grief Since we distinct shock. replaced the clutch, the car has given us no trouble at all. 4b. to make something look, taste, smell, sound, or feel a particular way: Some laundry detergents give cotton a softer feel. 4c. to make someone think or believe something: give sb the idea/impression (that) She gave us the be distinct impression that the work was nearly finished.

given to understand/believe sth formal The hotel isn't as luxurious as we were given to understand in the brochure. 5 [T] to show or communicate information: If you see him, will you give him a message from me?* They gave me The answers are given all the instructions over the phone. on page 100. 5a. to perform an action to someone or something: give sb sth I gave him a hug before I left. We give sb a need to give the dog a bath this weekend. call (=to phone someone) I'll give you a call on Sunday. 5b. used about a speech, talk, etc: Someone from the university will give a talk on the future of education. 5c. to attempt to do something: give sth a try /shot I'd never ridden a horse before, but I was prepared to give it a try. 5d. to spend time thinking about something before you make a decision or judgment about it: give sth thought/ attention/consideration We'll give your suggestions some thought and let you know what we decide. 6 [T] to perform a particular action: give a laugh/smile She gave a short, mirthless laugh. 7 [T] to allow someone to take action: Permission to build on the site had to be given by the zoning board. 7a. to allow someone to do something before other people: give preference /priority to sb When selecting applicants, priority is usually given to those with experience. 7b. to allow someone a limited time to do something: give sb sth They have given us six months to develop a new billing system. 8 [T] to pass an illness or disease to another person: give sth to give sb sth She gave the whole office the flu. sb You could easily give the disease to your partner. 9 [T] spoken to pay money for something: How much did they give you for your old car? give sb sth Martin gave me $500 for my computer. 9a. [l/T] to pay money to charity (^organizations that help people): We didn't give at all last year. give sth to sb We prefer to give our money to local causes. 9b. [T] to provide a large amount of money, for example a loan or a grant: give sth to sb The Small Business Association gives loans to new businesses. 10 [I] if something gives, it stretches, bends, or moves: The bridge has to be able to give a little in the wind. 10a. if something that supports or holds something gives, it breaks: The floor of the platform might give if too many people walk on it. 11 [I] if someone gives, they agree to change a decision, opinion, or intention: / tried to get my husband to come with me, but he wouldn't give. 12 [T] if you give yourself to something, you use all

your time and energy to do it: They expect you to give yourself to the job completely. 12a. old-fashioned if you give yourself to someone, you have sex with them don't give me that spoken used for telling someone you do not believe or like what they are saying give as good as you get informal to compete or fight as hard as your opponent give sb/sth a chance used for telling someone not to make a judgment about someone or something too quickly give sth a day/month/year etc. used for saying how long you think something will last: Nobody gave the marriage more than a few months. give it to sb straight spoken used for telling someone not to hide unpleasant facts from someone give me sth spoken used for saying what you like or prefer: Just give me a glass of Scotch and a good book and I'm a happy man. give or take used for talking about numbers or quantities that are not exact: Each talk lasts half an hour, give or take five minutes.

give

glad

590

give you sb formal used in a formal speech for introducing someone or for asking people to show their approval by applauding (^hitting their hands together) I'll give you that spoken used for saying you accept that part of what someone has said is true, but not all of it: Oh. he s charming enough. I'll give you that, but I wouldn I

't

him an inch. 1 would give my right arm/my eye teeth for sth or I would give anything for sth used for saying that you would very much like to have something: / would give anything for a trip to Maui right now. what gives? spoken used for asking what is happening trust

in a situation -» FINGER WAV

give sb up for dead The men who were still in the boat had given him up for dead. give up on phrasal vb [T] [give up on sb] 1 to stop hoping that someone will improve and stop trying to help or change them: Most of the teachers gave up on her years ago. 2 to stop hoping that you will find someone alive and stop looking for them give up to phrasal vb [T] [give yourself up to sth] to let yourself feel or show an emotion that you would norfor

it:

mally not feel or show give 2 /giv/ noun [u] the tendency

For shoes

to

to bend or stretch: be comfortable, there needs to be plenty of give

in the leather.

1

.

way

give a that

away

m

phrasal vb [T] 1 to tell information or facts secret: If captured, they might give vital military secrets. 1a. to show an emotion or

you should keep

quality that you are trying to hide: Her face gave nothing

away. 2 to provide someone with something you no longer want or need: Any plants that were left I gave away to neighbors. 2a. if a company gives something away, they let you have it without paying for it: Ten thousand copies of the software package are being given away. 3 in sports, to allow an opponent to win because you make a silly mistake: They gave away two runs in the first half. 4 if a man gives a woman away on her wedding day. he leads her toward the man she is going

marry give back phrasal vb [T] 1 to give someone something they owned or had before: The company had to give back all the money customers had paid. give sb back sth We just want them to give us back our home. 2 to allow someone to feel an emotion again that they had stopped to

feeling: give sb back sth A win today could give her back her confidence. give in phrasal vb [l] 1 to stop competing or arguing and accept that you cannot win: The champion refused to give in and went on to win the set. +to The government has said all along that it will never give in to terrorist threats. 2 if you give in to something, you can no longer control the feeling of wanting it: +to She had to struggle hard not to give in to a desire to laugh. give of phrasal vb [T] formal [give of sth] if you give of yourself or your time, you do helpful things for people give off phrasal vb T [give off sth] to produce something such as heat or a smell: When they die, plants give off gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. give onto phrasal vb [T] [give onto sth] if something such as a door or window gives onto a place, it leads to that place or you can see through it to that place give out phrasal vb 1 [T] to give something to several people: The office gives out financial advice to students who ask for it. 2 [i] if something such as a machine or a part of your body gives out. it stops working: His heart finally gave out under the strain. 3 [i] if a supply of something has given out. all of it has been used: fheirwater gave out two days ago. 4 [T] [give out sth] to produce something such as a sound or light: The quietest devices give out only a low. almost inaudible hum. give over to phrasal vb [T] 1 [usually passive]/orma/ to use something for a particular purpose: The major part of the garden was given over to growing vegetables. 2 if you give something over to someone, it becomes theirs give up phrasal vb 1 [T] to stop doing something you do regularly: His wife finally persuaded him to give up smoking. Giving up his job was the last thing we expected him to do. 1a. [T] to stop thinking or believing something: It was a difficult time, but we never gave up hope. give up the idea of sth (=to no longer want to do something) He had given up the idea of marriage altogether. 1b. [l/T] to stop doing something you are trying hard to do: We've given up trying to persuade them to change. Decide what [

]

you want and then don't give up until you've achieved it. 2 [T] to allow someone to have something that was yours: The new arrangement would mean giving up some +to They agreed to give of their political independence. half their office up to the temporary staff. 2a. to use your time for one activity instead of another: Taking this course will mean giving up a lot of my spare time. 3 [T] if you give yourself up. you allow yourself to be arrested by the police 4 [T] if you give something up as lost, you believe that you will not find

it

and you stop looking

give and take informal if there is give and take between people, each person allows the other to get something that they want

give-a-way

1

giva wei/ noun 1 [singular] a movement, on someone's face that shows the truth about something or lets you realize something that should be a secret: a dead (=obvious) giveaway / knew she'd passed. Her face was a dead giveaway. 2 [C] a present that a company gives you to try to persuade you to buy things from them '

action, or expression

give-a-way 2 / 'grva.wei/adj very cheap or free: designer clothes at

giveaway prices

give-back /'givbsek/ noun [c] AmE an amount of money someone receives as part of an agreement: wage givebacks worth $2 million 1

giv-en /'givn/

adj [only before noun]

*

used for referring to a particular thing: particular: About 250 students are working with us at any given time. In a given situation, more than one of these methods may 1

be used. 2 a given period has previously been decided on: Manypeople pay off the money owed within a given time.

given to sth formal having the tendency to do something: He was not a man much given to compassion. giv«en 2 /'grvn/ preposition because of a particular considering: Given x=10. then x~3=13. we need to learn 3

conflict is inevitable,

giv«en /'givn/ noun

fact:

+(that) Given that

how

manage it. you accept as

to

[C] a basic fact that the truth: It is a given that most animals will protect their young, a. take sth as a given to accept that something is true and not expect it to change: We've taken it as a given that our public schools are no good.

giv«en 4

the past participle of give

1

given name noun [c] the name your parents when you are born: first name -> name

give you

gizmo

/'gizmou/ noun [C] informal a small piece of equipment, especially one whose name you do not know: high-tech gizmos giz-zard /'gizsrd/ noun [c] the stomach of a chicken or other bird

glace

/glx'sei/ adj glace fruit is covered with a sugar mixture and looks smooth and shiny: glace cherries

glacial /'gleijl/ adj 1 extremely cold: a glacial wind 2 showing that you are angry or unfriendly: She gave him a glacial look. 3 extremely slow: The plot moves at a glacial pace. 4 created by glaciers millions of years ago: a glacial lake gla-ci-a-tion /,gleiji'eijn/ noun [u] the process in which land becomes covered by glaciers

gla-cier

/

'gleijar/

noun

[c]

a very large mass of ice that

moves very slowly

glad /glad/

adj

[usually after noun]

••*

happy and

pleased about something: "We're having a great time." +(that) I'm glad he finally called you. "I'm so glad." glad to see/hear/be, etc. Maggie was glad to be home in her own bed. +for I'm so glad for him - he really wanted + about She wasn't going to leave, and he was that job. glad about that. -> gladly

glad news/tidings old-fashioned news that makes people

happy glad of sth old-fashioned grateful for something: I'd be very glad of some help with the cooking. glad to do sth willing or ready to do something: I'd be glad-ness glad to watch the kids for you this afternoon. noun [U]

—

gladden

glasses

591

It

verb [T] old-fashioned to make gladdens my heart to see you looking

glade /gleid/ noun

forest

glad-den

/'glaedn/

someone happy: so well.

[cl mainly literary an area of a where there are no trees or bushes: clearing glad- hand /erb [i/t] to shake hands with a

lot of

people at a public event

gladia-tor /'glsdieitar/ noun [C] in ancient Rome, someone who fought against wild animals and other gladiators as a form of public entertainment glad-i-a-tori-al /glaedia'tDrial/ adj like a gladiator or relating to gladiators: gladiatorial combat

gladiolus

/glaedi'ootas/ (plural glad-i-o-li /.glaedi 'oulai/) noun [CJ a tall plant with long thin pointed leaves and several flowers

glad-ly/'glaedli/adv 1 in a willing way: happily: I would gladly have done anything for her. 2 in a happy or pleased way: We gladly accept your invitation. glanvor / glaemsr/ an Am E spelling of glamour glamor-ize /'glaems.raiz/ verb [T] to make someone or something seem more attractive or exciting than they really are: a culture that glamorizes drugs, sex, and vio-

glare 2

/gler/ now 1 [sngulai A an unpleasant bright light that makes you feel uncomfortable: You can put a the filter in front of your computer screen to reduce glare. glare of the midday sun 2 [C] an angry look: She gave me a furious glare.

the glare of publicity/the media etc. attention from newspapers and television, especially when you do not want it: Their relationship will be severely tested in the full glare of media publicity. glare ice noun [u] science ice that is smooth, shiny, and reflective (=refiects light easily)

glaring /glenn/ adj 1 obvious 2 a glaring light

that makes you feel uncomfortable glaring-ly /'glennli/ adv something

to

rich,

and famous

— glam-or*ous'ly adv noun

a special quality that makes a person, place, or situation seem very exciting, attractive, or fashionable: Most other cities cannot rival Hollywood for glamour. Her presence adds a touch of sth loses its glamour glamour to the government team. Working for the airline suddenly lost its glamour, a. [only before noun] having glamour: the glamour spots of Madrid

glance

[u]

•••

1

/glaens/ ^erb [i] 1 [+at/over/toward etc.) to look somewhere quickly and then look away: He glanced over his shoulder nervously.

up to see Guido watching me from the window. Robin glanced around the room. "I must go, " Claudia 1 glanced

glancing at her watch. [+at/through] to read something quickly and not very carefully: / hadn 't even glanced at the report.

said,

2

glance off phrasal vb [T] [glance off sth] to hit something lightly and then move away in a different direction: The ball glanced off his shoulder and went into the net. glance 2 /glaens/ noun [c] -k-k a quick look at someone or something: cast/shoot/throw a glance (at) The other wives cast sidelong glances at me. exchange glances The girls exchanged nervous glances. without a backward glance Rob turned and marched off without a backward glance, a. give /take /have a glance (at) to read something quickly and not very carefully: She had a quick glance at the newspaper as she gulped down her coffee. at a glance if you realize something at a glance, you realize it immediately as soon as you see someone or something: / could tell at a glance that it wasn't his own

is

glaringly

is

system, especially in the 1980s in the Soviet Union

glass

/glaes/ noun

1 clear

•**

substance

2 for drinking out of 3 objects made of glass

glam-or-ous

glam-our /'glsmar/

that

very obvious glaznoost; gbez.ncKt/noun [u] an attempt introduce a more open and democratic political

obvious

glasnost

lence

/'glaem(3)r9s/ adj 1 attractive and interesting in an exciting and unusual way: It's a very glamorous vacation spot. 2 a glamorous person is attractive,

a glaring mistake is very shines very brightly in a way

1

[u]

4 mirror 5 barometer + PHRASES

a hard clear substance used for making objects

such as windows or bottles: car windows made of bulslivers/ letproof glass * the sound of breaking glass shards of glass (=small broken pieces) She had six slivers ofglass removed from her cheek. pane/sheet of glass Each pane of glass costs several hundred dollars, la. made of glass:ag/ass bowl 2 [c] a small container made of glass used for a drink: a wine brandy/beer glass He raised the glass to his lips

and drained

in one gulp. 2a. the liquid in a glass or of liquid a glass contains: +of She drank three glasses of milk. Ramon poured himself a tall glass of orange juice. 3 III] attractive objects made out of glass: a beautiful collection of Italian glass 4 [C] old-fashioned a mirror 5 the glass Br E old-fashioned a barometep

the

it

amount

people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones spoken used for saying that people who have faults should not criticize other people for having the

same

faults

champagne

flute

tumbler

V

work. -» FIRST

Words

frequently used with glance

adjectives

wine glass

admiring, amused, backward,

V

cursory, furtive, quick, sharp, sidelong, sideways, brief, curious,

warning

glanc-ing /

glaensin/ adj hitting something quickly lightly: a glancing blow The falling branch struck with a glancing blow.

and him

brandy glass

gland

/glaend/ noun [c] a part of your body that produces a chemical substance that your body needs: the thyroid gland glan-du-lar /'glaend33br/ adj relating to the glands in

your body

glare 1 /gler/

verb

[i]

*

1 [+at] to look at someone or something in a very angry way: They glared at each other across the table. 2 to shine with a very strong light that makes you feel uncomfortable: The sun glared down, dazzling them.

Words adverbs

frequently used with glare accusingly, angrily, defiantly, fiercely, furiously

glassblow-er

/'glaesbloor/ noun [c] someone whose job is to blow liquid glass into shapes in order to make containers and other objects

glass ceiling noun [c] an unfair system that prevents some people, especially women, from reaching the most senior positions in a company or organization [plural] • an object that you your eyes to help you see better. You usually get your glasses from an optometrist: Where

glasses wear

/'glasaz/ noun

in front of

glass fiber

glasses.

glass fiber noun

1 [u] a material made from very thin pieces of glass stuck together: fiberglass 2 (C) a very thin and long piece of glass

glass-ful /'gkesful/ noun

[C]

the

amount

of liquid in a

glass

/'ghes.haos/ noun [c] mainly BrEa large glass building used for growing plants in. A small glasshouse in a garden is called a greenhouse.

glass-house

glass-ware /'glaes.wer/ noun [u] objects made of glass glass Wool noun [u] a light material made of glass fibers, used for making insulation that protects buildings from cold

m

glass-y / gkesi/ adj 1 smooth and shiny like glass: The water was green and glassy. 2 showing no interest or emotion, for example because of illness or drugs: a glassy stare

glas-sy-eyed

showing no interest or example because of illness or

/.glaesi 'aid/ adj

emotion in your eyes, for drugs Glas-we-gian /glss'wid3an/ noun [c] someone who comes from the city of Glasgow in Scotland —Glaswe-gian adj: a Glaswegian accent glau-co-ma /gb'kooma/ noun [u] a serious disease of the eyes that can make you blind glaze 1 /gleiz/ noun [C/u] 1 a thin layer of milk, sugar. or egg that you put on foods to make them look smooth and shiny 2 a clear shiny oil that you put on paintings or on objects made of clay, leather, or paper to protect them and make them look attractive 3 a layer of sugar on a cake that makes it look smooth and shiny glaze 2 /gleiz/ verb [T] to put a smooth and shiny surface on something glazed /gleizd/ adj 1 made of glass or decorated with glass: glazed doors 2 decorated or protected by a smooth shiny top layer: glazed pastries 3 a glazed look or expression shows that you are not at all interested in something glazier /'gleipr/ noun [C] someone whose job is to make and repair glass windows and doors glaz-ing /gleizin/ noun [u] 1 thin flat pieces of glass in doors and windows -» double glazing 2 a glaze used for giving clay, leather, or paper objects a shiny surface gleam 1 /glim/ verb [I] 1 to shine brightly: Her car gleamed in the sunshine. 2 if your eyes gleam, you look excited or happy: shine 2a. if a feeling or emotion gleams in your eyes, you express it with your eyes gleam 2 /glim/ noun [C] 1 a bright light reflected from something 2 a look of emotion or excitement in someone's eyes: There was an evil gleam in his eye as he spoke. 2a. a gleam in sb's eye an idea or wish that someone has, that they cannot yet achieve .Moving walkways have been a gleam in the eye of town planners for some time. gleam-ing /'glimin/ adj shiny, clean, and looking very healthy or new: his gleaming white teeth

glean

/glin/ verb 1 [T]formal to learn small pieces of information by asking questions or watching or listening carefully: garner: Their decisions were based on financial information gleaned from the Internet. 2 [l/T] to pick up small amounts of the crops left in a field after they have been cut and collected by the farmer

glean-ings / 'glininz/ noun

to the

/glib/ noun

forma I small amounts that you have learned

[plural]

of information, ideas, or details

glebe

[c] literary

a piece of land belonging

Church

glee /gli/ noun

[u] a feeling of excitement and happiness that often includes pleasure at someone else's bad luck: Their political opponents will be rubbing their hands with

glee.

gleeful of

else's

— glee-f ul-ly adv

[c] Br £ a valley, especially in Scotland adj 1 a glib person speaks easily and conThis word shows that you do not trust the

glen /glen/ noun glib /glib/ fidently.

happy and excited, often because bad luck: She gave a gleeful chuckle.

/'glifl/ adj

someone

glittering

592

put on (your) glasses He put on his are my glasses/ a pair of glasses / need a new pair of reading glasses. glasses. wear glasses Most children hate having to wear

person or what they are saying: smooth talking: His opponents say he is glib and deceitful. 2 a glib remark is made without careful thought and suggests that a situation is better or simpler than it really is: glib answers /explanations glib-ly adv, glib-ness noun [u]

glide /glaid/ verb [i] • 1 to move in a smooth and easy way with no

noise: The blade glided easily over his skin. She glided across the stage of London's Lyric Theatre. 2 to fly without using power, carried by the wind:i4n

eagle glided low over the ground. 2a. to fly in a glider

glid-er /'glaidar/ noun [c] a light airplane with no engine that people fly in for pleasure gliding /'glaidin/ noun [u] the activity of flying in a glider

glimmer

1

/'glimar/ noun [c] 1 a soft weak light that not steady 2 a very slight feeling or look that is not easily noticed: There was a glimmer of amusement in his is

eyes.

a glimmer of hope a very small sign that something might improve or succeed

glim-mer2

/'glimsr/ verb [i] 1 to shine with a soft light that is not steady: Camp fires glimmered in the distance. 2 literary if a feeling glimmers in your eyes or on your face, it shows there slightly

weak

glim-mer-ing /'glimann/ noun

[c] a slight sign of something: The sight gave her the glimmering of an idea. 1 /glimps/ noun [c] * 1 an occasion when you see someone or something for a moment only: + of The crowd were anxious for a glimpse of the President. Every so often she got a fleeting (=very quick) glimpse of the church steeple through the trees. catch /get/ have a glimpse / only caught a glimpse, but I think it was a badger. 2 an experience that gives you an idea of what something is like: + of /into In the villages you'll have a fascinating glimpse of Turkish country life.

glimpse

Words

frequently used with

adjectives

glimpse

brief, fascinating, fleeting,

1

intriguing, occasional, quick, rare,

tantalizing

glimpse 2 /glimps/ verb [t] to see someone or something for a moment or not completely: catch sight of: He glimpsed a short white-haired figure heading for the back gate. a. mainly literary used for saying that you have a short opportunity to understand someone or something: For a moment Jonathan glimpsed the solitude of the true artist. 1

glint /glint/ verb [I] 1 to shine with quick flashes of light 2 if someone's eyes glint, they show a strong emotion such as anger 2 glint /glint/ noun [c] 1 a quick flash of light 2 a sudden quick appearance of a strong emotion such as anger in someone's eyes glisten / 'glisn/ verb [i] if something glistens, it shines because it is wet or covered with oil: His forehead was glistening with sweat. /glitJV noun [C] informal a small and sudden problem: hitch 1 glit-ter / 'glitar/ verb [i] 1 to shine with a lot of small quick flashes of light: sparkle 2 if your eyes glitter, they show a strong emotion such as anger: Bill's eyes

glitch

glittered with irritation. 2

1 [u] an exciting and attractive quality that something has, often something that has no real value: the glitter and glare of Las Vegas 2 [u] very small shiny pieces of metal or plastic that you stick on things to make them shine and look attractive 3 [U] a lot of small flashes of light 4 [singular] a look in your eyes that shows a strong emotion such as anger

glit-ter /'glitar/ noun

glit-te-ra-ti, the /.glita'rati/ noun are rich, famous, and attractive

A humorous

[plural]

combination of glitter and (=educated people).

people

who

literati

glit-ter-ing /'ghtann/ adj 1 bright and shining with a lot of quick flashes of light: glittering jewels 2 used for describing situations that involve rich, famous, or

glittering prize a

glittering prize noun [c] a prize or successful position that a lot of people want to have very much glit-ter«y / 'glitsri/ adj informal bright and shining with a lot of quick flashes of light glitz /glits/ noun [u] informal a special quality that makes^ something seem very exciting and attractive although it has no real value

glitz-y / 'glitsi/ adj informal bright, exciting, and attractive but with no real value: a glitzy television show gloam-ing /'gloomin/ noun [singular/ U] literary the time of the evening when it is becoming dark: dusk gloat /glout/ verb [i] to show that you are happy and proud at your own success or at someone else's failure: gloat crow: + over He was there to gloat over their defeat. noun [singular] small amount of a glob /glab/ noun [C] very informal a soft thick substance: a glob of wax global /'gloobl/ adj [usually before noun] 1 including or affecting the whole world: The global global economy has become increasingly unstable. changes in climate There is no obstacle to making our

—

•••

company

truly global.

parts of something: We glob-al-ly needs. adv: new investment that will enable the company to compete globally

2 formal complete,

including

all

—

must take a global view of children's

glob-al-i-sa-tion /.gloobali'zeijn/ a BrE spelling of globalization

glob-al-ise / 'gloobs.laiz/ a Br E spelling of globalize glob-al-ised /'glooba.laizd/ a BrE spelling of globalized

global-i-za-tion /.gloobali'zeijn/ noun [u] the idea that the world is developing a single economy and culture as a result of improved technology and communications and the influence of very large multinational culture

corporations: the globalization of opposed to globalization

western

anti-capitalists

glob-al-ize /'gloobs.laiz/ verb [t] 1 to make something become generally accepted all over the world 2 to make a business begin operating all over the world glob-al-ized /'glooba.laizd/ adj including or affecting the whole world: the new globalized economy global village, the noun mainly journalism the modern world in which all countries depend on each other and seem to be closer together because of modern communications and transportation systems global warming noun [u] * the slow increase in the temperature of the Earth caused partly by the

greenhouse

effect increasing the

amount

of

carbon

dioxide in the atmosphere globe /gloob/ noun [C] 1 a round ball that has a map of the world on it 1a. the globe mainly literary the world: the first balloonists to circle the globe 2 mainly literary a round object 2a. a round cover for a light globe 'artichoke noun [c] a round green vegetable in which the leaves grow in a ball shape on a tall stem globetrot-ter /'gloob.tratar/ noun [c] informal

someone who countries

travels a lot

and

visits a lot of different

globe-trot-ting noun

glob«U'lar /'glabjabr/adi

in the

[u], adj

shape of a small round

ball

/'glabjul/ noun [c] a small ball of a thick liquid or a sticky substance

glockenspiel

/'glakan.spil; 'glakanjpil/ noun [c] a musical instrument that consists of metal bars on a wooden frame. You play the glockenspiel by hitting the bars with a small hammer. glogg/glag/noun [C]AmE a strong hot alcoholic drink made from red wine, brandy, fruit, and nuts, drunk in winter gloom /glum/ noun [u] • 1 darkness in which it is difficult to see clearly: Harry

peered into the gathering gloom. 2 the feeling of having no hope: a time of high unemployment and economic gloom + over/about There is general gloom about the future of the farming industry.

DOOM

gloonvy /'glumi/ adj • 1 feeling sad and without hope: He became very gloomy and depressed. 2 showing that things are not going well and will

probably not go well in the future: gloomy prospects The economic news is gloomy. in a way that makes you feel sad or a little afraid:g/oomv weather* a gloomy old library — gloorrvi-ly adv gloop /glup/ noun [u] BrE very informal a sticky unpleasant substance glop /glap/ noun [C] Am E very informal a small amount of a substance, especially food, that is soft, wet, and unpleasant glo-rified /'gbra.faid/ adj used for saying what something is really like when other people have described it as far more impressive: The "yacht" we rented was just a glorified sailboat. glo*ri*fy /'gbrs.fai/ verb [T] 1 to make someone or something seem more impressive than they really are: Politicians have complained that the media constantly glorify drugs. 2 literary to praise someone: Her sole purpose in life was to honor and glorify God. glo-rifi-ca'tion /.gbrafi'keifn/ noun [u]: They condemn the violence glorification of on TV.

3 dark

—

glorious / gbrbs/ adj * 1 very beautiful in a way that makes you feel happy: The cottage is surrounded by the most glorious countryside. The colors are quite glorious, la. glorious weather is sunny and warm: a glorious sunny day 2 extremely successful and likely to be remembered for a long time: Ireland has won a glorious victory over

England. reminders of the country's glorious past 3 informal very enjoyable: We had a glorious time. glo-ri'ous'ly adv: a gloriously pink sunset

—

glO'ry 1 /'gbri/ noun •• 1 [u] admiration and praise that you get because you have done something impressive: He is at the height of his fame and glory. bask in the glory of sth (=enjoy it) The studio is still basking in the glory of its 14 Oscar nominations, reflected glory (=glory because of someone She enjoyed the reflected glory of her daughter's fame. get (all) the glory / did the hard work and someone else got the glory. 2 [C] a good quality that makes you admire someone or something: +of The town meeting is one of the glories crowning glory (=the best quality or of New England. achievement) Last week's win was the crowning glory of Kimble's career. 3 [ U great beauty It will cost millions of dollars to restore else's success)

:

]

the

4

mansion

to its former glory.

[U] literary'

praise that you give

1

when you worship

God glory (be) old-fashioned used for expressing surprise go to glory old-fashioned to die and go to heaven in all its/their etc. glory looking very beautiful or impressive: The road to the west reveals the forest in all its

glory.

glo«ry2 /'gbri/ verb

'glory in phrasal vb

to get a lot of pleasure or satisfaction

[t]

[glory in sth]

from something:

REVEL

glory days noun

[plural]

mainly journalism a successful

time in the past

gloss 1 /gbs/ noun

globule

-»

gloss

593

successful people: a glittering line-up of celebrities glittering career

1

[singular/u] the

shiny surface of

something such as paper, paint, or a photograph: a paint that gives a high (=very shiny) gloss la. the shiny and attractive appearance of something, especially someone's hair 2 [C] a short explanation of what something means: Some of the very technical words will need a gloss. 2a. a way of describing something that makes it seem better than it really is: put a gloss on sth Both sides attempted to put the best possible gloss on the agreement. 2b. the way in which someone understands or explains

something: The newspapers the president's offer.

3

you put on something

[u]

to

all

gave their own gloss on

gloss paint 3a. a substance

make

it

shine: lip gloss

take the gloss off sth to make something seem not as good as you thought it was gloss 2 /gbs/ verb [T] 1 to give an explanation of a word or a piece of writing 2 to put a substance on

glossary

meaning

of their

gloss paint noun [u] paint is shiny when it is dry

for

wood and furniture

that

gloss«y/'gbsi/ad| * 1 shiny in an attractive way: glossy green leaves 2 attractive, exciting, and fashionable but with no real importance or value: the glossy world of haute couture 3 printed on shiny paper with a lot of bright pictures: a glossy travel brochure

glossy magazine noun

*3

[c] a magazine printed on shiny paper, containing a lot of bright fashionable pictures but not much serious information: slick magazine glot*tal stop /.glatl stap/ noun [c] linguistics a sound made by stopping air as it passes through the throat. In some varieties of spoken English a glottal stop is often used instead of a "t" sound in the middle or at the end of a word. glot*tis /'glatis/ noun [C] the part of your throat that helps you make sounds by opening and closing to let

air in

and out

glove /gL\\7 noun

[C]

*•

1 a piece of clothing that covers your fingers and hands: a pair of gloves leather silk gloves rubber gloves Wear rubber gloves when handling harsh chemicals, —picture -» C4 2 a BOXING GLOVE

take the gloves off to start fighting or competing hard in order to achieve something. When this happens, you can say "the gloves are off.'* -» HAXD glove com partment or glove box noun [c] the small cupboard or shelf in front of the passenger seat 1

of a car

— picture -» cs

/glou/ verb [i] • shine with a soft light: His desk light glowed in the darkness of the big room. la. if something very hot glows, it looks red or orange and burns without producing flames: The tip of a cigarette glowed in the dark doorway. 1b. if a place or object glows with color, it has a lot of bright colors: The interiors of the churches 1

1

to

glow with

2

to face:

rich color.

show strong and happy emotion, especially in your When he talks about them, he positively glows. + with

She glowed with happiness. the faces of parents glowing with pride 2a. if your eyes glow with an emotion, they show that emotion very clearly: His eyes glowed with an extraordinary fervor. 3 if your face or body

an orange or red

color: the glowing embers of the fire 2a. shining with a soft warm light 2b. glowing colors

are bright and look and healthy

warm

2c. glowing skin looks

glow-ing-ly /'glooinli/adv with a glowworm /'gloownrm/ noun

glowing, it looks pink or red, for example because you are healthy or embarrassed: The girl's skin glowed and her eyes were bright. +with young men glowing with health is

glow2 /glou/

noun [singular] * 1 a soft light: the glow from the street lights a dim/faint/ soft glow He clicked on the lamp and the room was filled with a soft glow. la. the red or orange light coming from something that produces heat: the glow of the campfire 1b. the light from something such as a television or computer screen 2 the pink or red color that your skin has when you are healthy, hot. embarrassed, or emotional: Her cheeks

had a rosy healthy glow.

3 a strong pleasant feeling: She felt a warm glow deep inside. +of Anne felt a glow of pride at Sarahs words. a glow of contentment pleasure satisfaction glow-er /'glaur/ verb [i] to look angrily at someone: glare —glower noun [singular] glow*er*ing /'glaunn/ adj 1 looking very angry 2 dark and threatening: the glowering cloud glowing /'glouin/ adj 1 full of praise: a glowing reference /report a glowing reference from her former employer in glowing terms Lewis wrote in glowing terms about life in the West Indies. 2 burning gently with

lot of [c]

warm

praise

a small

insect

without wings that produces light from its body at night glu-cose / glu.kooz/ noun [u] natural sugar that exists in

some foods 1

glue /glu/ noun

• you use

IC/U] a sticky substance that to each other: a pot of glue 1

2

to attach things

an idea, person, or thing that unites people: Is his mother the glue that keeps the family together? 2 glue /glu/ verb [t] • to stick things to each other with glue: glue sth onto /to sth You can glue sequins onto the [u]

card.

be glued to sth [passive] to be looking at something and not paying attention to anything else: dealers with their computer screens

eyes glued to

glu-ey

and sticky you glug a liquid or it glugs somewhere, you pour it somewhere quickly 2 [T] to drink something quickly glum /gl.\m/ adj looking sad, as if you expect something bad to happen glunvly adv glut /gl\t/ noun [singular] an available amount of something that is more than people want or need: an oil glut

glug

/'glui/ adj thick, wet.

/gl.\g/ verb informal 1

[i/T] if

—

+ of a glut of cars on the market

— glut verb

[T]

glu-ten /'glutn/ noun [u] a sticky natural substance that is found in some foods, especially wheat glu-ti-nous / glutnas/ adj thick and sticky, often in an unpleasant way glut-ton /'ghtn/ noun [c] someone who eats much more than they need a glutton for punishment someone who is willing to do something even though

gloved /glvvd/ ad) wearing a glove glove puppet noun BrEa hand puppet

glow

gnat

594

something to make it look shiny: heavily glossed lips gloss over phrasal vb(T] [gloss over sth] to ignore or avoid unpleasant facts: He could no longer gloss over his failures. glossa-ry / 'gbsari/ noun [C] a list of the difficult words used in a piece of writing or subject, with explanations

it is

difficult or

unpleasant

glut«ton«ous /'gl.\t(3)n3s/ adj mainly literary eating or drinking more than you need glut-ton-y /'ghtni/ noun [u] mainly literary the bad habit of eating or drinking more than you need glyc-er-ine /'glissnn/ noun [u] a thick clear liquid made from fat that is used for making many things including soap and bombs Glyndebourne /'glamd.bDrn/ an opera festival that is held every summer in England

GM

/ ,d3i 'em /adj [only before noun] • genetically modified: used for describing crops whose genes have been changed to give them particular qualities, or for describing foods made from them: GM crops /foods /ingredients a. connected with the production of GM crops or foods:

GM research Man (plural

G-

G-Men) noun

[C]

AmE

informal old-

man who works as an em 'on I (plural GMOs)

agent for the FBI noun [C] genetically /,d3i modified organism: a plant or animal whose genes have been changed to give it a particular quality that it would not normally have /d3i em 'ti/ noun [u] Greenwich Mean Time: the time at Greenwich, in England, used as an international standard gnarled /narld/ adj old and twisted and covered in lines: gnarled hands a gnarled old apple tree gnarl-y / narli/ adj 1 AmE informal complicated and difficult to deal with: gnarly problems 2 AmE informal very good and exciting: awesome old-fashioned fashioned a

GMO GMT

3 gnarled: gnarly

roots

gnash

/naeJV verb gnash your teeth often humorous 1 to protest about something in an angry way 2 to bite your teeth together and from side to side because

you are very angry

gnash-ing

/'naejin/

noun (weeping,

wailing

and)

gnashing of teeth often humorous words or actions that show that you are very angry or upset

gnat /nset/ noun people but

is

[C] a very small flying insect that bites not dangerous

"

go

gnaw gnaw

[i/t] to keep biting something: David rat had gnawed his lip, obviously worried. * through the cable. I

no I verb

A

gnawed

at or gnaw a way at phrasal vb [T] [gnaw (away) at something gnaws at you, you keep worrying about or feeling upset about it gnaw-ing / noirj/ adj continuously causing you pain or

gnaw

sb] if it

worrying you

gnome /noum/ noun

[C] 1

an imaginary

little

man

in

children's stories who wears a pointed hat and can do magic 2 a stone or plastic model of a gnome, used in yards for decoration

gno-mic

/ noomik/ adj literary a gnomic short and clever but difficult to understand

remark

is

GNP /,d3i

en 'pi/ noun (u) Gross National Product: the total value of all the goods and services that a country produces in a year gnu /nu/ noun [c] a wildebeest go 1 /goo/ (past tense went/went/; past participle gone/gon/)

•••

verb 1

move/travel

2

travel to activity

3 continue to place/time 4 happen 5 be kept somewhere/fit 6 change to/be in state 7 get worse/stop working

8 die 9 be sent 10 when time passes 11 to be spent/used

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

make sound move particular way about story/music etc.

say begin doing sth

spend time doing sth operate correctly

20 be

sold

21 pay money for sth 22 get rid of body waste + PHRASES

12 leave job/organization [i]

about ten minutes ago. * go shopping /fishing /dancing etc. On hot days the kids would go swimming in the river. * go for a swim /ride /walk etc. They went for a walk around the neighborhood. 1c. to move in a particular way or while doing a particular thing: go flying /crying etc. Two jet fighters went racing across the sky. 1d. to travel to a place along a particular road or as part of a transportation service: The bus goes right to the center of town. 2 [i] to travel to a particular place regularly in order to take part in an activity: + to None of her brothers went to college. * When I was young, we went to church every

Sunday. [i] [+from/to/past etc.] to continue from one place or time to another: The 350-kilometer jungle highway going from Georgetown to Brazil was built with World Bank

3

funds.

4

[i]

to

happen

in a particular way:

how

are things

going?/how's it going? How are things going at work?* go well/smoothly/badly etc. / think the interview went very well.

5 [i] [+in/under/beside etc.] to be usually kept or put in a particular place: The spoons go in the other drawer. 5a. if something goes in a particular place, it fits there because it is the right size or shape: There's no way all this stuff will go in the box. 5b. to be suitable, right, or attractive in a particular place or in a particular combination: It's the kind offurniture that would go well in any room. * I don think these colors really go, do you? 6 [linking verb] to change to another condition, usually 't

6a. to be in a particular state or situation, especially one in which you do not have something or in which something is not done: go barefoot/ naked /topless etc. We both love going barefoot on the beach. * go hungry Thousands of people are being allowed to go hungry'. go

unseen /unheard etc. Most of their hard work seems to have gone unnoticed. * The Western powers could not allow such an act of terrorism to go unpunished. 7 [i] to start being in a worse state or stop working correctly as a result of becoming old or damaged: Her hearing is really starting to go. * The battery in this watch is

going.

8

[i] spoken to die: When nothing you can do about it.

9

it's

your time

to go,

there's

to be sent: I'd like this letter to go first class. * +to The memo should go to all employees. 1 if time goes in a particular way. it passes in that way: go fast/quickly/slowly This week's gone so fast - I can't believe it's Friday already. 11 to be spent: Where did all their money go?** on/ for Half'oj'the check went on new shoes for the kids. 11a. if a supply of something goes, it becomes less because more and more of it is used: We were worried because the food was completely gone and the water was going fast. 11b. to be gotten rid of: have got to go These old sneakers have got to go. 11c. to disappear: I put my book on the table, and now it's gone. 12 [i] to leave a job or organization, especially because you are forced to: They- can fire me, but I won t go quietly. 1 3 [t] to make a particular sound, especially the typical [ i]

[

]

[

]

sound of a particular animal: Cows go "moo. "*His alarm

[+to/into/through/across etc.] to move or travel to a place that is away from where you are now: Where did Sue go?* She went into the bathroom and rinsed her face in cold water. * The quickest way to get to the library is to go through the park. * We're planning to go to Arizona this winter. * go by car/train/airplane etc. They'll be going from London to Paris by train. 1a. to leave a place: What time are you going tomorrow? * I'm tired; let's go. 1b. to move or travel to a place or leave a place in order to do a particular thing: +to They've gone to a concert in town tonight. * go to prison/ jail He went to prison for life. * go to lunch/dinner Are you ready to go to lunch yet?* go to the doctor('s)/dentist('s)/hairdresser('s) etc. I'm leaving early to go to the dentist. * go to/into the hospital He went into the hospital for a routine operation last Tuesday. * go and do sth / have to go and pick up my friends at the airport. * go to do sth Jim went to buy some more ice cream 1

a worse one: go deaf/ blind /gray /bald etc. Louise had gone completely blind before she died. * go wild /crazy/ mad We knew they would go crazy if they ever found out. * go bad /sour /rotten The milk smells like it's going bad.

kept going "beep, beep, beep." 13a. [:] mainly BrE to make a sound as a signal: No one leaves until the bell goes.

14

informal to move in a particular way: He kept with his head. to consist of a particular series of words, facts, or musical notes: That's not the way the song goes. * the story/ saying /argument goes (that) The story goes that this castle was built by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. 16 [T] very informal used when you are telling a story for saying what someone has said: So he goes, "I know what I'm doing, " and she goes, "I don 't think so. 17 to begin doing something: Nobody starts till I say "Go. " * be ready to go We've planned every detail and are ready to go. * get going (on sth) It won 't take me long once [i]

going

15

like this

[i/t]

[

]

I get going.

18 [i/ T to continue or last for a particular amount of time while doing something: go (for) days /weeks/ months etc. He went several days without eating a single ]

thing.

19 [i] if a machine or piece of equipment goes, it operates correctly: work: My old watch is still going. 20 to be sold: Tickets are going very fast, so I'd advise you to get yours now. * be going cheap (=be for sale at a low price) There are some lovely bathroom tiles going cheap today. 21 [i] to pay or accept a particular amount of money for something: / can't go any higher than $500. 22 [i] spoken to go to the toilet: / need to go right now. [

]

as sb/sth goes or things of the

when you

consider what other people

same type are

like:

As

history textbooks

go, this one is pretty good.

be going to do sth 1 to intend to do something: I'm going to watch TV tonight. 2 to be about to do something: You're going to fall if you're not careful. * Don't worry. Everything's going to be all right. don't go doing sth spoken used for telling someone not to do something: Take your time and don't go rushing into anything. all out (to do sth /for sth) to try as hard as you can achieve something: American companies are going all out to secure overseas contracts. * We're going all out for a big win in Saturday 's game. go all the way informal to have sex with someone go and do sth spoken used for saying that someone has done something silly or annoying: Julia went and told Philip that she saw you kissing his best friend. * have

go to

go

go

596

gone and done it(=have done something extremely silly) You 've really gone and done it this time! go do sth spoken used for telling someone to do something, especially when you are annoyed: If you hate this job so much, go get another! go far to be successful in what you try to do: With all her skill and ambition, I'm sure Leah will go far. going, going, gone used by an auctioneer for saying that an object has just been sold go it alone to do something without depending on

anyone else for help go one better (than) to do something better than someone else has done or better than you have done before

go to do sth if an action, event, or situation goes to do something, it helps to do it: go to show (sb) (that) It just goes to show that politicians will say anything to get elected. go to prove a point It all goes to prove my point that you can never be too careful. go too far to behave in a way that is unreasonable: Threatening legal action is really going too far. not go far 1 used for saying that you cannot buy very much with a particular amount of money: Twenty dollars doesn 't go very far these days. 2 used for saying that a supply of something is not enough: A few sandwiches won 't go far among all of us. not go there spoken used for saying that you do not want to hear about, discuss, or consider a particular subject: The situation in my office! I'm not even going to go there! don't go there I'm telling you - don't go there, I don 't want to talk about it. to go 1 remaining: There are just three weeks to go before the end of semester. 2 not yet done or dealt with: Only two chapters to go, and then I'm finished. 3 if you order food to go from a restaurant, you take it and eat it somewhere else: Do you want this pizza to go? the way things are going used for saying what seems likely to happen as a result of what is happening now: The way things are going, I should be finished by next week.

where does sb go from here? used for asking what someone can do next in a particular situation, especially a difficult one

who

goes there? spoken used by a soldier guarding a place for asking who is coming toward them -» ANYTHING, FAR, SAY 1

go about phrasal vb 1 [t] [go about sth] to do something that you normally do in your usual way: go about your business /work /daily life etc. There were no further reports of violence in the town, and most people went about their daily activities as usual. 2 [T] [go about sth] to start dealing with a problem, situation, or job in a particular way: / think I'd go about it quite differently. go about doing sth How did you go about finding a job? 3 [l/T] BrE same as go around i 4 [l/T] same as go around 2 5 [l/T] same as go around 3 6 [l] BrE technical if a ship goes about, it turns and sails in the opposite direction ,go after phrasal vb [T] 1 [go after sb] to try to catch or stop someone: You'd better go after her and tell her you're sorry, la. to try to arrest or punish someone: It would be dangerous to go after the killer on your own. 2 [go after sth] to try to get something that other people are also competing for: Our company is going after the software market in southern California. go against phrasal vb [T] [go against sb/sth] 1 to oppose someone or something: Building it here would go against the wishes of the local community, la. [go against sth] to be opposed to something: This goes against everything I've been brought up to believe in. 2 if something such as a decision or judgment goes against you, you do not get the decision or judgment you wanted: It appears likely that the judge's ruling will go against them. go ahead phrasal vb [i] 1 to start or continue to do something, especially after waiting for permission: "Go ahead, " he insisted. "I won't interrupt again. " go ahead and do sth Go ahead and eat before everything gets cold. + with The city will go ahead with its plans for a new stadium in the summer. 2 to go to a place before someone else you are with: You go ahead and we'll wait here for Sally. + of Don went ahead of the others to try to find help. 3 to happen: The party went ahead as planned. go a long phrasal vb [i] 1 to continue to happen or develop: Everything was going along just fine until she turned

continue doing something: as sb goes along (=while doing something else) The teacher seemed to be making up the lesson as he went along. 2 to travel somewhere with someone else: He's going to New York tomorrow and I think I might just go along too. go a long with phrasal vb [t] 1 [go along with sb/sth] to agree with someone or something: / think Alice's point goes along with what Tim was saying. 2 [go along with sth] to agree to do something together with other people: They describe him as a weak man who went along with the scheme out offear. go a round phrasal vb 1 [i] to behave or be dressed in a particular way: Why do you always go around without any shoes on? go around doing sth You can't go around saying things like that! 2 [l/T usually progressive] [go around sth] if something such as an illness or a piece of news is going around, people are giving or telling it to each other: He caught the flu virus that's going around. There's a story going around the office that you're thinking of quitting. 3 [i] [+with/together] to spend a lot of time with someone, going to different places and doing things: She used to go around with Susannah all the time. 4 [l] to visit a person or a place: / went around last night, but no one was in. +to Are you going around to Tom's after work? 5 [i] to be enough so that everyone can have one or some: be enough to go around In some classes, there aren't even enough books to go around. 6 [i] to move in a circle: The hands of the clock seemed to go around so slowly. up. 1a. to

what goes around comes around used for saying that the way you behave toward other people will influence the way other people behave toward you in the future go at phrasal vb [T] 1 [go at sb] to attack someone violently: The two boys were going at each other like mad dogs. 2 [go at sth] to do something with a lot of enthusiasm or energy: Harbury was young and ambitious and went at things with a daunting eagerness. go a way phrasal vb [l] 1 to move or travel away from a person or place: If he 's bothering you, tell him to go away. 1a. to leave your home for a period of time, especially for a vacation: We've decided to go away for a long weekend. 2 to stop existing or being noticeable: The pain should go away in a couple of hours. ,go back phrasal vb 1 [l] to return to a person, place, subject, or activity: It started to rain, so we decided to go back. +to We didn't think he'd go back to his wife after everything that's happened. I'd like to go back to what Abby was saying just a minute ago. She should be well enough to go back to work on Wednesday. go back to doing sth The computer breaks down and you go back to writing things down on pieces of paper. + f or / left my keys in the office and had to go back for them. 2 [l/T] to have existed since or for a particular time: My interest in the +to Some of these houses subject goes back many years. go back to the early 19th century. 2a. [T] spoken if two people go back a particular period of time, they have known each other for that period of time: We go back a long time, don't we? go back on phrasal vb [T] [go back on sth] to fail to do something that you have promised or agreed to do: go back on your word/promise Both leaders feared that the other would go back on his word. go before phrasal vb 1 [T] [go before sb/sth] to be considered by a judge, committee, or other authority as part of an official process: The case is scheduled to go before the Court of Appeals next week. 2 [l/T] to have happened previously: a brief summary of what has gone before phrasal vb [T] [go beyond sth] 1 to be more than something: The cost of the new prison should not go beyond $12 million. 2 to refer to, deal with, or include more things than something: The British representative argued against any major changes that would go beyond

go beyond

the 1992 Treaty. phrasal vb 1

[i] if time goes by, it passes: Last month went by so fast. 2 [T] [go by sth] to accept what someone or something says when you are deciding what to do or think: Going by what Tim said, we should be there by midafternoon. go by the book (=obey rules without considering whether they are right) Police officers protect themselves from criticism by going by the book. 2a. [go by sth] to base an opinion on something: go by appearances It's never very wise to go by appearances. 3 [T] [go by sth]

go by

:

go to use a particular name for yourself that is not your real name: In the 1970s she went by the name of Ricki. 4 [1/ T] to move past a place or stop there for a short time during a journey: / went by the post office on the way

home. phrasal vb [l] 1 to become less: No one expects house prices to go down in the near future. How long will it take for the swelling to go down?* The crime rate shows no signs of going down. 2 to sink below the surface of the water: The ship went down off the coast of Africa. 2a. to fall to the ground: We watched as the airplane went down in a fiery blaze. 2b. when the sun or moon goes down, it moves below the horizon so you cannot see it anymore: set 2c. [+to] to be long enough to reach a particular lower point or level: There were steps going down to what had once been a lawn. 3 to travel toward the south: +to The family is going down to Florida for spring break. 3a. Br E to travel to a place that is smaller or less important than the place you are leaving: +to We're going down to the country next weekend. 4 to be remembered or recorded in a particular place or way: + as Hansen will go down as one of the best teachers this school has ever had. + in Both their names went down in

go down

the referee's notebook.

The

efforts they

made

will

go down

5 to produce a particular reaction: go down well /badly (with sb) The plan to raise rents has not gone down well with tenants. 6 if food or drink goes down, you swallow it: You need smaller pills that go down more easily. 7 to be defeated in a competition, especially in sports: +to Canada went down 3-1 to the Russian team. 7a. Br E to move to a lower division in a sports league (=a group of teams): "I grew up a United fan," said Little. "I'll be very sad if they go down. "8 if something such as a computer or an electrical system goes down, it stops working for a period of time 9 if lights go down, especially in a theater, they gradually become less bright and are switched off 10 to become worse: The quality of their products has really gone down in the past few years. very informal to happen: I was nowhere near 11 here when the robbery went down. 12 Br E to leave a university, especially Oxford or Cambridge, at the end of a term (=period of study) or a course of study opposite go up 13 Br E informal to go to prison in history.

AmE

—

down in sb's opinion to become less respected by someone than you were before, because of something you have done ,go down on phrasal vb [T] impolite [go down on sb] to have oral sex with someone ,go down with phrasal vb [Tj Br E informal [go down with sth] to become sick with a particular illness: Three people in my office have gone down with the flu. go

'go for phrasal vb [T] 1 [go for sth] informal to try to get something that you have to compete for: There were 200 people going for just three jobs. la. go for it spoken used for encouraging someone to do something or to try very hard 2 [go for sb/sth] informal to like a particular type of person or thing: / don't really go for horror movies. So what type of men do you go for? 3 [go for sth] informal to choose a particular thing: I think I'll go for the steak. What are you having? 4 [go for sb] informal to attack someone physically 4a. to criticize someone strongly 5 [go for sth] to be sold for a particular amount of money: We expect the house to go for about $200,000. 6 [go for sb/sth] to go somewhere in order to get someone or something: She's just gone for the kids - she'll be back any

minute. I'm going to go for a newspaper. 7 [go for sb/sth] to be true or relevant for someone or something: We expect you boys to behave yourselves, and the same goes for the girls. 8 if a person or thing has something going for them, they have an advantage, skill, or other positive quality: have sth going for you With its wide variety and low prices, the new store has a lot going for it.

go for nothing to achieve nothing or be completely wasted: I'd have hated for all that work to go for nothing. -» BROKE

go

go

597

'in

goes

1

phrasal vb in,

clouds

[l]

mainly

move

,go in for phrasal vb

BrE when

in front of

the sun or

moon

it

enjoy a particular thing or activity: / don't go in for golf much. ,go 'into phrasal vb [T] [go into sth] 1 to start working in a particular type of job or business: Alex has decided to go into nursing. Eric went into the army right after high [T] [go in for sth] to

school. 2 to deal with something in detail: That's a good The company question, but I don 't want to go into it now. is refusing to go into detail about its offer. 3 to be used or spent in order to do something: Over 50% of the budget went into the design of the equipment. go into doing sth

Months of hard work have gone

into

making

tonight's

success. 4 if a smaller number goes into a larger number, the larger number can be divided by the smaller a particular number of times: 5 goes into 25 5 times. 4 into 20 goes 5. 9 into 23 won 't go. 5 to change to a different movement, state, or condition, usually a worse one: Her car went into a dangerous spin. Fur sales One of the victims went into a steep decline last month. went into a coma and died. 6 to start an explanation or statement, especially a long and boring one: He went into a long rant about the high price of gasoline. 7 to crash into something: The truck swerved violently and went into a wall. ,go in with phrasal vb [T] [go in with sb] to join together with someone else in order to do something such as start a business: She's gone in with a coworker on a new restaurant idea. .go off phrasal vb 1 [i] to explode or be fired: The gun went off while he was cleaning it. 2 [i] to start making a noise as a signal or warning: I was just lying in bed waiting for the alarm to go off. 3 [i] if something such as a light or an electricity supply goes off, it stops working or being available: All the lights in the building suddenly went off. 4 [i] to leave a place, especially for a particular purpose: + to Dave's gone off to the south of France for the summer. go off to do sth He went off to have lunch in the canteen at one o'clock. 5 [i] to happen in a particular way: The whole conference went offjust as we had planned. E informal to suddenly become angry and start 6 [\] shouting: +on He just went off on her for no apparent reason. 7 Br E if food or drink goes off, it is no longer fresh 8 [i] Br E informal to become worse in quality: His

ceremony a

Am

[

work has

I

]

really

gone off recently. 9

[T]

[go off sb/sth]

BrE

to stop liking someone or something: I went off the idea of buying a sports car after I found out how much it would cost. 10 [1] Br E spoken to start to sleep: go off to sleep The baby's just gone off to sleep. go 'off with phrasal vb [T] 1 [go off with sb] to start a new relationship with someone after leaving the person you were previously having a relationship with: Apparently he's gone off with someone he met at a conference last year. 2 [go off with sth] to leave with something that belongs to someone else: Someone's gone off with my coffee cup. go on phrasal vb 1 [i] to continue happening or doing something as before: The meeting went on a lot longer than I expected. We can 't go on like this any more. Things have got to change. + with Burton smiled and went on with his work. go on doing sth She can 't go on pretending to happen that everything is okay when it clearly isn 't. 2 / wonder what's going on next door - they're making a lot of noise. 3 [J] [go on sth] to start doing a particular activity or being in a particular state: go on vacation/a cruise/trip/tour etc. We're going on vacation next week. go on strike (=stop working as a protest) Workers voted by a large majority to go on strike. go on sale/display It will go on sale this summer. go on a diet / really must go on a diet! 3a. [go on sth] to start taking a particular medicine or drug: He needs to go on stronger medication. 4 [i] if something such as a light or an electricity supply goes on. it starts working or becomes available: I heard the TV go on in the next room. 5 [i] to talk so much that people become bored or annoyed: You do go on, don't you? + about She tends to go on about how clever her children are. go on and on (about sth) He went on and on about my being late for work again. 5a. to start talking again after a pause or interruption: Please go on - I didn 't mean to interrupt you. + with He encouraged her to go on with her story. 6 [i] to do something after doing something else: +to When you finish the first section of the test, go on to the next. go on to do sth They eventually went on to win the championship. 6a. to go to another place after going somewhere: + to After Moscow, we went on to St. Petersburg for a couple of days. 7 [T] [go on sth] to base an opinion or decision on something: Since there were no witnesses, the police had little to go on. 8 if time goes on, it passes 9 to go to a place before someone else you are with: Why don't you go on without me? 10 [i/t] to walk onto a stage to begin your part in a [

I

]

[

[

i

]

l

]

/

go

9°

..

performance: / don't go on until the final act. 10a. (i] to walk onto a sports field in order to replace a member of your team: Owen went on in the 75th minute.

m

go on spoken 1 used for encouraging someone to do something: Go on, try it - it's really good. 2 Br E used for saying that you do not believe what someone is telliny you: Go on! She didn't really say that. go on with you! old-fashioned: "Don't you look nice!" "Oh, go on with you!" go on (the) TV/radio to decide to appear on television/ radio in order to say something: The President went on television to appeal for calm. going on (for) sth almost a particular age, time, or amount: Tina is six, going on seven. go on at phrasal vb [T] informal [go on at sb] to criticize someone regularly or for a long time: + about My mother keeps going on at me about my friends and the way I dress. go on at sb to do sth Everyone's been going on at me to get a haircut. go out phrasal vb [i] 1 to leave your house and go somewhere, especially to do something enjoyable: / wanted the evenings free for going out with friends. go out doing sth We haven gone out dancing in a long time. go out to do sth Let's go out to eat tonight. go out and do sth She wasn't allowed go out and play with the other kids. 1a. to travel to a place that is far away: + to She wished she had been able to go out to South Africa with Nicola. 1b. when the tide goes out, the water in the ocean flows away from the land 2 [usually progressive] to have a romantic or sexual relationship with someone and spend a lot of time with them: How long have Rob and Ally been going out? * -t-with Greg used to go out with Karla. + together We've been going out together for three months now. 3 to stop burning or shining: The fire must have gone out during the night. 4 to be broadcast on the radio or television: The show doesn't go out until after most children have gone to bed. 4a. to be told to people: +that Word went out that the factory was in danger of closing. 4b. to be sent by mail: The invitations haven't gone out yet. 5 to not be allowed to take part in the next stage of a competition because you have been defeated: Last year 's champion went out in the second round. + of England went out of the World Cup amid great controversy. 6 to stop being fashionable at a particular time: That hairstyle went out about ten years ago. go out of fashion/ style Classic jewelry like this will never go out offashion. 't

go out on strike to stop working as a protest: If the postal workers go out on strike, other unions may well join them. go out of phrasal vb [T] [go out of sb/sth] if a feeling or quality goes out of someone or something, they do not have it anymore: All the excitement had gone out of living in the city. go out to phrasal vb [T] BrE [go out to sb] to be defeated by someone in a competition: Sampras went out to young Swiss star Roger Federer. sb's heart/sympathy /thoughts go out to sb used for saying that someone is sympathetic to someone who is in a difficult situation: Our thoughts go out to the victims

of yesterday 's earthquake.

go over

phrasal vb 1 [T] [go over sth] to check something carefully: Could you go over this report and correct any mistakes? la. to search a place thoroughly: This area is to be gone over with the greatest of care. 2 [T] [go over sth] to practice and repeat something in order to learn it: Sue's going to help me go over my lines for the play. 2a. to repeat a series of things or think about them again in

order to understand them completely: My mind was going over the curious events at Ingard House. 3 [l] to move or travel toward someone or something: +to He went over to the window and closed the curtains. They went over to John's for dinner last night. go over (to sb/ sth) to do sth We had met a year ago, when I went over to Paris to see an exhibition. go over (to sb/sth) and do sth Why don 1 you go over and say hello? A Am E to produce a particular reaction: Last night's performance went over very well. +with How did the news go over with your parents?'5 [t] [go over sth] to clean something, especially quickly: go over sth with sth He'd gone over the car with a cloth, wiping fingerprints from the steering wheel and the door handles. [

I

]

go over to

phrasal vb [T] 1 [go over to sth] to change to a new system or way of behaving: The school went over to mixed-ability teaching three years ago. 1a. [go over to sb/ sth] to join a different group, organization, or political party: What makes them go over to a party they once fought against? 2 to change to a report or broadcast from a different place: We'll be going over to Sydney for live coverage in just a couple of minutes. go round phrasal vb Br E same as go around go through phrasal vb 1 [T] [go through sth] to examine or search something very carefully: Someone had broken into the office and gone through all the drawers. Collins went through every legal book she could find. 2 [i/T] if

a law goes through, or goes through a law-making institution, it is officially approved 2a. [i] if something such as a request, proposal, or contract goes through, it is officially accepted or approved 3 [T] to experience something difficult or unpleasant: We can't really imagine what they're going through. 4 [T] to use, spend, or eat all of something, especially quickly: He'd gone through all his money by the end of the first week of his vacation. 5 [T] to practice all of something such as a speech, song, or play Let 's go through your lines one more time. 6 [T] if a thought or idea goes through your mind, you consider it for a short time 7 [T] to perform a set of actions that you regularly perform: go through a routine/ ritual She went through her daily routine of clearing the breakfast table before settling down to handle the cor:

respondence.

go through with phrasal vb [t] [go through with sth] to do something you have planned or agreed to do, especially after not being sure you want to do it: can't believe he went through with the divorce. phrasal vb [T] 1 [go to sth] to start doing a particular activity or being in a particular state: go to sleep / was just going to sleep when the phone rang. go to work (on sth) He then went to work on the car and had repaired it by lunchtime. go to war (with sb) The two countries have gone to war twice over the disputed territory. 2 [go to sb/ sth] to be given to someone or something: Our thanks go to everyone who helped make this celebration a success. The house was supposed to go to her children when she

goto

died.

,go together phrasal vb [i] 1 if two or more things go together, they frequently exist together: Too often greed and politics seem to go together. 2 if two things go together, they seem good, natural, or attractive in combination with each other: / don't think the colors go together very well. 3 [usually progressive] informal if two people are going together, they have a romantic or sexual relationship with each other: Matt and Michelle have been going together since April. ,go toward phrasal vb [T] [go toward sth] to be used to help to pay for something: The proceeds from the sale of the land will go toward the construction of a new stadium. go toward doing sth The money raised will go toward rebuilding the children's hospital. ,go 'under phrasal vb [i] 1 to sink below the surface of the water: The crowd watched as the ship went slowly under. 2 if something such as a business goes under, it fails completely and stops operating 3 to become unconscious when a doctor gives you an anesthetic before an

operation ,go up phrasal vb [l] 1 to increase: We'd like to see the baby's weight going steadily up. The price of oil has gone up by over 50 percent in less than a year. 2 to be built: A new office building is going up on State Street. 2a. if something such as a notice or sign goes up somewhere, it is put in a place where people can see it: Posters for the show are going up all over town. 3 to start burning quickly or explode: The whole building went up in just a few minutes. go up in flames From the air, it looked as if the entire city were going up in flames. 4 to travel toward the north: Max goes up to Canada to fish every summer. 4a. Br E to travel to a place that is larger or more important than the place you are leaving: Let's go up to London next week. 5 if a noise goes up from a group of people, they all start to make it: + from A cheer went up from the crowd. 6 [+to] to be long or tall enough to reach a particular higher point or level: The fire escape went up only to the second floor. 7 if lights go up, especially in a theater, they are switched on and gradually become brighter —opposite go down 8 if the curtain goes up in a theater,

go

goes without saying (that) used when you think that someone will already know what you are going to tell them because it is so obvious: It goes without saying that it

consumers would be happier 2

if prices

go /goo/ (plural goes/gooz/) 1

noun

were lower.

**

an attempt to do something, have a go at (doing) She once had a go at writing a novel but quickly gave

[C]

sth

Whose go is it? have a go on on my exercise bike if you want.

2

activity:

AmE informal

[singular]

a situation in

sth

Have a go

which some-

thing that has been planned can happen or be done: It looks like the party tonight is a go. [U] a Japanese game for two people, played with black and white stones on a board with lines that cross each other 4 [ U Br E informal energy and enthusiasm She 's always so full of go.

3

]

:

have a go BrE informal

1

someone physically stop someone who is com-

to attack

2

to take action yourself to mitting a crime, instead of calling the police

have a go at sb BrE informal

to criticize

someone

strongly

have sth on the go Br E informal to be involved in doing something, especially something that needs a lot of your time and attention: He has several projects on the go, including another radio series scheduled for late spring. of sth informal to do something successfully: She was determined to make a go of her programming

make a go business.

on the go informal very busy or go since six

2 an area

or structure that a ball must go into or through to score points in some sports —picture -»cm 2a. the action of putting a ball into a goal: score a goal Paul scored three goals in the game. winning goal Let's take another look at Italy 's fantastic winning goal. 2b. the point or points that you score by putting a ball into a goal: At half time, our team was losing three goals to one.

goal .difference noun [u] the difference between the number of goals that a team has scored and the number of goals that other teams have scored against them goal-ie /'gooli/ noun [C] informal a goalkeeper goal-keep-er /'gool.kipar/ noun [c] the player whose job is to stop the ball from going into the goal in games such as soccer —picture -» ci4

goal-keep-ing

active: I've been on the

o'clock this morning.

goad /good/ 1

verb [T] to deliberately make someone feel very angry or upset so that they react: goad sb into doing sth She was finally goaded into losing her temper.

game again with no goals scored goal .line noun [c] the line at each end of a sports field that a ball must cross to score a goal —picture -> cis goal-mouth /'gool.maoG/ noun [c] the area on some of soccer in order to start the

goaMess /'goolbs/ adj

sports fields just in front of the goal [c] one of the two posts that the ball must go between to score a goal in games such as soccer —picture -» cis

move

the goalposts to change the rules and make it people to achieve something or to know

difficult for

what to do goal-tend-er /'gool.tendar/ noun

is

1

permission to do something: Rosenthal had been given the go-ahead by his doctor to resume training. Plans for a new golf course finally got the go-ahead yesterday.

go-a head

2

with a lot of energy and new modern ideas: an exciting, go-ahead company goal /gool/ noun [c] 1 something that you hope to achieve: Our goal is to provide a good standard of medical care. +of the company's goal of employing as many women as men within set/establish a goal You should set goals for five years yourself at the beginning of each school year. achieve/ adj

•**

reach/attain a goal / haven't yet reached 20 pounds.

my goal of losing

noun

•

[c]

1 an animal similar to a sheep but with longer legs and a thinner coat. The male goat is called a billy goat and the female is called a nanny goat. A young goat is

called a kid. —picture -» ci2 informal an insulting word for an old man, especially one who shows a great sexual interest in women

2

get sb's goat informal to annoy someone: It really gets my goat the way she keeps interrupting all the time.

goat-ee /goo'ti/ noun [c] a small pointed beard goat-herd /'goot,h3rd/ noun [c] someone whose job

is

to take care of goats

goat-skin /'goot.skm/ noun 1 [u] leather made from the skin of a goat 2 [C] a container made from goatskin, used especially for holding wine

gob /gab/ noun gobs of tar

a small amount of a sticky liquid: informal someone's mouth

[C] 1

2 Br Every

a (whole) gob of sth Am E very informal gobs of sth a large amount of something: There are a whole gob of things I still have to do. We had to read through gobs of information.

gob-ble

goad

by making

2

a goal-

not allowed

goat /goot/

/good/ noun [c] 1 something that makes someone react, especially by making them feel angry 2 a sharp stick used for making animals move go-a head noun give/get the go-ahead to give/get

to react

[T]

AmE

goal-tend-ing /'gool.tendin/ noun [u] AmE 1 goalkeeping 2 the action of reaching above the goal in a game of basketball to stop the ball from going in, which

gob-bet

phrasal vb

[c]

keeper

[goad sb on] to encourage someone them feel very angry or upset

goad on

/'gool.kipin/ noun [u] the job or skills

of a goalkeeper

'goal kick noun [c] an occasion when a goalkeeper kicks the ball toward the opposite goal during a game

goal-post /'gool.poost/ noun

up. give sth a go (=try to do it) I'd thought about skiing for some time and finally decided to give it a go this winter. at/ in one go Don't try to eat the whole thing in one go. la. BrE your chance to play in a game or take part in

an

goblet

599

raised or opened at the beginning of a performance —opposite come down 9 Br E to go to a university, especially Oxford or Cambridge, at the beginning of a term (=period of study) or a course of study 10 Br E to move to a higher division in a sports league (=a group of teams) go with phrasal vb [T] 1 [go with sth] to be provided or offered together with something: Does a car go with the job? la. to exist frequently with something: A fair amount of stress seems to go with jobs like this. 2 [go with sth] to seem good, natural, or attractive in combination with something: Which of the shoes go best with this dress? 3 [usually progressive] [go with sb] informal to have a romantic or sexual relationship with someone: / heard that Carol is going with the guy who works downstairs. 3a. informal to have sex with someone 4 [go with sth] to choose or accept something: / think we should go with yellow for the walls. go without phrasal vb [i/T] [go without sth] to live without something that you need or would like to have: Three areas have gone without water for days. go without doing sth He went without sleeping for two days. it is

/'gabat/ noun

[c]

a small piece of something

soft /

gabl/ verb

gobble up

1

gobble

or

gobble

down

or

something quickly and often made by a turkey gobble up phrasal vb [T] informal 1 to use a lot of something very quickly: The military gobbles up all the money. noisily

2

[I/T]

[i]

to

2

if a large smaller one,

to eat

make

the sound

company or organization gobbles up a takes control of it 3 same as gobble

it

The cakes had

i

been gobbled up. .gobble down phrasal vb [T] same as gobble down his lunch and left.

:

all

gobbledegook

or

r.

He gobbled

gobbledygook

/ gubldi ,guk/ noun [u] informal 1 very complicated or technical language that you cannot understand 2 nonsense

/'gabtar/ noun [C] AmE informal a turkey noun [c] someone who takes messages between people who cannot meet or do not want to meet gob-let /'gabbt/ noun [C] 1 a large wine glass with a

gob-bler

go-between

goblin

trouble

gob-smacked

/'gubsuuekt/

adj

BrE

informal ex-

tremely surprised

gob-stop-per /'gob .stupor/ noun JAWBREAKER go-cart noun

[C]

[C]

mainly

BrE

a

a small low vehicle with no roof, used

for racing or for fun

go-cart-ing /'goo.kartin/ noun

[u]

the

activity

of

driving a go-cart

god /gad/

MB

noun

[c]

•

1 one of the male spirits or beings with special powers that people in some religions believe in and worship: Poseidon was the Greek god of the sea. 1a. an image of a god that people worship 2 something that someone thinks is very important and allows to control their life: Money is his god. 3 a man who is extremely attractive 3a. a man who many people admire or copy: He's one of the gods of the fashion world. 4 the gods [plural] Br E old-fashioned the highest seats in a theater

ye gods mainly BrE spoken old-fashioned used for showing that you are very surprised or annoyed God 1 /gad/ noun the spirit, being, or force that many people believe created and controls the universe, especially the god of the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim religions:

by God

Do you

believe in

God?

old-fashioned used for emphasizing

what you

are saying in a determined or angry way God bless sb spoken 1 used for praying that God will protect someone and treat them well 2 used for showing that you are grateful to someone for something 3 humorous used when you are talking in a friendly way about the silly or wrong things that someone does God bless (you) spoken used for showing that you care about someone, especially when you are saying goodbye to

goggles

600

stem 2 a metal or glass cup used in the past for drinking wine gob-lin /'gablin/ noun [C] a creature in children's stories that looks like a small person and enjoys causing tall

them

God help

sb spoken used for saying that you think someone is in a very bad situation and there is nothing anyone can do to improve it God (only) knows spoken 1 used for emphasizing that what you are saying is true: God knows I've tried talking to her, but she just won't listen. 2 used for emphasizing that you do not know something: God knows how much it's going to cost. God rest his/her soul spoken old-fashioned used for showing respect when you mention a dead person's

name God willing

spoken old-fashioned used for saying that will be no problems with your plans how/what/why etc. in God's name spoken formal used for emphasizing a question I hope/swear/wish etc. to God spoken used for emphasizing what you are saying: / hope to God I never see her again. - act of god, play

you hope there

1

God 2 /gad/ interjection

used for expressing strong feelings such as anger, surprise, or worry. Some people consider this expression offensive: God! Would you shut up for a minute? My God, you scared me! Oh my God, are you all right?

Words that may cause offense: God Many people think it is wrong to say the name God, Jesus, or Christ in expressions of surprise, shock, anger, or other emotions. Using language like this may cause great offense.

god-awful

adj

informal extremely bad or unpleasant.

Some people consider this word offensive. god-child /'gad.tjaild/ (plural god»chil«dren /'gad noun [C] a child that a godparent promises support and give religious education to during the Christian ceremony of baptism. A female godchild is called a goddaughter and a male godchild is called a .tfildrsn/)

to

godson.

god-dam-mit

/ga'daemit/ interjection informal used

when you this

word

are angry or annoyed.

Some people consider

offensive.

god-damn

/gud.dicm/ adj, adv informal used for emphasizing what you are saying, especially when you are angry or annoyed. Some people consider this word offensive.

god-daugh-ter / 'god .dotsr/ noun [c] a female godchild god-dess / gudos/ noun [C] 1 one of the female spirits or beings with special powers that people in some religions believe in and worship: the Greek goddess, Athena 2 a very beautiful woman 2a. a woman who many people admire or copy: pop goddess Madonna

god-fa-ther /'gad .factor/ noun [c] 1 a male godparent 2 informal a man who controls a large criminal organization, especially in the mafia 3 mainly journalism a

man who

has had a very strong influence in creating something: Mick Jagger, the godfather of rock-and-roll vocals

God-fear-ing

/'gad.finrj/ adj mainly literary always to the rules of your religion

behaving according

god-for-sak-en

/'gadfsr.seikan/ adj a godforsaken place has no interesting or attractive qualities at all

God- given

adj

given by God to someone: He acts as to tell us all what to do.

if

he has the God-given right

God-head, the /'gadhed/

noun formal God

god-less

/'gadtas/ adj not believing in God or living according to religious rules. This word shows that you do not approve of people like this.

god-like / 'gad,laik/ adj

better or more impressive than an ordinary human being god-ly /gadli/ adj showing respect for God and living

according to religious rules

god-moth-er /'gad.mAdar/

noun [c] a female godGODMOTHER god-par-ent / 'gadperant/ noun [C] an adult who promises during the Christian ceremony of baptism to give a child support and religious education. A male godparent is called a godfather and a female godparent is parent

-* FAIRY

called a

godmother.

,God Save the 'Queen

the U.K.'s national anthem

(^official national song)

god-send

/'gad.send/ noun [singular] something that grateful for because it helps you in a

you are very

difficult situation

God's

'gift noun informal someone who thinks they are extremely attractive or extremely good at something god-son /'gad.SAn/ noun [c] a male godchbld God-speed /.gad'spid/ interjection used for wishing someone good luck, especially before a journey 'God squad, the noun informal Christians, especially ones who often talk about their religious beliefs. This word is used especially by people who are not religious and dislike people talking about religion. go-er / 'goor/ noun [C] informal 1 something that seems likely to be successful 2 old-fashioned a woman who often has sex with men she does not know very well suffix used with some nouns to make nouns meaning someone who regularly goes some-

-goer /goor/

where: opera-goers

movie-goers

a church-goer

go-fer /'goofar/ noun [C] informal someone who does boring jobs for someone else such as delivering messages

go-get-ter /goo'getar/ noun [c] informal someone who is determined to succeed and works hard to achieve this. You can describe someone like this as go-getting: She has a reputation as a real

young business

gog-gle

go-getter.

a go-getting

executive

/'gagl/ verb

[I]

informal to look at someone or

something in a way that shows you are very surprised or impressed by them: He goggled at Al in disbelief.

gog-gle-eyed

/,gagl 'aid/ adj informal looking at someone or something in a way that shows you are very surprised or impressed by them gog-gles /'gaglz/ noun [plural] special glasses that protect your eyes, for example when you are using a dangerous machine

go-go

goldsmith

601

go-go

ad]

AmE

which business

a go-go period of time is one during successful and people make a lot of

is

money 'go-go dancer noun

a

[c]

woman whose job

is to

way wearing very few

in a sexually exciting

dance

clothes

gO'ing /'gooin/noun [U] 1 used for talking about how fast or easily you make progress: slow/ heavy going The 1

half of the movie is pretty slow going (=is rather tough/hard going It's hard going until you get back onto the path. good going We'd reached the summit by six o'clock, which was good going. 2 an occasion when someone leaves a place or job permanently: None of us knew the reasons for his going. -» comings and goings 3 the condition of the ground for a horse race

first

boring).

do sth while the going is good informal to do something before any problems happen that will prevent you from doing

it

when

the going gets tough, the tough get going used

for saying that in difficult situations the best people will work harder to succeed and will not stop trying

go-ing 2

/'gooirj/ adj [only after noun] available: the best/ biggest etc. going These are the best tickets going. -» rate

[c] mainly journalism a successful golden .girl woman that a lot of people like and admire Golden Globe Awards, the prizes that are given in the U.S. every year to the best movies and television programs and the performers in them

noun

Golden Glove Awards, the

prizes that are given in the U.S. every year to the best baseball fielders (=players whose job is to catch the ball) [C] mainly BrE in soccer, the first goal scored in overtime in an important game which wins the game

.golden 'goal noun

.golden 'goose noun [singular] informal something that will continue to make someone very rich or successful for a long time

.golden 'handcuffs noun [plural] business ways of trying to stop a senior manager in a company from leaving their job, by offering a lot of money if they stay and making them lose money if they leave .golden 'handshake noun [c] business a large amount of money given to a senior manager in a company when they leave their job

1

going con'cern noun [C] a to continue to make a profit

going-over

noun

business that seems likely informal the process of

[singular]

looking at something to check documents a quick going-over.

goings-on

it:

I'd like

you

to give these

informal events or activities that are strange, dishonest, or illegal

goi-ter

noun

[plural]

/'goitar/ noun [c/u] a disease that affects

your

makes your neck swollen

thyroid gland and

***

gold 1 /goold/ noun

1 [u] a valuable yellow metal used for making jewelry: The picture frames were made of solid gold. 22 carat gold la. [U] things such as jewelry and coins that are made of gold: Over $80,000 worth of gold was stolen from the safe. 1b. [C/U] a medal made of gold that is given to the winner of a race: So Australia gets the gold and Britain We always thought Sally was going to win the silver. gold. 1c. [u] used for saying that someone or something is very good or valuable: That girl is pure gold. 2 [C/U] the color of gold: The boat was painted in black

and gold.

and golds of the autumn foliage

the reds

•

adj

1 something that is gold is the color of gold: The sky was gold and blue in the east. blue fabric decorated with gold stars 2 made of gold: gold jewelry /coins a gold ring/ chain/ watch

gold-brick / 'goold, bnk/ noun [C] AmE informal someone who is lazy and tries to avoid work, especially by pretending

to

be sick

gold .card noun you

to

spend a

a type of credit card that allows

[c]

lot

money

of

gold .digger noun

[C]

wants relationships with

gold .dust noun

[u]

informal a woman men who are rich

gold in the form of a

who

only

powder

like gold dust very valuable or difficult to get because a lot of people want it

gold-en /'gooldn/

***

adj

the fact that something has continued for 50 years [c] informal 1 something such as a song or movie that is old but still popular 2 humorous a famous person who has been popular for a very long

.golden 'oldie noun

time

.golden opportunity noun

[c]

a very good chance to

do or achieve something .golden 'parachute noun

[C] business a promise to pay a senior manager a lot of money if they are forced to leave their job in the future

.golden 'raisin noun

[C]

Am E a small light brown raisin

(=a type of dried fruit)

.golden retriever noun

[c] a dog with fairly long yellow-brown fur noun an important basic principle golden 'rule [c] that you should always obey when doing a particular

activity

gold-finch

a pot of gold a large amount of money that will make someone rich for ever: Anyone coming here in search of a pot of gold is going to be disappointed.

gold 2 /goold/

.golden hello noun [c] business a large amount of money given to someone for accepting an important job .golden jubilee noun [c] BrE an event that celebrates

/

'goold, fmtJV noun [c] a small bird with its wings that is common in Europe

yellow feathers on

gold-fish /'goold.fiJV (plural gold»fish) noun [C] a small orange fish, often kept as a pet 'goldfish .bowl noun [c] 1 a round glass bowl in which people keep goldfish as pets 2 a place or situation in which people can watch everything you do .gold 'leaf noun [u] gold in the form of thin sheets, used for covering the surface of objects

.gold medal noun [C] * a medal that is given to the winner of a race or competition. The person who comes second gets a silver medal and the person who is third gets a bronze medal. .gold 'medalist noun [C] someone who wins a gold medal gold-mine /'goold.mam/ noun [C] 1 informal a business or an activity that makes large amounts of money very easily 2 a place under the ground where there are rocks containing gold

gold-plated

adj

covered with a thin layer of gold: a

gold-plated watch

1 bright yellow in color: golden hair golden brown Fry the chicken joints in the oil until golden brown. 2 mainly literary made of gold: a golden ring 3 very happy or successful: golden days /years The seventies were the golden years of Australian tennis.

'golden ,age noun [singular] a period of time in the past when something was the most successful: the golden age

.gold 'record noun [c] AmE a prize that a singer or group receives when a lot of people buy a record they have made gold-rimmed /, goold 'nmd/ adj gold-rimmed glasses have a frame that is made of gold or is covered in gold 'gold rush noun [singular] 1 a period in the past when a lot of people went to a place where gold had been discovered in order to become rich 2 informal a situation in which a lot of people suddenly become involved in a particular activity because they hope to make a lot '

of British industry

.golden .anniversary noun ticular event, especially a

'golden ,boy noun

man

[C]

50 years after a par-

wedding

mainly journalism a successful

that a lot of people like

.golden 'eagle noun

[c]

and admire

a large brown bird that lives in mountainous regions of northern countries [c]

of money gold-smith / 'goold, smiG/ noun [c] someone whose job is to make or repair gold jewelry and other gold objects

gold standard

good

602

gold standard, the noun an economic system in which the value of money is calculated according to the

good

1

/god/

/best/) ad)

(comparative better /'betar/; superlative

•••

value of gold

golf /golf/ noun

(u]

1 of

•*• a game in which you use golf-

2

clubs to hit a small white ball into a hole in the ground: a round of golf (=a game of golf) / usually play a round of golf on Saturday.

golf

6 pleasant

golf

a long stick that you use for hitting the ball in golf: a set of golf clubs 2 an organization for people who play golf together in a particular place 2a. a place with a golf course and clubhouse where members go to play golf and meet socially

E

1

[c]

golf .course noun

a large area of land designed for playing golf that usually has 18 different sections called [C]

holes 'golfar/

noun

[c]

someone who plays

golf, espe-

cially as their job

golfing a.

/'gDlfin/ noun [u] the activity of playing golf relating to or used in playing golf: a

[only before noun]

golfing vacation/ break

golf .links

(plural

golfing equipment/ shoes

noun

golf Jinks)

[c]

a golf course,

especially one near the sea

goli-ath that

is

/ga'laiaO/ noun [C] a person or organization

very large, powerful, or important

gol-li-wog /'gali.wag/ noun

[c] a child's toy that looks man with a black face and black hair. Golliwogs are no longer produced because they are considered offensive to black people.

like a small

goMy

1

/ 'gali/ interjection informal old-fashioned used for expressing surprise or slight worry

by golly used

for

emphasizing what you are saying

goMy 2 /'gali/ noun [C] informal a golliwog gonad /'goo.naed/ noun [C] science a sex

cells used in producing babies. In men this sex organ is called a testicle, and in women it is called an ovary. gon-do-la / 'gandata; gan'doota/ noun [c] a long narrow boat with curved ends that you move using a long pole. Gondolas are used on the canals in Venice, a. the part of a cable car or ski lift that people sit in b. the part attached to a hot-air balloon or an airship for people to

travel in

gon-do-lier

/ .ganda'lir/ noun [C] someone whose job is to take people for rides in a gondola in Venice 1

/gon/ ad] [never before noun] 1 someone who is gone is no longer present in a place: I'll be gone for about half an hour. Bob and his family have been gone about six months now. 1a. something that is gone no longer exists or has all been used: Sadly, those days are gone now. all gone The milk's all gone. 2 informal no longer able to behave or think normally, usually because of alcohol or drugs

gone on sb informal old-fashioned finding someone very attractive so that you think about them a lot three/four/five etc. months gone Br E informal pregnant for three/four/five etc. months gone 2 /gon/ preposition BrE informal after a particular time: past: It was gone ten o'clock by the time they arrived. gone 3 the past participle of go gon*er /'gonsr/ noun [singular] informal someone who is 1

certain to die very soon

gong

/gon/ noun [C] 1 a large circular metal object hanging from a frame. You hit it to make a loud deep noise. 2 BrE informal a medal

gon*na

/'gona/ short form a way of writing "going to" that shows how it sounds in informal conversation: / think I'm gonna need some help.

gon>or*rhe*a

/.gana'ria/ noun [u] a disease affecting the sex organs that is passed on by sexual contact

gonzo

/'ganzou/

AmE

strange, unusual, or crazy 2 gonzo journalism aims to shock or entertain people rather than to report facts

goo /gu/ noun substance

[u]

adj

informal

8 fairly large amount 9 usable/not spoiled 10 showing pleasure

etc.

in

society

likely to

earn

money

giving a lot of value

thorough and complete funny/interesting in

sports

more than amount,

when

sth

etc.

is likely

+ PHRASES

We saw a really good They were all dressed in their best These dishes are too good to use every day. How good is his English? 2 able to do something well: Francine was a very good cook. + at Bob is pretty good affixing things. 2a. [+with] able to deal with someone or something well, or able to use something well: Gina has always been good with animals. Jake is really good with his hands (=skillful at making or doing things using his hands). 3 having the necessary qualities: This rock will make a good paperweight. +for Electric cars are good for driving around town. 3a. reasonable or sensible: Dad gave me some really good advice. This is surely the best argument against the death penalty. Give me one good reason why I should lend you money. 3b. appropriate and likely to produce the results or conditions you want: Now would be a good time to ask for a raise. What's the best way to get to the freeway from here? 3c. convenient: What's a good time to call you? +for Thursday is good for me - can you make it then? 4 honest and morally correct: George had always tried 1

of a high quality or standard:

movie

last night.

clothes.

a good life. It would be good if you took the back. 4a. willing to obey and behave in a socially correct way: Ruth's children are always so good. as good as gold He sat there as good as gold the whole time. be a good boy/girl Be a good boy and play quietly. 4b. willing to obey all the rules of a particular religion or organization: a good Catholic 4c. kind, generous, and willing to help: +to Helen's parents were always good to us kids. + about Sheryl's brother has been good about helping out with the new baby. it is good of sb to do sth It was so good of you to come. 5 giving you a happy or pleasant feeling: We had such a good time in Las Vegas. A hot bath would feel good about now. One more piece of good news: Beth had a baby girl! it is/feels good to do sth It's good to finally meet you. 6 attractive: Carol looks better with short hair, don't you think? 7 feeling healthy: "How are you today?" "Good, and you?" / don 'tfeel very good - I'm going to lie down. 7a. feeling happy: He's not in a very good mood. 7b. making you healthy or happy: +for Exercise is good for you. it is good (for sb) to do sth It's not good to eat so much junk food. 7c. giving benefits to something: + for The recent tax cuts will be good for business. 8 fairly large in amount, size, range, etc.: He earns a The library has a good good salary as a consultant. selection of computer books. 8a. a good deal a lot: The house cost a good deal more than we expected. + of There's still a good deal of work to do before we're finished. 8b. a good many informal a large number of people or things: They've known each other for a good many years. 9 not damaged or spoiled in any way and still able to be used or eaten: Do you think the eggs are still good? 9a. able to be legally used or officially accepted: +for The tickets are good for three weeks. 9b. [+for] still able to be used for a particular period of time or a particular distance: I think these pants are good for another few months. 9c. able to be used because of being real and not false: a good $20 bill 9d. sb's good eye/ear/arm/ leg etc. one eye/ear/ arm/leg etc. that someone can still to lead

money

organ that

makes

gone

to look at

7 feeling healthy/happy

golf club noun

/

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

able to do sth well

3 with qualities to do sth 4 honest & morally correct 5 giving pleasant feeling

.ball noun [c] a small white ball used for playing

golf -er

11 high

high quality/standard

1

informal any thick sticky unpleasant

use normally 10 spoken used for saying that you are pleased with someone or pleased about something: "They should be Oh good, you remembered here in half an hour. " "Good. to buy the milk. 10a. used when talking about what has been decided or agreed: Good. Then we'll meet at noon in

"

front of the theater.

"

good

good

603

having a high and respected position in society: He comes from a very good family. Your accent doesn't make you better than me. 11a. expensive or used by people with a high position in society: We moved to a smaller house in a good neighborhood. 12 reliable and likely to earn a lot of money for you: Tammy has a good job at the post office. They made some good investments. 13 giving you a lot of value for something you are buying or selling: Twenty dollars is a good price for jeans. We got a good deal on our airplane tickets. 14 thorough and complete: The witness said she got a good look at his face. What I need is a good night's sleep. 14a. good and ready/ warm etc. informal completely ready /warm etc. 15 funny or interesting: a good joke/ story 16 a ball that is good in a game such as tennis lands 1 1

too much of a good thing informal so easily available or used so often that you do not enjoy it any more: Is unlimited phone access too much of a good thing? would you be so good as/would you be good enough to do sth spoken formal used for asking someone very politely to do something -» GIVE1 , ONTO, VERY

Words you can use instead of good Good is a very general word. Here are some words more

specific

appropriate

meanings

that

with

sound more natural and

in particular situations.

movies/books/events

great, awesome (informal), excellent, fantastic, super (informal), fabulous, terrific

inside the area in which the game is played 1 7 informal more than a particular distance, amount, age, etc.: We've been waiting for a good half hour. 1 8 if there is a good chance of something happening, it is likely to happen: There's a good chance of showers

food /meals

delicious, tasty, scrumptious (informal), yummy (informal),

performance /piece of

excellent, terrific,

tonight.

work

outstanding, exceptional,

good time spoken used for telling someone to wait for something and not try to make you hurry as good a time/place etc. as any informal not an espe-

machines / obj ects /

good quality, high quality,

clothes

quality, well-made, wellbuilt, deluxe, top of the

wonderful

first-rate, first-class,

all in

good time/place etc. to do something, but not worse than any other: I guess now's as good a time as any cially to tell

Dad about

range

the car.

as good as finished/dead etc. almost finished/dead etc. or likely to be finished/ dead etc. very soon: They've as good as admitted it was their fault. as good as new in almost the same good condition as before being damaged or injured: After the surgery your back should be as good as new. as good as your word doing what you have promised to

do

be as good as it gets informal 1 to be not very good and unlikely to improve 2 to be extremely good, so that nothing is likely to be better be good to go E informal to be ready to do something good boy/girl used for praising a child or a pet when they have done something correctly good for sb BrE used for saying that you are happy about something good that someone has done or that

Am

has happened to them

good for sth informal able or likely to supply something, especially

skillful, skilled

money

a good friend someone you

know very

well and like a

lot

good Heavens/Lord/God/grief/ gracious spoken used for showing that you are very surprised, angry, or upset good old spoken 1 used before the name of someone or something that always does what you want or expect 2 enjoyable or useful: We had a good old talk. have a good thing going informal to be involved in something that is successful and gives you benefits if you know what's good for you spoken used for warning someone that they should do something if they do not want something bad to happen to them it's a good thing that Br E used for saying that you are pleased that something has happened because it prevents something bad from happening: It's a good thing you called - Mom was starting to get worried. make good informal to become successful: He's a local boy made good. make good (on) a promise/threat/debt etc. to do or pay what you have said you would make good sth to fix, replace, or pay for something you have done wrong, damaged, etc.: We intend to make good any damage caused by the move. not good enough spoken used for saying that you are not satisfied with what someone has done or is offering you: "I'm sorry I'm late." "It's just not good enough. It's the second day in a row. that's a good one spoken 1 used for saying that you think a joke is very funny 2 used for saying that you think that what someone has said is not true and is intended to trick you too good to be true/to last so good that you cannot believe that such a situation is possible or can continue: If you think the deal they are offering is too good to be true, it probably is.

people

kind, moral, decent, respectable

ideas / suggestions

brilliant, excellent, great,

neat, interesting,

appealing

good 2 /god/ noun

[u]

***

1 advantage or benefit: for the good of sb/sth Hartman should resign for the good of the party. for sb's own good I'm doing this for your own good. do sb good J think a trip to the beach would do us all a lot of good. do more harm than good Raising speed limits may do more harm than good. the common /general good (=benefit for everyone in society or in a group) The country's natural resources should be used for the common good. 2 morally correct behavior: The Internet can be a force good and evil for good by helping to spread knowledge. the battle between good and evil 2a. the good people who behave in a morally correct way —opposite evil 3 the pleasant part or aspects of something: When you 're raising kids, you sometimes have to take the good with the

bad.

$10/$20/$100 etc. to the good having $10/$20/$100 etc. more than you had before do no good/not do any good to not have any effect or success: I'll talk to her, but it won't do any good. for good permanently, without the possibility of change in the future: It looks like Jamie has left for good this time.

no good/not any good/not much good 1 of a low quality or standard: Most of the pictures I took weren't any good. 2 not able to do something well: +at I'm no good at chemistry. 3 not able to deal with someone or something well or use something well: +with Ken's not much good with kids. 4 not useful or effective: +for My shoes are no good for hiking. it's no good doing sth It's no good trying to persuade her to come with us. 5 not appropriate or convenient: Tomorrow's no good - I'm busy.

too clever/nice/generous etc. for your own good so clever/nice/generous etc. that it is a disadvantage instead of an advantage up to no good informal doing or planning something bad, illegal, or immoral what's the good of/what good is (it) (doing) sth? spoken used for saying that you do not think something will give you any benefit: What's the good of writing them a letter? They never read them anyway. -> GOODS

good 3 many

/god/ adv spoken a way of saying "well" that people think is not correct: He's doing pretty good

at his

new job.

"

good afternoon good

noon

goof

spoken formal • used for saying hello or goodbye to someone in the afternoon

after

interjection

Good Book, the old-fashioned the Christian bible goodbye /god'bai/ interjection • used when you are 1

leaving someone or when someone is leaving you, or when you are finishing a telephone call. Bye is a more informal word and is a more common way of saying goodbye to a friend or to someone you know well: "Goodbye, Mr. Taylor. " "Goodbye, John.

goodbye (to) sth (and) hello (to) sth informal used one activity or period has ended and another one has started 2 good-bye /god'bai/ noun [C] * any word or phrase you say when you leave someone or when someone say your leaves you: Emma left without even a goodbye. goodbyes It was heartbreaking saying our goodbyes at the airport, a. kiss sb goodbye to kiss someone when you leave them or as they leave you b. say goodbye (to sb) to use a word or phrase such as "goodbye" or "see you" (it's)

for saying that

when you leave someone or when someone leaves you c. wave goodbye (to sb) to wave your hand when you leave

someone or as they leave you

say /wave/kiss goodbye to sth to accept that you will not achieve, get, or keep something

good day

interjection

annoyed, impatient, worried, or surprised: Sit down and be quiet, for goodness sake! goodness (only) knows used for emphasizing what you say, especially when you do not know something: Goodness only knows why she didn ask us for help! -» thank good-ness 2 /'godnas/ noun [u] • 1 the quality of being morally good: a man known for his wisdom and goodness out of the goodness of your heart (^because you are kind and want to help someone) She acted out of the goodness of her heart. 2 substances such as vitamins and proteins that are contained in some foods and help you stay healthy: 't

Fresh fruit and vegetables are full of goodness. -» HONEST-TO-GOODNESS

.good night someone to

goods /godz/

2BrE

good 'evening

interjection spoken formal saying hello to someone in the evening

*

used for

From

'faith noun [u] the intention of behaving in an honest and sincere way: in good faith / borrowed the money in good faith, but now I can 't pay it back.

good-f el-la/ 'god .fela/ noun

informal a violent criminal involved in organized crime, especially a member of the Mafia in the U.S. [C]

noun [c] someone who is lazy and never does anything useful Friday noun [C/u] the Friday before Easter, which Christians remember as the day that Jesus Christ

good-for-nothing

Good died

right, especially

someone who does what is morally a character in a movie —opposite bad

[C]

GUY

good-heart-ed /god

'hartad/ adj kind, generous, and

good-hu-mored easily

/god' hjumard/ adj friendly, happy, good-hu*mored-ly annoyed or upset

—

adv

good-ie / 'godi/ another good-ies /'godiz/ noun

spelling of

goody

1

informal 1 things that are nice to eat, such as cake and chocolates 2 things that are nice to have but not essential

good-ish

/

distance or

[plural]

BrE informal 1 a goodish long or fairly large 2 fairly

'godiJV adj mainly

amount

is fairly

good

good

•••

informal to

the Bible story of the Good Samaritan who man that no one else would help.

helped an injured

goods and chattels

/.godz an 'tjstlz/ noun [plural] legal someone's possessions, not including any houses or land that they own good-tem-pered /god'tempard/ adj pleasant and not easily annoyed or upset

good-time Charlie adj Am E informal old-fashioned a man who seems to be happy all the time and thinks it is

very important to have a lot of fun girl or good-time gal noun

good-time

[c] infor-

mal old-fashioned a young woman whose main interest is to enjoy life and have fun, especially in a way that is not considered moral

good-will /god'wil/ noun

[u]

*

a feeling of wanting to be friendly and helpful to someone: a gesture of goodwill As a gesture of goodwill, we agreed to do the work free of charge. 2 business the good reputation and good relationships that a company has with its customers, and how much these are worth if the company is sold Good- will /god'wil/ an informal name for Goodwill Industries, an organization in the U.S. that has stores that collect old clothes and other things that people no longer want and sell them at low prices. There is a similar organization in the U.K. called Oxfam. good works noun [plural] activities that you do to help other people, often because of your religious beliefs 1

helpful

and not

[plural]

do what you have said you will do or what people expect get the goods on sb informal to find proof that someone has done something bad the goods informal exactly what is needed or wanted .Good Sa'maritan noun [c] a person who helps someone they do not know who is in trouble

good

,guy noun

noun

objects produced for sale: a store specializing in leather stolen goods Wilkins was found in possession of $8,000 worth of stolen goods. goods and services The cost of household goods and services fell. 2 objects that someone owns that can be moved from one place to another: possessions 1

goods

come up with the goods/deliver the goods

*

Australian spoken used for saying hello to someone in the morning or afternoon. Good day is often written "g'day" to show how it sounds in informal conversation. old-fashioned used for saying hello or goodbye to someone in the morning or afternoon 1

good

* used for saying goodbye to evening or at night, or before they go

interjection

in the

bed at night

.life,

the noun

a

way

enjoyable, usually because

of living that is easy and lot of money

you have a

good-look-ing /god'lokirj/ adj

** physically attract-

with an attractive face noun [plural] the physically attractive appearance of someone, especially of their face good-ly /'godli/ adj old-fashioned 1 a goodly number, amount, time, etc. is fairly large or long 2 an old word meaning "attractive" or "of a good quality" good 'morning interjection spoken formal * used for saying hello or goodbye to someone in the morning good-natured /god'neitjard/ adj kind and friendly, good-na-tured-ly adv and not easily annoyed good-ness /'godnas/ interjection • used for showing that you are surprised: Goodness, is it time to go already? goodness goodness me Goodness me! You've grown! gracious (me) Goodness gracious me! What do you mean? my goodness (me) My goodness, it's warm in here! ive, especially

good looks

—

1

for goodness sake used for showing that

you are

/'godi/ noun [C] informal someone who is morally good, especially someone in a movie or book opposite BADDY good-y 2 /'godi/ interjection informal old-fashioned used for saying that you are happy or excited about something. This word is used especially by children. 'goody .bag noun [C] informal 1 a bag containing small presents and candy, given to children at a party 2 a bag containing small presents given by a company to help advertise a product or service

good-y

1

—

goody-goody noun

[C]

or

goody- two-shoes

informal

someone who always tries to please people in word shows that you dislike people like

authority. This this.

gui/ adj informal 1 sticky and soft 2 showing feelings such as love or admiration in a silly way

goo-ey /

goof silly

1

/guf/ noun

[C]

AmE

or stupid mistake

informal 1 a goofball

2 a

— goof /guf/ verb stupid mistake

[i]

AmE

goof

or

goof up

goof around phrasal vb [I] AmE informal time behaving in a silly way ,goof off phrasal vb

[I]

Am E informal to

to

to

make

a

spend your

waste time when

you should be working goof up phrasal vb [I] AmE informal same as goof

goof 'ball

/'guf.bol/ noun [c] informal a silly or stupid

person

goof- up noun [C] informal a situation in which you make a stupid mistake goof-y /'gufi/ adj AmE informal 1 silly, especially in a funny or pleasant way 2 goofy teeth stick out and

AmE

/gok/ noun

substance: goo

2

1

informal a thick sticky a very offensive word for

[U]

[C] offensive

someone from Asia goon /gun/ noun [C] informal 1 a strong or violent man whose job is to protect his employer: We were surrounded by security goons. 2 a stupid person who is always breaking things /'gunds/ noun [C] Indian English someone whose job is to hurt or frighten people, so that they will do what their employer wants them to do informal gook goop /gup/ noun [u] goose 1 /gus/ (plural geese /gis/) noun 1 [c/u] a large white or gray bird with a long beak called a bill. A male goose is called a gander and a young goose is called a gosling. A group of geese is called a flock. picture -»ci2 2 [C]informal 1a. u the meat of a goose old-fashioned a silly person: Don't be such a silly goose!

goon-da

AmE

]

[

the goose that lays the golden eggs a person or thing that provides money what's good for the goose is good for the gander or what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander used for saying that if something is good or acceptable for one person it is therefore good or acceptable for another person -» golden goose, wild-goose chase goose 2 /gus/ verb [T] informal to touch or squeeze someone's bottom

goose-ber-ry

/'gus.beri/ noun [c] a small green fruit with a sour taste that grows on a bush and can be cooked to make sweet foods: gooseberry pie /jam

'goose

bumps

noun [plural] if you get goose bumps, very small lumps appear on your skin and your hairs stand up straight, because you are cold, frightened, or excited

goose-flesh /'gus.fleJV noun [u] goose bumps 'goose pimples noun [plural] goose bumps goose-step verb [I] to march without bending your leg when you raise it — goose step noun [C] GOP, the / ,d3i oo 'pi/ AmE mainly journalism the Grand Old Party: the Republican Party in the U.S.

go-pher

/'goofar/ noun

a small furry animal mainly found in North and Central America. It has a short tail and lives in holes that it digs in the ground. 2 another spelling of gofer 3 a system that allows people to connect to Internet sites that are not part of the World Wide Web [C]

1

Gor-di-an knot /.gardian

'nat/ noun cut the Gordian knot to solve a very difficult problem in a quick and determined way that may cause other problems in the

future

gore is

1

/gar/ noun

thick because

gore

[U] it is

blood from an injured person that partly dried

2

/gor/ verb [T] if an animal such as a bull gores someone, it injures them with its horns 1 /gord3/ noun [c] 1 a deep valley with high straight sides where a river has cut through rock 2 if someone's gorge rises, they feel sick or angry gorge 2 /gord3/ verb [i/t] 1 to eat or drink so much of something that you cannot eat or drink any more: We gorged ourselves on fresh sardines and salads. 2 to have as much of an enjoyable experience as you want: /

gorge

gorged myself on memories.

enjoyable, especially to eat or smell: gorgeous The weather was absolutely gorgeous. juicy shrimps

Gorgon /'gargan/ noun

[c] in

ancient Greek stories, a

monster in the form of a woman with snakes for hair who changed anyone who looked at her into stone Gor-gon-zo-la or gor-gon-zo-la /.gargan'zoola/ noun [U] a type of soft white and blue Italian cheese with a strong taste go-ril-la /ga'nla/ noun [C] 1 a large strong African wild animal that is similar to a monkey but much larger lives in forests — picture -» ci2 2 informal a big man who seems stupid or violent gorse /gars/ noun [u] a small bush that has yellow

and

very beautiful: She's just gorgeous

geous red and gold

silk sari

in

Europe

/'gori/ adj 1 covered with a lot of blood 2 a gory movie, computer game, or story involves a lot of killing

go-ry

or injuries

the gory details humorous the details about something that has happened, especially something unpleasant: We're not going to go into the gory details of how the

program works.

gosh

used for showing annoyed young goose go-slow noun [C usually singular] BrEa. slowdown gospel /'gaspl/ noun 1 gospel or gospel music [u] a type of Christian music influenced by soul and r and b that developed in the churches that black people went to in the south of the U.S. in the past. It is sung by groups of singers who have powerful voices: a gospel singer/choir 2 gospel or Gospel [c] one of the four that

/gaJV

in purple.

a gor-

interjection old-fashioned

you are surprised or a

gosling

little

/'gazlin/ noun [c] a

books in the Bible that tell about the life of Jesus 2a. the gospel or the Gospel the things Jesus said and taught: Jesus told his disciples to go and preach the gospel. 3 [singular] ideas that someone wants other people to accept: He has spent his of good design.

life

preaching the gospel

gospel truth the complete truth take sth as gospel to believe something without doubting

it

at all

gossamer /'gasamar/ noun

[u] 1 literary something very light and delicate: gossamer threads of mist 2 the very thin light fibers produced by spiders and found hanging on trees and bushes gos-sip / 'gasip/ noun 1 [u] conversation about unim1

portant subjects, especially people's private lives: One / never day Sam heard an interesting piece of gossip. listen to office gossip. 1a. [singular] an occasion on which people gossip: He liked a good gossip when he arrived at the office. 2 [C] someone who enjoys talking about other people: My uncle Michael was a great gossip.

gos-sip 2 /'gasip/

verb [I] to talk about other people or about things that are not important 'gossip column noun [c] an article that appears regu-

newspaper or magazine and gives details of the private lives of famous people. Someone who writes a gossip column is called a gossip columnist. larly in a

gos-sip-y

/'gasipi/ ad] a gossipy person enjoys talking about other people and their lives a. a gossipy letter is and full of news about the writer of the letter and about other people got 1 /gat/ verb spoken used for saying "have" in informal speech: What you got there? You got to be careful what you say to him. have got spoken used especially in speech to mean "have": I've got an extra apple if you want one. lively

got 2 the past tense of get got-cha /'gatja/ interjection

informal

1

used

for

showing you understand what someone is telling you: "You know what I'm saying?" "Yeah, gotcha. " 2 used for showing you are pleased at catching or beating someone

From

Goth

gorgeous /'gord33s/ adj * 1

2 very

flowers and thorns and grows wild in the countryside

are not straight

gook

Goth

605

goof 2

the informal

way

of writing "got you."

/ga9/ noun 1 [C] a member of a group of people who attacked and destroyed Rome in the fifth century 2 Goth or Gothic [u] a type of modern popular music that is loud and has a strong beat 2a. [U] a type of

Gotham

Goth-am

/'guOam/ an informal name

for

New York

City 1

Goth'ic /'guOik/

adj 1 Gothic styles of building and art were common in Europe between the 12th and 15th centuries 2 Gothic or gothic Gothic novels and movies have frightening and mysterious subjects: the

Gothic tales of Edgar Allan Poe 3 Gothic printing or writing uses thick lines and pointed shapes

Goth-ic 2 /'guOik/ noun erature 2 see Goth 2

[u]

1

Gothic buildings or

got-ta / 'gata/ short form a way of writing "got to" shows how it sounds in informal conversation:

m

lit-

that He's

gotta decide now.

got'ten —the

Am E

past participle of get

gouache /gwaj;

gu'aJV noun [C] a painting made with paints mixed with water and a type of glue a. [U] a style of painting using these paints, or the paints used

Gou-da

/'guda/ noun [u] a type of hard yellow cheese with a fairly strong flavor that is made in Holland 1 gouge /gaod3/ verb [T] 1 to cut long deep holes in something 2 to make someone pay more money than they should: They managed to gouge a small fortune Merchants were warned against price out of my father. gouging.

.gouge out phrasal vb [T] to remove something from a surface by cutting or digging with a sharp object: They threatened to gouge his eyes out. gouge 2 /gaud3/ noun [c] 1 a long deep mark left by a sharp object 2 a tool with a curved blade that is used for digging out part of something solid gou-lash /'gu.laJV noun [c/u] a Hungarian stew (=thick soup) made from meat and vegetables and hot red pepper: beef goulash

gourd

/gard/ noun [C] a type of fruit with a hard thick skin. Some gourds can be cooked and eaten, a. the hard shell of a gourd used as a container for water or food

gourmand 1

/'gur,mand; 'gurmand/ noun [C] formal someone who enjoys good food and wine 2 someone

who

eats too

gourmet

much

1

/gur'mei/adj gourmet food is of a very high gourmet cook is someone who can make very good food 2 gourmet /gur'mei/ noun [C] someone who knows a lot about good food and wine gout /gaot/ noun [u] a painful disease that makes the quality: a gourmet meal a. a

your toes swell gov. abbrev 1 governor 2 government joints in

gov*ern

**

/'gAvarn/ verb and manage an area, city, or country people: rule: The region is now governed by Morocco. The party will not be able to govern alone. 2 [T] to control the way things happen: the laws that govern the movements of the stars 2a. if something governs people or their behavior, it controls or strongly influences them: Fear governed their lives. 3 [T] to control the way an organization such as a business or society operates: regulate: The company 1

[l/T]

and

grab

606

fashion that was first popular in the 1980s, in which people have black clothes, black hair, very white makeup and dark lipstick 2b. [C] someone who wears Goth fashion and listens to Goth music

to control

its

is governed by strict environmental regulations. governing union elections

governance

rules

/'gAvarnans/ noun [u] very formal the process of governing a country or organization gov-ern-ess /'gAvarnas/ noun [C] a woman whose job was to take care of and teach her employer's children in their home, especially in the past governing /'gAvarnin/ adj [only before noun] 1 a governing authority has the power to govern a country, the city, etc.: a governing party / authority I coalition governing class of ancient Rome 2 a governing organorganization: ization has the power to control a larger a governing agency /board 3 a governing law or principle is a rule that controls a situation or an activity .governing 'body noun [c] an official organization that is responsible for making the rules for an organization such as a school, university, or sport, and for making sure that people follow the rules

gov-ern-ment /'gAvarnmant/ noun ••• 1 [C/u] the people who control a country,

region, or

and make decisions about its laws and taxes: The Mexican government has announced its plans to raise city

a democratically elected the minimum wage next year. government federal/central government (=government for an entire country) The laws will take power from the federal government and give it to state and local authorities. state /local government (^government for a state or city) The tax surplus is to be given to local governments to spend as they see fit. under a government (^during the government of a particular party) Under the Conservative government things were very different. 1a. the members of the main political party in a legislature, or the members of the cabinet (=the group of politicians with the most important jobs) in a system with a legislature: form a government (=choose the people who will have the most important jobs in the government) The party with an overall majority is then asked to form a government. coalition government (=in which members of different have important jobs in the parties government) The Congress Party is threatening to quit the coalition government. 1b. [only before noun] relating to a

government, especially a national government: government employees 2 [U] the process, method, or effects of governing: Vm not sure these reforms will necessarily lead to more effective government. big government (=a situation in which the government has a lot of power) Conservatives hope that the era of big government is over. gov-ern-ment-al / .gAvarn'mentl/ adj relating to a government: a governmental agency

.Government 'House

the official

home

of the gov-

ernor general of Canada

governor /'gAvarnar/ noun 1

an elected

official

who

is

[C]

***

the political head of a state

in the U.S. the governor of California 1a. an official who governs a country or part of a country that is ruled by another state 1b. an official who is sent by the central government to govern an area of the country 2 a member of a group that has responsibility for an institution like a school or university: The school's Board of Governors meet tomorrow night. 3 the person in charge of an institution such as a bank 4 BrE informal an employer or other person who has authority over you: boss: I'll have to ask the governor. governor- general noun [c] an official who governs a large area or country and has several other governors :

who work under him

governorship

/'gAvarnar ,Jrp/ noun [C/u] a gov-

ernor's job or the period of time someone is a governor govt, abbrev government gown /gaon/ noun [C] * 1 a special long dress worn by a woman, often for dancing or other special occasions: a ball gown a white wedding gown 1a. a long dress worn by a woman in the past: ladies in silk

gowns

2 a piece of formal clothing like a loose coat worn by judges and by teachers and students at some ceremonies at schools 3 a long loose piece of clothing that a doctor or patient wears during an operation in a hospital: a hospital/ surgical

G.P.

gown

1

/,d3i 'pi/ noun [C] General Practitioner: a doctor deals with general medical problems and treats the families in a particular area

who G.P.

2

/,d3i 'pi/ abbrev general practice

GPA /,d3i pi GPO /,d3i pi

'ei/

noun

Am E grade point average

[C]

'oo/ noun

[singular] 1

2 Government Printing

General Post Office

Office

GPS /,d3i

pi 'es/ noun [u] global positioning system: a system for finding exactly where you are anywhere in the world using satellites (^objects that go around the earth high in the sky)

gr. abbrev 1

Gr. abbrev

1

gram 2 grade Greece 2 Greek

GR8 abbrev great:

used in e-mails and text messages

1

grab /grab/ verb

[t]

*•

something in a rough or rude way: He grabs a knife and dives at the robber. One of the men 1

to take hold of

grab hold of his hair. the arm. 2 to succeed in getting something, especially by being quick or by being the best at something: We got there

The brand now early and grabbed seats at the front. grab sb's attention grabs 26 percent of sales in the U.S.. It's often the bad characters in a story who grab our grab an opportunity/chance I grabbed the attention. chance to escape for a few minutes. informal to interest someone or make them feel enthusiastic: The idea didn't really grab me. informal if you grab food or sleep, you eat quickly or sleep for a short time: I'll grab a sandwich back at the

3

4

hotel.

grab (the) headlines to get a lot of public attention, especially by appearing in the news grab at phrasal vb [T] [grab at sth] to try to take hold of something in a rough or rude way: Suddenly he was on his feet, grabbing at her sleeve. grab 2 /grasb/ noun 1 [singular] an attempt to take hold of something: make a grab at/for sth Rose rushed at Dieter and made a grab at his wrist. 1a. used for saying that someone tries to obtain something by acting quickly: make a grab at/for sth The army chose this moment to make a grab for power. 2 [C] a machine used for catching and lifting objects

for grabs informal if something is up for grabs, it is available and many people are trying to get or win it

up

'grab ,bag noun [c] Am E 1 a container at parties from which people choose one of many small gifts hidden inside. 2 a mixture of things that have not been put together carefully: ragbag: Their grab bag of policies.

manifesto

is

really

informal always trying to get

more

latest

just a

grab-by / 'graebi/ adj of something

grace

graded reader

607 grab hold of I grabbed grab sb by sth Ben grabbed Marco by

was grabbed and shoved into a car.

1

/greis/ noun

5 extra time to so 6 grace note + PHRASES

sth

1 [u] a smooth and beautiful way of moving: She moved with natural grace, la. a simple and beautiful quality: the grace of Manueline architecture 2 [u] kind, polite, and fair behavior: She captures the character's essential gentleness and grace. have the (good)

grace to do sth He should have the grace to admit he was wrong. with (good /a good) grace (=in a pleasant and willing way) Davis accepted the defeat with good grace. with bad /a bad /an ill grace (=in an unpleasant and unwilling way) She responded with an ill grace to our appeal for help. 2a. graces [plural] skills that are necessary for polite or friendly relationships with other people 3 [U] the love and kindness that God gives to people: by/through God's grace It was only by God's grace that we were saved. 3a. the condition of people when they are loved and forgiven by God: state of grace He died in a state of grace. 4 [singula r/u] a short prayer that some people say before they eat to thank God for the food: Eric, would you like to say grace? 5 [u] extra time that you have or that someone allows you to have in order to do something such as pay money you owe: grace period: Could you give me a couple of days' grace to pay the rent? 6 [C] a grace note

be in sb's good/bad graces to be in a situation in which someone is pleased or angry with you: Johnson appears to be back in the president's good graces. His/Her/Your Grace used for talking about or to a duke, a duchess, or an archbishop the (three) Graces three beautiful sister goddesses from ancient Greek stories there but for the grace of God (go I) used for saying that if you were less lucky you might be in the same bad situation as someone else 1

/greis/ verb attractive, pleasing,

1

[T]

to

make something more

or interesting: Her photograph graced many a magazine cover. 2 if someone important graces a group or an event, they go to it. This word is often used in a humorous way to show that someone does not often come to a particular event or has arrived very late: How kind of you to grace us with your presence.

grace-ful

/'greisfal/ adj

•

graceful movement is smooth and beautiful: She rose to her feet in one graceful movement. 2 a graceful shape or object is attractive: graceful Moorish architecture graceful arms and feet 3 showing good manners and respect for other people: a graceful refusal She was extremely graceful in defeat. grace-ful-ly adv, grace-ful-ness noun [u] 1

—

grace-less /'greisbs/ adj 1 not polite 2 not attractive 'grace note noun [c] an extra musical note added in a piece of music 'grace period noun [c] a period of time that someone allows you to have before you must pay money you

owe: All invoices are issued with the usual 10-day grace period. 1

gra-cious / 'greijas/ adj 1 showing kindness and good manners: He was gracious enough to invite us to his home. 2 gracious living and gracious buildings show a style of living enjoyed by people who have enough money to buy beautiful things 3 showing God's kindness gra-cious 2 /'greijas/ or .gracious 'me interjection old-fashioned used for expressing surprise

grad

/graed/ noun

[C]

informal a graduate

— grad adj: a

grad student

grad-a-ble

/'greidabl/ adj a gradable adjective can be used with words such as "very," "more," or "less," or have comparative and superlative forms. "Big," "happy," and "expensive" are examples of gradable adjectives.

**

1 beautiful movement/look 2 kind/pleasant behavior 3 love/kindness God gives 4 prayer of thanks

-» FALL

grace

gra-da-tion /grs'deijn/ noun [c] 1 one of the steps in a series showing how one thing slowly becomes something else, for example how something becomes more or less heavy, serious, or bright: subtle gradations of color 2 a mark on something used for measuring, for example one of the marks showing the temperature On a THERMOMETER /greid/ noun [c] •** one of the levels of school in the U.S. that lasts one year. Students in the same grade are all about the same eighth age: The topic is covered in the seventh grade.

grade

1

1

grade students 2 a letter or number that shows the quality of a stuget/ dent's work: You need to improve your grades. gain/obtain a grade I got a Grade 2 for art. 3 a level of quality or importance: Their wool is suitable Grade A meat the restoration for finer grades of cloth. of this Grade One listed building top grade tennis rackets 4 the rank of a person, for example in their job: The technical and professional grades have become more open to women. He demanded to be put on a higher grade.

make the grade

to

succeed in doing something because

you are good enough

grade 2

•

/greid/ verb [T] 1 to judge the quality of a student's work by giving it a letter or number: The teachers did not grade their own

students' papers. 2 to separate things into different groups according to quality, size, importance, etc.: Grading meat is an important responsibility of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

'grade .crossing noun

[C]

AmE a

place where a road

crosses a railroad line

grad-ed / greidad/ adj

1 consisting of a series in which is slightly more difficult, slightly better, slightly stronger, etc. than the next: tests that measured the response to graded doses of the drug graded textbooks 2 made level or less steep: graded land

each thing

.graded reader noun

[c] one of a series of books of various levels of difficulty containing pieces of writing, exercises, etc., used by people who are learning to read or learning a language —compare reader 3

grade point average grade point .average

[c]

AmE

grader

/'greidor/ noun [C] a student in a particular year at an American school -.first/ sixth graders

'grade school noun [C/uMmEan elementary school gra-di-ent /'greidiont/ noun [C] 1 a measure of how steep a road is 2 science the rate of change of something such as temperature or pressure

grad .school noun

AmE

[C/U]

informal a graduate

SCHOOL

gradual

/'grax^usl/ adj • gradual processes and changes happen slowly and by small amounts: a gradual change in the climate Any rise in water temperature will be gradual. 2 a gradual slope is not steep: a gradual ascent to the 1

3

gran

608

a number that is the average of the marks that students in U.S. schools have achieved during their studies

noun

onto sth Skin was grafted onto the wound to help it heal. 1a. to take a piece from a plant and join it to a cut made in another plant so that it can grow there: graft sth onto sth The frozen samples will be grafted onto existing trees. 1b. to add something and make it become a part of another thing: graft sth onto sth Many different peoples have settled here and grafted their own cultures onto native

Malaysian

2

culture.

[

l

]

Br E

to

work very hard

Am

graft off phrasal vb [T] E informal [graft off sb] to use your position in business or politics in a dishonest way in order to obtain money or advantages from someone

gra-ham crack-er /grciom type of cookie,

made from

Grail, the /greil/

see

grain /grcin/ noun

.kraekar/ noun

flour, sugar,

[c)AmE a

and water

Holy Grail

••

+in Candidates college: careers for history graduates should be graduates in science or engineering. an Oxford

1 [u] the seeds from crops such as wheat, rice, or corn that are used for food: bags of mixed grain la. [u] food crops such as wheat, rice, or corn: golden fields of grain 1b. [C] an individual seed from one of these crops: a grain of rice 2 [C] a very small individual piece of a substance such as sand, salt, or sugar 2a. [singular] [+of] a very small amount of a quality or feeling: a grain of truth There was more than a grain of truth in what he'd said. 3 [u] the arrangement, pattern, or direction of fibers in substances such as wood, stone, cloth, or paper: There were deep cracks along the grain of the wood. 4 [C] an old unit for measuring weight, equal to .065

graduate

GRAMS

top of the hill

gradually / 'graxl3U3li/adv ••* slowly and in small stages or amounts: She gradually built up a reputation as a successful lawyer. Gradually add the flour.

grad-u-ate /'gra^uat/ noun [C] •* 1 AmE someone who has finished their 1

studies at a high school, college, or university: 7s Jane a high school +of All three were graduates of the same

graduate?

university.

2 someone who has

a degree from a university or

grad-u-ate 2

*

/'graed3u,eit/ verb 1 [I] to complete your studies at a school such as a high school, college, or university and get a diploma or a degree: +from He graduated from Yale University in 1936. +in one of the first women to graduate in history and languages at the Sorbonne 2 [T] to give a student a degree or other qualification after a course of study: Universities in Thailand graduate 6,000 engineers each year.

graduate (from sth) to sth to make progress or reach a higher position: He eventually graduated from clerical work to his present role. Some children had graduated to reading books without pictures.

grad-u-ate 3

/'grasd3U3t/ adj

[only before noun]

1

AmE

relating to or involved in studying for a master's degree or a doctorate after receiving your first degree from a college or university. BrE postgraduate: graduate students 2 graduate studies and courses are for students who already have a degree. BrE usually post-

graduate

grad-u-at-ed

/'graed3U,eit3d/ adj 1 organized according to a series of levels a graduated company tax rate structure 1a. increasing by regular amounts: a graduated response to events 2 a graduated container or piece :

of

equipment has marks on

graduate .school versity in the U.S.

it

to

noun [c/u]

show measurements

AmE

a part of a uni-

where students who have a

first

degree can study for a master's degree or a doctorate

graduation

/,grsed3u'eijn/ noun 1 [u] the act of receiving a diploma or degree after finishing a course of study at a school such as a high school, college, or university: After graduation she worked as a research chemist. 1a. [C/U] a ceremony at which you are given a diploma or degree 2 [C] one of a series of marks on a container or piece of equipment used for measuring

Graeco- /grikoo; grekou/ graf-f i-ti

/gra'fiti/

noun

[u]

graft /graft/ noun

[u]

pattern, or direction: grained oak doors

-grained /gremd/

suffix 1 used with some adjectives for describing substances such as wood or stone that have a particular arrangement, pattern, or direction of fibers: fine-grained rock 2 used with some adjectives for describing substances that consist of small individual pieces of a particular type: coarse-grained salt -» close-

grained

grain-y /'gremi/ adj 1 grainy photographs or movies are not clear and look as if they are made up of small spots, usually because they are old: photographs shot with grainy black-and-white film 2 a grainy substance or surface has large grains in or on it: grainy bread

gram /graem/ noun

[C] * a unit for measuring weight in the metric system. There are 1,000 grams in a kilogram.

gram-mar /'graemar/ noun ** 1 [U] the set of rules that describe the structure of a language and control the way that sentences are formed: errors in spelling and grammar the teaching of grammar The book covers all the essential points of English

grammar. 2 [C] a book explaining the rules of a language: Did you borrow the Italian grammar? /gra'merian/ noun [c] an expert in the study of grammar 'grammar .school noun [c] 1 AmE an elementary school 2 a school in the U.K. for children between the ages of 11 and 18 who have passed a special examination to be allowed to go there

gram-mar-ian

1

AmE

3

graft 2 /graeft/ verb 1 [T] to take a piece of skin or bone, etc. from one part of someone's body and use it to replace or repair a damaged part of their body: graft sth

*

gram-mat-i-cal of

informal dishonest or illegal activities in politics or business that involve giving people money or advantages in exchange for their help or support 2 [u] BrE informal effort needed for doing hard work 3 [C] a piece of skin, bone, etc. from one part of your body used to replace or repair a damaged part of your body: skin grafts for burns victims 3a. a piece taken from a plant and joined to a cut made in another plant so that it can grow there 1

-» SALT 1

grained /gremd/ adj with fibers in a clear arrangement,

Br E spelling of Grecowords or pictures drawn on a

walls in public places 1

go against the grain to be completely different from what you feel is right, natural, or normal for you

2

/gra'maetikl/ adj relating to grammar and the study analysis grammatical errors a grammatical sentence follows the rules of grammar [only before noun]

grammar: grammatical

correctly: Is this grammatical?

grammatical words help

to give sentences instead of expressing a particular meaning. Examples are words such as "of and "for." linguistics

their structure,

gramme /graem /another spelling of gram

Grammy /'grasmi/ noun each year on CD

to the best

[C] a prize given in the U.S. performers and writers of music

gram-o-phone /'graema.foon/ noun

[c] old-fashioned

a

record player

gran

/graen/ noun

mother

[C]

mainly

BrE

informal a grand-

granary

grand

1

/graend/

adj

••

a grand place, object, or occasion is very impressive: The ball was a The house was spacious and grand. very grand affair. 1a. a grand idea, plan, or action is a lot: a grand plan achieve impressive because it tries to grand design the grand design to reform U.S. health care 1

of a single market for Europe 2 a grand person behaves as if they are very important: / could have given you some hints, but I suppose you thought yourself too grand. 3 old-fashioned very good or enjoyable: It would be grand if she could come. 4 most important. This word is often used in people's titles: Robert was the grand marshal of the Saint Patrick's Day parade. the grand prize

known, and usually popular: the last grand old stadium the grand old man of sth a man who is old and very respected because of his achievements in his profession: the grand old man of science fiction writing grand old

old, well

game played

at that

grand 2 /graend/ noun

[C] 1

(plural

sand dollars: Donald made over GRAND PIANO

gran-dad-dy

/'graen.daedi/an

grand) informal a thou-

75

grand

last year.

2 a

noun [c] * a group of people used in the U.S. legal system for deciding whether someone accused of a crime should be brought to trial in a court of law .grand larceny noun [u] Am E legal the crime of stealing property worth a lot of money grand-ly /'grasndli/ adv in a way that tries to impress you or make you feel admiration but often does not: "I

grand jury

should

like to

spelling of grand-

propose a

toast, "

he declared grandly.

grand-ma /'graen.ma/ noun [c] informal a grandmother grand mal /gran 'mal/ noun [c/u] medical a serious form of epilepsy

grand-ma-ma

/'graenma.ma/ noun [c] spoken an old word meaning "grandmother" .grand 'master noun [C] 1 a player who has reached the highest levels in competitions in the game of chess 2 a leader in some organizations, especially the freemasons

grand-moth-er

/'graen.mAdsr/

noun

[C]

**

the

mother of one of your parents. You are her granddaughter or grandson. You usually call your grandmother granny or grandma, —picture -» family tree Grand Ole Op-ry, the /.graend ou 'apri/ a weekly program of country music performed before an audience in the U.S. city of Nashville, Tennessee and broadcast on the radio .grand opera noun [C/u] an opera with a serious story in which the words are sung

grand-pa

AmE

/'graen.pa/ noun [c] informal a grandfather

grand-pappy

AmE

/'graen.paepi/ noun [C] informal a to be as tall as his grandpappy.

grandfather: He's going

daddy

Grand Central busy and

'Station

AmE

a place that is very U.K. people say a place "like Piccadilly Circus."

full of people. In the

like this is

name

From

the

York

City.

of a very busy train station in

New

(plural grand«chil*dren /'grtentjaild/ noun [C] the son or daughter of one of your children. You are their grandparent.

/'graen.tjildran/)

grand-dad

/'graen.perant/ noun [C] * the mother or father of your mother or father. You are their grand-

grand-par-ent child.

.grand 'piano noun

[c] a type of large piano with its strings in a case parallel to the floor, usually used for

concerts

grand-child

/'grcen.daed/ noun

[c]

informal a grand-

an insulting way of talking to an old man, whose name you do not know grand-dad-dy /'graen.daedi/ noun [c] a grandfather the granddaddy of sth the oldest or most famous example of something: the Dow- Jones, the granddaddy of father

9 rant

609

gran-a-ry /'graen(3)ri, 'grem(3)ri/ noun [c] 1 a building where grain is kept 2 mainly literary an area where a lot of grain is grown Gran-a-ry /'graen(3)ri, 'grem(3)ri/ BrE trademark Granary bread is made with flour that contains whole grains of wheat

a.

especially one

Wall Street indexes

grand-daugh-ter/'graen.dotar/noun [c] * the daughter of one of your children. You are her grandfather or grandmother, —picture -» family tree gran-dee /graen'di/ noun [c] 1 a very important and powerful person, especially in politics 2 a man of very high social class in Spain or Portugal in the past grandeur /'graend33r; 'graen^or/ noun [u] 1 an impressive quality that a place, object, or occasion has: It was a landscape of breathtaking grandeur. 2 the important or high position that someone has in society -» DELUSION 2b

grand-f a-ther / 'graen.fadar/ noun [c] •* the father of one of your parents. You are his granddaughter or grandson. You usually call your grandfather granddad or grandpa, —picture -* family tree

.grandfather 'clock noun [c] an old-fashioned clock in a tall wooden box placed on the floor .grand fi'nale noun [C] 1 the last and most exciting part of a play, opera, or other entertainment, usually involving all the performers 2 an impressive end to

something

gran-dil-o-quent /grsen'dibkwsnt/

adj

formal ex-

pressed in extremely formal language in order to impress people, and often sounding silly because of this gran-dil-o-quence noun [U]

—

gran-di-ose/'graendi.oos/adj 1 designed to look very impressive, but really looking artificial or silly: a grandiose building 2 intended to achieve something important or difficult, but unlikely to be successful because of not being sensible: grandiose illusions about wielding power

Grand

Prix /gran 'pri/ noun [C] an international competition for race cars or motorcycles that is part of a series to decide who is the best driver in the world a. an important sports competition

.grand 'slam noun [c] 1 which you score four runs

a home run in baseball in (=points) because there is a 2 a situation in which you win all of a set of important competitions in a particular sport in the same year 3 a situation in the card game of bridge in which you win all 13 of the tricks

player on each of the four bases

[c] * the son of one of your are his grandfather or grandmother.

grand-son / 'graen.SAn/ noun children.

—picture

You

-» family tree

grand-stand / 'grasnd.staend/ noun

[c]

a large structure

with rows of seats from which people watch sports events

a grandstand view (of sth) a view of something in which you are close to it and can see all of it very well / 'grand, staendin/ noun [u] behavior that is intended to get public attention and approval. This word shows that you dislike people who do this. .grand total noun [c] a final total of all the amounts or totals that must be added together .grand tour noun [c] often humorous a visit in which

grand-stand-ing

someone shows you all the parts of a building or area a. the grand tour or the Grand Tour a trip to the most important cities in Europe that young men from rich families

made

in the past

/greind3/ noun [c] mainly BrE a large country house with farm buildings near it gran-ite /'graenit/ noun [u] a type of very hard stone, used especially for building gran-ny /'graeni/ noun [C] informal a grandmother 'granny .knot noun [c] a loose knot that comes apart

grange

easily

gra-no-la /grs'noob/ noun [u] Am E a mixture of grains and dried fruit eaten as a breakfast food /graent/verb [t] •** formal to allow someone to have or do what they want: If permission is granted, they'll start building soon. The Board has refused to grant your request. grant sth

grant 1

1

grant

granted.

2

to admit that something is true: grant you (that) "This thing never works!" "Well, not very often, I grant you. " You're thorough, I grant you that, but we don't need all I

this detail.

take sb for granted to expect someone to always be there and do things for you even when you do not show that you are grateful take sth for granted to expect something always to happen or exist in a particular way, and not think about any possible problems or difficulties: Losing my job taught me never to take anything for granted. take it for granted (that) You can't take it for granted that they'll behave themselves.

grant 2 /grsnt/ noun

13

grass

610

The U.S. embassy urged the government to grant an amnesty to all political prisoners. grant sb sth On April 30, the club granted him a leave of absence for personal grant sb's wish His wish had finally been reasons. to sb

[c]

*** an amount of money that

the government or an organization gives you for a specific purpose and does not ask you to pay back. Money that you have to pay back is called a loan: She received a grant from the MacArthur Foundation. a research grant

2

the activity of designing pictures and text for magazines, advertisements, etc.: a course in computer graphics

graphics card noun

[c] the part inside a that changes information into images

computer

graph-ite

/'gne.fait/ noun [u] a soft black substance used in pencils

gra-phol-o-gy

/gro'fulod.^i/ noun [u] the science of studying people's handwriting to learn about their char-

acter

graph paper

noun [u] paper that has small squares used for drawing graphs grap-ple /'graepl/ verb [i] to fight with someone: The argument led to them grappling on the floor. grapple with phrasal vb [T] [grapple with sth] to try hard to understand a difficult idea or solve a difficult problem: The government continued to grapple with the printed on

it,

issue of public transportation. /'graeplirj aim/ or grappling noun [C] an iron object with hooks that you tie end of a rope and use for holding the rope in

grap-pling i-ron

hook to the

place

grasp

1

/graesp/ verb

[t]

••

grant-ed

and hold something or someone very tightly: She grasped his hand and pulled him toward her. grasp sb by the shoulders/arm/wrist etc He grasped her firmly

gran-u-lar

2

/'graentsd/ adv used when you are admitting that something is true: He is a good player, granted, but no better than Williams was. /'graenjalar/ adj 1 consisting of granules 2 with a surface that has marks on it that make it look like wood or leather

grarvule

/'graenjul/ noun [C] a small round piece of something: coffee/ gravy granules grape /greip/ noun [c] * a small green or purple fruit that grows in bunches on a vine, often used for making

—

wine picture -> cio -» sour grapes grape-fruit /'greip.frut/ noun [C/u] a

fruit like a large

orange that is yellow on the outside, yellow or red picture -* cio inside, and has sour juice grape-vine /'greipvam/ noun 1 [singular] informal the way in which information spreads quickly from one person to another through conversation: on /through the grapevine / heard on the grapevine that you had a baby. 2 [C] a plant on which grapes grow graph /graef/ noun [c] ** Sales in volume

—

a picture that uses lines or curves to show the relationship between numbers that or measurements

,

\

/ \ /

/ \ \ /

J

V

/

/ /

1000

change: The graph shows that the number of working mothers is increasing.

r\

\

/sv

V

VV

/ / f

draw

/

plot / construct

a

graph You can then draw a

graph Ul 0> -J 00 lO

O

to

illustrate

the

/'graefik/adj

•

changes. -

graph-ic

graph

1

described giving a lot of detail so you have a clear idea of something, especially something unpleasant: He described the accident in graphic detail. 2 [only before noun] relating to drawing: the graphic arts a graphic image/ illustration 1

graph-ic 2

/'graefik/see graphics

graphical 1

/'graefrkl/adj

showing

something

* using

graph:

a

graphical

representations /methods 2 relating to graphics a computer with a graphical inter:

1

to take

by the shoulders. to understand something: He was finding it difficult grasp the meaning/ grasp the rules of the game. significance of sth You should try to grasp the meaning of whole sentences.* grasp a concept/ principle/ point Charlie grasped the point at once. 3 to take advantage of an opportunity when it happens: We must grasp every opportunity if we are going to succeed. He had failed to grasp his one chance of happiness. to

grasp at phrasal vb [T] [grasp at sth] 1 to try to take hold of something: Hands were grasping at his coat as he walked past. 2 to try and take the opportunity to do something: She was grasping at the chance to escape her problems. -» straw grasp 2 /graesp/ noun [singular] * 1 the ability to understand something: have/get a grasp of sth The government has no grasp of the suffering of the poor. a good /firm/ poor grasp of sth She has a good grasp be beyond sb's grasp (=be impossible for of English. someone to understand) The tasks were beyond the intellectual grasp of many pupils. 2 the ability to achieve something: within/in sb's grasp slip from sb's grasp Victory was now within their grasp. (^become impossible for someone to achieve) Just when the game seemed to be slipping from their grasp, they scored beyond /out of sb's grasp Peace was not a vital goal. completely beyond his grasp. 3 a very tight hold of someone or something: Suddenly he broke free from her grasp. 3a. power that someone has over someone or something: He kept the reins of power firmly in his grasp. grasp-ing /'graespin/ adj only interested in getting as

much money as possible grass /graes/ noun *** 1 [U] a very common plant with 1

thin green leaves that covers the ground. A single piece of grass is called a blade of grass: Stephen was lying full length on the grass. We should cut the grass before it starts raining. 1a. [C] a particular type of grass: tall flowering grasses 1b. [u] a tennis court made of grass: He has proved he can play on grass. 1c. [only before noun] covered with or made of grass: a grass skirt 2 u informal marijuana in the form of leaves or flowering buds 3 [C] Br E informal a person, usually a criminal, who tells the police what other criminals have done: informer [

face

graph-i-cal-ly /'graefikli/ adv 1 giving a lot of detail: The photographs graphically illustrated the violence of the murders. 2 in the form of a graph graphic de'sign noun [u] the art of designing pictures .graphic and text for magazines, advertisements, etc. designer noun [C] .graphic 'novel noun [c] a novel that uses drawings to

—

tell

the story

graphics

/'graefiks/ noun [plural]

**

pictures produced by computers 1a. the pictures in a document, magazine, etc. A single picture is sometimes called a graphic. 1

]

is (always) greener on the other side life seems better somewhere else, or other people's situations seem better than your own not let the grass grow under your feet to start doing something without wasting time put sb out to grass informal to force someone to leave a job because they are old and no longer useful grass 2 /graes/ verb [i] BrE informal to tell someone in authority, especially the police, about something bad that someone else has done

the grass

grasshopper grass over phrasal vb

to

cover an area of ground with

.grass up phrasal vb [T] BrE informal to tell someone in authority, especially the police, about something bad that someone else has done: You wouldn't grass up an old mate, would you? Who grassed him up to the police?

grass-hop-per /'gras.hapar/ noun

[C]

a large insect

with long back legs that moves by jumping and short high sounds -» knee-high —picture -» ci3

grass-land /'gras.lamd/ noun

[u]

makes

a large area of land

where wild grass grows grass-roots, the /'gras.ruts/ noun [plural] the ordinary people in a community, country, or organization instead of its leaders: The party could only become strong through widespread support at the grassroots. a lot of grassroots support

snake

'grass

noun

a small harmless snake that

[c]

lives in the grass 1

vegetables, or chocolate against a grater in order to cut them into [+against/ small pieces: grated cheese —picture -» C2 2 on] to rub against something and make an unpleasant annoying sound: Her nails grated against the wall. 3 [I] [

I

to

have an annoying is

began

to

]

on someone: What

effect

her know-it-all attitude, grate on her nerves.

really

+ on His constant talking

grate 2 /greit/ noun [c] a frame of metal bars for holding coal or wood in a fireplace grateful /'greitfal/ adj ** feeling that you want to thank someone because they have given you something or done something for you: Thanks for coming with me. I'm really grateful. +for I'm very grateful for all your help with the party. grateful to sb for sth She was grateful to them for letting her stay at their house. +that You should be grateful that I didn't tell your parents. I/we would be grateful if. used for asking someone formally and politely to do something: We would be grateful if you could return the signed contracts as soon as possible. grate-ful-ly adv: All comments and suggestions .

.

—

will be gratefully received.

Sophie smiled gratefully at the

waiter.

grat-er

/'greitar/ noun [c] a tool with a rough sharp surface used for cutting cheese, vegetables, chocolate, etc. into very small pieces: a cheese grater picture -» C2

—

grat-i-fy /'grati.fai/ verb [T] formal [usually passive] to make someone feel pleased or satisfied: She was gratified to

learn that her advice

was of some

use.

gratify sb's desire/need/curiosity etc. formal to give someone what they want, or tell them what they want to hear grat-i-fi-ca-tion /.gratifi'keijn/ noun [u]: sexual

—

gratification

grat-i-fy-ing /'grati.fann/

and satisfied grat-ing /'greitin/ noun 1

across

it,

grat-ing

adj

making you

feel

pleased

a metal frame with bars used for covering a hole or window [C]

2

/'greitin/ ad] a grating voice, laugh, or sound unpleasant and annoying— grat-ing-ly adv grat-is /'gratis/ adj, adv done or provided free is

gratitude

/'grati.tud/ noun [u] a feeling of being

grateful to someone because they have given you something or done something for you: It would be nice to show your gratitude every now and then. We would like to express our gratitude to everyone. owe (sb) a debt of gratitude I felt I owed a debt of gratitude to my old teacher. gra-tu-i-tous /grs'tuitas/ adj done or shown without any good reason: There's too much gratuitous violence in the movie.

noun

— gra-tu-i-tous-ly adv, gra-tu-i-tous-ness

[u]

1 asmall amount you give to someone to thank them for doing something for you: tip 2BrEa large amount of money given to someone when they leave their job, for example in the armed forces

gra-tu-i'ty/gra'tuiti/noun[c]/orma/ of

money

grave

1

that

**

literary death: His secret will go with me to (=1 will die without telling anyone). beyond

2 the grave

the grave the grave It seemed like he heard a voice from beyond the grave (=the voice of a dead person).

an early grave death before the natural age

that you would expect: She's drinking herself into an early grave. sb would turn over in their grave spoken used for saying that someone who is now dead would be very surprised or sad about something that is happening if

they could see it -» CRADLE DIG FOOT WATERY grave 2 /greiv/ adj * 1

1

1

,

,

,

so serious that you feel worried: The situation is and appears to be deteriorating, la. used for

1

very grave

emphasizing how serious something

is:

The report

ex-

pressed grave concerns about the safety of meat production. / have grave doubts that he'll ever become a doctor. in grave danger (of) The peace process is in grave danger of collapsing.

grass-y /'graesi/ adj covered in grass grate /greit/ verb 1 [T] to rub cheese,

grates

9 ra V

611 [T]

/greiv/ noun [c] 1 the place where a dead body is buried in a deep hole in the ground. A tomb is a structure above the ground that contains a dead body: He's never even visited his mother's grave.

2 looking very serious and worried: a grave expression/ face —gravely adv: Her husband had been gravely sick She nodded gravely. for some time.

grave 3 /grav/

or

grave 'accent

noun

[c]

the

mark

French and some other languages to show how it is pronounced compare acute 4, circumflex grave-dig-ger /'greiv.digar/ noun [c] someone whose above a

*

job

is to

letter in

—

dig graves

grav-el /'gravl/ noun [u] small pieces of stone used making paths and roads

for

grav-eled /'gravid/

adj a graveled path or road has a surface covered in gravel

grav-el-ly /'gravli/

adj 1

a gravelly voice sounds low

and rough 2 covered in gravel grav-en im-age /.greivn 'imid3/ noun

[c] literary

a

picture or statue of a god or holy person

grave-side

/'greiv.said/ noun [c] the area beside a

grave where someone

is

buried

grave-stone /'greiv,stoun/ noun [c] a stone by a grave that shows the name of the person buried there and the dates they were born and died

grave-yard

/'greivjard/ noun [C] 1 an area of land where dead people are buried, usually around a church 2 a place for things that are broken or no longer useful

'graveyard

.shift noun

[c]

a period at night during

which people work, usually beginning at midnight grav-i-tas /'gravidas/ noun [u] formal a serious and impressive attitude or way of behaving grav-i-tate /'gravi.teit/ verb [I] formal [+to/toward] to be attracted to someone or something and tend to move toward them: Customers gravitate to the stores that best reflect their social status.

grav-i-ta-tion /.gravi'teijn/ noun [U] science the force that causes objects to move toward each other grav-i-ta-tion-al /.gravi'teijsnl/adj science relating to the force of gravity

gravity /'gravati/

noun

[u]

•

the force that makes something fall to the ground: the laws of gravity 2 [+of the seriousness or importance of something: I'm sure you can appreciate the gravity of the situation. Offenders should be punished in proportion to the gravity of their offenses. 3 a serious attitude: He was criticized for his lack of 1

]

gravity. -»

center of gravity

gra-vy/'greivi/noun[u] 1 a sauce made from the juices of cooked meat mixed with flour 2 informal money or profit that you get unexpectedly 'gravy boat noun [c] a container used for pouring gravy 'gravy .train noun [singular] informal a type of work or activity that provides a lot of money without much effort

gray 1

/grei/ adj

•••

between black and white 2 when hair goes whiter 3 when face looks pale 4 with a lot of cloud 1

5 boring

6 without

a clear

meaning

7 related to old people

gray

great

612

between black and white in color. If something is similar to this color, you can say that it is a grayish color: He wore a dark gray suit. The water was a grayishgreen.

prepared with a lot of oil or fat: greasy french fries 2 covered in grease greasy hands/ work clothes 3 producing a lot of natural oil: greasy hair I skin 4 covered in a substance such as oil or water that

2 if someone goes or turns gray, their hair starts to become white: She seems to have gone gray very quickly. 3 if someone's face is gray, they look pale because they

and not sincere

1

are sick or shocked: + with His face was gray with pain. 4 used for describing the weather or the light when it is not very bright because there is a lot of cloud: a gray day in February The rain stopped and the gray skies

began

1

:

makes you slip 5 very friendly and

great

5 6

E

[U]

gray 2 /grei/ noun • 1

2

[C/U] a color that is between black and white [C] an animal that is gray in color, especially a horse

or cat

gray 3 /grei/ verb [i] 1 to become gray in color: a graying sky 2 if a person or their hair is graying, their hair is becoming white

gray 'area

noun [c] a situation in which the rules are not clear, or in which you are not sure what is right or wrong: As with any law there will be gray areas, and different schools will interpret it in different ways.

gray 'market

noun [singular/ u] 1 the business of buying and selling goods in a way that is not illegal but is considered morally wrong 2 the activity of buying and selling company shares before they are secretly

officially available

'gray matter noun

graze

[u]

informal your brain

1

/greiz/ verb 1 [I] to eat grass growing in a field: The sheep were grazing peacefully, la. [T] to put an animal in a place where it can eat grass: Farmers can now graze their cattle on the mountain. 2 [l/T] to touch something slightly when you pass it: She let her fingers graze lightly against his skin. 3 [T] to break the surface of your skin, for example when you fall to the ground: He fell off the swing and grazed his knee. 4 [I] informal to eat small amounts of food regularly instead of eating

meals

graze 2

/greiz/ noun [c] a break in the surface of your skin caused by falling down: / have a nasty graze on my

elbow.

GRE, the

noun Graduate Record Exam: a in order to be admitted to a university as a graduate student (=a university student who already has at least one degree) grease 1 /gris/ noun [u] 1 a thick substance similar to oil, used on machine parts for making them work smoothly 2 fat that comes out of meat when you cook / ,d3i

ar

'i/

someone must take

test that

it

grease 2 /gris/ verb [T] 1 to put grease on something to make it work smoothly 2 to rub a small amount of oil or fat on the inside of a container before cooking food in it in the oven

'grease gun noun [c] a tool used for forcing grease into machine parts 'grease monkey noun [c] informal someone whose job is to repair cars or machines. This word is sometimes used as an

insult.

grease-paint

/'gris.pemt/ noun [u] the thick makeup that actors put on their faces

grease-proof paper / .grispruf

'peipsr/ noun [u]

wax

paper

who

rides a motorcycle

greas-y/'grisi/adj 1

made

unpleasant

/greit/ adj

[C]

••• 5 for expressing pleasure 6 enthusiastic 7 in another generation + PHRASES

good/enjoyable

2 more than usual 3 important/powerful 4 able to do sth well

informal very good, enjoyable, or attractive: This cake We had a great day. You looked great in that outfit. This is a great place for families. 1a. used about someone who is nice and a pleasure to be with: He's a great guy. a great friend 1 b. used for saying that something that you expected to be good, enjoyable, etc. is not: That's just great! Now I'll have do it all over again. 2 bigger or more than is usual: She had great difficulty in guessing where I was from. They could be in great danger. He was in a great hurry. It gives me great pleasure to welcome our next guest. This is a great opportunity to raise a lot of money. 2a. [only before noun] spoken used for emphasizing the physical size of something or someone: great big a great big piece of chocolate 2b. used for emphasizing a large number of people or things: Shakespeare wrote a great many plays. The great majority disagree. 2c. mainly literary very large and impressive: the great river a great feast 2d. used in the names of buildings, rooms, or features of geography that are very large and impressive: the castle's great hall the Great Barrier Reef 2e. technical used in the names of birds or animals that are larger than related birds or animals: the great white shark -» deal 3 important or powerful: a great military power 3a. used about an event or situation that affects a lot of people or a large area: the greatest environmental disaster in decades a great health-care crisis 3b. used in the names of important events in history: the Great Depression of the 1930s 3c. used about someone famous or important who is admired by a lot of people, or about their work: one of the greatest writers of the modern age a great work of art 3d. informal used for emphasizing the most important feature of something: The really great thing about this computer is its speed. The great advantage is that this place is so close to town. 4 informal able to do something very well: He's a great guitarist. + at She's great at math. 4a. able to deal with certain people very well: Isn't she great with the children? 5 mainly spoken used for expressing pleasure or agreement: It's great to be here. / think it's great that he has a girlfriend. Great! I'll pick you up at eight, then. 6 informal enthusiastic about something or someone: I'm your greatest admirer. a great football fan a great talker/ walker/ reader etc. She's a great reader of biographies. be a great one for (=be enthusiastic about) I've never been a great one for spiders and snakes. 7 used for showing relationships between previous generations of family members. For example your great-grandmother and great-grandfather are the parents of your grandparents. Your great-aunt is the sister of one of your grandparents. 1

tastes great.

1

great Scott/Heavens old-fashioned used for expressing surprise, shock, or anger great with child literary an old phrase meaning "pregnant" -» GUN SHAKE 2 1

,

great 2 /greit/ adv

greas-er /'grisar/ noun [c] 1 someone whose job is to grease machine parts to make them work smoothly 2 very informal an insulting word for a young man with long hair

1

1 (not)

—

is

informal a small restaurant that serves inexpensive greasy food

to clear.

boring: the drab gray tedium of his life not clearly one thing or another or clearly right or wrong, and therefore not easy to deal with: a gray area in environmental regulations 7 [only before noun] used for describing issues that relate grayness noun to or affect old people: the gray vote

polite in a way that greas-i-ly adv

greasy spoon noun

with

much

• oil/fat

2 covered in grease 3 producing natural oil

4 covered in sth slippery 5 friendly but not sincere

informal very well: You're doing great. Things are really going / don't think we played great.

great.

great 3

/greit/ noun [C] 1 [usually plural] someone who is admired by a lot of people, especially someone famous: Fred Perry is one of the all-time greats of tennis. 1a. something that is well known and admired by a lot of people: an album ofjazz greats 2 the Great used after the name of an important person in history for showing that they

had a

lot of

power or

respect: Catherine the Great

Great Britain Great

Scotland,

7 a green area has a

is used for referring to the countries of England, Scotland, and Wales. It is often simply called

Britain.

The United Kingdom

is used for referring to Great Britain and Northern Ireland as a political unit. It is often simply called the U.K.

-» GRASS

green 2

British Isles is used for referring to Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and the many small islands that are near their coasts.

1 color of

very much: Your support is The houses

/'greitnas/ noun [u] 1 a position of power, success, or respect: a woman destined for greatness 2 literary the large and impressive character of something: the greatness of the sky

.Great White 'Way, the the area of New York City where most of the theaters are

[

it is

grebe /grib/

brightly

at night with

lit

many

[c]

a bird similar to a duck that lives ,

/'grijn/ adj from Ancient Greece, or similar to the styles typical of Ancient Greece

Greco- /grikoo; grekoo/ prefix Greek or ancient Greek: used with some adjectives and nouns: Greco-Roman statues

greed

/grid/ noun [u] 1 a strong wish to have more money, things, or power than you need: a growing

culture of corporate greed (=the greed of large companies) their greed for power 2 a strong wish to have more

food than you need

greedy7'gridi/adj* to eat or drink more food than you need: be so greedy! things, or power than you need: + f or greedy for power greed-i-ly adv

wanting 't

2 wanting more money,

Greek

1

/grik/ noun

—

the language that people speak in modern Greece 1a. the language that was spoken in Ancient Greece: students of Latin and Greek 2 [C] a person from Greece

it's (all)

Greek

to

1

[u]

me spoken

used for saying that you

do not understand something

Greek 2

/grik/ adj 1 someone who is Greek is from Greece: Her husband is Greek. 2 relating to Greece or its culture: the Greek Islands 2a. relating to the language of Greece: the Greek alphabet

green 1

1

like

/grin/ adj grass

in

***

color

2 made of green leaves 3 not ready to be eaten 4 protecting environment

5 not experienced

6 when sb 7 with

looks sick

lots of plants

+ PHRASES

leaves were showing. green-blue eyes [usually before noun] made from the green leaves of vegetables: a green salad 3 not yet ready to be eaten: green tomatoes 4 designed to protect the environment or limit damage to the environment: greener farming methods wind farms and other green energy projects 4a. used about people who care about the environment: Green campaigners are aiming to block development of the site. 4b. green issues are issues that affect the environment 4c. Green relating to the green party 4d. used about places in which the environment is protected He pledged

2

:

make Europe greener. 5 not experienced, especially because to

if

someone

look sick

/'grin.baek/ noun [c]

Am E informal a U.S.

green 'bean grows on a en

noun [c] a long thin green vegetable that climbing plant: string bean picture -»

—

tall

[C/u] mainly BrE an area of land cities where no buildings are allowed in order to protect the countryside Green 'Beret noun [c] informal a soldier who is a member of a team trained to do very dangerous work 'green ,card noun [c] 1 Am E an official document that allows someone who is not an American citizen to live and work in the U.S. 2 Br E an insurance document that you need for driving your car in a foreign country green-er-y /'grinari/ noun [u] green plants that are growing somewhere or used as decoration green-eyed mon-ster, the /grin aid 'manstar/noun humorous jealousy

'green ,belt noun around large

green-field site

/'grin, fild ,sait/

noun

[C]

BrE a

piece

of land that has not previously been built on

green-fly /'grin.flai/ noun that damages plants

[c]

a very small green insect

green-gage

/'grin,geid3/ noun [c] a soft fruit that has a green skin and a large hard seed inside. It grows on tree and a is a type of plum.

green-gro-cer

/'grin.grousar/ noun

someone whose job

is

to sell fruit

[C]

mainly

BrE

and vegetables in a

store called a greengrocer's

green-horn /'grin.horn/ noun [c] old-fashioned someone who does not have much experience green-house /'grin haus/ noun [C] a building made of glass that is used for growing plants that need protection from the weather

'greenhouse ef feet, the noun

1 something that is green is the same color as grass. If something is similar to this color, you can say that it is greenish or a greenish color: The first bright green

6

Am

dollar

noun

by water

1

]

green-back

signs.

Gre-cian

Don

Green Party

—

greatly reduced costs

great-ness

Because

of

Am

daughter)

**

4 supporter 5 money

grass

1 [C/U] the color of grass: She was dressed in green. 2 greens [plural] spoken the green leaves of vegetables, especially when they have been cooked 2a. E fresh leaves and branches of evergreen trees used for decoration, especially at Christmas 3 [C] in golf, the area of short grass around a hole: the picture -» ci4 3a. a large area of grass, for 18th green example in a town, where people can walk, sit, or play games: They moved to a house overlooking the green. 3b. an area of grass where people play lawn bowling (=a game in which you roll balls along the ground) -» putting green 4 Green [c] a member or supporter of the green party E informal money 5 U

your child's grandchild (=the child of their son or adv

1

/grin/ noun -k-k

2 green leaves (for food) 3 area of grass

great-coat /'greit.koot/ noun [C] a long heavy coat, worn especially as part of a uniform great-grandchild (plural great-grandchildren) noun [C]

/'greitli/

or trees: a

—

The

greatly appreciated. vary greatly in size.

lot of grass, plants,

campaign to protect the city's green spaces The landscape was gradually getting greener. be green with envy to feel very unhappy because you wish you had something that someone else has have a green thumb Am E to be good at growing plants green-ness noun [U]

and Wales

Great Britain

great-ly

greenlight

613

'Britain the island that consists of England,

of being young looks green, their face is pale and they

the process in which heat is unable to escape from the atmosphere and causes the temperature of the Earth to rise. The rise in temperature is called global warming.

'greenhouse gas

noun [c] a gas that stops heat from escaping from the atmosphere and causes the greenhouse effect. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. green-ing /'grinirj/ noun [u] mainly BrE the process of taking a greater interest in environmental issues and acting to protect the environment: the greening of transportation policies

green light

noun [c] a signal that gives mission to move forward

traffic per-

give sth/sb the green light to give official approval for something to be done: The project has finally been given the green light.

green-light

/'grin.lait/ verb [T] informal to give

your

approval for something: So far three directors have greenlighted the project.

man

green

614

green man, the

BrE man

noun the shape of a

informal a green light, walking, at a pedestrian

usually in crossing (=a place for people to cross the street): Always wait for the green man before crossing the street.

AmE a type of onion with a small white round part and a long thin green stem. It

green onion is

noun

[c]

usually eaten raw in salads:

Green Paper

scai.i.ion

BrE

a document published by the government of the U.K. or Canada that gives details of proposals so that they can be discussed before new laws are made

Green goal

.Party,

is to

noun

[c]

mainly

the a political organization whose main

protect the environment

Green-peace /grin, pis/ an whose goal

international organization

protect the environment noun [c] a hollow green vegetable containing small white seeds. It can be eaten raw in salads is to

green pepper or cooked.

green revo lution, the

noun the increase in production of crops that has been made possible by

improved farming methods and equipment

green-room

/'grin rum/ noun [c] a room in a theater or television studio where performers can rest and receive visitors

green salad

noun [c/u] a salad that consists mainly of lettuce (=a round vegetable with thin green leaves)

greens-keep-er / 'grinz.kipar/ noun whose job

is to

[c]

Am E someone

look after a large area of grass where

people play golf

green tea color

noun

[u]

a type of tea that

is

a pale green

and comes mainly from China or Japan

Greenwich Mean Time

/

.grimtf

'min

,taim/ see

GMT greet

/grit/ verb

[t]

to

greeted by his colleagues. 2 to react to an action or news in a particular way: A burst of applause greeted the players. be greeted with sth The announcement was greeted with some skepticism by environmental groups. be greeted by sth The decision was greeted by violent demonstrations.

3

[often passive] if

you are greeted by a

smell, it is the first thing you notice: the familiar smell of baking bread.

sight, sound, or

We were greeted

greet-er /'gritar/ noun [c] someone whose job welcome people when they arrive somewhere,

by

is to espe-

cially in a restaurant or store /'gritirj/ noun * something polite or friendly that you say or do when you meet someone: They exchanged greetings and sat down. He came to meet her, his hands extended in

greeting 1

[C/u]

greeting.

2

[C usually plural] a friendly

message sent

to

someone

on their birthday, at Christmas, etc.: birthday / Christmas greetings 3 greetings humorous an old-fashioned way of saying hello to someone

'greeting ,card noun [c] AmE a card you give or send to someone on a special occasion such as their birthday gre-gar-i-ous /gra'gerias/ adj 1 a gregarious person enjoys being with other people or birds live in groups

2

gregarious animals

Gre-go-ri-an calendar, the /gra.gorian noun the system used in

many

'kaetandar/

countries for organizing

the days of the year into months Gre-go-ri-an chant /gra.gorian 'tjaent/ noun [u] a type of traditional religious music that people sing in church without any musical instruments

grem-lin /'gremlin/ noun [C] a small imaginary creature that people blame when they have problems with machines

gre-nade

/gra'neid/

someone throws or

noun

fires

grenadine

/.greno'din; grena.din/ noun [u] a sweet thick red liquid that is used in drinks and is made from

POMEGRANATES

grey /grci/ another spelling of gray grey-hound /'grei haond/ noun [c] can run very

fast

a tall thin dog that used in races trademark a type of bus that people

and

Greyhound Bus

is

use for traveling long distances in the U.S.

grid /grid/ noun

[c]

••

1 a pattern of straight lines that cross each other to form squares: streets laid out on a grid pattern Each spreadsheet page is made up of a grid of columns and rows. 1a. a pattern of straight lines that form squares on a map, which you use to find a particular place: When reporting a problem, give a grid reference if you can. 2 a set of wires that carries the electricity supply: The

village will soon be connected to the national grid.

3

metal bars arranged in a pattern of straight lines: Heavy metal grids had been pulled across the shop fronts. 4 the starting place for cars in a race, marked by a pattern of lines on the ground 1 grid-die / gridl/ noun [c] a round flat iron pan used on top of a hot surface for cooking grid-die 2 / 'gridl/ verb [t] to cook something on a griddle grid-i-ron/ 'grid ,airn/ noun 1 [c]AmEa field on which

Am

football is played 1a. [u] E informal football 2 [C] a frame of parallel metal bars used for cooking over a fire

[u] 1 a situation in which it is impossible to make progress 2 a situation in which there are so many cars on the roads that traffic cannot

grid-lock /'gnd.lak/ noun

move

•*

behave in a polite or friendly way toward someone when you meet them: Natalie rushed to open the door and greet sb with a smile /kiss The women greet the guests. The Prime greet each other with kisses on both cheeks. Bruce was warmly Minister greeted him at the airport. 1

grill / grcno'dir/ noun [c] a soldier who belongs to an important section of the army of the U.K.

gren-a-dier

[c]

a

from a gun

small

bomb

that

grief /grif/ noun

*•

a strong feeling of sadness, [u] usually because someone has died: An extraordinary outpouring of grief followed the death of the princess. + at/over the family's grief at the loss of their child

to grief 1 to be unsuccessful 2 to have an accident give sb grief informal to annoy someone or cause them problems -» good grief-stricken or grief-struck adj extremely sad

come

1

griev-ance

/'grivans/ noun 1 [c] a complaint about being treated in an unfair way: Managers were presented have a grievance People with a long list of grievances. know who to go to if they have a grievance. 2 [C/u] a feeling that you have been treated in an unfair way: nurse a grievance For years he nursed a grievance against his former employer. grieve /griv/ verb 1 [i/t] to feel extremely sad because someone has died: / never had time to grieve properly. Millions of people are He's still grieving for his wife. grieving over his death. 2 [J] formal to upset someone: It grieves me to see her like this.

grieved /grivd/ adj literary very upset griev-ous /'grivas/ adj formal extremely

serious or severe: a grievous injury He has made a grievous error. griev-ous-ly adv: He has suffered grievously.

—

grievous .bodily 'harm noun injuries caused

[u] legal

very serious

by a violent attack on someone

grif-fin /'grifm/ noun [C] a large imaginary creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an EAGLE informal someone who grift-er /'gnftar/ noun [C] tricks people into giving them their money or possessions 1 grill /gnl/ noun [c] 1 a flat frame of metal bars on which food can be placed and cooked over a fire 2 a restaurant that serves mainly simple food, especially broiler -» mdced grill grilled food

AmE

3BrEa

2

/gnl/ verb 1 [i/t] to cook something over a on a frame of metal bars: We grill the steaks on

grill

fire

the

BrE to 1a. grilled fish / steak / tomatoes barbecue. broil something 2 [t] to ask someone a lot of difficult questions for a long period of time: The committee spent weeks grilling witnesses.

grille or grill /gnl/ noun [c] 1 a metal frame with bars or wire across it that is used for protecting a door or window 2 the radiator of a motor vehicle gn'IMng / 'grilin / noun [C] if you give someone a grilling, you spend a long time asking them a lot of difficult questions

grim /grim/ adj * 1

grip

615

grille

4

causing worry

2 serious and unfriendly 3 not attractive

not enjoyable

5 sick + PHRASES

grim news, situations, or events are unpleasant and feel upset and worried: The future looks pretty grim. the grim reality of unemployment 2 very serious and unfriendly: His face was set in a grim expression. 2a. angry and pleased about something at the same time: "Exactly what I expected," he said with grim satisfaction. 2b. very determined to do something: a grim determination to do God's will 3 a grim place is ugly and unpleasant: The house was lonely and rather grim. 1

make you

4

mainly Br E informal not very enjoyable, usually because it is of bad quality: The game was a bit grim. 5 informal sick: / started to feel grim about an hour after lunch.

or a country grinds to a halt, things gradually get slower until they finally stop: There are signs that the economy is grinding to a halt. grind your teeth to rub your top and bottom teeth together in a way that makes a noise -» AX .grind down phrasal vb [T] to treat someone in a cruel way over a long period and gradually destroy their confidence or strength .grind on phrasal vb [I] if something boring or unpleasant grinds on, it continues happening for a long period of 1

time grind out phrasal vb

1

2

grind /gramd/ noun

[singular] informal something that hard work, boring, and tiring because it takes a lot energy: the usual daily grind of houseyour time and of is

hold tasks

grind-er /'gramdar/ noun

[c] a machine that cuts food into very small pieces, especially coffee, meat, or pepper

grinding /'gramdin/ sizing how bad a

ad) 1 extreme: used for emphasituation is: grinding poverty of one hard thing moving against another: a grinding noise

2 making a sound

hold on like grim death to hold something very tightly paint/draw/present a grim picture to describe a situgrinvly adv, ation in a way that shows how bad it is grinvness noun [U] 1 grim-ace /'gnmas; gn'meis/ verb [I] to make an ugly expression by twisting your face, for example because you are in pain or do not like something grinrvace 2 /'gnmss; gn'meis/ noun [c] an ugly expression that you make by twisting your face, for example because you are in pain or do not like something grime /graim/ noun [u] thick dirt that forms on surfaces Grim 'Reaper, the noun an imaginary character who

—

represents death.

It

is

usually

shown as a skeleton

wearing a long black cloak with a hood and carrying a scythe (=a tool for cutting grass).

grirrvy /'graimi/

adj

grin 1 /grin/ verb

[I]

very dirty ** to smile showing your teeth:

+ at Ruth grinned at him as she waved good-bye.

grin 2 /grin/ noun

a grinding halt a situation in which something stops operating completely: A transportation strike brought the capital to a grinding halt.

grind-stone /'gramd.stoon/ noun

another

From

a character called the Grinch in the children's story How the Grinch Stole Christmas by the U.S. writer Dr. Seuss. (past tense

and

past

participle

ground

••

/graond/) verb 1 grind or grind up [T] to break something into very small pieces or powder, by using a machine or by crushing it between two hard surfaces: The mill was used for grinding corn until the 17th century. freshly ground black pepper 1a. to cut food, especially raw meat, into very small pieces using a machine 2 [T] to press something down onto a surface using a lot of force: She ground a half-smoked cigarette into the ashtray. 3 [T] to

make something such as a knife smooth or sharp by rubbing it against a hard surface

4

[i]

if

a machine or vehicle grinds,

it

moves or works

and with difficulty: A

truck came grinding up the hill. They waited for the ancient elevator to grind its way up from below. 4a. [i/t] if parts of a machine

slowly, noisily,

grind or

if

someone grinds them, they rub together and

make an unpleasant

speaks

English,

especially

U.S.

noise: the sound of grinding gears grind the faces of the poor Br E often humorous to become rich and powerful by treating poor people in a very unfair way grind to a halt 1 if a vehicle grinds to a halt, it moves more and more slowly until it finally stops: The traffic finally ground to a halt outside the station. 2 if a process

**

1

grip /grip/ noun 1 firm

strong hold

2 power/control 3 part

1

/gramd/

a piece of equip-

gri-ot /'gri.ou; 'griat/ noun [C] West African someone who is responsible for keeping a record of the traditions and history of a group of people, mainly in West Africa. These accounts are preserved in the form of music,

**

grinch /grmtJV noun [c] Am E a very unfriendly person who does not want other people to enjoy themselves

1

who

country

someone from the

a big smile that shows your teeth: "A great win, " Mike said with a broad grin. -* wipe [c]

[c]

ment with a large round stone that turns like a wheel and is used for making tools sharp with your nose to the grindstone often humorous working very hard grin*go /'gnrjgoo/ noun [c] an insulting word used by some people from South America for someone from

stories, or poetry.

grin and bear it to accept a difficult situation without complaining or showing how you feel grin from ear to ear to smile a very big smile

grind

produce something in large

(T) to

quantities, especially when this is boring or difficult grind 'up phrasal vb [T] same as grind i: The seeds are ground up and later digested.

of object for holding

5 small bag for traveling 6 for holding hair + PHRASES

4 sb who moves cameras a firm strong hold: Marguerite took my hand tighten your grip Pete tightened his grip on her arm. release/ loosen your grip She loosened her grip on the steering-wheel. 1a. [singular/u] if shoes or tires have grip, they hold a surface firmly and do not slip: J need some winter boots with a better grip. 2 [singular] [+on] power and control over someone or something: The President struggled to regain his grip on power. The church no longer has a strong grip on the 1

[singular]

in a surprisingly strong grip.

population.

3

[C] the part of an object that has a special rough surface that you can hold firmly in your hands [C] someone whose job is to move cameras around while television programs or movies are being made 5 [C] old-fashioned a small bag that you use when traveling 6 [C]BrE a bobby pin

4

be in the grip of sth to be in a difficult or unpleasant situation: The country was in the grip of an economic crisis. The forest is still in the grip of winter. come to grips with sth to start to deal with a problem, situation, or job that you have to do get a grip on sth to begin to understand a difficult situation and start to find a way of dealing with it get a grip (on yourself) spoken to make an effort to control your emotions or your behavior: For God's sake get a grip!

lose

your grip (on sth)

to

become

less able to under-

stand things or deal with them: Are you starting your grip on reality?

to lose

gnp ••

verb 1 [T] to hold something tightly: She gripped my hand firmly to show her support. Although the car was stationary, his hands were still gripping the wheel. 1a. [l/T] if shoes or tires grip, they hold a surface firmly and so do not slip 2 [T] to have a strong effect on someone: A feeling of fear gripped the crowd. Britain was still gripped by recession.

3

[T] to keep someone very interested in something: The case has gripped the public because of the celebrities

involved.

gripe 1 /gnup/ noun something that

[C]

informal a complaint about

annoying but not very important gripe /graip/ verb [i] informal to complain continuously in an annoying way grip-ping /'gnpirj/ adj very exciting and interesting is

2

gris-ly /'gnzli/ adj involving death or violence in a shocking way grist /grist/ noun grist for the mill something that can be used for achieving a goal gris-tle /'grisl/ noun [u] 1 a strong substance that surrounds the joints of animals and is difficult to eat when

you

find

it

in

meat 2 informal cartilage

1

grit /grit/ noun [u] 1 very small pieces of stone or sand 2 informal determination to succeed, even in very difficult situations 2

grit /grit/ verb grit your teeth 1 to press your teeth together tightly, for example because you are angry or in pain 2 to show determination in a difficult situation grits /grits/ noun [plural] AmE a food made from corn (=a type of grain) that has been crushed and boiled in water, often eaten for breakfast, especially in the

southern U.S. grit«ty / griti/

firm in your intentions: a gritty determination to succeed 2 showing life as it really is, even when it is not pleasant or attractive: a gritty account of the survival of a professional football player 3 containing or covered with grit adj

1

griz-zled /'gnzld/ adj a grizzled person has gray hair and looks old: a grizzled veteran a. grizzled hair is gray or partly gray

griz-zly bear or grizzly /'gnzli ,ber/ noun [c] a very large bear with brown fur that lives in the mountains of the north western U.S. A grizzly bear is often simply called a grizzly

groan /groun/ verb • 1

make a long low sound, for example because in pain or unhappy 1a. if wood, metal, or another material groans, it makes a long low sound as it moves: The floorboards groaned under the weight of the 1

[I]

to

you are

dancers. 2 [l/T] to speak about

something in a way that shows you are unhappy: "Oh no, " he groaned when he saw who it was. The other people in the line were moaning and groaning. 3 [i] [+under/ beneath] if one thing groans under another, it can only just support or bear it: The system was groaning under an avalanche of applications. 3a. [+with/under] Br E if a table groans with food, there is a lot of food on it: The long tables were groaning under the weight offresh fish. 2

groan /groun/

noun [c] 1 a long low sound that a person makes, especially when they are in pain or unhappy 1a. a long low sound made by something as it

gross

616

grip 2 /grip/

moves 2 a complaint: They've got the usual moans and

groans

like

everybody

groat /groot/ noun

else.

[c]

a coin of low value that was

used in the past in England gro*cer /'groussr/ noun [c] someone whose job is to sell food and other goods for the home in a small store. The store they work in is called a grocer, grocery, or grocery store. gro-cer-ies /'grous(3)riz/ noun [plural] food and other goods for the home that you buy regularly gro-cer-y 1 /'grous(3)ri/ noun [c] AmE a small store that sells food and other goods

gro-cer-y 2

/'grous(a)ri/ adj relating to groceries or grocery stores: a grocery basket grocery items

grog /grug/ noun

an alcoholic drink made with kiwi. water, sugar, and lemon juice, often served hot groggy /'grugi/ adj feeling tired, weak, or confused, especially because you are sick or have not had enough [u]

sleep

groin /grnin/ noun

[C] 1 the area where your legs join the front of your body —picture -» body 2 a wall built out into the ocean to protect the beach from eroding (=being destroyed by the force of the water)

gronvmet /

grumst/ noun [C] 1 a metal or plastic ring that surrounds a hole in cloth to prevent it from tearing small tube that is put into a child's ear to remove liquid that is blocking it

2BrEa groom who

1

/grum/ noun

[c]

1

a bridegroom

2 someone

takes care of horses

groom

2

/grum/ verb 1 [l/T] to take care of your appearance by keeping your hair, body, and clothes clean and neat: Dan spends hours grooming in front of the mirror. 1a. [l/T] if an animal grooms itself or another animal, it cleans itself or another animal 1b. [T] to clean and brush an animal, especially a horse or a dog 2 [T] to prepare someone for a particular job or activity by giving them special training and attention: The 15-yearold schoolgirl is being groomed for stardom. 3 [T] to make snow firm for a path groomed /grumd/ adj neat and clean in your appearance groom-ing /'grumin/ noun [u] 1 the process of making yourself neat and clean 2 the activity of animals cleaning themselves or one another grooms-man /grumzman/ (plural grooms-men /"grum/ man/) noun [c] Am E a man who helps the groom during a wedding

groove

/gruv/ noun [c] 1 a line cut into a surface 2 informal a piece of popular music with a good beat: dance grooves in a/the groove starting to perform very well, especially in a sport

grooved its

/gruvd/

adj

a grooved object has grooves in

surface

groov-y

/'gruvi/ adj informal old-fashioned exciting,

modern, and fashionable. This word was especially popular in the 1960s: a groovy hairstyle

grope /group/ 1

verb 1

grope

or

grope around

[i]

to

search for something inside a container, bag, etc. by feeling with your hands: She was groping around in her purse for her keys. 1a. [T] to try to get to a place by feeling the way with your hands: I groped my way to the door. 2 [T] to touch someone sexually in a rough way, especially someone who does not want to be touched 3 [i] [+f or/toward] to search for an idea or a way to say something without being certain of what you are doing: She hesitated, seeming to grope for words.

grope 2 /group/

noun [C] the act of touching someone sexually in a rough way, especially someone who does not want to be touched 1

gross /grous/ adj

••

a gross amount of money is the total amount before taxes or costs have been taken out: a company with gross revenues of $50,000,000 In 1984 women earned only 66 compare net percent of men's gross weekly earnings. 2 [only before noun] legal gross actions are extremely bad and are considered immoral by most people: He was gross negligence/misdismissed for gross misconduct. management They were accused of gross negligence. 2a. extreme and unreasonable: That is a gross distortion 1

—

of the truth. 3 informal extremely unpleasant. This mainly by young people.

word

is

used

2

gross /grous/ noun [c] 144 of something gross 3 /grous/ verb [T] to earn a particular amount of money before taxes or other costs have been taken out: The new movie grossed an estimated $36.4 million at the box office. compare net gross out phrasal vb [T] informal if something grosses you out, it is so unpleasant that it makes you feel ill:

—

DISGUST

gross 4 /grous/

adv earned before anything such as taxes or costs has been taken out: He earned $60,000 compare net gross.

—

gross domestic product

ground

617

.gross domestic product noun [u] the total value of all goods and services produced in a country in a year, except for income received from money invested in other countries. It is often simply called GDP. gross-ly / groosli / adv very or extremely .grossly unfair gross margin noun [c] business gross profit expressed as a percentage gross national product noun [u] the total value of all goods and services produced in a country in a year,

,

including income received from money invested in other countries. It is often simply called GNP. gross- put noun [c] spoken something that is so unpleasant it almost makes you ill. This word is used mainly

by young people. .gross profit noun [C] business the difference between the price that someone sells goods for and what it costs to produce them gro-tesque /groo'tesk/ adj 1 extremely ugly and

any middle ground in this negotiation?* the moral high ground (^opinions or standards that are morally better than other people's) It's too late to start claiming the moral high ground. 5a. shift your ground to change your opinion, especially about something that you seemed very certain of there likely to be

6

the level of success or progress that

[u]

someone or

something has achieved: lose /gain ground Most stockregain markets lost ground after their recent gains. ground In Athenian politics, democratic views had been regaining ground.

7 grounds [plural] extremely small pieces of crushed coffee beans, especially after they have been used for making a drink of coffee E a wire that makes electrical equipment safe 8 [C] by allowing the current to flow into the ground 9 [singular/u] an environment in which ideas can develop: fertile ground Germany in the 1920s and 30s was

Am

1

fertile

10

ground for such

ideas.

strange: a grotesque statue of the devil 2 unreasonable or offensive: He called the original broadcast a grotesque

a color used as a background or layer on a painting, drawing, etc.

distortion.

be on dangerous ground

— gro*tesque*ly adv

gro-tesque 2

/groo'tesk/ noun [c] a person or thing extremely strange and ugly grot'to /'gratou/ (plural grottos or grot-toes) noun [C] a small cave that has been built as a decoration in a garden grot*ty / 'grati/ adj Br E mainly spoken dirty or unpleasant: a grotty little hotel grouch 1 /graotJV noun [C] informal 1 someone who complains a lot or is often in a bad mood 2 a complaint grouch 2 /graotJV verb [i] informal to complain a lot, often without good reason: grumble grouch-y /'graotfi/ adj informal often in a bad mood or complaining a lot: grumpy ground 1 /graond/ noun that

is

•••

1

surface of Earth

2 area of land 3 reason for sth 4 subject/idea 5 sb's set of opinions 6 level of progress

7 8 9 10 +

crushed coffee beans in

electrical

equipment

where ideas develop background color PHRASES

1 [singular/ u] the top part of the Earth's surface that people walk on: I fell to the ground. on the ground People were sitting on the ground in small groups. above/ below ground They were working 250 feet below ground. 1a. [singular] the layer of soil and rock that forms the Earth's surface: the destruction caused by getting coal out of the ground 1b. [singular/u] the soil nearest the Earth's surface in which you can grow plants: Prepare the ground for planting. sandy /hard I soft /rocky ground 2 grounds [plural] the land, gardens, and lawn that surround a large house or other building: She found him wandering around the grounds. maintenance of the buildings and grounds 2a. [u] an area of land: an acre of ground open ground (=an area of land without trees or buildings) She had to cross open ground to get to the water. 2b. [C] an area of land and the structures on it that are intended to be used for a particular purpose: soldiers on the parade ground the polo grounds 2c. [C] an area of land or ocean where a particular thing happens the birds summer feeding grounds a traditional

3

a reason for what you say or do, or for being allowed to say or do something: +for There do seem to be some grounds for their complaints. reasonable grounds He believes he has reasonable grounds for making the demand. on (the) grounds of The Act prohibits discrimination on the grounds of sex or marital status. on medical /legal /financial etc. grounds The army turned him down on medical grounds. on the grounds that They oppose the bill on the grounds that it is too restrictive. 4 [singular/u] the subject, idea, or information being talked about or written about: Henry seems anxious to return to more familiar ground. cover ground We'll be covering a lot of new ground in today's lecture. go (back) over the same ground There's no point in going over the [C usually plural]

same ground

twice.

5 [singular/u] someone's set of opinions or attitudes: middle ground (=issues that people can agree about) /s

first

to say something that is likely other people or make them angry firm/safe ground something that is likely to be correct or accepted: Diplomatically, she tried to shift the conversation to firmer ground. from the ground up affecting or involving everything or everyone, starting with the most basic things or the least important people: All systems would be replaced to offend

from

the

ground

up.

ground if you get a project off the ground, you start it and make it successful. You can also say that a project gets off the ground. go to ground to hide from people who want to catch you, usually for a long time on sb's own ground in a place or area of activity where someone feels confident and in control on the ground 1 on the surface of the earth, rather than in the air 2 mainly journalism in the place being discussed, especially a place where there is a war or another serious situation: We will be monitoring the get (sth) off the

situation on the ground.

run/drive sth into the ground 1 to talk about something so much that people do not want to hear any more 2 to use something a lot, until it no longer works properly run sb/sth to ground to find someone or something after a long search run/work/drive sb into the ground to make someone work very hard, until they are so tired that they cannot

work any more stand/hold your ground

1 to not move when someone attacks you or is going to attack you 2 to refuse to change your opinions, beliefs, or decisions despite pres-

sure to change them ground if a building burns to the ground, burns completely, so there is nothing left -» BREAK CUT to the

1

it

1

.

ground 2 /graond/ verb 1

stop airplane flying

2 punish by keeping home 3

in

electrical

4 when boat

'

:

fishing ground

[C] technical

equipment

hits

5 base decision on sth 6 teach basics of subject + PHRASES

ground

an airplane from leaving the ground, or stop people from flying somewhere: All of their planes have been grounded. 2 [t] to punish a child or young person by stopping them from going to places they enjoy: His parents grounded him for two weeks. 3 [T] Am E to make a piece of electrical equipment safe by putting in a wire that takes the current to the ground 4 [I/T] if a boat grounds or is grounded, it hits a rock or the ground under the water 5 [t often passive] to base a decision or idea on a particular thing: be grounded in/ on sth Any new policies need to be firmly grounded in 1

[T]

to stop

careful analysis of the issues. 6 [T often passive] to teach someone the basic parts of a subject: be grounded in sth Trainees are grounded in the basic skills before they move on to more specialized work.

ground out of the

phrasal vb

[i]

Am E

game temporarily

in baseball, to be put out after hitting a ground ball

ground crushed, especially for use in cooking: the smell of ground coffee freshly ground black pepper 2 [only before noun] happening on the surface of the earth, especially in comparison with things happening in the air: If aerial attacks fail, the only alternative would be a ground assault.

ground ground

4

group

618

ground 3 /graond/ adj

1

the past tense and past participle of grind

ball noun along the ground

[c] in baseball,

a ball that

1

is hit

noun [u] Am E meat from a cow that has been cut into very small pieces: hamburger ground-break-ing /'graond.breikirj/ adj using new methods or achieving new results: a groundbreaking

ground beef

ground

staff noun [C] 1 the people who work for an airline in an airport rather than on an aircraft 2 Br E the people who look after an area where sports are

played

ground .stroke ground-swell

noun [c] Am E a piece of plastic or other material that you use as the floor of a tent ground con trol noun [u] the people, computers, and other machines on the ground that help to control a spacecraft or aircraft

'ground cover noun

[u] plants that can be used for covering a large area of ground because they spread easily and do not need a lot of care ground crew noun [c] the people who clean, check, and repair aircraft or spacecraft while they are on the

adj 1

—

get/be in on the ground floor to be involved from the beginning in something that is likely to be very successful

'ground .forces noun on land rather than

[plural]

military forces that fight

at sea or in the air

.ground 'glass noun

[u] 1 glass that has been crushed into extremely small pieces 2 glass whose surface is

rough so you cannot see through it ground-hog /'graond.hDg/ noun [c] a small furry animal with short legs that is found in North America and lives in holes in the ground: woodchuck 'Groundhog Day noun [u] February 2nd, a day when some people believe that if a groundhog sees its shadow when it comes out of its hole, there will be six more weeks of winter grounding /'graondin/ noun [singular] a basic knowledge of a subject: You need a good grounding in mathematics for this type of work. a manager with a thorough business grounding groundless /'graundbs/ adj not based on evidence or good reasons: unfounded opposite well-founded

—

Words nouns

ground

frequently used with

groundless

accusations, allegations, charges, claims, concerns, fears, suspicions, worries

.level noun [u] the

same

level as the

ground shape

of a building or group of buildings from above

'ground .rent noun [c/u] BrE money paid by someone who lives or works in a building to the owner of the land that the building is on .rules noun [plural] the basic rules or principles that govern the way something is done ground-sheet /'graond, fit/ noun [c] BrE a ground cloth grounds-keep-er /'graond3,kip3r/ noun [c] someone who takes care of a sports field, park, or public

ground

AmE

garden [C] a type of North American and under the ground

.squirrel noun

squirrel that lives on

to hit

[singular]

a sudden

[u]

water that

is

under the ground to

noun prepare for something

[u]

work

that

you

lay the groundwork (for sth) to do what is necessary before an event or process can begin: We're busy laying the groundwork for another campaign.

.ground 'zero noun

[u] 1 the point on the surface of the Earth directly above or below where a nuclear explosion has happened 2 a place at the center of changes that are happening fast or violently: Silicon Valley remains ground zero for the electronics industry.

group

1

/grup/ noun

[c]

•••

same place 2 people with same ideas 3 similar people/things 1

people

in

4 set of people/things 5 musicians/singers 6 set of companies

a small number of people who are together in the place: bunch, cluster: + of There was a group of girls following him. A group of her friends was waiting for her inside. 1a. a small number of things, especially things that are not physical objects: a group of words that make up a phrase 2 a set of people who meet or do something together because they share the same purpose or ideas: can be followed by a singular or plural verb: The attack was carried out by a rebel group. join a group Why don't you join the local drama group? form a group He eventually formed a religious group, the Church of Nagriamel. the leader of a group He became the leader of a paramilitary group. 2a. [only before noun] done or made by a group: He didn 'tjoin in any of the group activities. Being involved in a group decision can help someone learn to compromise. 3 a set of people, animals, or things that are considered together because they are similar in some way: can be followed by a singular or plural verb: Companies should employ more people in the over-55 age group. policies that should appeal to people from different ethnic and minority groups belong to a group Killer whales belong to the group known as "toothed whales. + of There are worries about the safety of this group of chemicals. 4 one of the sets that a large number of people or things is divided into: can be followed by a singular or Students plural verb: We'll be put in the novice group. can work individually, in pairs, or in groups. groups of three /four/ten etc. Can you get yourselves into groups of four, please?* split/divide sb into groups The boys were split into four groups. 5 a small number of musicians or singers who perform together regularly: can be followed by a singular or plural verb: band: members of a pop group an all-female 1

same

"

group

ground-nut /'graund.nAt/ noun [C] a peanut 'ground plan noun [c] a drawing that shows the

ground

/'graond.swel/ noun

ground-work /'graond ,w3rk/

confident and sensible,

because you like yourself and you know what is important in life 2 based on evidence or good reasons: wellopposite groundless 3 not allowed to leave founded the house because you are being punished ground-er /'graondsr/ noun [C] a ground ball ground 'floor noun [singular] Br £ the floor of a building that is at or near the level of the ground: On the ground floor of the house is the main bedroom. a ground floor apartment

an attempt

ground-wa-ter / 'graond.wotar/ noun

ground

ground-ed /'graondad/

[c] in tennis,

increase in people's feelings about something, a groundswell of opinion against the early release of the prisoners

do in order

study of plant diversity

ground cloth

noun

the ball after it has touched the ground. Hitting the ball before it touches the ground is called a volley.

6 business an organization that consists of several companies or other institutions: can be followed by a singular or plural verb: The group already owned a satellite TV channel. The company is part of the Target group.

group 2 /grup/ verb * 1

[T usually passive] to

put people or things into groups,

especially groups in

which the members are similar

some way: We were

told to

in

group the ideas under four group sb/sth according to sth The students are grouped according to ability. group sb/sth into sth The group topics have been grouped into broad categories. sb/sth together All the multiple choice questions will be grouped together for convenience. 2 [T usually passive] to be arranged in one or more groups, so that everything in each group is together in a place: group sth around/along/on etc. The new buildings will be grouped around a large courtyard. 3 [I/T] to get into one or more groups: Can you group yourselves into threes? + together / want everyone to group headings.

together over here.

group captain

growing

619

.group 'captain noun

[c]

an

officer of

high rank in the

British air force

groupie

/'grupi/ noun [C] informal someone who is very enthusiastic about a particular pop group, and often tries to meet them at their concerts a. who is very enthusiastic about another person

someone and likes

them very much /'grupiq/ noun [C] * a set of people or things that are considered as a group: Russians were the dominant national grouping in the Soviet Union. Another significant grouping of adjectives is those ending in -v.

grouping

.group 'practice noun [c] a group of doctors or other professional people who work together in the same building

.group 'therapy noun

economy grows, more money is used in it and it becomes more successful: In the early part of the century, the industry grew steadily. grow by 10%/20% etc. The economy has grown by 7% over the past year. 5a. [T] to make a business or the economy grow: He has spent the past seven years growing his business.

5

[I]

if

a business or the

— opposite SHRINK

6 [I] if you grow, the emotional or spiritual part of your character becomes stronger: People need to be able to grow and develop in relationships. 7 [linking verb] literary used for saying that someone or something gradually starts to have a feeling or quality: Nina was growing The nights were growing darker. The king grew increasingly suspicious of his offibored. grow used to /accustomed to Branson had grown cials.

[u] a treatment for people with emotional problems in which they come together in a group to discuss their problems and possible solutions with a trained therapist group-ware /'grup.wer/ noun [U] computing software and other computer tools that make it possible for people in different places to work on the same project grouse 1 /graus/ noun [c] a large brown bird that lives

to the old man's eccentricities. [I] if feelings or qualities grow, they become stronger: She could feel the anger growing inside her. Fears were growing for his safety. 9 [I] [+in] if someone or something grows in a quality, they begin to have more of that quality: She was growing in confidence every day. The area has gradually grown

on the ground and is hunted for its meat grouse 2 /graus/ verb [I] informal to complain, often about unimportant things

has grown

1

grout /graot/ noun

[u]

a substance used for

verb

[T]

to

noun

[c]

filling

the

spaces between tiles 2

grout /graot/

fill

the spaces between tiles

with grout

grove /groov/

a group of trees of a particular type, especially trees arranged in lines: an orange/ olive grove a grove of coconut trees

Grove

/groov/ used

in the

names

of

some

(past tense and past participle groveled; present participle grovelling) verb [l] informal to show too

much respect for someone or be too willing to obey someone, because you want to please them or you are them — groveMng adj /groo/ (past tense grew /gru/;

afraid of

/groon/) verb 1

2 about 3 about

4

past participle

grown

***

about children/animals

6 develop character

plants/cells etc.

7 startto have quality

hair/nails size

8 about feelings/qualities 9 get more of a quality

success

+ PHRASES

increase

in

5 increase

in

children or animals grow, they become taller or larger: "Hasn't Michael grown?" said my aunt. grow several inches/a lot/very tall etc. She must have grown at least four inches since the last time I saw her. fully grown (^having grown to full size) a fully grown lion grow to a size /height/ length In the right conditions, shellfish can grow to considerable sizes. Some of these creatures grew to a length of over twelve feet. 2 [I] if plants or trees grow, they develop and get larger or taller: The redwood tree can grow to over 100 feet tall. plants that grow naturally in swampy land grow to maturity We left some of the better trees and let them grow to maturity. 2a. [I] if trees or plants grow somewhere, they exist there: The trees grew almost to the water's edge. 2b. [T] if you grow plants, you take care of them and help them to develop: cultivate, produce: They grew all their own vegetables. Various crops are grown here. the country's largest rice-growing area grow sth from sth I've 1

[I]

if

grown

these geraniums from seed. 2c. [l/T] if bacteria, or crystals grow, they develop. You can also say that scientists grow these things. 3 [i] if your hair or nails grow, they become longer 3a. [T] if you grow your hair or nails, you let them cells,

become longer

4 [I] to increase in size: The world's population was growing faster than predicted. By 1997, the town had grown big enough to need a high school of its own. The problem continues to grow. grow longer The waiting list for public housing is growing longer every year. grow in size /number/ amount The database will grow in size as necessary.

grow

at a fast/ record etc. rate

8

in importance.

By now

road network was growing at an alarming rate. ripple of laughter that grew to a delighted roar

the

+to a

grow

popularity In recent years cycling

in

in popularity.

grow on trees mainly spoken used for someone that they should not waste or ignore it is valuable and not easy to get grow to love/hate/understand etc. sth if you grow to feel or understand something, you gradually start to feel or understand it: They had grown to love the place and the people. He had grown to realize that she would sth does not

telling

something, because

never change.

Words

frequently used with

adjectives

streets: 23

Maple Grove grov-el /'gravl/

grow

accustomed

grow

bored, impatient, restless, tired

7

people grow apart, their relationship gradually changes and they become less

.grow apart phrasal vb

[I]

if

close

grow a way from phrasal vb [T] [grow away from sb] if you grow away from someone, your relationship gradually changes and you become less close to them grow into phrasal vb [T] 1 [grow into sth/sb] to develop and become a particular thing or person: This seedling should grow into a tall attractive plant. She had grown into a beautiful woman. 2 [grow into sth] if children grow into clothes, they become the right size to wear clothes that were too big 3 [grow into sth] if you grow into a situation or activity, you gradually start knowing what to do because you have more experience: She needs time to grow into her new job. grow on phrasal vb [T] [grow on sb] if something or someone grows on you, you start to like them more: The new house slowly began to grow on her. .grow 'out phrasal vb [i] if colored, cut, or permed hair grows out, it grows so that it no longer has the color or style that

it

had

.grow out of phrasal vb

[T]

[grow out

of sth] 1 if

children

grow out of clothes, they grow bigger and the clothes become too small for them 2 if someone grows out of a habit, they stop doing it, because they are older or wiser: They thought I would grow out of my fear of spiders. 3 to develop from something, or exist as a result of it: Other issues grew out of the policy review. The poems

grew out of her disturbed imagination. .grow up phrasal vb [i] 1 to change from being a baby or young child to being an older child or adult: She's really starting to grow up now. 1a. used for talking about the things that happened while you were a child: I grew up in Indiana. He never saw his father while he was growing up. 2 to stop behaving like a child, and become wiser: It wasn until my marriage ended that I really started to grow up. 2a. spoken used for telling someone to stop being silly and behaving like a child 3 to start existing or being seen: the many small religious sects that grew up and flourished in the area grow«er /'groor/ noun [c] a person, company, or place that grows a type of plant or crop: organic apple growers Columbia has replaced Bolivia as the second-largest grower of cocoa. 't

grow-ing 1

••*

/'grooip/ adj [only before noun] a growing feeling or situation is starting to exist often, and is becoming more important or serious:

more

growing pains She sensed

apprehension. There is growing public concern over the effects of this policy. growing trend the growing trend toward fitness 2 used for describing things that are becoming greater in size or amount: the growing popularity of the Internet a growing number of A growing number of people are choosing to eat less red meat. fastest growing the country 's fastest growing international airport

a growing boy/girl spoken a child who especially one who needs a lot of food

Words

frequently used with

nouns

grunge

620

my growing

is still

growing,

plant: new growth New growth will develop during the spring. +of He had several weeks' growth of beard.

example on a

6

(C] a lump that grows inside or on a person, animal, or plant, caused by cells that have grown in a way that is not normal: a cancerous growth

Words

frequently used with

verbs

growth

encourage, foster, increase, inhibit, promote, stimulate, stunt

growth industry noun [c] an industry that is growing

growing

quickly

awareness, concern, demand, discontent, disenchantment,

1

groyne

/groin/ noun

[c] a wall built out into the ocean beach from being destroyed by the water grub /grAb/ noun 1 [u] very informal food: Grub's up (=the food is ready)/ 2 [C] a young insect without wings

to protect the

dissatisfaction, realization, unrest

1

m

growing pains

noun

[plural]

and teenagers sometimes

1

pains that children

get in their

arms and

legs

because they are growing 2 early problems that an organization experiences when it is first starting in business 'growing .season noun [c] the time of year during which plants grow and develop, especially farm crops growl 1 /graol/ verb [i] * 1 [i/T] to say something in an unfriendly and angry way: "I couldn't care less", Ben growled. 2 if an animal growls, it makes a frightening or unfriendly low noise: The dog growled at me. 2a. if thunder or a machine growls, it makes a low unpleasant noise

growl 2 /graul/ noun

[C]

a frightening or unfriendly low

noise

grown

1

/groon/ adj no longer small or young: They didn't want their grown children back in the house with them. a. a grown man/woman an adult: used especially for suggesting that someone is not behaving like an adult: I've always felt uncomfortable seeing a grown

man

cry.

2

grown the past participle of grow grown-up noun [C] * an adult: used when 1

talking to children: Ask a grown-up to help you. a. used when there are children involved in a situation: The kids went to the park while we grown-ups sat in the backyard.

grown-up

2

adj * adult: She has two grown-up sons. looking or acting like an adult or like a much older child: Louis looked so grown-up in his little suit and tie. a.

b. for adults:

growth 1

grown-up entertainment

/groo6/ noun

a gain in

number,

etc.

1

[singular/u]

an increase

[T] to dig something out of the ground, especially with your hands

grub'by /'grAbi/adj He wore

torn jeans

1 dirty and needing to be washed: and a grubby shirt. 2 dishonest and

morally bad — grub-bi-ness noun [u]

grub-stake / 'grAb.steik/ noun [c] Am E informal money that you loan to someone who is starting a business, in return for a part of any future profits

grudge

1

/grAd3/ noun

[c]

a feeling of anger toward

someone because they have done something to you that does not seem right or fair: There's a whole list of people who might bear a grudge against him.

grudge 2

/grAd3/ verb

[T] to give something without begrudge, resent. I grudge every minute that

wanting

to:

I have

stay

to

away from my

grudge match

writing.

a sports game between teams or players that dislike each other a lot

noun

[c]

grudg-ing

/'gr.\d3irj/ adj done in an unwilling way:/ couldn 't help feeling a grudging admiration for his achievements. grudg-ing* ly adv

—

/'gru(3)l; grul/ noun [u] a food made by boiling crushed grain in water or milk, often eaten by poor people in the past

gru-el

effort:

4 emotional development 5 sth that grows 6 lump in/on living thing in the

number,

size,

or importin

—

gruesome / 'grussm/ adj involving or describing death the

number of entry-level jobs

+ of the international growth period of growth We are entering a period of capitalism rapid growth. population rate of growth The annual of rate of growth was 12 percent. 2 [singular/u] an increase in the success of a business or a country's economy, or in the amount of money invested in them: expansion: The engineering sector achieved significant growth last year. a market that has showed real growth economic /industrial growth measures designed to stimulate economic growth 2a. [only before noun] used for describing industries, activities, etc. that are growing quickly: Computing remains a

growth area.

or injury in a very unpleasant way: grisly: the gruesome details of how she was murdered The police faced the gruegruesome task of looking for the body parts. some-ly adv

—

gruff /grAf/ adj 1 rude and unfriendly: brusque: Don let his gruff manner scare you away. 2 a gruff voice has

't

a rough low sound — gruff «ly adv

grum-ble

1

/'grAmbl/ verb [I] 1 to complain, especially continuously and about unimportant things: moan: + that He grumbled that it was Saturday night and he didn 't have a date. + about sth Children always grumble about school food. + at She grumbles at her employees over the slightest thing. 2 to make a low continuous sound: rumble .grum-

subway trains mustn't/shouldn't grumble spoken used as a reply someone who asks you whether you are well, for saying that you feel all right grum-ble 2 /'grAmbl/ noun 1 [C] a minor complaint bling

(I)

to

3

[singular/u] an increase in the size or development of a living thing 3a. used about children and animals: stunt (sb's) growth (=stop it from happening correctly) Doctors fear that these medicines may stunt your growth. 3b. used about plants and trees: More air means better root growth. 3c. used about a part of your body, especially your hair or nails: There is no evidence that the drug increases hair growth. 3d. used about bacteria, cells, or crystals Some hormones inhibit the growth of cancer cells. :

someone's emotional and spiritual development: personal growth ways to encourage our personal and spiritual growth 5 [u] something that grows or has recently grown, for [u]

,grub up phrasal vb

/ 'gru(3)lin / adj involving a lot of continuous demanding, punishing: a grueling twelve mile hike gru-el-ing-ly adv the President's grueling schedule

.

ance of something: tin a substantial growth

4

worm

verb [i/t] to try to find something by moving things around somewhere, especially somewhere that is dirty or difficult to reach: + around /about He was grubbing around in the back of the sofa for loose change.

gru-el-ing

•••

2 economic increase 3 when living things grow

or legs, like a small

grub 2 /grAb/

about something: My only grumble is that the system is a bit slow. 2 [U] a low continuous sound: the grumble of water pipes grump /grAmp/ noun [C] informal someone who comis rarely happy /'grAmpi/ adj unhappy and dissatisfied, often no obvious reason grump-i-ly adv grunge /grAnd3/ noun [u] 1 a type of rock music played on electric guitars that developed in the late 1980s and was influenced by punk and heavy metal 1a. a dirty messy style of clothing that is popular

plains a lot and

grump-y for

—

grungy among mal

people who play or like grunge music and lack of order

2

infor-

dirt

/'grAnd3i/ adj very informal dirty and sometimes messy or smelling bad: a grungy pair of jeans 1 grunt /grAnt/ verb 1 [i] to make a short low sound in your throat and nose at the same time: He grunted with satisfaction. 1a. if an animal such as a pig grunts, it makes a low sound 2 [T] to say something using low short sounds, especially when you do not want to talk: She grunted a reply. "Are you still here?" he grunted.

grurvgy

grunt 2 /grAnt/ noun

[C] 1 a short low sound made by a person or an animal: Paul gave a little grunt of surprise. 2 Am E informal a soldier of low rank 3 Am E informal someone who does boring work 'grunt work noun [uUm E informal work that is boring and sometimes difficult, but not very important. BrE

donkeywork Gru«yere/gru'jer/noun with holes in

GSM

[u]

a type of hard Swiss cheese

it

Systems for Mobile Communication: a system used in cell phone communication gsoh abbrev good sense of humor: used in newspaper PERSONAL COLUMNS / ,d3i

es 'em/ noun [u] Global

g-spot /'d3i,spat/ noun [C] a very sensitive area in a woman's vagina that gives her extreme sexual pleasure

GST /,d3i

Goods and Services Tax: a tax that in some countries forms part of the price of some things that you buy es

'ti/

noun

[u]

G-string /'d3i,stnn/ noun

[C]

a very small piece of cloth narrow piece

that covers the sexual organs with a very of cloth at the back and around the waist

GT / d3i

abbrev fast cars 'ti/

Gran Turismo: used

in the

names

of

some Gt. abbrev great

GTi

ti 'ai/ adj used for showing that a car has a system that makes it go very fast gua-ca-mo-le /.gwaka'mooli/ noun [u] a sauce made from crushed avocado, often eaten with Mexican food gua-no /'gwanoo/ noun [u] solid waste from birds or other animals, sometimes spread on the ground to help

/,d3i

fuel

grow 1 /.geran'ti/ noun [c] ** something that makes it certain that something will happen: + of Massive investment is no guarantee of success. + against Being with you is my guarantee against them harming me. + (that) Going to court is the best guarantee that you will both be treated fairly. 2 an agreement that if something you buy does not work, it will be repaired or replaced, or you can have your money back: warranty: Many companies offer a 30day money-back guarantee. under guarantee (^protected by a company's guarantee) My watch is still under guarplants

guarantee 1

antee, so they'll fix

it

for

free.

sth carries a guarantee

Window frames carry a thirty year guarantee against rot document containing a guarantee 3 an agreement to pay back money that someone owes

or decay. 2a. a

they cannot pay it back themselves: The bank requires a guarantee for its loans. 4 a promise that something will definitely happen: + (that) The company has given a guarantee that there will be no layoffs. + against The tribes wanted secure guarantees against future invasions. + of The university insisted on a written guarantee of good conduct from his uncle. cast-iron guarantee (=one that is completely reliable) We need a cast-iron guarantee that the trade in endangered animals will stop. give (sb) a guarantee / can't give you any guarantees at the moment. if

guanaivtee 2 /,ger3n'ti/verb 1

make

happen

sth

2 promise sth 3 protect against harm

make

[t]

*•

4 pay money sb else owes 5 agree to repair/replace

certain that something will happen or Our agency provides help for small busicannot guarantee their success. be guaranteed by/ under sth Freedom of speech is guaranteed by our Constitution. The right to a fair trial is guaranteed under Article Six of the convention. + (that) We can't 1

to

9 uard

62ft

it

exist: assure: nesses, but

it

you are going

to get the cheapest tickets guarantee sb sth This win guarantees them a possible. place in the finals. 1a. be guaranteed to do sth used for saying that something will definitely happen: You're guaranteed to lose on those machines. People can't be guaranteed to do the right thing. 2 to promise that something will happen: You should pass the test first time, but we can't guarantee it. +(that) He guaranteed they would be paid on time. guarantee to do sth Our tutors can virtually guarantee to help you get better grades. 2a. to promise someone that they will have something or get something: guarantee sb sth We can guarantee you the very finest standards of service. be guaranteed sth You're guaranteed a window seat. 3 [+against] to protect something or someone against

guarantee that

damage or harm

4

to agree to pay back the money that someone else owes if they cannot pay it back themselves: The loan was guaranteed by his parents. 4a. if a valuable object guarantees something, it is given to someone until you have paid the money you owe or done the thing that you promised to do: / used my own personal assets as

security to guarantee the loan.

5 to agree to repair or replace something someone has bought if it stops working: All our products are guaranteed for three years. guarantee sth against sth The car's bodywork is fully guaranteed against rust.

guaranteed /.geren'tid/ adj * 1 if something is guaranteed, you will definitely get it or have it: Our salespeople are on a guaranteed income a land where sunshine is absolutely of $850 a month.

guaranteed

2

business a guaranteed loan will be paid even if you cannot pay it, because someone else has agreed to pay it or your property will be sold to pay it: secured guarantor /.geran'tor; 'gersntar/ noun [C] formal someone who makes an official agreement to be responsible for money that someone else owes, or for someone else's behavior guard 1 /gard/ noun

•••

who

protects sb/sth

1

sb

2

unit of soldiers/police

3 cover

for protection

4

in

basketball/football

5 on train + PHRASES

1 [C] someone whose job is to protect a place or person so that no one causes damage, steals anything, or escapes: uniformed border guards a prison guard post a guard The captain posted two guards at the gate. armed guard There was an armed guard on duty outside his door. 1a. [singular] a group of guards who are working together: change/relieve the guard The guard was due to be relieved at six o'clock. 1b. Guard Irish informal an officer in the Irish police force 2 [singular] a unit of soldiers or police officers, especially one that has a particular job: members of the Presidential guard troops belonging to the National Guard 2a. Guards used in the names of some units in an army, especially the British army: a captain in the

Scots

3

[C]

Guards something that covers a dangerous part of a

machine 3a. something that you wear to protect a part of your body, for example when playing a sport: a mouth guard 3b. the way that boxers stand with their hands in front of their face, to protect themselves from an opponent: put up your guard(s) They put their guards up

and began

4

circling each other.

basketball, one of two players who are responsible for moving the ball round the court in order to create opportunities for their team to score 4a. in football, a player who plays next to the center —picture -»C15 5 [C] Br E a train conductor [C] in

be/stay on guard or do guard duty to be officially put somewhere to guard someone or something drop/lower/let down your guard 1 to relax and trust people, even though this means that you might let yourself be upset or do the wrong thing. If someone does not do this, you can say that their guard is up: She was not ready to let down her guard and confide in him. 2 to stop being careful, for example in a game or when you are being attacked: We cannot afford to drop our guard.

"

guard guard not thinking about something, so that you might say or do something you did not intend to: catch/take sb off (their) guard (=surprise someone) "Why on earth did you tell him that?" "He caught me off guard!" on (your) guard thinking or behaving carefully, so that you do not say or do something you did not intend to: off (your)

There are cameras everywhere, so be on your guard! stand/keep guard or mount a guard to watch a person or place carefully in order to protect them from attack, or to prevent someone from escaping: Small groups of men kept guard in the fields. + over Armed soldiers stood guard over him. under guard protected or prevented from escaping by a guard: He was taken to prison under police guard. under heavy guard (= with a lot of guards) The ambassador arrived under heavy guard.

guard 2 /gard/ verb

m

1

watch place

[T]

••

carefully

2 protect sb/sth from harm 3 not tell information

4 5

try in

+ PHRASES

to

of the President to protect someone or

office

2

something from something dangerous or unpleasant: The male fish guards the eggs. guard sth/sb from sth the trees that guarded the farm from the wind 3 if you guard information, you do not tell it to anyone: They have been guarding the details of their research. closely/jealously guard sth The recipe is a closely guarded secret.

4

to try

very hard to keep something that

is

important

to you: The company is fiercely guarding its technology. 5 in a sport such as basketball or football, to try to

prevent your opponent from scoring or from playing effectively

guard your tongue/temper to speak or behave fully, without using bad language or violence

Words

frequently used with

adverbs

care-

3

jealously

guard against phrasal vb [T] [guard against sth] 1 to help to prevent something from happening: Fiber in the diet is thought to guard against heart disease. 2 to try to prevent something from happening: We need to guard against the possibility of people losing

guard dog

noun

[c]

interest.

a dog trained to guard property

or people

guard-ed /'gardad/

much information want someone to know everything adj

not giving

because you do not about something: guarded comments He was being fairly guarded about the details. guard-ed-ly adv guard-house /'gard.haus/ noun [c] a building for soldiers who are working as guards, sometimes also used as a place for keeping military prisoners guard-i-an /'gardian/ noun [c] 1 a person or organization that guards or protects something: They saw themselves as the guardians of morality. 2 someone who is legally responsible for another person such as a child whose parents have died guardian 'angel noun [c] 1 a helpful spirit who some people believe has the job of taking care of a particular person 2 someone who takes care of someone else when they need help guardianship /'gardianjip/ noun [u] the position of being legally responsible for someone guard of 'honour noun [c] BrE an honor guard guard .rail noun [c] a bar or fence put for safety at the edge of something such as a road, a bridge, or stairs guardroom /'gardrum/ noun [C] a room for soldiers who are working as guards, sometimes also used as a place for keeping military prisoners guards-man /'gardzman/ (plural guards-men) noun [C] 1 a member of the U.S. National Guard 2 a soldier in

—

a Guards regiment of the British

army

/

gwuva/ noun

green or yellow skin.

[c]

It is

a large tropical fruit with pink inside.

gu-ber-nato-ri-al /.gubarna'tarial/

adj

very formal

relating to the position of governor

guck

/g,\k/ noun [u]

AmE gunk

guer-il-la /ga'rilo/ another spelling of guerrilla guern-sey / g.irnzi / noun [C] 1 a brown and white cow that produces milk 2 a thick dark blue woolen sweater like those that sailors used to wear get a guernsey/be given a guernsey Australian to be praised for something you have done

/ga'nla/ noun [C] • a member of a military is not official and usually wants to change a political situation. Their main method is to make unexpected attacks in small groups, a. (only before noun] using unexpected methods of attack to surprise the

guerrilla group that

think is true, without being certain about it: a contest to guess the weight of the pig + what /who /how etc. Would anyone like to guess what this object is? +at It's difficult even to guess at the figures. guess sth as sth He guessed her age as 14 or 15. guess as to sth Scientists are really still guessing as to the true cause of ice ages. + (that) She guessed that it was about midday from the position of the sun. guess correctly/right Whoever guesses correctly will win two tickets to the show. a. to be correct about something that you guess: He had already guessed the answer. Surely she would guess the truth. + (that) Tim guessed she was awake. / expect you've guessed by now that I lost the fight. guess sth from sth She guessed from the noise that her brothers were home. + about He wondered whether she knew or guessed about Amy. not be hard to guess sth From his expression, it wasn't hard to guess what had happened.

guess informal used when you are saying something that you think is probably true or correct: + (that) I guess never be able to explain. guess not "So you won't be going there again?" "I guess not. " guess so (=used for saying yes, but not very strongly) "Were you happy with the result?" "Well, I guess so. guess what spoken used for introducing what you want to tell someone, especially when you are pleased or excited about it: Guess what! I won a trip to the Caribbean! I/you/he etc. can only guess used for emphasizing that something is not known, especially someone's feelings or the degree to which something is happening: Why this approach failed, we can only guess. + at Melissa could only guess at what the child must be feeling. I

I'll

I

I

guard

carefully, closely, fiercely,

gua-va

enemy: guerrilla groups I fighters I leaders guerrilla warfare The enemy avoided direct confrontation and concentrated on guerrilla warfare. guess 1 /ges/ verb [i/t] ••• to say or decide what you

hard to keep sth

sports

watch a place carefully to protect someone from attack, to prevent something from being stolen, or to prevent someone from escaping: There were two soldiers guarding the main gate. The palace entrance is guarded around the clock. heavily guarded the heavily guarded 1

guess

622

I/you/she etc. would never guess spoken used for showing that you think something is not at all obvious: Looking at her now you'd never guess she'd been so upset. I'd never have guessed that they were married. keep sb guessing to deliberately not tell someone what is happening or what is going to happen let me guess spoken used when you are going to say what you think is happening, instead of waiting for

someone to tell you I might have guessed used for saying that you should have realized something you can guess spoken used for saying that it is very obvious what happened or what is going to happen: In a bar one night I met a girl, asked her out, and you can guess the rest. you'll never guess spoken used for introducing something interesting or exciting that you want to tell someone: +who/what/how etc. You'll never guess who I sat next to! you've guessed it spoken used for saying that the bad thing someone expects is true or will happen: The weather forecast for Thanksgiving, yes, you 've guessed it! Wet and windy.

/ges/ noun [C] ** the action of saying what you think is true or will happen, without being certain: make /take a guess Make a guess and then check it on

guess 2

+at Take a guess at what's behind this hazard a guess (=make a guess that will probably not be accurate) We can only hazard a guess at what happened. + as to a guess as to the number of people who

your calculator. screen.

—

"

guessing

game

might come rough guess (=one that is not expected to be accurate)^ rough guess would be twenty, wild guess (=one that is very unlikely to be accurate) OK, I'll make good /lucky/ a wild guess, but I really don't know. inspired guess The researchers made several inspired educated /informed guesses about how the brain works. guess (=one that is based on some knowledge) / could probably make an educated guess. at a guess mainly spoken used for making it clear that what you are saying is a guess, and it is likely to not be correct best guess 1 an opinion about the thing that is most likely to happen: We don't have enough information even to give a best guess. 2 an opinion about the best thing that could happen: Our best guess is that we'll be ready in

two weeks.

give you three guesses spoken used for saying that someone has to try and guess something, because you will not tell them, often because the answer is very I'll

obvious my guess

is (that)

what you think happened

spoken used

when you

will happen, or

are saying

what you think has

sth is anyone's guess used for saying that something is not known by anyone: What this all means is anybody 's guess. It's anyone's guess who'll win the election. your guess is as good as mine spoken used for telling someone that you know as little about something as they know

Words

frequently used with

adjectives

guess

educated, good, informed, inspired, lucky, rough, wild

guessing game

1

/'gesirj

our wedding? /gest/ verb [I] if a famous person guests on a television or radio show, they appear in it on a particular occasion because they have been invited to a. if a famous person guests at a sports event or guests for a team, they play at the event or for the team 'guest beer noun [C] a type of beer that a bar sells for a short period of time, in addition to its usual beers guest book noun [C] a book in which guests or visitors write comments 'guest .house or guesthouse /'gest.haos/ noun [c] 1 a small hotel or private home where people can pay to spend the night 2 a small house for guests on the property of a larger house guest of 'honor noun [C] an extremely important guest at a meeting, party, or other event

guest 3

guest room noun [C] a bedroom for a visitor in someone's home or in a hotel 'guest .worker noun [c] someone who goes to a foreign country to work guff /gAf/ noun

meant

to

guf-faw noun

GUI

for a period of time

[u] informal nonsense or talk that is impress people but has little meaning /ga'fo/ verb [I] to laugh very loudly guf«f aw

[C]

/,d3i ju

'ai/

abbrev

[C]

what

/'gesti,meit/verb[l/T]

the process of trying to find the answer to something by guessing, or the answer found by using this method: a theory based on [u]

***

be my guest spoken 1 used for saying that someone can do something that you are having difficulty with or do not want to do yourself: "Can I try opening it?" "Be my guest." 2 yes: used as a polite reply to a request: "Do you mind if I sit down?" "Be my guest. guest 2 /gest/ adj 1 provided for guests to use: a set of guest towels a TV in the guest lounge 2 appearing by invitation to perform at an event: a regular guest conductor with orchestras all over the world

guest speaker/

**

inspections in schools. the process of controlling the flight of a missile, an aircraft, or a vehicle in space: a missile guidance system

2

'guidance .counselor noun or to advise

1 someone you have invited to your home, for a party or a meal, or to stay the night: We've got guests staying this weekend. tips for getting rid of unwanted guests welcome /greet /receive a guest The President and his wife were in the hallway, greeting their dinner guests. 2 someone who is paying to stay at a hotel or eat in a restaurant: There is live music to entertain guests. the arriving /departing guests hotel guest The indoor heated pool is free to hotel guests. 3 someone who appears on a television or radio show that they do not regularly appear on: My first guest tonight is famous for both her singing and acting talent. our panel of celebrity guests guest appearance The band agreed to make a guest appearance on his show. 4 someone who has been invited to a party, meeting, or other event by the people organizing it: She was eager to mingle with the other party guests. + at He was a guest at our wedding. + of They were at the Festival as the guests of a Greek businessman. invited guests The ceremony will take place before 10,000 invited VIP guests. honored/ distinguished guests Welcome, Mr. President, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. 4a. someone you invite to a restaurant, the movies, etc., and whose meal or ticket you pay for: You're here as my guest. 4b. someone you take with you to a club where you are a member: Please remember to sign in all guests.

[u]

advice about what you should do or how you should behave: Many people have given us advice and guidance about the baby. marriage guidance (=help given to people who have problems in their marriage) +on / need some guidance on which university I should choose, la. advice from an official organization on how to deal with particular situations: The state is issuing new guidance on 1

to help students [c]

computing Graphical User

Interface: a system that uses pictures that you click (=press) on with a computer mouse in order to move

between programs

.geirn/

to guess

guess-work /'ges,w3rk/ noun pure guesswork guest 1 /gest/ noun

guest star lecturer Tonight's guest speaker is Peter Bell. The show frequently features well-known guest stars. 3 relating to guests: guest list Is she on the guest list for

guidance /'gaidns/ noun

noun [C] a situation is going to happen. You usually use this expression when you think the situation is annoying. guessti-mate /'gestimst/ noun [C] informal a calculation of the size, value, or amount of something when all the facts are not available to you— guess«ti«mate

where people have

guide

623

guide 1

1

sb

[c]

someone whose job

is

with their school or personal problems,

them about making career choices

/gaid/ noun

[c]

who shows you

2 sb giving advice 3 book

•••

place

4 5

for

making judgment

for finding

place/amount

1 someone whose job is to take care of a group of who are visiting a place and give them information about it: Your guide will explain what the different machines were used for. tour guide There is a tour guide on every bus. la. someone who shows you which direction to walk or travel in, especially as their job: mountain guide She's working as a mountain guide in the

people

Swiss Alps.

2 someone who

helps you to decide what to do by giving you advice or by giving you a good example to was his guide and his inspiration. 3 a book about a city, country, or area: They publish a range of city guides. The Complete Guide to Norway travel guide It is worth buying a good travel guide. 3a. a book about a particular subject or type of activity: Get the booklet Income Tax: A Guide for Married Couples. step-by-step guide See our step-by-step guide on page 17. + to a comprehensive guide to the new simplified divorce procedure / bought a copy of A Beginner's Guide to Flower Arranging. pocket guide Lots of publishers produce pocket guides for various hobbies. 4 something that helps you to make a judgment about something: -Mo/as to This will give you a guide as to how much you should weigh. good /reliable guide A plant's rough guide Opinion leaves are a good guide to its health. polls only serve as a rough guide to how people really vote. 5 a piece of equipment that helps you find the correct place or amount for something: a cutting guide This chart can act as a quick reference guide. use sth as a guide Draw up the plan using this pencil outline as a follow: She

guide.

guide Words

frequently used with

adjectives

of guilt

guide

guide 2 /gaid/

verb

[T]

4

guide-book / 'gaid.bok/ noun

[C]

* a book for tourists

that provides information about a place

guid-ed missile

/.gaidid 'misil/ [C] a missile whose path is controlled by radio signals or by an electronic system on the missile

noun

[c]

BrE a

seeing eye dog

guide-lines /'gaid.lamz/ noun

[plural]

**

official

instructions or advice about how to do something: issue /lay down /provide guidelines The Department of Education has issued new national guidelines for science teachers. + on /for strict guidelines on the training and arming of police officers under/in accordance with/ according to guidelines Refugees' applications are handled in accordance with United Nations guidelines.

guiding

light /.gaidin lait/ noun [c] someone who you admire very much and who has had an important influence on you guild /gild/ noun [C] an organization of people who all have the same job, goals, or interests guil-der /gildar/ noun [C] the unit of money used in the Netherlands guild-hall /'gild.hol/ noun [c] in the past, a building used by members of a guild to discuss business guile /gail/ noun [u] formal the skillful use of dishonest means to trick people or make them do what you want:

CUNNING

guile-less /'gailbs/ adj formal always behaving honestly and expecting other people to be honest - guile-less-ly adj, guile-less-ness noun [U] guil-le-mot /'gib.mat/ noun [c] a black-and-white ocean bird that lives in the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans 1 guil-lo-tine /'gib.tin/ noun [C] 1 a machine used in the past for cutting off someone's head. It consisted of a heavy blade that slid down a tall wooden structure, cutting through their neck. 2 a tool used for cutting paper, consisting of a long blade attached to a board

guil-lo-tine

2 /

left

her with an overwhelming

2

legal the fact that

It

now remains

someone has committed a crime: for the jury to decide on the defendant's

guilt or innocence.

•*

1 to show someone which direction they should walk or travel in by going with them: guide sb through /to/ along etc. sth He guided them through the forest. Carol will guide you around the museum. guided tour/walk tourists on a guided walk around the French Quarter 1a. to physically help someone to move in a particular direction: guide sb to/along etc. sth Lucy took the old man's arm and gently guided him to his chair. 1b. to carefully move a vehicle or other moving object so that it goes where you want it to go: guide sth toward /into etc. sth Slowly he guided the boat toward the dock. 1c. if a light, signal, etc. guides someone or something, it shows them where to go: We had only the stars to guide us. The airplanes are guided in by radio beacons. 2 to help someone to make decisions or judgments about something: There was no market research to guide them. His entire life was guided by his religious beliefs. guiding principle (a very important belief that influences your decisions) You must have some guiding principles for the way you run your business. 2a. to help someone to do something by giving them advice at different stages: guide sb through sth We can guide you guide sb in sth through the maze of financial planning. Students should be carefully guided in their reading. 3 to try to make a situation or an organization develop in a particular way: a code that attempts to guide the guide sth toward sth Harry tried to conduct of lawyers guide the discussion toward some form of compromise.

guide ,dog

Her husband's death

sense of guilt.

approximate, complete, good, practical, reliable, rough, step-bystep, useful

m

gulch

624

'gib.tin/ verb (T] to kill

someone using a

guillotine

guilt /gilt/ noun [u] *• 1 a feeling of being ashamed and sorry because you have done something wrong: Instead of satisfaction she twinge/pang of guilt She felt a sudden felt only guilt. twinge of guilt. + about/at/for/over I often felt swamped guilt having abandoned my children. fee ling /sense by at

guilt-less /'giltbs/adj/orraa/ not responsible for doing something wrong or committing a crime: innocent guilt-less-ly adv guilt trip noun [C] informal a strong feeling of being guilty that makes you behave in a particular way lay a guilt trip

on sb

to

make someone

feel guilty

about

something

•••

guilt-y/'gilti/adj 1 ashamed and sorry because you have done something wrong: You shouldn 'tfeel guilty all the time - you've done nothing to be ashamed of + about / still feel guilty about things I said to my mother when I was a teenager. guilty conscience (=a feeling that you have done something wrong) It was a clear sign that he had a guilty conscience. 1a. a guilty fact is one that you feel guilty about: There goes a man with a guilty secret. 2 legal someone who is guilty has committed a crime: find sb guilty /not guilty of sth (=officially decide that they are guilty /not guilty) He was found guilty of manslaughter. plead guilty to sth (=say that you are guilty) Wright pleaded guilty to all charges. 2a. [+of] someone who is guilty of something has done it: Patrick knew that he was guilty of lying. This government is guilty of much talk and little action.

who have done something wrong guilt-i-ly adv: A footstep in the doorway made her leap, guiltily, to her feet. the guilty party the person or people

—

Metaphor Being guilty is like being dirty, and being innocent is being clean. Becoming more moral or getting rid

like

of guilt

is like

washing.

That was a very dirty trick. / don't want to know about your squalid activities. Those with blood on their hands must be punished. It is yet another stain/ blot on his character. He made a clean breast of it. Her motives were pure, though nobody believed her. My conscience is clear. They have a spotless reputation. You had better clean up your act. Let's wipe the slate clean and start again. They washed their hands of the whole business. -» HONEST /'gini/ noun [C] a unit of money or a gold coin used in Britain in the past, worth £1.05 guinea /fowl noun [c/u] a large gray bird, originally

guin-ea

is kept for its meat noun [c] 1 someone who is used in an experiment: The prisoners were used as guinea pigs by their government. 2 a small animal with fur, short ears, and no tail. It is often kept as a pet. Guinness /'ginis/ trademark a type of strong dark beer originally made in Ireland Guinness Book of Records, the noun a book that

from Africa, that

guinea pig

records surprising things that exist or skillful things that people have done

/gaiz/ noun [C] formal the way someone or something appears to people: Revolutions come in many guises.

guise

like someone or something else, or pretending to be them: This is a country where reporters have to visit in the guise of tourists. a musical instrument gui-tar /gi'tar/ noun [c] with six strings, used in a wide variety of musical styles. It can be acoustic or electric. Someone who plays the guitar is called a guitarist: Hanks is on bass guitar, play (the) guitar Her son plays with Nelson on drums. guitar in a rock band, —picture -» stringed instrument

under/in the guise of looking

***

/ gu.lag / noun [c] a prison camp used in the past in the former Soviet Union, where prisoners were kept in very bad conditions

gu-lag

gulch

AmE

a long narrow valley with /g.\ltJ7 noun [C] very steep sides that used to have water flowing quickly along it but is now usually dry

gulf [c] 1 a large area of ocean that is almost surrounded by land: the Persian Gulf* the warm waters of the Gulf of Thailand 2 a large and important difference between people or groups: chasm: trying to close the widening gulf between the rich and the poor 3 a long thin deep crack or hole in the ground the Gulf 1 Am E the Gulf of Mexico 2 Br E the Persian the Gulf War Gulf: the Gulf states 'Gulf Stream, the noun a current of warm water that flows' from the Gulf of Mexico to the north and east

gulf /gAlf/ noun

across the Atlantic Ocean toward Europe

War .Syndrome

Gulf

who fought

soldiers

The cause

of the disease is

[u]

war

word meaning someone who is easily tricked 2 gull /gAl/ verb [T] literary an old word meaning cheat or trick someone" old

guMet /'gAbt/ gul-ley

/ 'gAli/

noun

"to

informal the esophagus

[c]

another spelling of gully

gul-li-bil-i-ty /.gAta'bilati/ noun [u] the tendency to be gullible

gul-li-ble /'gAbbl/ ad] a gullible person is easy to trick because they trust and believe people too easily: gullible tourists

— opposite cynical

gul-ly /'gAli/ noun [C] a long narrow valley with steep sides a. a long narrow hole in rock or earth, usually made by water flowing along it b. a long narrow passage made for something to be taken away: The excess rainwater collected in the gully.

/gAlp/ verb 1 gulp or gulp down [T] to swallow food or drink quickly in a way that shows you are very hungry 2 to make a noise as you swallow air because you are surprised, excited, or afraid 3 gulp or gulp in [I/T] to quickly take in large breaths of air: He lay on gulp for air/ the river bank, gulping air into his lungs. breath She suffers from asthma attacks that leave her gulping for breath. 1

[

I

]

.gulp back phrasal vb [T] to stop yourself from showing tears or an emotion: Sonia sat in the corner, gulping back the tears.

.gulp

down

some

phrasal vb

coffee

and

[T]

same as gulp

1

i:

I gulped

down

left.

'gulp in phrasal vb [T] same as gulp water, greedily gulping in air.

1

3:

He came up from

the

gulp /gAlp/ noun

[C] a quick swallow of a large amount of a drink: The weary driver took another gulp of water. in one gulp He snatched her glass of rum and drank it in one gulp. a. the noise or action you make when you

quickly swallow 1

/gAm/ noun

*

1 part of

mouth 2 chewing gum

4 eucalyptus tree 5 type of glue

3 substance from trees

+ PHRASES

the firm pink flesh in your mouth that your teeth are attached to: Brushing regularly keeps your gums 1

[C]

gum

healthy.

disease

[u] chewing gum: a stick of gum [U] a sticky substance that comes from some trees: aromatic gum 4 [C] a eucalyptus tree 5 [C/U] BrE a type of glue, used especially to stick paper

by gum old-fashioned used for showing surprise or pleasure 2

/gAm/ verb [T] Br E to stick one thing to another with glue a. to put glue onto paper so that it can be stuck onto something else

gum up

informal to cause things to be stuck together or covered in a sticky substance so that they no longer work smoothly phrasal vb

gum up

[T]

the works informal to stop a process from

working smoothly

gum-ball

/'gAm.bol/ noun

brightly colored candy

/'gAm.drap/ noun [c] a firm fruit candy and covered with sugar /'gAmi/ adj 1 sticky, or covered in something sticky 2 showing a lot of your gums a big gummy smile gump-tion /'gAmpJsn/ noun [u] the quality of being sensible and brave enough to do the right thing in a

made

of gelatin

gummy

:

gum-shoe

/'gAm.Ju/ noun

made

[C]

[C]

AmE

old-fashioned a

detective

gum

.tree noun

gun

/gAn/ noun

1

[C] [C]

a eucalyptus tree

***

a weapon that shoots bullets, for example a pistol or a rifle. You load a gun with ammunition and pull the trigger to use it: "Move!" said Cardiff, waving the gun She found herself looking down the barrel of a at them. aim /point a a gang armed with machine guns gun. gun He pointed the gun directly at me. fire a gun She was carry a gun Their police learning how to fire a gun. draw a gun (=take it out, ready officers all carry guns. to use) He spun around at the noise, drawing his gun. pull a gun on sb (=take out a gun and point it at someone) suddenly the officer pulled a gun on them a gun goes off (=it shoots a bullet) A police gun went off accidentally during a search of his home. gun battle He was shot dead in a gun battle with the police. 1a. a large weapon that fires objects like large bullets, for example a cannon or a mortar: Enemy guns fired a shell every two or three heavy guns Our troops came under prolonged minutes. bombardment by heavy guns. 2 a starting gun used in sports competitions 3 a tool used for forcing something out of its container using a lot of pressure: a paint/ glue/ staple gun 1

go great guns informal to do something very quickly and with a lot of success or enthusiasm hold/put a gun to sb's head informal to blackmail someone (=force them to do something by threatening to do something bad to them) under the gun under a lot of pressure and not certain that you will succeed with (all/both) guns blazing informal with a lot of enthusiasm or energy -»

jump

1

,

stick to

/gAn/ verb [T] AmE to make a car engine work very quickly by pressing your foot on the accelerator a.

to start driving a car

AmE

of chewing

a small round

gum

very

fast

gun 'down phrasal vb [T] mainly journalism to shoot someone and kill them or injure them badly, especially someone who is not guilty of anything, or who is not carrying a gun 'gun for phrasal vb informal be/go gunning for sb to try to hurt someone or damage their reputation be gunning for sth to try to get something, for example a job or prize

gun-boat

/'gAn.boot/ noun

large guns attached to

2 3

gum

gum-drop

gun 2

2

gum

gum-bo /'gAmboo/ noun [u] 1 a thick soup made with chicken or fish and the vegetable okka, eaten mainly in the southern U.S. 2 Am E okka gum-boil / 'gAm.bori/ noun [c] an abscess in your mouth

difficult situation

a disease suffered by in the Persian Gulf. not exactly known.

noun

in the 1991

1 gull /gAl/ noun [C] 1 a large black and white bird that lives near the ocean and has a loud call: seagull 2 an

gulp

gunfire

625

[C]

a small fast ship with

it

.gunboat di'plomacy noun

[u] the threat by one country to use military power against another in order to make it agree to something 'gun con trol noun [u] laws that prevent people from keeping and using guns

gun control is the cause of political disagreement, because the Constitution gives people the right to own weapons, but many people feel the level of violence in the U.S. In the U.S., the issue of

much

is

too high.

'gun ,dog noun

[C]

a dog that

is

trained to bring back

dead birds that someone has shot for sport gun-fight /gAn, fait/ noun [C] a fight between people using guns

— gun-fight-er noun

[C]

gun-fire /'gAn, fair/ noun [U] 1 shots from guns: Our troops came under heavy gunfire. 2 the sound made by guns being shot: We were woken at dawn by

gunfire.

gunge noun

[u]

BrE

informal gunk

/cjArj'hou/ adj informal very enthusiastic, especially about something that might be dangerous 1

/gAnk/ noun [u] informal any substance — gunk-y adj

gunk 2

soft sticky

or dirty

AmE

/gArjk/ verb [T] informal be gunked up (with sth) to be blocked or covered with a dirty sticky substance

gun-man

/'gAnmsn/ (plural gun»men/'uAnm3n/) noun [C] mainly journalism • someone who uses a gun when fighting or committing a crime: Rebel gunmen took up positions on rooftops as tanks entered the town. The gunmen ordered bank employees to lie on the floor. gun-met-al /'gAn,metl/ noun [u] 1 a dull gray metal made from copper, tin, and zinc 2 a dull gray color

m

gun-nel /'gAnl/ noun [C] a gunwale gun-ner /'gAnar/ noun [C] a member whose job

is to fire

of the military

a large gun

AmE

gun-ny

1 gunny or gunnysack [C] /'gAni/ noun a sack (=large bag for storing potatoes, flour, coal, etc.) 2 [U] thick heavy cloth used for making sacks

gun-play /'gAn.plei/ noun [u] the use of guns gun-point /'gAn.pomt/ noun at gunpoint while

threat-

noun

a substance that is used for causing explosions or for making fireworks (=objects that burn to produce noise and colored light) [u]

'Gunpowder

.Plot, the noun a plan in 1605 by Roman Catholics in England to destroy Parliament in an explosion. The plan failed, but is remembered in Britain every year on guy fawkes' night.

gun-run-ner /'gAnxAnsr/ noun

[C]

guns into a country secretly and

gun-ship /'gAnJip/ noun has guns attached to

[C]

someone who takes

illegally

a military helicopter that

it

gun-shot / 'gAn.Jat/ when someone fires

noun [c] 1 the sound that is made a gun: Residents claim they heard gunshots on the night Billy was murdered. 2 the bullets shot from a gun: The police fired gunshots and tear gas to disperse the rioters. He died from a gunshot wound to the head.

nervous about doing something 2 very by the sound of a gun gun-sling-er /'gAn.shrpr/ noun [C] informal a gunman in the Wild West in the past gun-smith /'gAn,smi8/ noun [C] 1 someone whose job is to make and repair guns 2 someone whose job is to sell guns in a store gun-wale /'gAnl/ noun [c] the upper edge of the side of adj 1

easily frightened

a boat or ship full to the

gunwales completely

gup-py / 'gApi/ noun fish, often

[c]

full

a small brightly colored tropical

kept as a pet

gur /gur/ noun

Indian English a type of dark brown sugar that you buy in solid pieces, not small grains [u]

gur-gle 1 /'g3rgl/ verb [I] 1 to make the low sound that water makes when it is poured quickly from a bottle: water gurgling down the drain 2 if a person gurgles,

make a low sound in their throat: The baby gurgled contentedly. 3 if your stomach gurgles, it makes a long they

low sound, usually because you are hungry: rumble /'g3rgl/ noun [C] the sound of someone or something gurgling gur-ney /'g3rni/ noun [c] AmE a long narrow bed on wheels that is used in hospitals for moving sick people

gur-gle 2

around. Br E trolley gu-ru / 'gu,ru/ noun [C] 1 a religious or spiritual leader, especially in Hinduism 2 mainly journalism someone who other people respect and go to for advice about a particular subject: a style /fitness guru

gush

1

/gAJV verb [i] 1 if a liquid gushes, it flows quickly in large quantities: Oil began to gush out of the broken pipe. 2 to express admiration or pleasure with so much enthusiasm that people think you are not sincere: Popular magazines are always gushing about his

and

if

gush 2 /gAJV noun

[C] 1 a large quantity of liquid or gas that quickly flows out of a place 2 a strong sudden feeling —picture -» drip

gush-er / 'gAJar/ noun [c] an oil well that does not need a pump because the oil flows up easily by itself gush-ing /'gAjin/ adj informal expressing admiration or pleasure with so much enthusiasm that people think you are not sincere - gush-ing-ly adv

gusset

/'gAsat/ noun [C] a small extra piece of cloth of clothing to make it stronger or

sewn into a piece more comfortable

/'gAsi/ verb gussy up phrasal vb [T] AmE informal old-fashioned to make someone or something look more attractive and fashionable gust 1 /gASt/ noun [C] 1 a sudden strong wind 2 a sudden strong feeling or expression of emotion gust 2 /gASt/ verb [i] if a wind gusts, it blows very

gus-sy

strongly for short periods of time

gus-to /'gAStoo/ noun with gusto gust-y / 'gASti/ adj

if you do something with a lot of enthusiasm a gusty wind blows strongly for short it

periods of time

gut 1 food

hours.

gun-pow-der /'gAn.paudar/

2a.

with gusto, you do

ening to shoot someone or being threatened with a gun: Two masked men held the bank clerks at gunpoint for three

gun-shy

words or emotions gush from you, you unexpectedly express them very strongly looks.

gung-ho

gunk

gutter press

626

gunge /gAnd^/

/gAt/ noun

1

[C]

the tube in your body that carries technical name

away from your stomach. A more

for this is the intestine: It takes several hours for food to pass through the gut. 1a. [C] informal someone's stomach, especially when it is fat: belly 2 [u] a type of strong string that is made from an animal's intestines 3 [often plural] a feeling that you are certain is right, although you can give no good reason why: / had a feeling in my guts that this was going to be a bad night. gut feeling /instinct Beverly had a gut feeling there was something seriously wrong.

bust a gut informal to try extremely hard to achieve something: / nearly bust a gut trying to get the job finished on time. -» guts gut 2 /gAt/ verb [T] 1 to remove the organs from inside a fish before you cook it 2 to destroy the inside of a building or vehicle: The fire gutted the building. gut-less /'gAtbs/ adj very informal not at all brave or determined ,gut re'action noun [C] something that you feel or believe strongly without stopping to think about it: My gut reaction was that he was lying. guts /gAts/ noun [plural] informal * 1 the quality of being brave and determined: That's what you need to be a referee, guts. have the guts to do sth She had the guts to decide what she wanted and go for it takes guts to do sth It takes a lot of guts and hard it. work to get where he is. 2 all the organs inside your body, especially the ones in the stomach area: The doctors sewed his guts back together.

3

the most important parts of a system, plan, or machine: That's basically the guts of Darwin's theory. work/cry /run etc. your guts out informal to work/ cry/run etc. very hard: / worked my guts out getting my degree. -» HATE

1

guts-y /'gAtsi/ adj informal brave and determined gut-ted /'gAtad/ adj 1 if a building is gutted, it is badly damaged or completely destroyed: the shell of a gutted warehouse 2 BrE spoken extremely disappointed 1 gut-ter /'gAtar/ noun

is

1 [c] an open piece of pipe that attached to the edge of a roof to carry rain water

away —picture -» ci 2 [C] the edge of the road, where water flows away 3 the gutter the lowest level of moral standards: dragging politics into the gutter 3a. the bad social conditions of the poorest people in society

gut-ter 2 /'gAtar/ verb [I] weak and does not burn .gutter out phrasal vb

weaker and then

[i]

stop:

literary if

a flame gutters,

it is

steadily

to gradually become slower or Her career in broadcasting had

slowly guttered out.

'gutter press, the noun newspapers that contain a lot of shocking stories about crime, sex, and famous people.

guttural

made

back of your throat used for tanking to a man whose name you do not know. This word is mostly used by men to customers and men of a higher social position. guv-nor /'gAvnar/ noun [C] BrE spoken someone who is in charge of your work guy /gai/ noun [c] •** 1 informal a man .Bob's a really nice guy, isn t he? She 's going out with some French guy she met on vacation. the kind /sort of guy He looks like the kind of guy you would trust with your life savings. -> fall guy 2 guys [plural] spoken used for talking to a group of at the

guv /gAv/ Br E spoken

people: Hey, guys, what's happening?

3

4

a GUYWIRE a model of a person

made out

of old clothes that Fawkes' Night in the U.K.

burned on Guy no more Mr. Nice Guy spoken used are going to stop being so kind and

Guy Fawkes' Night / ,gai

for saying that you polite to someone

'foks ,nait/ in the U.K., the

—

guzzler

gweMo /.gwai'loo/ for

noun

[c]

someone who

informal a word used in not Chinese

is

gym /d3im/ noun * 1 [C] a large hall or room with special equipment for doing physical exercises: a dance class in the school gym 1a. [C] a building or club where you go to do physical exercises, swim, and play sports: / try to go to the gym three times a week. 2 [U] the activity of doing indoor physical exercises, especially at a school

gym-kha-na /d3im'kan3/

noun [c] a sports competition that involves riding horses or driving cars gym-na-si-um /d3im'neiziam/ noun [c] formal a large hall or room with special equipment for doing physical exercises

gym-nast

gyitvnas'tic /d3im'ntestik/

adj relating to

gymnastics:

a gymnastic display

gym-nas-tics

/d3nn'naestiks/ noun [u] 1 a sport involving difficult physical exercises designed to increase your strength and ability to bend and balance 2 clever arguments or use of language: verbal/ mental gymnastics

/'d3im,slip/ noun [c] BrE a type of dress without sleeves that girls used to wear as part of a school uniform gy-nae-col-o-gist /,gaina'kal3d3ist/the BrE spelling of gynecologist

gym-slip

gy-nae-coho-gy

/.gams'kaladsi/ the

BrE

spelling of

gynecology gy-ne-co-log-i-cal /.gamaka'ladsikl/ adj relating to medical conditions and diseases that affect women and their reproductive organs: a routine gynecological examination

is

evening of November 5, when people light fires outside and have fireworks. Guy Fawkes' Night is also called Bonfire Night. 'guy rope noun [C] a rope or wire that keeps a tent fixed in position on the ground guzzle / 'gAzl/ verb [l/T] informal to drink a lot quickly guz-zler noun [C] -» gas and with great enthusiasm

Hong Kong

gyroscope

627

This word shows that you do not approve of these newspapers. gut*tur*al /'gAt(3)ral/ adj a guttural sound is deep and

/'d3im,ncest; 'd3imnast/ noun [c] someone who does gymnastics as a sport, especially someone who takes part in competitions: an Olympic gymnast

gyne-col-o-gist /.gama'kabdsist/ noun [c] a doctor who studies and treats medical conditions and diseases that affect

women and

their reproductive organs

gy-ne-col-o-gy /.gams'kaladsi/ noun

[u]

the part of

medicine that deals with the study and treatment of medical conditions that affect women and their reproductive organs 1 gyp /d3ip/ noun [singular] AmE informal a situation in which you feel you have been tricked or cheated when you buy something: This package is only halffull! What a gyp! a. something that you are tricked into buying or that you pay too much for 2 gyp /d3ip/ verb [T] informal to trick or cheat someone when they buy something gyp-sum /'d^ipsam/ noun [u] a soft white substance used for making plaster of Paris gyp*sy /'d3ipsi/ noun [C] 1 offensive a romany 2 someone who does not like to live in one place for a long time but prefers to move around

gy«rate

/'d3ai,reit/ verb

in circles

2

often

[I]

1

humorous

to move around quickly to dance, especially in a

way 3 if prices or values gyrate, they move up down in an uncontrolled way — gyra-tion

sexual

and

/d3ai'reijn/ noun [C/U]

gy«ro/'d3airou/noun [c]AmE 1 a sandwich consisting of meat cooked on a spit (=a metal rod that turns near a fire) and salad eaten on pita bread. Br E doner kebab

2 informal a gyroscope gy-ro-scope /^aira.skoup/ noun [c] a wheel that stays steady when it spins around inside a frame, used for controlling the movement of ships and aircraft or as a child's toy

"

Hh h

/eitj/ (plural letter of the

h's) or H (plural H's) noun [C/u] the eighth English alphabet. H is a consonant. -* h-

bomb

H2

00/ noun

/,eitj tu 1

ha /ha/

interjection

[u] science

water

••

1 used for showing that you feel pleased, often because you have discovered or achieved something: Ha! I told you they would get here first. 2 used for showing that you disagree: "Do you think the Redskins will win tonight?" "Ha! I don't think they'll even score.

ha-bit-u-ate /h.VbitJueit/ verb [t] formal to make someone experience something regularly so that they become familiar with it ha-bit-u-e /ho'bitjuci; hobitju'ei/ noun [C] mainly literary someone who often goes to a particular type of place

ha-ci-en-da /husicnds/ noun [c] 1 a large farm in Mexico or in a country where people speak Spanish 1a. the main house on a hacienda, where the owner lives 2 Am E humorous someone's house

hack

ha 2 abbrev hectare habe-as corpus

/.heibias 'knrpas/ noun [u] legal a judge's order to bring a prisoner into court so that the court can decide whether the prisoner should stay in

'

E

prison or not

hab-er-dash-er /'hsbsr.daejar/ noun [c] old-fashioned 1 AmE someone who works in or owns a store that sells men's clothes 2 Br E someone who sells the things that people use when they are making or repairing clothes

AmE

hab-er-dash-er-y

/'haebar.dasfari/ noun [c/u] 1 old-fashioned men's clothes, or a store that sells men's clothes 2 BrE the things that people use when they are making or repairing clothes, or the part of a large store that sells buttons, needles, etc.

•••

habit

/'habit/ noun 1 [C/U] something that you do often or regularly, often without thinking about it: healthy eating habits a good/ bad habit Don't pick up any bad habits from your friends. be in the habit of doing sth They were in the habit of

taking long walks. get in/ into the habit of doing sth George has gotten in the habit of calling me regularly. habit/from force of habit (^because it is what you out of usually do) Whenever I walk by her building I look up at her window from sheer force of habit. 1a. [C] something that you often do without intending to or without realizing that you are doing it, which can annoy other people: have the habit of doing sth He had the annoying habit of tapping the table when he was nervous. 1b. [C] a physical need to do something regularly such as smoke cigarettes or take drugs: He started stealing to finance kick/break the habit (=stop it) Over 10 his heroin habit. million smokers have succeeded in kicking the habit. 2 [C] a simple dress worn by nuns and other members of religious communities

not make a habit of doing sth/not be in the habit of doing sth used for saying that you do not usually do something that you have just done: / don't make a habit of interrupting other people's conversations. old habits die hard spoken used for saying that it is difficult to change a way of behaving that someone has had for many years

Words

frequently used with habit

adjectives

habita-ble

annoying, bad, dirty, disgusting, filthy, unfortunate /'haebitsbl/ adj a place that is habitable

can be lived in hab-i-tat /'haebi.tast/ noun [c] • the type of place that an animal normally lives in or a plant normally grows in: natural habitat a rare bird in danger of losing its natural habitat

hab-i-ta-tion

/.haebi'teijn/ noun formal 1 [u] the fact that someone lives in a place: The house showed no obvious signs of habitation. The building was declared unfit for human habitation. 2 [C] literary a house

hab'it-form-ing /'haebit .formirj/ adj a habit-forming drug is one that makes you need to use it all the time, even though it is bad for you a. hard to stop doing because of being very enjoyable: Surfing the Internet can be habit-forming.

ha-bit-u-al /ha'bitjusl/ adj usually or often done by someone: He smiled briefly, then returned to his habitual frown, a. used for describing a person who has a particular bad habit: a habitual smoker I drinker / liar / ha*bit*u*aMy adv criminal

—

1

1

/haek/ verb

cut

in

a

rough

2 change and 3 be able

•

way

spoil writing

to deal with sth

4 connect to computer 5 cough loudly 6 drive taxi

something in a rough way, with a lot of energy, or many times: We hacked a trail through the bushes to bring in our supplies. +(away) at The boys were hacking at the undergrowth with heavy sticks. hack sth off Jo hacked a piece off the block of cheese. 2 [T] to spoil a piece of writing by removing or changing a lot of its parts: hack sth to pieces The script had been hacked to pieces by an incompetent editor. 3 [T usually in negatives or questions] informal to have enough energy or interest to deal with something: I wasn't sure I could hack the finance course. hack it She just couldn 't hack it as a reporter. 1

[l/T]

to cut

4

[l/T] to use a computer to connect to someone else's computer secretly and often illegally, so that you can find or change information on it: Young kids are finding

+ into they can hack the computers of large corporations. They hack into banks and transfer huge amounts of cash. 5 [i] to cough loudly E old-fashioned to drive a taxi 6 [ ] I

Am

hack 2

/haek/ noun [C] 1 informal a reporter, artist, or who does boring work or work that is not very good 1a. any professional person who is only interested in making money 1b. a junior politician or official who does boring work for a political party and is not respected 2 a loud dry cough 3 informal an old horse that is not easy good to ride 4 Am E informal a taxi driver 4a. a taxi writer

[C] 1 someone who uses a computer to connect to other people's computers secretly and often illegally, so that they can find or change information 1a. old-fashioned someone who knows a lot about computers and who spends a lot of time using them 2 Am E informal someone who enjoys playing a sport but is not very good at it

hack-er /'haeksr/ noun

hack-ing cough

/.haekirj

'kof/

noun

[C]

a cough that

makes a loud rough sound

hackles

/'haeklz/ noun [plural] 1 if your hackles rise, or something raises your hackles, you begin to feel very angry 2 the hairs on the back of the neck of cats, dogs, and some other animals that stick up when they are

angry

hackneyed

/'haeknid/ adj hackneyed words or ideas have been used so often that they do not seem interesting or original any more hack-saw /'haek.so/ noun [c] a type of saw that you use for cutting metal

had the

past tense and past participle of

haddock / 'haxtak/ (plural had»dock)

have

noun [c/u] a type of

large fish that lives in the North Atlantic this fish eaten as food

Ocean

a.

[u]

Hades /'heidiz/

1 the place where the spirits of dead people go, according to ancient Greek stories 2 hell had-n't /'haednt/ short form the usual way of saying or writing "had not." This is not often used in formal

writing.

hae«ma»tol*o*gy

/,hima'tal3d3i/ the

BrE

spelling of

hematology

haemoglo-bin hemoglobin

/'hima.gloubm/ the BrE spelling of

haemophilia /

himo'filia/the Br

E

spelling of hemo-

philia

hae-mo-phil-i-ac

/

hima'filicek/ the

BrE

spelling of

hemophiliac

haem-or-rhage / hem(3)nd3/the Br E

spelling of hem-

orrhage

haem-or-rhoids

/'hema.roidz/ the

BrE

spelling

of

/haeg/ noun [c] offensive an old woman who is ugly or unpleasant hag-gard /'haegard/ ad] looking very tired, worried, or

hag

sick

argue in order to agree on the price of something: +with You get good prices on materials by haggling with local manufacturers. * + over/ haggle about / didn't bother to haggle about the price. sth/sb down We haggled down the rent by about a third. 2 to argue about the details of something: + over/about

Some

/ 'hcegl/

verb

countries are

[i]

to

1

still

haggling over the terms of the

— hag-gling noun [u]

treaty.

hag-i-og-ra-phy

/.haegi'agrsfi/ noun [c] 1 a book about the lives of saints 2 a book about a person's life that deliberately includes only good things about them

hah /ha/ another ha

spelling of ha'

used for representing the sound of laughter. People sometimes say this to show that they 'ha

interjection

think something

is

not funny.

hai-ku

/'hai.ku/ noun [C/u] a short traditional Japanese style

poem

written in a

hail /heil/ verb • 1 [T] to say publicly how good or important something is: hail sth as sth The court's ruling was immediately hailed as a victory for freedom. 2 [I] if it hails, small balls of ice fall from the sky like 1

rain

3

[J] formal to shout to someone as a way of attracting their attention: A familiar voice hailed him. 3a. to signal a taxi or bus so that it stops for you

from phrasal vb [T]/orma/[hail from sth] to be from a particular place: My father hails from Missouri.

'hail

2

1 [u] rain that freezes in the sky and the ground as small balls of ice 2 [C] a large of things such as bullets or questions that come at you quickly or with force: +of a hail of missiles/

hail /heil/ noun falls to

number

questions

.hail-fellow-well-met a very friendly way that

behaving in annoying or does not seem

ad] old-fashioned is

sincere

Many

'meri/ noun [C] a Roman Catholic prayer to Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ

Hail

/,heil

hailstone /'heil.stoon/ noun falls like

a small ball of ice that

[c]

rain

hair /her/ noun *•* [u] the thing that grows on your head in a mass of thin fibers: long black hair a girl with dark shoulder-length hair He wore his hair in a You need to brush your hair before you go out. [u] hair that grows on other parts of the body .facial/ body hair b. [u] the hair that grows from an animal's skin c. [C] a single piece of hair: a few gray hairs picture -* head

ponytail. a.

—

get/keep out of sb's hair to keep away from someone in order to avoid trouble or to avoid annoying them the hair of the dog (that bit you) humorous an alcoholic drink that makes you feel better when you drank too

much

alcohol the night before

your hair down informal to relax and enjoy yourself because you are in a comfortable environment make sb's hair curl humorous to make someone suddenly feel shocked make sb's hair stand on end often humorous to make someone feel very frightened not harm/touch a hair on sb's head to not harm let

someone in any way not have a hair out of place to look very neat and clean tear/pull your hair out informal to feel very worried or very annoyed about something because you do not know what to do about it -» split 1

Words frequently used with hair adjectives

hair-brush /'her,brAj/ noun [C] a brush for arranging hair and making it look neat hair-cut /'her.kAt/ noun [c] * 1 an act of cutting someone's hair: He was badly dressed and he needed a haircut. 2 the style that your hair has been cut in: a short stylish haircut

hairdo

hemorrhoids

hag-gle

halcyon

629

hae-mo-phil-i-a

curly, fine, kinky, long, short,

straight, thick,

wavy

/'her.du/ noun

cially for a

[c]

informal a hairstyle, espe-

woman

hair-dress-er /'her.dressr/ noun [c] * someone whose job is to cut people's hair. The place they work in is

—

hair-dress-ing noun [u] called a hairdresser's. hair-dry-er or hair-dri-er / 'her.drair/ noun [c] a piece of electrical equipment used for making your hair dry after you have washed it -haired /herd/ suffix used with some adjectives to make adjectives describing the hair of a person or animal: a dark-haired youth a short-haired terrier

'hair grip noun

BrE a

bobby pin with no hair hair-line / 'her ,lam/ noun [c] the line at the top of your forehead where your hair begins: a receding hairline (=higher than it used to be, because some hair has fallen [c]

hairless /'herbs/

adj

1

men

out) treatment for

with receding hairlines

2

hair-line /'her.lam/ adj a hairline crack is very narrow: a hairline fracture of the skull hair-net / 'her.net/ noun [c] a small net worn over hair to keep it neat hair-piece /'her.pis/ noun [c] a piece of false hair that someone wears over part of their head hair-pin /'her, pin/ noun [C] 1 a metal object for holding hair in position, consisting of a thin piece of wire in the shape of a "U" —picture -» pin 2 a hairpin curve hairpin 'curve noun [c] AmE a very sharp curve in a road, where the road forms a "U" shape hair-rais-ing /'her reizin/ adj very frightening, but usually exciting at the same time hairs-breadth /'herz,bred6/ noun [singular] the smallest possible distance, amount, or degree: The car only missed us by a hairsbreadth. We were a hairsbreadth away from winning a fortune. ,hair 'shirt noun [c] a shirt made of very rough cloth that some religious people wore in the past to punish themselves for things they had done wrong put on/wear a hair shirt to do something in order to show that you feel very sorry and guilty about something you have done wrong 'hair .slide noun

[c]

BrEa. barrette

hair-split-ting /'her .splitin/ noun [u] the activity of arguing about unimportant details or differences hair .spray noun [c/u] a substance that you spray onto your hair to hold it in position hair-style /'her.stail/ noun [c] * the shape that your hair has been cut or arranged into —picture -* next page hair-trigger adj needing only a slight influence to cause a reaction: a hair-trigger temper 'hair .weave noun [C] false hair that is woven into someone's own hair so that it looks natural hair-y /'heri/adj * The leaves are soft 1 with a lot of hair: a hairy chest and hairy. 2 informal frightening or dangerous: a hairy moment hair-i-ness noun [u] hajj or haj /hxd^f noun [c] a journey to the holy city of Mecca that Muslims make as a religious duty haj-ji /'haed3i/ noun [c] a Muslim who has made a hajj hake /heik/ (plural hake) noun [c] a type of large fish that lives in the North Atlantic Ocean a. [u] this fish eaten

—

as food

ha-kim /ha'kim/

noun

[c]

a

Muslim doctor who uses

methods of treating people ha-lal /ha'lal; 'hselsl/ adj halal meat can be eaten by Muslims because it is from an animal that has been traditional

killed according to the religious laws of Islam

hal-cy-on

/'haelsian/ ad] literary very

ful or successful: halcyon

happy and peace-

days /decades /time /age

halcyon days

half

630

pigtails

bob

'

E braid

parts into which an amount, group, or object can be divided: The rebel army now controls over half the country. The students spend half their time on practical work. + of Prices rose by over 15% during the second half of 1988. Would anyone like the other half of my pizza?* When we interviewed employees, nearly half of them complained of stress. divide/cut/split etc. sth in half Peel the potatoes and cut them in half. 1b. used in numbers, measurements, and ages to mean \: One and a half million people have been driven from their homes. Jasmine started school when she was four and a half. half an hour/a mile etc. We had to wait half an hour for a bus. half hour/ mile etc. She walked the half mile from Wall Street back to her office. half a dozen/a half dozen (=six) half a dozen eggs 1c. increase/reduce/cut etc. sth by half to make something 50% more/50% less: The risk of developing lung cancer has been reduced by half. 1d. half again as much/many used for saying that an amount/number is 50% greater than another amount/number: An apartment in New York costs half again as much as a similar apartment in Philadelphia. 1e. go halves mainly spoken to share the cost of something with someone so that you each pay 50%: If we're going halves, we can afford to buy something really nice. 1f. used for saying that someone or something is made up of 50% of one thing and 50% of something else: half sth (and) half sth The fabric is half nylon, half cotton. The fearsome creature was half man and half beast. Marie is half Vietnamese, half French (=one of her parents is from Vietnam, the other is from France). half and half (=50% of each) There used to be a lot more men than women in the medical school, but now it's about half and half. 2 partly used for saying that something happens partly but not completely, or that something is partly in a particular state: Through the half open door I could hear the sound of Alan's voice. The rocks were half under water. Perhaps he half realized that there was nothing more he could do. half-empty/ half-full a half-empty milk bottle

3 used for emphasis 3a. used for emphasizing how bad or extreme a situation is: Your mother's been going half crazy worrying about you. I seem to spend half my life cleaning up after those kids. period in a game one of the two equal periods of time into which a game of football, basketball, hockey, etc. is divided: Neither team scored in the first half. 5 beer Br E mainly spoken half a pint of a drink, espe-

4

cially beer

.and a half mainly spoken used for emphasizing that you think something is very big, very good, etc.: Fixing up that old apartment will be a job and a half given half a chance used for saying that someone or something will do something if they get the opportunity half a minute/second mainly spoken an extremely short .

hairstyles

'halcyon days noun

[plural] mainly literary a period of time in the past that was happy and peaceful hale /heil/ adj mainly literary healthy and strong: hale and hearty He was looking hale and hearty on his 80th

birthday.

half /haef/

(plural

halves /haevz/) function

word

***

.

time: If you'd only listen for half a minute, I could explain everything. half past one/two etc. thirty minutes after one o'clock/ two o'clock etc.: The stores close at half past five.

Half can be used in the following ways: as a predeterminer (followed by a word such as "a," "the," "this," or "his"): We live half a mile up the road. / have to spend half my time taking care of the children.

as a pronoun: Let's share the prize money. You can have half (followed by "of): 48 is half of 96. Half of us are still unemployed, (following "in" or "by"): Cut the apple in half. The crime rate has been reduced by half.

an adjective (followed by a noun): We ordered a half bottle of red wine. They sold 250 tickets in the first half hour. as

as an adverb (followed by an adjective, adverb, or preposition): I was only half awake. She spoke half in Italian and half in English, (followed by a verb or participle): I only half understood what she was saying. nurse a halffinished building (followed by "as"): only earns half as much as a doctor.

A

as a countable noun: The group was divided into two halves. Our team scored 36 points in the second half.

number: and a half. as a

1

2

or

50%

Emma

was talking

well by the age of two

1a. used for referring to

one of two equal

In spoken British English people often say "half one," "half two," etc., which has the same meaning as "half past one," "half past two," etc: Shall we meet about halffour? (=4:30 p.m.)

half the battle the most important part of what you to do in order to achieve something: Winning people's trust is half the battle. half the fun/problem/trouble etc. a large part of the fun/problem/trouble etc. that is involved in something: It takes a long time to put up all the decorations, but that's half the fun of Christmas. how the other half lives the way that people who are much richer or poorer than you spend their lives (not) be half the person/man/player etc. you used to be to be much less successful, happy, or strong than you used to be not do things/anything by halves to do things very thoroughly and with a lot of energy: He'll throw a great party - he doesn't do anything by halves. not half as good/bad/much etc. as used for empha sizing that one person or thing is not nearly as good/ bad etc. as another: / never thought that Chaplin was half as funny as Buster Keaton. not half bad spoken used for saying that someone or something is good, especially when they are better than

have

crown

half a

annoys you you don't know/haven't heard the half of it spoken used for telling someone that a situation is more shocking or complicated than they think -» MIND

crown

noun [c] a half crown half-and-half noun [u] AmE a mixture of equal parts of milk and cream that you put into coffee or tea half-assed /.haef 'aest/ ad) AmE impolite done in a careless or lazy way: She made a few half-assed attempts at doing the exercises, and then gave up. half-back / 'haef.baek/ noun [c] 1 in football, the player next to the fullback and behind the front line at the start of a game 2 old-fashioned in soccer, a player plays in midfield

who

half-baked / ,haef

'beikt/ adj informal a half-baked idea or plan is not practical because it has not been thought about carefully

AmE

'half bath noun [C] a small bathroom containing a toilet and sink but no shower or bathtub

half-breed noun [c] offensive an offensive word for a person who has parents of two different races, especially someone with one white parent and one native American A more polite expression is person of mixed

parent. race.

'half .brother noun [C] a brother who has either the same mother or the same father as you

half-caste noun [C] offensive an offensive word for someone who has parents of two different races. A more polite expression is person of mixed race. half-cocked /haefkakt/ adj go off half-cocked Am E informal to start doing something without being properly prepared, so that the results are not successful .half- crazed adj very worried or upset and behaving in a nervous way: / was half-crazed with worry when she wasn 't home by midnight.

,half crown noun [C] a coin from a money system used in the past in the U.K. and some other countries

'half-day noun [C] a day when you work or go to school only in the morning or the afternoon .half 'dollar noun [c] a coin worth one half of a dollar in the U.S. or Canada half-heart-ed /.haef 'hartsd/ adj done with no real interest or enthusiasm: a half-hearted attempt The celebrations were rather half-hearted. half-heart-ed-ly adv,

—

half-heart-ed-ness noun [U] 1 .half- hour adj [only before noun] lasting for 30 minutes: a half hour meeting /session /documentary ,

2

hour noun [c] 1 half-hour or half an hour a period of 30 minutes I'll call you back within the next halfhour. The job should take about a half hour. 2 [usually singular] the time that is 30 minutes after the start of an hour: The buses leave on the half hour. half-hourly adj happening every 30 minutes: halfhourly news bulletins half-

:

,

half- life noun [C] science the amount of time that is needed for a substance to lose one half of its radioactivity

half-light noun makes it difficult

[u] light that to see well

is

not bright, which

half-mast noun at

half-mast a flag that is at half-mast has been lowered to the middle of a pole, often in order to show respect for someone who has died half- measure noun [c often plural] something that is done in a way that is not complete or only partly effective

half-moon

noun [c] 1 the moon when you can see only half of it 2 something in the shape of a half-moon 'half note noun [C] technical a musical note that is equal to two quarter notes. Br E minim ,

half-price tickets

/

adj,

adv at half the usual price: half-price

can give

it

to

you

half-price.

half .sister noun [C] a sister who has either the same mother or the same father as you half .step noun [C] Am E technical an amount by which one sound is higher or lower than another, equal to 1/12 of an octave. This difference occurs between any two notes that are next to each other on a piano. half term noun BrE 1 [c/u] a vacation from school or college at midterm 2 [C] one half of a school or college term

1

half a

hallmark

631

you expected them to be: It's one of the cheapest printers around, and it isn 't half bad. sb's other/better half humorous someone's wife, husband, or romantic partner too clever/eager/cocky etc. by half Br E spoken used for showing that you do not approve of someone because they are intelligent/enthusiastic etc. in a way that

AmE

half-pen-ny /'heip(a)ni; 'haef.peni/ noun [c] a small coin from a money system used in the past in Britain and some other countries

half-

timbered

built so that its

adj

a half-timbered building has been

wooden structure can be seen on the

outside walls

half-time /'haef.taim/ noun [u] in football, basketball, and some other team sports, a period of rest between the two halves of a game half .tone noun [C] Am E technical a half step half-tone / 'haef.toon/ noun [u] a way of printing black and white photographs that uses spots of different sizes a. [C] a photograph printed using the halftone method

half-truth noun [C] a statement that is only or gives only some of the facts half volley noun [c] in some sports, a shot player hits or kicks the ball just after

it

partly true

in which a hits the ground

half-way /haefwei/ adv • 1

1 at an equal distance from two places or from the two ends of something: + down /along /between etc. Their house is about halfway down the block. 1a. in the middle of a period of time: + through/into We left halfway through

the movie. 2 informal to a reasonable degree: decent novel she's written in years.

It's

the only halfway

be halfway there to have an advantage that will help you to be successful: If the interviewer likes you, you're halfway there. meet sb halfway to agree to do something that someone wants, if they do something that you want

half-way 2

/haefwei; 'haef.wei/ adj 1 equal in distance

from two places or from the tw o ends of something 2 in the middle of a period of time: At the halfway stage of the campaign. Bush had the lead. halfway house noun [c] a temporary place to live for people who have spent a long time somewhere such as r

a prison or psychiatric hospital

half-wit noun [c] impolite someone who who has done something stupid

is

stupid or

half-wit-ted / haef 'witad/ adj impolite stupid or lacking good judgment — half- wit-ted-ly adv hal-i-but /'haehbat/ large

flat fish

Oceans

(plural haM-but) noun [c] a type of that lives in the North Atlantic and Pacific

eaten as food hal-i-to-sis /.haeli'tousis/ noun [u] medical a medical condition in which your breath has a very unpleasant smell. A more usual word is bad breath. hall /hoi/ noun [C] 1 a long narrow passage inside a building with doors along it leading to rooms 1a. the area inside the front door of a house or other building, that leads to other rooms: / wish you wouldn't leave your shoes in the hall. entrance hall The house has a large entrance hall with an open staircase. 2 a large room used for meetings, concerts, or other public events: concert/dining hall Hundreds of students had packed into the dining hall. 2a. a public building that has a large room in it: church hall The library is opposite the church hall. 2b. used in the names of some large public buildings: a concert at Carnegie Hall used in the names of some large old houses: Hardwick Hall -» TOWN HALL hal-le-lu-jah /.haeb'luja/ interjection 1 used for praising God 2 humorous used for expressing happiness that something you had been waiting for or hoping for has a.

[u] this fish

•••

3BrE

happened

hall-mark / 'hol.mark/ noun

[c] 1

a typical feature: She

treated us with the friendly professionalism that has become her hallmark. have /bear all the hallmarks of sth The killings bore all the hallmarks of drug-related homicides. 2 an official mark on an object made of gold or silver.

Hall of

Fame

hall of 'residence BrEa dormitory

(plural

halls of

residence)

noun

[c]

haMowed /'hailood/ adj

Vd

mainly literary 1 considered to be holy 2 considered very special and treated with great respect: the hallowed pages of our country's history Hal-low-een /.haelou'in/ noun [c/u] the night of October 31, when children wear costumes and go trickor-treating (=go from door to door to ask neighbors for candy) hal-lu-ci-nate /ho'lusn.eit/ verb [i] to see or hear something that is not really there, especially because of an illness or the effect of drugs haMu*ci*na*tion /hs.lusn'eijn/ noun [C] something that you think you can see or hear that is not really there, especially because of an illness or the effect of drugs a. [U] the experience of seeing or hearing something that is not really there hal-lu-ci-na-to-ry /ha'lusna.tori; hs.luisi'neitsri/ adj 1 causing hallucinations: images inspired by the use of hallucinatory drugs 2 similar to a hallucination: the hallucinatory style of the movie hal'lu«cin'0«gen«ic /ha.lusna'dsenik/ adj causing hallucinations hallucinogenic :

mushrooms

way

hall/'holwei/ noun [c] a long narrow passage inside a building with doors along it leading to rooms: hall: Security guards are posted in the hallway outside the president's office, a. the area inside the front door of a house or other building, that leads to other rooms

ha-lo

/

light

'heiloo/

(plural ha»los or ha-loes)

noun

around the head of a holy person

paintings

a.

a circle of in religious

[C]

a circle, especially of light, around an

object

haho-gen

1

/'haebd33n/ noun [C] science a chemical element belonging to a group of five that combine with metals to form salts hal-o-gen 2 /'haebd33n/ adj using halogen to produce light or heat: a halogen bulb/ lamp/ light 1 halt /holt/ noun [singular] * a temporary or permanent stop in a process: +to He has appealed for a halt to the fighting. + in an unforeseen halt in road construction a. a temporary or permanent stop in movement: bring sth to a halt Traffic was brought to a halt by the demonstration. come/draw to a halt The taxi came to a halt outside his front door. skid/screech/shudder etc. to a halt The bus rocked and skidded

to

a

end something, often by a formal or official decision: Pattie finally called a halt to the relationship 18 months later. The referee decided to call a halt only twenty minutes into the game. -» grind 1

[i/t]

•

mainly journalism if you halt something or it halts, it does not continue or develop any further: The search halted overnight, then resumed next day. The strike halted all international train traffic through Hungary. 2 mainly literary to stop moving, or stop a person or vehicle from moving: The truck was halted by soldiers guarding the bridge. 1

3

/holt/ interjection used for ordering someone to stand still or for ordering soldiers to stop marching

halt

hal»ter /'holtsr/ noun [c] 1 a thin piece of leather or rope fastened around a horse's head and used for leading the horse 2 halter or halter top a woman's piece of clothing for the top of her body that does not cover the shoulders or back and fastens at the back of the neck halt-ing / 'holtin/ adj with a lot of pauses between words or movements, often because of a lack of confidence: a halt-ing-ly adv halting conversation halve /haev/ verb 1 [T] to reduce something to half its original size, number, or amount: The bank had to halve its discount rate. 1a. [i] to be reduced to half the original size, number, or amount: The number of people contracting the disease has halved. 2 [T] to divide something into two pieces of equal size

—

halves

ham

the plural of half

1

/hicm/ noun • meat from the top part of the back legs of a preserved using salt or smoke: a slice of ham a ham sandwich 1a. [C] a large piece of ham 2 [C] a bad actor who has an artificial style of performing: an old ham a ham actor 3 [C] someone who sends and receives radio messages for fun: a radio ham a ham radio station [u] the

1

pig,

ham 2

/huem/ verb ham it up informal to act or behave in an artificial way with too much expression in your voice and movements, especially in order to make people laugh: overact

ham-burg-er

/'ruem.bargar/ noun [c] a food made by pressing small pieces of beef (=meat from a cow) into a flat round shape and cooking it in oil. Hamburgers are usually eaten in a bread bun and are often called burgers.

ham-fist-ed

haem

/

'fistad/ adj informal

not careful or

p

enough

gentle

ham-let

/'ha-mlot/ noun [c] a small village

hammer

/'haemar/ noun [c] * a tool used for hitting things or forcing nails into wood, consisting of a handle and a heavy metal top with one flat side: He smashed a hole in the window with a hammer. take a hammer to sth (=hit something hard using a hammer) She took a hammer to the headlights of his car. picture -* tool 2 the part of a gun that pushes against the bullet to make the explosion when you pull the trigger with 1

1

—

your finger

3

a part in a piano that hits the strings to

make

a

sound a heavy metal

4

ball attached to a chain, thrown as a sport 4a. the hammer a sports event in which people throw a hammer as far as they can

come/go under the hammer

to be sold at an auction (=a public sale in which objects are sold to the person who offers the most money)

hanvmer2 / 'haemar/ verb • 1

4

hit

2 defeat 3

fall

with force

5 beat quickly + PHRASES

criticize

1 [i/T] to hit something with a hammer: Hammer the holes. Someone was hammering in the cellar. 1a. [+on/at/into] to hit something hard or many times: Some of the patients were shouting and hammering on the walls. Owen hammered the ball into the back of the net. 2 [T] informal to defeat an opponent easily: thrash

pegs into the

3

informal

[T]

severely:

halt.

call a halt (to sth) to

halt 2 /holt/ verb

hammering

632

showing the quality of the metal and when and where the object was made Hall of Fame noun 1 [c]AmE a place where people go to learn about a particular sport or activity and the famous people who do it: the Basketball/ Baseball Hall of Fame 2 [singular] the group of people who are most famous for doing a particular activity

4

[i]

Her

criticize

to

someone or something

movie was hammered by the critics. rain hammers down, a lot of it falls

latest

informal

if

with great force 5 [I] if your heart hammers, it has a strong fast beat, especially because you are afraid or nervous: pound: He could feel his heart ->

hammering

in his chest.

HOME 2

hammer away 1

at phrasal vb [T] [hammer away at sth] informal to do something with great energy and with

your attention: She spent all weekend hammering away at her novel. 2 to keep attacking someone or something: Defense lawyers hammered away at the witness's credall

ibility.

.hammer out phrasal vb [T] to reach a decision or agreement after discussing it or arguing about it for a long time: A new deal was hammered out between the two banks.

hammer and

'sickle noun [singular] the sign that represents Communism, consisting of a hammer across a sickle (=a tool used for cutting grain crops). This sign was used on the flag of the former Soviet Union.

hammer

.blow noun [c] 1 a very hard hit 2 something that causes a lot of damage or harm: The decision was a hammer blow for the coal industry. ham-mered /'hxmard/ adj very informal completely drunk

hammering / 'haemsnn / noun

1 [C] informal an occadefeated easily 1a. [singular] any kind of punishment, rough treatment, or criticism: Foreign companies are taking a hammering from the strong dollar. 2 [singular/ u] the sound of someone hitting

sion

when someone

is

hammock

hand

633

hand in marriage old-fashioned permission to marry a particular woman hand over fist informal if you make or spend money hand over fist, you earn or spend it in very large amounts sb's hands are tied someone cannot do what they want

something very hard several times: There was a loud hammering on the door. ham-mock /'haemak/ noun [c] a bed consisting of a long piece of cloth or net tied at each end to posts or

sb's

trees

ham-per

1

/'hasmpar/ verb

to prevent

[T often passive] 1

to

something from happening or progressing normally: The search was hampered by heavy snowfall. 2 to limit someone's freedom to move ham-per2 /'ruempar/ noun [c] 1 AmE a large basket in which you keep dirty clothes until you wash them 2BrEa large basket with a lid, used for carrying the food for a picnic (=meal that you are going to eat outside) harrvster /'haemstar/ noun [c] a very small furry animal with a short tail, kept as a pet ham-string / 'haem.stnrj / noun [C] a tendon behind your knee ham-strung /'haem.strArj/ adj prevented from doing what you want to do hand 1 /hasnd/ noun ••• 1 body part at end of arm 2 help 3 clapping 4 part of clock 5 set of cards you hold

6 advantages

in

someone not

to

touch or take

hands up

1 used for asking people to tell you if they the answer to a question 2 used by someone who pointing a gun at people to tell them to raise both their hands 3 used for asking people to tell you if they

know is

want something have/get sb eating out of your hand to be in a situation in which someone will do anything that you want them to do have a hand in sth to help make something happen have sb/sth on your hands to have a person or a problem that you must deal with have time on your hands to have more time available than you need have your hands full to be extremely busy with a

situation

difficult job of

in hand 1 if something is in hand, you are already dealing with it 2 if you have something in hand, you are managing it well so that it happens in the way it should 3 Br E if a player or team has a game in hand,

horses

+ PHRASES

1 [C] the part of your body at the end of each arm that you use for picking up and holding things: Mrs. Bennet put her hands over her ears to shut out the noise. have/ hold sth in your hand He was holding a mug of coffee in his hold sb's hand He sat by the bed and held her left hand. hand. take sb by the hand George took her by the hand and helped her out of the car. hold hands (=hold each other's hands) The park was full of young couples holding hands. hand in hand (^holding each other's hand) They walked along the cliff top hand in hand. shake hands The two men introduced themselves and shook hands. picture -> next page 2 [singular] help: give sb a hand (=help someone) Can you give me a hand with these boxes?* like/want/need a hand Do you need a hand with the dusting?* lend a hand (=help) Lydia said she would lend a hand with the costumes. 3 [singular] if people give someone a hand, they clap their hands to show that they have enjoyed a performance: a big hand for sb A big hand for the band, ladies and gentlemen! give sb a big hand Let's give the children a big hand. 4 [C] the hands on a clock are the long parts that move around and show the time 5 [C] the set of cards that have been given to you in a game of cards —picture -» ci6 6 [singular] informal the advantages you have that give you a chance to be successful in a particular situation: play your hand (=use your advantages) Everything depends on how the company plays its hand. show/tip your hand (=let an opponent know what your advantages are) The trick is not to show your hand too early. 7 [C] someone who does physical work 7a. someone who works on a farm: It was a large farm, with over 20 hired hands. 7b. someone who works on a ship 8 [C] mainly literary someone's handwriting: The manuscript was written in the author's own hand. 9 [C] a unit for measuring how tall a horse is

they have played one

hand very close to you and easy to reach: Help is always at hand if you need it. close /near at hand / always keep my calculator close at hand. at the hands of sb if you suffer or die at the hands of someone, they make you suffer or die: They suffered at

hands of the French. by hand 1 using your hands rather than a machine 2 if a letter is delivered by hand, it is not delivered by the mail service first/second/third hand if you experience something

defeat at the

hand, you experience it yourself. If you experience something second hand or third hand, someone else tells you about it. get/lay your hands on sth to manage to obtain something: I couldn't lay my hands on a copy of the book. go hand in hand to happen or exist together: Economic success and job creation go hand in hand. hand in glove if you work hand in glove with someone, you work very closely with them

game

than an opponent

less

in sb's hands if something is in someone's hands, they are responsible for it: The company is now in the hands of the bank. in good/safe hands / knew that Rebecca was in safe hands with my parents. keep your hand in to practice something so that you are still able to do it well keep your hands off informal to not touch someone or

something

—

first

for telling

something

7 sb working on farm/ship

8 handwriting 9 unit of height

do because something such as a rule or law prevents

it

hands off used

off hand if you do not know something off hand, you cannot remember the information but you could find it

out

on hand

.

if someone is on hand, they are available to help you if you need them on the one hand ... on the other hand used for giving two different opinions about something: On the one hand, expansion would be good, but on the other hand it would be sad to lose the family atmosphere. on (your) hands and knees on the floor, with your hands and your lower legs on the ground out of hand not well controlled: get out of hand We decided to leave before things got out of hand. out of your hands if something is out of your hands,

someone else is now in charge of it take/get your hands off informal to stop touching someone or something take sb in hand to start controlling someone who has been behaving badly to hand Br E near where you are and therefore available to use turn your hand to sth to start doing something new, especially something that involves skill: The former model has now turned her hand to acting. -» DECK FORCE 2 HANDS DOWN, LIVE PUMP UPPER hand 2 /haend/ verb [t] to give something to someone by holding it in your hand and offering it to them: hand sth to sb Talbot handed the paper to the man. hand sb sth Sarah handed me an envelope. 1

1

1

,

,

,

1

,

***

you have

to

hand

it

to sb spoken used for saying that

you admire someone for something they have done hand back phrasal vb [T] to give something back to someone: hand sth back to sb Jean handed the letter back to Doug. hand sb sth back The officer handed me my passport back.

.hand

down

phrasal vb

[T] 1

to give

knowledge or

skill to

someone who is younger than you and will live after you have died: These skills have been handed down from generation to generation. 2 to give clothes, toys. etc. to a younger child when an older child no longer needs them hand down a judgment/sentence/punishment to say officially that someone will receive a particular punishment

handbag

handle

634

hand-gun

/'haend.gAn/ noun

any small gun that

[c]

is

used with one hand index

middle

finger

finger

hand-held

/'hiend,held/ adj small enough to hold in

your hands

hand-i-cap 1 /'hamdikxp/ noun

[c]

••

1 old-fashioned a physical or mental injury or illness that is severe and permanent. This word is now considered offensive and it is more polite to say that someone has a disability: mental I physical I visual

palm

handicap a disadvantage that prevents you from doing something well: They told me that my lack of experience was a handicap. +to His wild past could be a handicap to his ambitions. +of Thousands of people suffer the handicap of not being able to read or write properly. 3 in golf, extra shots that a weaker player is allowed to take in order to make a competition fairer. As a player improves, the number of extra shots they are allowed to take is reduced. 4 a horse race in which the stronger riders carry extra weights in their saddle to make the competition fairer hand-i-cap 2 /'haendi.kaep/ verb [T] * to give someone a disadvantage: Some applicants were handicapped by their poor level of English. ha nd-i -capped /'haendi.kxpt/ adj old-fashioned someone who is handicapped has a permanent injury, illness, or other problem that makes them unable to use their body or mind normally. This word is now considered offensive and it is more polite to say that someone is learning disabled, visually impaired, hearing impaired, or simply disabled, a. the handicapped [plural] people who are disabled. This is now considered offensive and it is more polite to say people

2

pinkie/ little

finger

knuckle

back of the hand

Vd

hand

in phrasal vb [T] to give something to a person in authority: Please hand in your keys when you leave the hotel. All term papers must be handed in by Tuesday. hand on phrasal vb [T] Br E to give someone something that was given to you: / decided not to hand this infor-

mation on

to the police. phrasal vb [T] to give things to different people in a group: Ralph was handing out drinks. Would you hand these papers out for me?

hand out

hand out a punishment/sentence to say officially that someone will receive a particular punishment hand over phrasal vb 1 [T] to give something to someone by holding it in your hand and offering it to them: Albert bowed and handed over the letter. +to He handed the car keys over to Stella. 2 [T] to give someone to the police or another authority that will become responsible for them: +to The suspects have now been handed over to the French authorities. 3 [l/T] to give power or control to someone else: +to They formally hand power over to the new government next

week.

hand-bag

/'haend.baeg/ noun [C] a

hand-ball

/'haend.bol/ noun 1

[u]

woman's purse in the U.S., a game

in which two or four people hit a ball against a wall with their hands 1a. [C] the ball used in the game of handball 2 /.haend'bol/ [C/u] in soccer, the offense of touching the ball with your hands hand-bill /'haend.bil/ noun [C] old-fashioned a small printed piece of paper advertising something, which someone gives you in the street. A more usual word is flyer.

/'haend.buk/ noun [c] a small book that gives information about a subject or instructions about

how to use something hand-cart /'haend.kart/ noun

[c] a type of cart that is designed to be pushed by a person hand-craft-ed /'haend.kraeftad/ adj made by a person, not by a machine, and usually made with great skill

hand-cuff

/'haend.kAf/ verb

[T]

to put handcuffs

on

someone

hand-cuffs

/'haend.kAfs/ noun [plural] metal rings that a police officer puts around a prisoner's wrists to stop them from using their hands or arms

hand- eye coordination noun

[u] the ability to do involve your hands and eyes working together, for example catching a ball, passing something through a needle, or drawing pictures

things that

hand-ful/'haend,ful/ noun •• 1 [C] the quantity of something that you can hold in your hand: +of a handful of coins 2 [singular] a very small number of people or things: The game was dominated by a handful of players. [singular]

informal someone

who

is difficult to

manage

or control

'hand gre nade noun after

handicrafts [plural] beautiful objects made by people using their hands hand-i-ly /'haendili/ adv 1 easily, without much effort: They are expected to win handily in the forthcoming elections. 2 in a position or in a way that is convenient: The house is handily located near the park. 3 in a skillful a.

AmE

way hand-i-work

/'haendi,w3rk/ noun [u] something impressive that someone has done or created a. used in an angry way for referring someone has done

it

[c] a small has been thrown by hand

bomb

that explodes

to

something bad that

'hand job noun

[C] very informal the action of touching or rubbing someone's sex organs to give them pleasure

hand-ker-chief

/'haerjkartjif/ (plural hand«ker«chiefs or hand-ker-chieves /'haenkartfivz/) noun [C] a small square piece of cloth or paper used for wiping your

*

nose or eyes

han-dle 1

/'haendl/verb

•••

to take action to deal with a difficult situation: The government was criticized for the way it handled the crisis. handle sth well Congratulations! You handled badly/poorly handled We felt that the that really well. dispute was badly handled, la. to be responsible for doing a particular job or piece of work: Detective Dawkin Publicity is being handled by will be handling this case. an outside agency. 1b. to be able to deal successfully 1

hand-book

3

with disabilities. hand-i-craft /'haendi.krasft/ noun [c] any activity in which people make beautiful objects using their hands

[T]

with a large amount of work or information: The newer The computers can handle massive amounts of data. helpline handles 100 calls an hour. 1c. to deal with the people or goods that pass through an airport, port, or other center: The depot handles over two million tons of freight a week. 1d. to deal successfully with a person who is likely to become angry or upset: Flight attendants are trained to handle difficult passengers. 2 [T] to touch or hold something: handle sth with care handle sb All chemicals must be handled with care. roughly Some prisoners complained that they'd been roughly handled. 3 [t] to buy and sell goods, especially illegally: handle stolen goods He denied burglary but admitted handling stolen goods.

4

[T] to control an animal or a vehicle using your hands: She handled the pony very confidently. 4a. [l] if a vehicle handles well or badly, it is easy or difficult to

control

sb cannot handle sth someone

is

unable

to deal

with

handle something: /

because I couldn't handle the pressure.

han-dle 2

•*

/'hiendl/ noun [C] the part of a door or window that you use for opening She turned the handle and pushed the door open. 1a. the part of an object that you hold in your hand when you use it: knives with plastic handles 2 very informal someone's name 1

it:

have/get a handle on sth informal to understand somebegan to get a handle on the new

thing well: / soon software.

handlebar mustache

/,haendlbar 'mAstaeJV noun a long mustache that curls up at both ends / han-dle-bars 'haendi ,barz/ noun [plural] the part of a bicycle or motorcycle that you hold with your hands and use for controlling it [C]

han-dler

/'haendtar/ noun [c] 1 someone whose job is to train and take care of an animal, especially a dog: a dog handler 1a. someone whose job is to move a particular type of goods: a baggage / cargo handler 1b. informal the manager of someone famous such as a movie star or sportsperson 2 computing the part of a computer program that deals with a particular type of problem or operation handling /'haendlirj/ noun [u] * 1 the way someone deals with a particular situation, problem, or person: Depression often responds to suitable +of The admintreatment and sympathetic handling. istration was criticized for its handling of the crisis. 2 the way in which you touch, use, or deal with some+of thing, especially with your hands: food handling The safe handling of waste matter is now a legal requirement. 3 the

hang

635 left

management or movement

of goods: a sophisticated cargo handling and distribution network 3a. the way in which someone processes and manages information: Data handling skills are in short supply. 4 the handling of a vehicle is how easy it is to control: The car's ride and handling are poor.

'handling .charge noun store for getting

money you pay to a your goods ready and sending them to [c]

extra

you

'hand luggage noun ,

[u]

carry-on luggage

hand-made

/.hasnd'meid/ instead of by a machine

hand-maid-en

adj

made by a

/'haendmeidn/

/'haend.meid/ noun someone's servant

something else that

[C] 1

2 is

or

old-fashioned a

literary

person,

hand-maid woman who is

something that supports

more important

hand-me-downs

noun [plural] clothes that have been worn by someone and then given to someone else in the same family hand-me-down adj hand-out /'haend.aot/ noun [c] 1 money or goods given to people who need them: He's forty and still living on handouts from his parents. 2 a piece of paper with information on it that is given to everyone in a group, especially a class of students: You'll find some of the references on the handout. hand-o-ver /'haend.oovar/ noun [c] the process of giving responsibility for something to someone else: the British handover of Hong Kong to the Chinese hand-pick /,haend'pik/ verb [T] to choose someone or something very carefully: Senior politicians are hand-

—

picked for the job by the president himself.

hand-picked

/.haend'pikt/ adj chosen very carefully A few handpicked individuals

for a particular purpose:

were in charge of security.

'hand puppet noun [c] AmE a type move by putting your hand inside

of puppet that you

hand-rail /'haendreil/ noun [c] a long bar that you can hold onto for support, for example at the side of stairs hand-saw / 'haend.so/ noun [c] any type of saw that cuts when you push and pull it with your hand hands down adv 1 if you win something hands down, you win very easily 2 without any doubt: Leslie is hands down the nicest person I know. — hands-down adj [only before noun]:

a hands-down favorite

hand-set / 'haend.set/ noun

[c] 1 the part of a telephone that you hold next to your ear 2 a small piece of electronic equipment that you hold and use for controlling another piece of equipment from a distance

hands-free

hands-free equipment can be operated without using your hands, for example by using a headset or a remote control a hands-free phone adj

:

hand-shake

/'haendjeik/ noun [c] the act of shaking someone's hand, for example as a greeting .hands- 'off adj allowing other people to make their own decisions: a hands-off style of management hand-some /'haensam/ adj •• 1 a handsome man or boy has a very attractive face: good-looking: a handsome young man Joe was tall, dark, and handsome. 1a. a handsome woman has an attractive face with strong and regular features 2 a handsome building or place is large, attractive, and impressive: a handsome Victorian church 2a. a handsome object is well made and attractive: a handsome piece offurniture 3 a handsome amount of money is large: Ford expects

handsome

profits

from

its

phone

business. 3a. large

and

generous: a handsome donation /gift /contribution a handsome victory is achieved easily and by a hand-some-ly adv: Their bravery was large amount handsomely rewarded.

4

—

hands-on ad) hands-on experience or training involves you doing something instead of just reading about it or watching other people do it a. someone who is handson is involved in something and does not let other people do all the work and make all the decisions

hand-stand

/'haend .stand/ noun [c] a movement in which you put your hands on the ground and balance your body and legs in the air

hand-to- hand adj hand-to-hand fighting is fighting between people who use their hands or knives, not guns hand-to-mouth adj, adv with just enough money or food to live on: a hand-to-mouth existence

'hand towel noun

a small towel that you use for

[c]

drying your hands

hand-wring-ing

/'haend rinin/ noun [u] a way of expressing that you are very worried or nervous

hand-writ-ing / 'hsnd.raitin / noun [u] * the particular way someone writes using a pen or pencil: His handwriting is very hard to read. This letter is in her own handwriting.

the handwriting that

it

seems

is

likely

on the wall Am E used for saying something will soon stop existing

hand-writ-ten

/'haend.ntn/ adj written using a pen or pencil, instead of being printed or typed: a handwritten letter

hand-y

/'haendi/ adj

•

useful: +for The book is handy for quick reference. a handy electronic diary handy hints /tips The article gave many handy hints for decorating a small apartment. be handy to do sth It's always handy to have a couple of spare 1

batteries.

2 close to you and therefore easy to reach or get to: Keep your pills handy just in case you feel seasick. 4+10 This neighborhood is handy to the local schools (=the schools are not far away).

3 good -i-

at doing or making things with your hands: with He's very handy with a paintbrush (=good at

painting).

come knew

in

handy

this

to

jacket

be useful in a particular situation: / would come in handy one day.

— hand-i-ness noun [U] handyman

/ 'haendi,

msn/

(plural

hand-ymen /'haendi

,men/) noun [C] someone whose job is to repair things and do other types of practical work in people's houses a. someone who is good at building and repairing things in their own house

hang

1

/haerj/ (pasttenseand past participle hung/hAn/) verb

••• 1

attach sth at top only

2

attach sth to wall

3 kill with rope 4 put sth into position

5 about smoke/smells 6 be seen in the sky 7 spend time in a place + PHRASES

[T] to put something somewhere so that the top part held in position but the bottom part can move freely: jacket there. hang sth on /over sth Phillip hung his hat on a hook behind the door. She hung her bag over the chair. 1a. [i] to be fixed so that the top part

1

is

Hang your

V.

hang

6

held in position but the bottom part can move freely: + from A row of pots and pans hung from hooks above the sink. +on The children's coats were hanging on pegs behind the door. 1b. [l] if your hair hangs down, it is long and not tied: +over Her dark hair hung down over her shoulders. hang loose His long hair hung loose. 1c. if clothes hang well, they look neat and attractive is

[

I

]

when you wear them 2 [T] to attach a picture, mirror, etc. onto a wall: The portrait will now be hung in the local museum. 2a. [lj if a picture, mirror, etc. hangs somewhere, it is attached to a wall there: A large mirror hung over the fireplace. 2b. [T] if a wall or room is hung with pictures, there are pictures on the walls: The walls were hung with movie posters.

3

(past tense and past participle hanged) [T] to kill someone by putting a rope around their neck and making them He was hanged for murder in 1942. * be found hanged A prisoner was found hanged in her cell. hang yourself After his wife left, he tried to hang himself. 3a. [l] to die in this way: They knew if she was found guilty she would fall:

hang.

4

paper to a wall as decoration: We spent the afternoon hanging wallpaper in our bedroom. 4a. to put a door into position: It took us all morning to hang [T]

to attach

the new front door. 5 [i] if something such as smoke or a smell hangs in the air, it remains there: + over/ in A thick mist hung over the fields. A smell of stale tobacco hung in the room. 6 [I] mainly literary if something hangs in the sky, it is seen there: A crescent moon hung low over the lake. 7 hang or hang out [I] informal to spend time in a particular place or with particular people: +with On the weekend I like to just hang with my friends.

or hang in the balance to be very likely to fail: His career now hung by a thread. hang in there informal to continue doing something in

hang by a thread

a determined way even though it is difficult hang a left /right Am E spoken to turn left or right when you are driving hang sth Br E spoken old-fashioned used for saying that something is not important: I've decided to go on the trip,

and hang the expense! hang your head to look downward because you ashamed

Hanukkah

>

2 [T] to hang a piece of clothing on something: The women hung up their coats and sat down. 3 [T] informal something because you are no longer doing a particular sport or activity: Nicola has decided it 's time to hang up her dancing shoes. to stop using

hung up informal to be delayed: I'm sorry I'm late hung up at the office. hang up your hat informal to leave your job, especially when you are old enough to stop working hang 2 /ha.*n/ noun get/have the hang of sth informal get

I got

to learn a skill or activity: Skiing is not very tiring, once

you get the hang of it. /'haerpr/ noun

han-gar

[c] a very large building where airplanes are kept, built, or repaired

hang-dog

hanger-on

someone has a hangdog

(plural

hangers-on)

noun

[C]

informal

someone who spends time with powerful, rich, or famous people in order to get some personal advantage. This word shows that you dislike people who do this. 'hang glider noun [c] a simple aircraft with no engine that you hang under and control by moving your body — hang .gliding noun [U] hanging 1 / 'hasnin / noun [C/u] a way of killing someone by putting a rope around their neck and letting them hang from it, usually as a punishment hanging 2 / haenin / adj 1 deserving to be punished by death: a hanging offense 2 likely to give severe punishments to people who commit crimes: a hanging judge

hanging 'basket

noun [c] a container for flowers or plants that you hang from a hook, for example outside your house as a decoration hang-man /'haerjman/ (plural hang^men/'hanman/) noun 1 [C] someone whose job is to kill people by hanging them 2 /'haen.maen/ [U] a word game in which one player has a limited number of chances to guess the other player's word

,hang around phrasal vb [i/T] informal [hang around sth] to spend time in a place waiting or doing nothing: / hung

hang-out

outside, waiting for the others.

/'haen.neil/ noun [c] a painful piece of loose

skin at the side of a nail

noun [C] informal a place particular group of people like to spend time /'haerj.aot/

where a

hang-o-ver

hang around spoken used for telling someone to wait not hang around to move or do something quickly: Let's not hang around or we'll be late! hang around with phrasal vb [t] informal [hang around with sb] to spend time with someone: Marie always hung around with boys. hang back phrasal vb [l] to not do something immediately because you are not confident or you do not feel certain about it: hesitate hang on phrasal vb 1 [l] to hold tightly to something 2 [l] informal to wait or be patient: / think we should hang on and see the end of the game. 3 [t] [hang on sth] to depend on something: Everything hangs on the result of the blood test.

hang on sb's every word to listen very carefully to what someone is saying hang 'onto phrasal vb [T] informal [hang onto sth] to keep something: She still hung onto her wedding ring, even after the divorce. 1 [l] informal same as hang r. She knew all the clubs where he usually hung out. 2 [T] to hang wet clothes outside to dry 3 [I] to lean out of a window so that the top part of your body is outside: + of 1

Two students were hanging out of the second floor window. ,hang over phrasal vb [T] [hang over sb/sth] if something hangs over you, you worry about it or feel upset about it: The threat of homelessness hangs over hundreds of

A

sense of doom hung over the town. phrasal vb [l] informal if something hangs together, the different parts of it combine well so that it seems well planned and organized: The speech doesn't

families.

if

/'haerpr/ noun [c] a small frame for hanging clothes such as jackets and shirts on so that they keep their shape: coat hanger

hang-nail

,hang out phrasal vb

adj

hang*er

feel

around

/'ham.dou/

expression, they look very sad or guilty

hang together

really hang together. hang up phrasal vb 1 [i] to put the telephone down at the end of a conversation: Greg hung up and sat back in his chair. +on "Get lost!" she shouted, and hung up on me.

/'hsen.ouvar/ noun [c] 1 the feeling of being tired and sick because you have drunk too much alcohol or taken too many drugs 2 something from the past such as an idea or attitude that is no longer appropriate today Hang Seng in-dex /,haen 'sen. ,mdeks/ a list of the prices of various shares (=parts of a company) on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange hang- up noun [C] informal 1 something that you are worried or embarrassed about, especially something that is not very important: She doesn't have any hangups about her appearance. 2 Am E a problem that causes a delay or difficulty hank /hsenk/ noun [C] a piece of something such as wool or hair, tied in a loose way han-ker /'haenkar/ verb [I] informal to have a strong feeling of wanting something: + after/for She had always hanker to do sth He hankered after thick curly hair. hankered to revisit his childhood home. hankering /'haenkann/ noun [C] informal a strong

wanting something or han-ky /'haenki/ noun

feeling of

hankie

[C]

informal a hand-

kerchief

han-ky-pan-ky 1

2 sexual

paenki/ noun [u] informal

/.haerjki

minor dishonest or

sort of financial

There's some Orange County.

illegal activities:

hanky-panky going on

in

activity

/'haensam/ or hansom 'cab noun [c] a covered vehicle with two wheels pulled by a horse, used

han-som

,

in the past as a taxi

Hanuk-kah

/'hanaka/ noun [C/U] a period in November or December when Jewish people light candles in home and remember a time when an important ancient church was given back to their people their

haole hao-le

Hawaiian English, a white

person

ha'pervny

/'hcip(o)ni/ another spelling of halfpenny /haep'haezord/ adj done in a way that does not seem to be carefully planned or organized hap-haz-ard-ly adv hap-less / 'haephs/ adj a hapless person is someone you feel sorry for because bad things have happened to

haphazard

—

them hap- pen /'haepan/

***

to take place, usually verb [i] without being planned: The accident happened at about 4:30 p.m. yesterday. The family was on vacation when the tragedy happened. He seemed to be unaware of what was happening around him. What happens if I press this see what happens Let's just wait and see what button?

happens.

as it happens/it (just so) happens that spoken used for saying that something is true, although it is surprising:

As it happens, I've got a bike I can lend you. happen to do sth 1 to do something by chance: I happened to meet an old friend in town. 2 spoken used for asking something politely: Do you happen to have a pen I can borrow? 3 spoken used for expressing an opinion firmly, because you are angry: / happen to live here too don't leave your garbage everywhere! these things happen used for telling someone not to be upset about something unpleasant that has happened

or something bad they have done

whatever happens used for saying that nothing will change a situation or fact: Whatever happens tomorrow, this experience

has been worth the

nouns

accident, crash, disaster, event, incident, miracle, tragedy

without planning to [t] [happen to sb] if something happens to you, an event or action takes place which affects you: This is the best thing that's ever happened to me. a. [happen to sth] used for talking about the way something changes or develops: We don't understand what is happening to the economy.

happen to

anything happens to sb used as a way of avoiding talking directly about something bad that might take place: I'd never forgive myself if anything has happened to her because I didn't go to meet her. If anything happens to me (=if I die), you'll have plenty of money to live on. what (has) happened to sth spoken used for asking where something is: What happened to the newspaper that was on the table? what/whatever happened to sb used for asking where someone is now and what they are doing: Whatever if

to

your friend George?

what/ whatever happened to sth spoken used for asking why something does not happen or exist now: Whatever happened

to the idea

hap-pen-ing

1

of being innocent until proven guilty?

an event that is unusual or important: There have been some strange happenings in our town lately. 2 informal an informal /'haepanirj/ noun [C] 1

event or performance that the public can take part in hap-pen-ing 2 /'haepanin/ adj informal lively and fashionable

hap-pen-stance fact that

/'haepsn.stasns/ noun literary [u] the something happens by chance, usually somea. [C] something good that happens by

thing good

chance

happily / 'hapili/ adv •• in a happy way: "Yes," he said, smiling happily. and his wife are happily settled. 1

He

2 used when you are pleased about something: Happily, she wasn 't injured in the crash. 3 in a willing way: I'll happily

make dinner

if you

want

to.

live

late. +that Happy that everything happy to do sth Her parents had been finalized, we left. were happy to know she'd got a good job. keepsbhappy

children being out so

Rising profits is the only news that keeps the bosses happy. reasonably/perfectly happy Most people were perfectly happy with the decision. 2 a happy time, place, event, etc. is one in which enjoyable things happen: We wish him a very happy retirement. a happy marriage /childhood /life a happy ending / like a movie that has a happy ending!

be happy for sb to be pleased because something good has happened to someone else be happy to do sth if you are happy to do something, you are very willing to do it: I'm happy to do some of the more than happy (=very willing) I'd be more cooking. than happy to help. Happy Birthday/Christmas/Easter/ Anniversary used as a greeting on a particular occasion

Words

frequently used with

adverbs

The news lifted her spirits. Things are looking up. Cheer up/ My spirits rose when I got her letter. I've been walking/ floating on air ever since. She's on top of the world/on cloud nine. I was in seventh heaven. I feel really down/low about it all. He's in very low spirits. He's in the depths of despair. My heart sank when I saw him. They looked very down in the mouth/down in the dumps. Happiness and hope are

**

the feeling of find

happiness

like

bright light or bright

colors. Sadness and lack of hope are like darkness or dark colors. The future looks very bright/rosy. She brightened up when she heard the news. His face lit up when he saw them. They had shining eyes and beaming/ dazzling smiles. The bride looked radiant. You have to look for the light at the end of the tunnel. He was in a black mood. / was feeling blue. There's no point in having these dark thoughts. His face darkened. They led a gray empty existence. I'm afraid the outlook is very gloomy/bleak/ dismal. The news cast a shadow over the evening.

Words you can use Happy with

is

instead of

a very general

more

specific

and appropriate

in

happy

word. Here are

meanings

that sound particular situations.

some words more

natural

feeling happy at a particular time

cheerful, in a good light-hearted

always happy

happy-go-lucky, cheerful, good-natured, optimistic, contented, positive

happy because of something that has happened happy because something bad has happened to another person extremely happy

delighted, pleased, glad,

mood,

satisfied

gloating, gleeful,

smug

ecstatic, overjoyed, joyful,

on top of the world, thrilled, on cloud nine

life

/'haepinas/ noun [u] being happy: days/years of happiness

1

Feeling happy and hopeful is like being high up or like moving upward. Feeling sad and unhappy is like being low down or like falling.

happily ever after to be happy for the rest of your

hap-pi-ness

happy

completely, perfectly, quite, reasonably blissfully,

Metaphor

1

happen a, long or happen ,by phrasal vb [l] old-fashioned to come to a particular place without planning to happen on or happen upon phrasal vb [T] old-fashioned [happen on sb/sth] to meet someone or find something

happened

She had already found happiness with another man. hap-py /'hspi/adj ••• 1 feeling pleased and satisfied: The children seem very happy at school. Sarah felt happy for the first time in her happy doing sth So you're happy living in Baltimore? life. + about Anna was excited and happy about the baby. make sb happy Money alone will never make you happy. 1a. satisfied that something is good or right, and therefore not worried about it: +with Are you happy with this + about I'm not very happy about the arrangement?

effort.

Words frequently used with happen

me

happy

637 /'haoli/ noun [C] in

something that makes you feel happy

cheering, encouraging, heartening

-happy hccpi/ s_*

;

meaning

adjectives

>

used with some nouns to

that

someone

use something bad: trigger-happy

is (

make

too willing to do or

= too willing to shoot

happy-go- lucky

ad] a happy-go-lucky person tends not to worry about the future

happy hour

xffi [C/u] a short period of time when drinks in a bar cost less than usual, usually in the early evening

happy medium thing that

is

noun [singular] a way of doing somebetween two extreme positions or is sat-

isfactory to everyone

ha-ra-ki«ri

hera'kiri/ noun [u] in Japan, a traditional method of killing yourself by cutting your stomach open with a knife or sword

harangue

/

1

/ha'raen/ verb [t] to criticize someone angrily or try to change their opinion, often by shouting

them

ha-rangue 2 /ha'nen/ noun

[c] an occasion when someone angrily shouts at or criticizes another person harass /'heras; harss/ verb [t] 1 to annoy or upset someone repeatedly, for example by criticizing them, attacking them, or treating them in a way that is offensive to them The men were trying to harass the terrified refugees. sexually harass sb =treat them in a way that :


PLAY'

Words frequently used adverbs

with hard

desperately, ever so, extremely,

1

tremendously

hard-and-fast

aoj 1 not able to be changed: hardand-fast rules regulations 2 clear and not able to be questioned: hard-and-fast distinctions

hard-back / hard

baek/ noun [c] a book that has a hard Her first novel cover: a hardback copy of his book sold over 40.000 copies in hardback, —compare paperback. SOFTBACK

hardball

6

hard-ball /'hard.bol/ noun [u] AmE a word for baseball, used when you do not mean softball play hardball to use any methods to defeat someone, even unfair or dishonest ones: Helms is playing political 1

hardball with the White House, threatening that his committee will block the nominations. 2

hard-ball /'hard.bol/ adj [only before noun] Am E using any methods to defeat someone, especially in business or politics, even methods that are unfair or dishonest: hardball politics/ tactics/ campaign

hard-bit-ten /,hard 'bitn/ adj tending not to feel sympathy and other positive emotions because of having had a lot of difficult experiences

hard-board

/'hard, bard/ noun [u] thin light board by pressing very small pieces of wood together

made hard-boiled /hard

'boild/adj 1 a hard-boiled egg has been cooked in boiling water until it is solid inside 2 informal not showing any sympathy for other people hard-bound /'hard,baond/ ad] fastened into a stiff cover instead of a soft paper or plastic one: a hardbound

book

'hard case noun [C] informal someone who is strong and good at fighting hard cash noun [u] money in the form of coins or bills, rather than checks or credit cards a. money in any form 'hard .copy noun [u] a printed copy of information on a computer compare soft copy 'hard core noun [singular] the people within an organization or group who are the most loyal to its principles and the most involved in its activities: the hard core of

—

the Republican Party membership a. the people in a group who are extremely committed or enthusiastic: A hard core offans waited outside the airport at 5:30 a.m. hard-core /'hardkor/ noun [u] a type of British dance music with a very fast beat that developed as part of rave

culture in the early 1990s a. [often before noun] electronic music that is loud and fast and sounds aggressive: hardcore punk /rap

hard-core or hard-core /'hardkor/ ad]

[usually before

very determined and completely unwilling to change your opinions or your behavior: hard-core opposnoun]

hardly

)

refuse to change

the treaty

— opposite soften

hard-ened / 'hardnd/ adj someone who

is hardened has had a lot of difficult or unpleasant experiences and is no longer much affected by such things: hardened

criminals/ convicts The attack has sickened even the most hardened of observers. + to The children became hardened to the violence.

hard-en-er /'hardnar/ noun added

is

/'hard.haet/ noun [c] a hat made of metal or hard plastic worn by workers to protect their heads, for example in areas where buildings are being built or E informal a worker on a construction repaired a.

Am

site

hard-headed

adj 1 able to make judgments and decisions in a practical way, without being influenced by emotions 2 unwilling to change your mind or your behavior

hard-heart-ed /,hard

—

political settlement.

hard- luck

[c]

hard-drinking

ad]

happened

it

needs to work lot of

/

'hard 3rnd/ adj earned or achieved only

money

hard-edged /hard

'ed3d/ adj dealing with unpleasant subjects from real life in a way that does not try to hide their unpleasant quality: a hard-edged documentary

hard-en /'hardn/

verb

*

1 [i/T] to become hard or firm, or to make something hard or firm: This additive hardens the cement in an hour. The bread will harden if you don cover it. 2 [T] mainly literary to become less affected or upset by unpleasant things and to show less kindness or sympathy to other people: Years of reporting on wars hardened them to human suffering. 2a. [i] if your expression or voice hardens, you begin to look or sound unfriendly: His eyes hardened when he saw her. 2b. harden your heart to make yourself stop caring or being affected by 't

things

3

[i/T] to become strong, to make someone or something strong: The soldiers have been hardened by months in the

field.

4

[i/T] if

you harden your attitude or

if it

hardens, you

tell to

someone

to

make them

*••

Hardly comes before the main verb of a sentence, but there is a modal or auxiliary verb, hardly usually comes after it: / can hardly breathe. You have hardly done any work. In stories and in formal English, hardly is sometimes used at the beginning of a sentence before an auxiliary verb: Hardly had she begun to speak, when there was a shout from the back of the hall.

—compare

is .addictive

after a lot of effort: hard-earned

you that you

when

alcohol

hard-earned

to

sorry for you

Hardly is a negative word and is often used with words like "any" and "ever," but it should not be used with other negative words: We hardly ever do anything interesting.

time drinking

'hard drive noun [c] a hard disk ,hard drug noun [c] an illegal drug such as heroin that

used for describing a person or group of trouble and bad luck in their lives

lot

hard-ly/ 'hardli/adv

the part inside a computer that

spending a

a

hard-luck story a description of bad things that have feel

other countries

information

adj

who has had

hard-cov-er /'hard k.war/ noun [C] a hardback hard currency noun [c/u] money from a country with a strong economy that can be used for buying things in

stores the FLOPPY DISK

'hartsd/ adj not able to feel

sympathy or other positive emotions hard-hit-ting /,hard hitirj/ ad] making criticisms in a very strong, honest, and direct way. This word usually shows that you approve of this type of criticism. har-di-ness /'hard'mssf see hardy hard 'labor noun [u] very hard physical work that some people have to do when they are in prison as a punishment hard-line /'hard.lam/ adj strict or extreme in your beliefs or opinions, and not willing to change them hard-lin-er noun [C]: He's a hardliner opposed to any

[c] a tennis court with a hard surface not grass or clay

hard disk noun

[c] a chemical substance such as glue or paint to make it hard

to a liquid

hard-hat

hard court noun that

is

—

hard-core criminals

ition

Their position

hardening. Forsyth appeared to have hardened his line on (=his attitude hard-en-ing noun [singular/u]: She has toward) Europe. hardening of the arteries. a hardening of opinion against it:

Hardly

is

not related to the

word "hard."

used for saying that something is almost not true or almost does not happen at all: He hardly spoke except to say hello. Alice was so busy she hardly noticed the days pass by. can hardly do sth We could hardly afford to pay the rent. hardly. .at all My old high school has hardly changed at all. la. used before words such as "ever," "any," "anyone," or "anything" to mean "almost never," "almost none," "almost no one," etc.: There was hardly any wind, just a slight breeze. You 've hardly eaten anything. Hardly anyone believed the fugitives' story. It hardly ever rains here in the summer. 1b. hardly a day goes by /passes without sth (doing sth) used for saying that something happens almost every day: Hardly a day goes by without some company reporting losses. 1c. used for saying that something is very little more or less than something: The region 's wine industry is hardly more than 40 years old. New Haven is hardly an hour by train. 2 used for saying that something had only just happened when something else happened: She had hardly arrived when she started talking about leaving again. hardly had... than /when Hardly had the men started training than they were sent into battle. 3 used when you think it is obvious that something is 1

.

not true, not possible, not surprising,

etc.: It's

hardly

V>

"

hard

money

surprising that people are starting to complain. David's almost twenty-four - hardly a child. This is hardly the time to start discussing finances. you can hardly expect/ blame etc. ( = it would not be reasonable to expect, blame, etc.) You can hardly expect Myra to welcome you back after

way you 've treated her. used for answering "no," when you think someone has suggested something that is impossible hard money noun [u] amounts of money, limited by the government, that are given to politicians and can the

4 Br E spoken

be legally used to influence elections /.hard 'noozd/ adj determined to succeed and not influenced by emotions: a hard-nosed busi-

hard-nosed nesswoman

hard of hearing ad] unable to hear well hard-on noun [C] very informal a man's erection .hard-pressed adj a person or organization that is hard-pressed does not have enough money for the things they need: An extra four million is being spent on hardpressed education services. (to do sth) used for saying that something is difficult or is unlikely to happen: You'd be hardpressed to meet a nicer person.

be hard-pressed

.hard 'rock noun [u] a type of rock music that and has a strong beat

is

loud

/'hard.skrasbl/ adj Am E hardscrabble land is very difficult to grow anything on a. used for describing a time, situation, or place in which life is difficult and people are poor .hard 'sell noun [singular] 1 any method of selling in which someone tries very hard to persuade customers to buy something compare soft sell 2 Am E a situation in which you have difficulty selling something or persuading someone to change their opinion about an

hard-scrabble

—

idea: We're trying to convince the public that the drug war is ineffective, but it's a very hard sell. 2a. a product that is difficult to sell, or an idea that is difficult to persuade people to accept

hard-ship

/'hard.Jrp/ noun [c/u] a situation in which difficult, usually because you do not have enough money: Even slight rent increases would cause considerable hardship. *Many students arefacing financial hardship, a. something that makes your life more difficult or unpleasant life is

harm

640

very

be no hardship to not be difficult or unpleasant: no great hardship for him to give me a lift to work.

It

was

plant is able to live har-di-ness noun [U]

during

outside

—

winter

the

hare

/her/ noun [c] an animal similar to a rabbit but with a bigger body and longer ears and legs, that can run very fast

hare-brained /'hcrbrcmd/

adj silly

or very unlikely

had enough of your harebrained ideas! Ha-re Krish-na /huri knjno/ an international religious organization based on belief in the Hindu god Krishna. Its members wear orange clothes. hare-lip /'her, lip/ noun [C] offensive a cleft palate har-em /'herom/ noun [c] 1 a group of women living together as the wives of a rich man in some Muslim to succeed: I've

societies, especially in the past

2

a separate part of a

which only women live noun [plural] soft loose pants that are pulled in at the bottom of your leg har-i-cot /'hen.koo/ noun [C] a small white bean that you usually buy in dried form and cook in water Har-i-jan /'hAnd3on/ noun [C] Indian English oldfashioned someone who belongs to the lowest caste (=social class) in the traditional Hindu social system

Muslim home

in

harem pants

hark /hark/ verb

[I] an old word meaning "listen" hark back to phrasal vb [T] [hark back to sth] to remember or talk about something that happened in the past: They always hark back to what they call the "good old days. a. to be similar to something from the past: The style of dress harks back to the 1950s. har-le-quin/'harbkwm; 'harlakm/ noun [C] 1 a character in traditional plays or stories who wears clothes with a pattern of different colors, usually in diamond shapes, and a mask over his eyes 2 someone who behaves in a silly way and makes people laugh .Harlequin Romance Am E trademark any of a series of romantic novels with simple stories about romantic relationships between men and women Har-ley Davidson /.harli 'deividsn/ trademark a type of big and powerful motorcycle. This type of motorcycle is often simply called a Harley. har-lot /'harbt/ noun [C] an old word meaning "prostitute" (=woman who has sex for money) harm 1 /harm/ noun [u] ** injury, damage, or problems caused by something you do: projects that lead to environmental harm do/cause (sb) harm The occasional piece The new law is likely of candy doesn do you any harm. to do irreparable harm in urban areas. The "low levels" 't

hard-top /'hard .tap/ noun

a car that looks like a convertible (=a car with a soft roof that can be removed), but which has a fixed metal roof [C]

.hard 'up adj informal not having much money a. not having enough of something: Some of the schools are pretty

hard up for

hard-ware

teachers.

•*

/'hard.wer/ noun [u] 1 computer equipment. Computer programs are called software: the ever-changing nature of computing hard-

ware and software 2 the equipment, machines, and vehicles used in a particular area of activity, especially in the military: Military hardware alone is not sufficient to ensure victory.

hardware

.store noun [C] a store that sells metal goods for your home or garden, such as pans, and chemical products hard-wire /'hard.wair/ verb [T] computing to program something into a computer system so that it cannot be changed by the person using it hard- wired adj 1 working in a particular way because of the way a piece of equipment has been built, which cannot be changed by the person using it 2 behavior that is hard-wired is caused by your genes and the way your brain is made, rather than learned from experience hard-wood /'hard.wod/ noun [C/U] hard strong wood from trees such as oak or mahogany compare softwood hard-working adj * a hard-working person puts a lot She of effort into their work: a hard-working student was very hard-working and reliable. har-dy /'hardi/ adj 1 strong and able to deal with or exist in unpleasant or extreme conditions :Afew hardy souls turned out to take an early-.rnjorning swim. 2 a hardy

and things

knives, tools,

—

of cyanide in the river were sufficient aquatic life.

do more harm than good

to

cause

harm

to

make

a situation worse instead of better: Strenuous exercise can often do more harm than good. in harm's way formal in a dangerous situation it wouldn't do sb any harm mainly spoken used for saying what you think someone should do: It wouldn't do you any harm to listen to her advice. mean no harm to not intend to hurt, damage, or upset someone or something: / didn't mean any harm, it was just a joke. no harm comes to sb/sth or sb/sth comes to no harm used for saying that someone or something is not damaged, hurt, or badly affected no harm done spoken used for telling someone not to worry about something they did, because nothing bad has happened as a result out of harm's way formal in a safe place, so that nothing to

bad can happen there's no harm in doing sth or sth does no harm used for saying that something will not cause any problems and may be helpful: There's no harm in asking.

harm 2 /harm/ verb bad

effect

[T] • to injure, damage, or have a on someone or something: He was not the type

to deliberately

harm

his child.

TV really harm children? would harm the national that the

dam

will not

harm

Does watching violence on

Publication of those documents

interest.

harm

The government

insists

the environment.

sb to do sth mainly spoken used for saying what you think someone should do, especially when you are angry it

wouldn't

harmful adj

*

causing harm: The bacteria

some of the harmful substances in the sewage. +to The fungus is not harmful effects I consequences harmful to humans. harm-less /'harmlas/ adj * 1 not causing any harm: Their wrestling was just harmYou can hold the snake, it's harmless. +to Most less fun. of these bugs are harmless to us. 2 not likely to upset people or cause problems: She seems harmless enough to me. Was it harmless flirtation harm-less-ly adv or sexual harassment? digest

—

1

har-mon-ic /har'manik/

adj technical relating to the

combination of musical notes to create chords har-mon-ic 2 /har'manik/ noun [C] a soft high note played on a stringed instrument by not pressing the string all the way down har-mon-i-ca /har'manika/ noun

[C] a small musical instrument that you play by blowing and sucking as you move it from side to side between your lips

har-mo-ni-ous /har'moonias/

1 friendly and adj peaceful: a harmonious environment/ relationship/ society 2 used about things such as colors or parts of something that combine well with each other: The different a harparts of the picture form a harmonious whole.

monious arrangement of colors 3 harmonious music consists

—

harvest

641

harm-ful /'harmfal/

of notes

that har-mo-ni-ous-ly adv:

in a pleasant way hope that all immigrants can

combine

We

integrate harmoniously into Australian society.

har-mo-nise /'harma.naiz/

a

BrE

spelling

of har-

monize

har-mo-ni-um /har'mooniam/ noun instrument similar

to

an organ

in

[C]

a musical

which the sound

is

made by pumping air with your hands or feet har-mo-nize /'harma.narz/ verb 1 [i] if things

harin a pleasant way: + with Curtains

monize, they combine should harmonize with the overall interior decor. 2 [T] to make laws or policies similar to those of a different country, organization, etc. NATO wants an international agreement to harmonize practices throughout member countries. 3 [I] to sing or play different notes at the same time, producing a pleasant combination of sounds

1

harp /harp/

noun

a musical instrument consisting of a row of strings stretched over a large upright frame. plays a harp who is called a harpist, —picture Someone STRINGED INSTRUMENT [c]

-

harp 2 /harp/ verb harp on

phrasal vb [i/T] informal [harp

sth] to keep talking or complaining about something in a way that makes people bored or annoyed: Stop harping on your problems all the time. harpoon 1 /har'pun/ noun [c] a weapon consisting of a blade on a pole attached to a rope, used for hunting whales and big fish harpoon 2 /har'pun/ verb [T] to hit a whale or fish with a harpoon harp-si-chord /'harpsi,kard/ noun [c] a musical instrument similar to a small piano harpy /'harpi/ noun [c] 1 offensive an insulting name for a woman you think is unpleasant 2 a cruel creature in ancient Greek stories, with a bird's body and a

on (about)

woman's face har-ri-dan /'hendn/ noun [C] offensive an insulting name for a woman you think is unpleasant harried /'hasnd/ adj tired and annoyed Harris Tweed / ,hens 'twid/ trademark a type of tweed (=heavy wool cloth) used for making expensive

suits,

jackets, etc.

Har-rods

/'heradz/ a very large, well-known, and expensive store in London / 'herooirj/ adj extremely worrying, upsetting, or frightening: a harrowing experience harry / 'heri/ verb [t] to continue to argue with someone or ask them for things so that they become tired or

har-row-ing

annoyed

harsh

/harJVadj

•*

1 difficult to live in

2 about actions/words 3 facts: unpleasant & true

4 about sounds/lights etc. 5 substances: damaging

:

noun ** 1 [U] a situation in which people live and work well with other people, and in a way that does not damage things around them: racial /social /domestic harmony

har-mo-ny /'harmani/

+ between He had to ensure that there was harmony between the different organizations. in harmony with tribes living in harmony with nature 2 [C/u] musical notes that are sung or played at the same time, making a pleasant sound: the beautiful harmonies of Mozart's choral works in harmony The children sang in perfect harmony. 2a. [C] the set of notes that is sung or played with the tune 2b. [u] the study of the structure of musical chords and of the relationships

between them

3

the attractive effect that is created when objects, combine together well 4 [U] a feeling that you are happy and your mind and emotions are well balanced [u]

colors, etc.

harness

1

/'harnas/ noun [C] a set of strong leather bands used for fastening around an animal such as a horse so that it can pull a vehicle a. a set of strong bands of leather, cloth, or rope used for fastening someone in a particular place or position or for fastening something to their body: He was not wearing a safety harness when he fell. in harness 1 informal working at your job 2 if two systems, plans, or organizations are in harness, they are working or being used together to achieve a goal 3 a horse that is in harness is wearing a harness

harness 2

/'harnas/ verb [T] 1 to get control of something in order to use it for a particular purpose: Although we've harnessed the force of electricity, we still know very little about its effects on us. We aim to do better at harnessing the skills and talents of our workforce. 2 to put a harness on a person or animal

be harnessed to to be closely involved with someone or something: These countries are harnessed to a market economy.

1 harsh conditions or places are unpleasant and difficult to live in: the harsh environment of the desert Hie remembers the harsh living conditions in Romania. 1a. harsh weather is extremely cold and unpleasant 2 harsh actions, words, judgments, or laws are strict, unkind, and often unfair: Harsh words were spoken in the dressing room after the game. / think the sentence was far too harsh. + on The law has been harsher on soldiers than it has on civilians. 3 harsh facts are unpleasant but true: This was Tim's first experience of the harsh realities of life. 4 harsh sounds are unpleasant because they are not soft, gentle, or smooth: He had a loud harsh voice. 4a. harsh colors or lights are not pleasant because they are very bright: the harsh glare of a naked light bulb 5 harsh substances are very powerful and may damage the things they are used on: harsh cleaning chemicals harsh-ly adv

—

hart /hart/ noun [C] an old word more usual word is stag.

harum-scarum

/.heram

for a

'skeram/

"male deer." adj,

adv

A

old-

fashioned uncontrolled and not sensible /'harvast/ noun * the activity of collecting a crop: the corn /potato/ grape harvest 1a. [singular] the time when a crop is collected: It was harvest time. afield that had been plowed up after the harvest lb. [C] the amount of a crop that is collected: There will be a bumper (=very large) harvest

harvest 1

1

[C]

Poor harvests increased food prices. [singular]/orma/ the result of something that was done in the past: The grim harvest of these cuts was an increase this year.

2

in preventable diseases.

3

something other than crops that has rich harvest of knowledge /'harvast/ verb 1 [i/T] to collect a crop from the fields: Winter wheat is planted in the fall and harvested in early summer. farmers harvesting their crops 1a. [T] to collect plants, animals, or other things that can be eaten or used: Timber is still harvested and milled locally. 1b. [T] literary to collect or obtain something 2 [T] medical to take organs, cells, etc. from a person's body har-vest-ing noun [U] [singular] literary

been collected: a

harvest 2

—

kn

harvester noun

[c]

a machine or person

that harvests food

harvest of

moon noun [c] the full moon at the beginning

fall

has 3rd person singular of the present tense of have has-been f'hxz ,bm/ noun [c] an insulting word for someone who was important or famous in the past but is not now hash /h«J7 noun 1 [c/u] a meal made from small 1

pieces of meat and potato cooked together 2 [u] informal hashish 3 [C] BrE the pound sign # found on tele-

phones and keyboards make hash of sth informal or with bad results

hash 2

hatch

642

harvester /'hurvostar/

to

do something very badly

come/go hat

hand

go somewhere to ask someone very politely to do something for you or give you something that you want very much hats off/my hat goes off to sb used for showing your admiration or respect for someone because of something impressive they have done keep sth under your hat to keep something secret throw/toss your hat into the ring to announce publicly that you will take part in something such as a competition or an election pick/draw sb's name out of a hat to choose someone as the winner of a competition in which everyone has an equal chance of winning, often by taking a name written on a piece of paper out of a container -» DROP2 RABBIT, TALK in

to

1

,

/hceJV verb

hash out phrasal vb [T] informal to discuss a plan or agreement in order to agree about the details: We hashed out some of the details of the plan. hash over [T] Am E informal to talk about a subject in great detail

hash browns

top hat

potatoes that are cut up into very small pieces, pressed together, and cooked in

noun

[plural]

oil

hash-ish

/'haejij; hae'JiJV noun [u] a form of the illegal drug MARIJUANA .hash 'mark noun [C] Am E a line drawn on something that is used for measuring or counting something has*n't /'hasznt/ short form the usual way of saying or writing "has not" when "has" is an auxiliary verb. This is not usually used in formal writing: He hasn't arrived

derby

yet.

hasp

/haesp/ noun [C] a flat piece of metal that a curved piece in order to fasten a door or lid

fits

over

/'haesl/ noun [c/u] informal * a situation that causes problems for you, or that annoys you very much: Getting there in the bad weather was a huge hassle. / hate to cause you any hassle - are you sure it's OK?

haS'Sle

1

has-sle 2

/'haesl/ verb [T] to

annoy someone or

problems for them: The press has continued

to cause to hassle

Roberts since the incident.

has-sock

/'haesak/ noun [c] 1 a thick cushion (=cloth bag filled with soft material) used for kneeling on in church 2 Am E old-fashioned a low soft piece of furniture for sitting on or putting your feet on haste /heist/ noun [u] formal great speed in doing something because of limited time: in sb's haste to do sth In

my

haste to escape, I tripped over a fallen branch.

makes waste used for saying that if you do something too quickly you are likely to make mistakes in haste too quickly, without careful planning or thought: It is very important that decisions are not made haste

in haste.

make

haste an old expression meaning to hurry to do

something /'heisn/ verb 1 [T] to make something happen sooner or more quickly: The government made a plea for international aid to hasten the disarmament of more than 60.000 rebels. 2 [i] [+to/toward/away etc.] literary to go

has-ten

somewhere in a hurry hasten to add used when you add something to what you have just said, in order to make your meaning clear: / hasten to add that I am not accusing you of supporting prostitution. hasten to do sth to do or say something very quickly without waiting: Scientists have hastened to challenge his findings.

hast'y

/'heisti/ adj 1 done in a hurry because you do not have much time: a hasty inspection 2 doing things in a hurry, without careful planning or thought: She hastily adv: a hastily written shouldn't be so hasty.

note

— — hastiness noun [u]

hatch

1

/haet J*/ verb 1 hatch or hatch out [i/t] if a baby bird, fish, insect, etc. hatches or is hatched, it comes

out of its egg and is born: Eleven chicks have been hatched Mosquito larvae are hatching in the pond. since July. 1a. if an egg hatches or is hatched, it breaks open so that the baby bird, fish, or insect inside can come out: Eagle eggs usually hatch between late May and early June. 2 [T] to plan something, especially in secret: hatch a

plot/plan/scheme He hatched a plan with Matt

to sell

things on the Internet. 1

hat

/haet/ noun [c]

•••

a piece of clothing that you wear on your head: She was wearing a brown fur hat. 2 informal one particular aspect of someone's duties or responsibilities: She has to wear several different hats (=have various responsibilities) in her position. Of course, when I say this, I'm wearing my teaching hat. 1

hatch out phrasal vb [l/T] same as hatch hatch 2 /haetJV noun [C] 1 a door cut into the floor or i

ceiling of a ship, airplane, or building that people or things can move through 2 a small hole in the wall between two rooms in a house, or a small door that

covers

down

it

the hatch humorous an expression used by some

hatchback 1

AmE

hatch-et / 'haetjst/ noun [c] a tool used for cutting wood, consisting of a short wooden handle and a sharp blade It is

similar to a small ax.

bury the hatchet

to

become friendly with someone

again after a disagreement

hatch-et-faced

/'hstjat.feist/ ad] having a long, thin, and unpleasant looking face with a pointed nose and

chin

'hatchet job noun

[c]

informal a very strong and unfair

criticism, especially in the form of a newspaper article: They did quite a hatchet job on the District Attorney in yesterday's paper.

'hatchet man noun [c] informal 1 someone employed by a company to do a job that is not popular with other people, especially to get rid of members of the staff 2 a professional murderer

hatch-way /'haetjwei/ 1

/heit/ verb

[T]

noun

[C]

a hatch

••• to dislike

someone or someAfter the way he

thing very much: Go away! I hate you!

man. / hate the smell of cigarettes, a. if you hate something such as a particular situation or activity, you find it unpleasant or upsetting: hate to do sth / Craig hated the idea of her going away. hate to lose any game. hate doing sth Molly hates sitting still and doing nothing. hate sb/sth doing sth She hated treated me, I really hate that

the children staying out too late.

hate

it

when

/ hate

it

when my parents argue, —opposite love hate sb's guts informal to hate someone very much hate to bother/interrupt/trouble etc. you spoken a way of saying you are sorry for interrupting someone or asking them for something I hate to say/admit or I hate to tell you used for showing that you are sorry about what you are going to say, because you think it is unpleasant or you wish it was not true: / hate to admit it, but Sam may be right. I

polite

/ hate to say

this,

but I think you've probably

lost

your

money.

hate to think spoken used for emphasizing that you do not want to think about something because it is unpleasant or upsetting: I hate to think how much money I have spent. I'd hate (for) sb/sth to do sth or I'd hate to see sb/ sth do sth used for saying that a particular situation or event would make you feel unhappy I

hate 2

/heit/ noun [u] the feeling of hating someone or something: She looked at him with eyes full of hate.

— opposite love

'hate crime noun [C/u] • a crime that is done by someone because they hate the group that the victim (=person

who

is

attacked) belongs to

hate-ful /'heitfal/ adj extremely bad, unpleasant, or cruel: The author depicts these people as ignorant, hateful bigots.

— hate-ful-ly adv

'hate mail noun [u] extremely unpleasant letters sent to someone, containing threats or offensive remarks hath /hs9/ verb an old word meaning "has" hat-pin /'haet.pm/ noun [c] a long sharp pin that a woman uses to keep her hat on her head

ha-tred /'heitrad/ noun [u] • a very strong feeling that you dislike someone or something very much: +of Some +for The three people have a hatred of anything new. former Army buddies shared a common hatred for the

government.

hat stand noun

hat-ter /'hstor/ noun [c] someone who makes and sells hats -» mad 2c hat trick noun [C] three goals scored by the same person in one game of a sport such as soccer or hockey haugh-ty / hoti/ ad] proud and unfriendly: a haughty haugh-ti-ly adv. haugh-ti-ness noun [u) expression

—

/hoi/ verb [t] • 1 to pull or carry something heavy from one place to another with a lot of effort: drag: Rescue workers attached haul sth/ the men to ropes before hauling them to safety. sb to /up /into etc. / hauled my luggage to the nearest small hotel. 1a. to pull a vehicle 1b. to move goods from one place to another 2 to change someone's position by pulling them: drag: haul sb up/into/to etc. He grasped Judy's arm and hauled her to her feet. 2a. to move somewhere using a lot of effort, especially by pulling: haul yourself up /into /onto etc. / hauled myself up into the attic and looked around. 3 informal to make someone appear before a court or other authority because they are accused of doing something wrong: + before He was hauled before the board

haul 1

of directors.

haul ass Am E impolite to hurry haul /rake sb over the coals to speak to someone severely because they have done something wrong haul in phrasal vb [T] informal to earn a lot of money: Their new business venture managed

hatch-ing /'haetfin/ noun [u] close parallel lines that are drawn in a picture to show shape and shadows

hate

haute cuisine

643

people when they are about to drink an alcoholic drink -> BATTEN hatch-back / 'haetr.baek/ noun [c] a type of car that has an extra door on the back that opens from the bottom instead of the side —picture -> C6 old-fashioned a hat-check /'hxt.tjek/ noun [C] place where customers can leave their hats and coats at a restaurant, theater, museum, etc. hatch-er-y /hstjsri/ noun [C] a place where fish or chicken eggs are hatched as part of a business

[C] a piece of furniture consisting of a base and a pole with hooks at the top for hanging coats and hats on

million in

its first

to

haul

in

over $4

year.

haul off phrasal vb [T] to take someone away to a place they do not want to go: Most of the protesters were hauled off to the police station.

haul up phrasal vb

Br E same

[T]

as haul

j

haul 2

/hol/ noun [C] 1 a large amount of something illegal such as drugs or weapons that is found by the police: Officials found the cocaine haul hidden in the wheels of the truck. 1a. an amount of things that are stolen at the same time: The thieves escaped with a haul of antiques worth over $3 million. 2 mainly journalism the number of points, wins, or successes that someone gets: Ross is on his way to a haul of four gold medals. 3 the amount of fish caught in a net -» long haul

haul-age

/ hohd3/ noun [u] the business of carrying goods by road or railroad, or the cost of doing this a person or company [C] that carries goods by road or railroad haul-ier / holiar/ noun [c] BrE a hauler

AmE

haul-er /'hobr/ noun

haunch

/honj"/ noun [C] the upper part of an animal's or human's leg, including the htp and buttock a. the upper part of an animal's leg, used as meat

haunt

1

/hont/ verb

[t]

make someone

•

worried and upset for a long time: Images from the war still haunt him. Caroline was haunted by a fear of cancer. 2 to continue to cause problems for a person or organization for a long time: come back /return to haunt sb The committee may find their past errors returning to haunt them. 3 if a place is haunted by the spirit of a dead person, people believe that it appears there: They say the prison is haunted by the ghosts of the men who died there. 4 to go to a place very often, especially when you are 1

to

feel

not welcome

haunt2 /hont/ noun

[C]

a place that someone visits often

because they enjoy going there: The Savoy soon became a favorite haunt of stage celebrities. haunt-ed /'hontad/ ad] 1 lived in or visited by the spirit of a dead person: Everyone said the house was haunted. 2 someone who has a haunted look looks frightened or worried

haunt-ing /hontin/ adj beautiful in a way that makes you feel sad and remember something for a long time: haunting melodies several of the songs.

The

trio

lend their haunting voices to

— haunt-ing-ly adv

haute couture /pot ku

tor/ noun [u] formal expensive and fashionable clothes, or the business of designing and making them. Someone who makes or sells these clothes is a haute couturier.

haute cui-sine /pot

kwi'zin/ noun [u] very good cooking, especially French cooking

hauteur [u] formal

proud and unfriendly

behavior

Ha-van-a /ha'vsna/ noun

(c]

a type of cigar

made

in

Cuba

have I weak / I

weak weak

av; hav; strong

hxv/

person singular has az; haz; strong hajz/; past tense and past participle had ad; had; stronghxd/) verb

Have can be used

(3rd

***

in the following ways:

as an auxiliary verb in perfect tenses of verbs (followed by a past participle): We have lived here for 20 years. * Who's eaten all the grapes? (used without a following past participle): Ellen hasn't finished, but I have. Questions, negatives, and tag questions using the auxiliary verb have are formed without do: Has the meeting finished? * You haven't eaten anything. * The customers haven t complained, have they?

as a transitive verb used in descriptions, and for talking about possession, relationships, or the state that someone or something is in: She has dark curly hair. * He had two sisters. This use of have is never in progressive or passive forms. Have got is often used instead of have for these meanings, especially in spoken English and informal writing, but only in the present tense: Alan's got a new bike. Questions and negatives can be formed by using do or have got: Do you have any money? * Have you got any money? * We don 't have any money. * We haven 1 got any money. Tag questions are formed with do when the main verb is have, and with do or sometimes have when the main verb is have got: They have a nice house, don't they? * We've still got a few more minutes, haven't

W.

we? as a transitive verb used for talking about actions and experiences: / had a good time at the party. This use of have can sometimes be in the progressive but is almost never in the passive: She's having a baby. * Are you having a drink? Have got is not used, and neither short forms of have nor weak forms of pronunciation are ever used in these meanings. Questions, negatives, and tag questions are formed with do: Did you have a nice walk? * / didn't have breakfast this morning. * They had quite a bad accident, didn 't they? as a transitive verb (followed by an object and then a participle or infinitive without "to"): How often do you have your hair cut? * I'll have someone clean out your room. This use of have can be in the progressive: I'm having all the carpets cleaned. Questions, negatives, and tag questions are formed with do: Did you have the engine checked? as a verb used for talking about what is necessary (followed by a verb in the infinitive with "to"): / had to wait for an hour, (followed by "to" without a verb in the infinitive): We'll fight for our rights if we have to. This use of have can be in the progressive: / was having to work every weekend. Have got to is often used instead of have to, especially in spoken English and in informal writing, but only in the present tense: You've got to show your passport. Questions, negatives, and tag questions are formed with do: Do we have to pay now? * You don't have to leave yet. * We have to take a test, don't we? 1

used for forming perfect tenses

[never progressive]

la. used for forming the perfect tenses of verbs. The perfect tenses are used for talking about what happened or began before now or another point in time: Has anybody seen Dave this afternoon? * I've been looking for you everywhere. * She hadn't eaten anything for three days. * "Has Jerry done his homework?" "No, he hasn 't. "* "Have you washed your hands?" "Of course I have. " * We didn't get a chance to talk to her, but I wish we had. * Ben's done very well, hasn 't he? * So, you 've decided to join the party, have you? 1b. having done sth/having been after you have done something/after something has happened to you: Having spent over $200 on repairs, she wasn't expecting any more problems. * Having been warned of the danger, I took extra precautions. 1c. had sb/sth done sth. used for saying that something would have happened if the situation had been different: Had I realized what you were intending to do, I would have stopped you. .

.

have

644

hau«teur/oo't3r/noun

2 have

have got used

for describing sb or sth |T never progressive] 2a. used for saying what the physical features of someone or something are: The room had a balcony facing the ocean. * Dr. Morel had dark piercing eyes. * / noticed that the old man didn't have any teeth. 2b. used for saying what the qualities of someone's personality are: Shackleton had all the qualities of a great leader. * Unfortunately, she didn't have enough common sense to call the doctor. * have it in you /have what it takes (to do sth) (=have the necessary qualities to do something) It was Jane who led the protest. I never knew she had it in her. * Do you think Ken 's got what it takes to be good doctor? 3 have or have got used for showing possession [T never progressive] 3a. to own something: They have a house in the suburbs. * // you had a computer, I could send the directions to you by e-mail. 3b. to be holding something or carrying something with you: What's that you've got in your hand? * Do you have a pen I could borrow?* have sth on you / don't have any money on me. 4 do or experience sth [T never passive] 4a. to do something: Let's have a look at the damage. * You'll feel better when you've had a nap. * Senator McCain had a conversation with the President about this issue. * We're having a meeting on Thursday afternoon. 4b. have a baby/ child/twins etc. to give birth: She was only sixteen when she had her first child. * Linda 's going to have a baby. 4c. used for saying that something happens to you or you experience something: We almost had an accident on the freeway. * Keith's been having a lot of problems with his computer. * Bill is going into hospital to have a knee or

operation. * have a good time/a bad day etc. Did you have a good time at the party?* I had a terrible day at the office. * have sth done (=something happens to you) While they were on vacation, they had their car broken into. 4d. have a good/nice sth spoken used for saying that you hope

someone enjoys something such as a trip, vacation, or period of time: Have a good weekend. See you on Monday. 5 have or have got used for stating a relationship [T never progressive] 5a. used for stating the relationship between someone and their family members: They've got two kids of their own. * She has a cousin living nearby. 5b. used for stating the relationship between someone and their friends, enemies, people they work with, etc.: I've got a friend who works at NBC. * Gary knew he had some dangerous enemies. * / hear you've got a new boss. 6 have or have got when you should or must do sth 6a. [have to do sth] if you have to do something, you must do it because it is necessary: I had to leave early to pick up the kids at school. * If you want to use the fax

machine, you'll have to ask Shirley. * We're having to be very careful not to upset our customers. * There will have to be an official investigation into the accident. * do not have to do sth (=it is not necessary) You don't have to come if you don't want to. 6b. have a duty /responsibility/ obligation etc. (to do sth) if you have a duty, responsibility, etc., you should or must do something: / have a duty to report anything suspicious to the police. * Employers have an obligation to provide safe working conditions. 6c. [have sth to do] if you have something to do, you must do it: Mr. Klein couldn't stay - he had something to attend to. * / can't stand here talking to you all day - I

have work to do. 7 eat or drink sth [T never passive] to eat or drink something. This word is often used in polite offers and requests: Can I have another piece of that delicious cake? * Let me buy you a drink. What'll you have? * Why don't you stay and have lunch with us?* I'll have (=used for requesting food or drink in a restaurant) I'll have the roast beef, please. 8 have or have

got used for showing that sb can do sth [never progressive] used in phrases to say that someone is able to do something: have the ability/power/ authority (to do sth) It's clear that the country has the ability to produce nuclear weapons. * I'm afraid I don 't have the authority to approve the sale. * have permission/ a right (to do sth) East Germans could not travel to the West unless they had special permission. * Everyone has a right to express their opinion. * have the chance /opportunity (to do sth) Some of us never had the chance to go to college.

9 have

or

have got contain or include sth [T never contain or include parts, members, etc.:

progressive] to

have

have

645

The chorus now has over 100 members. * The museum has two large rooms devoted to natural history. 10 have or have got when sth is available [T never progressive] 10a. used for saying that a person, store, hotel, etc. can offer you something to buy or use: Do you have a double room for June 23? If you want Madonna 's new CD, they've got it at Tower Records. Do you have room for another person in your car? 10b. if you have time for something, time is available for you to do it:

do sth [T never progressive] used for saying that something has been planned or arranged for a particular time: / have an appointment with the dentist tomorrow afternoon. Jeffs got classes all day tomorrow. 22 have or have got hold sb T never progressive] to be holding someone by a particular part of their body so that they cannot get away: have sb by sth / couldn't get away - he had me by the arm. 23 employ sb [T never progressive] if you have someone

+ for / think we've got time for a quick swim before breakhave time to do sth / didn't have time to cook any-

who does a particular job, they work for you, usually in a much lower position: We have a man who comes in and mows the lawn once a week. 24 have sex with sb [T never progressive] informal to have sex with someone: He thinks he can have any woman

fast.

thing. 1 1 have or have got when sb is with you [t] used for saying that someone is visiting you or spending time with you: We have friends staying with us right now. have sb with you I'm afraid the manager's got someone with her at the moment. have guests/visitors/company / don't want the children fooling around when I have

guests.

12 have or have got used for saying what is in your mind [T never progressive] used for saying that there is an idea, a belief, or a feeling in your mind: / don't have any doubt at all about the success of our policies. Do you have an ever have a feeling that you're being watched? idea/plan/suggestion etc. Does anyone have a better idea 7 1 3 make sth happen [T never passive] to make something happen: have an effect/result/influence/impact Hutton's book had a major impact on public opinion in this country. Any increase in the rate of inflation could have a serious effect on levels of unemployment. 13a. have or have got [T never progressive] [never passive] to make someone have a particular feeling or do something in a particular way: have sb worried /puzzled /in tears His sad story almost had us in tears. You had me worried for a moment I thought you weren't coming. have sb doing sth We need to have everyone sitting down at the same table. 14 arrange for sth to be done [T never passive] to arrange for something to be done or for someone to do something: have sth done The place is looking much better since they had it redecorated. * She wanted to have her portrait painted by a famous artist. have sb do sth I'll have someone bring your luggage up right away. 15 have or have got when sth happens near you and affects you [T never passive] used for saying that something happens in an area, group, organization, etc. that affects people there: They've had snow up in Minnesota already. have sb doing sth Last year the place was so full we had people sleeping on the floor. have had enough (of sth) (=not want something to happen any longer) People in the neighborhood have had enough of

gang violence. 16 have or have got used for showing how sth is placed or arranged [T never progressive] used for saying that you have put something in a particular position or arranged it in a particular way: Ralph had his back to the door, so he didn't see me come in. She's got her hair tied up in a bun today. He had the book open in front of

him. 1

7 have

or

have got suffer from an illness or injury from an illness, disease, James had

[T never progressive] to suffer

injury, or pain: I've got a terrible headache.

malaria while he was working in West Africa. The X-rays show that he has a broken ankle. 18 have or have got receive sth [T never progressive] 18a. to receive a letter, message, or telephone call: / had a letter from the bank yesterday. We haven 't had any news from home. You have a phone call - do you want to take it in your office? 18b. to receive help or advice: She had a lot of help and support from her friends. 18c. to receive complaints or criticism: The airline has had thousands of complaints about delays and canceled flights. 19 have or have got when sth must be true [l never progressive] [have to do sth] used for showing that you are certain something happens or is true, or for showing that you hope very much that it happens or is true: Things have to get better - they can't get any worse. He's just got to come, or I'll die! 20 have or have got be employed in a job [T never progressive] to be responsible for doing a particular job or the work of an official position: have a job/position/ post etc. He can't pay the rent because he doesn't have a job. Foley had a junior position at the World Bank. 21 have or have got when there is an arrangement

to

[

he wants.

sb had better/best do sth mainly spoken used for saying what someone should do: You'd better be careful. We'd best not say anything to my parents. to have been tricked or cheated, especially by having to pay too much money for something: The picture's a fake - you've been had. have (got) sth all to yourself to have a place or time that you do not have to share with anyone else, so that you are free to do what you want in it: I'll have the house all to myself next week.

have been had spoken

have (got) it coming informal to deserve something bad that happens to you have (got) it made informal to be in a very good situation

have (got) sb (right /just /exactly) where you want them to be in a situation in which you can do what you want to someone or defeat them easily have (got) sth ready/done/finished to have finished work on something so that it is ready have had it spoken 1 if someone has had it, they are in serious trouble, or they are going to fail: If the boss hears what you've been doing, you've had it. When they scored that second goal, I knew we'd had it. 2 if something has had it, it cannot be used any longer because it is in such bad condition: I'm afraid my old bike's just about had it. 3 to be so annoyed with someone or something that you do not want to be involved with them any longer: + with He says he's had it with politics. have had it up to here (=be extremely annoyed) I've had it up to here with Kevin - he never stops complaining. rumor/word/legend has it that used for showing that you are reporting something that you have heard when you are not sure whether it is really true: Rumor has it that her husband is not the father of the child. sb won't have sth or sb can't have sth or sb isn't having sth spoken used for saying that someone does not allow something: I'm not having that kind of behavior in my class. sb won't/ can't have sb doing sth We can't have strangers wandering around the place. have you me there or you've got me there spoken used for telling someone that you do not know the answer to their question -» HAVES In conversation or informal writing the auxiliary use of have is often shortened. Have can be shortened to 've, has can be shortened to 's, and had can be shortened to 'd: They've already left. John's lost his ticket.

I'd forgotten to tell you.

The ordinary

transitive uses of

have are not usually

shortened.

Short forms are usually used before "got": idea. Jack's got the tickets.

I've

got an

Negative forms can also be shortened: have not can be shortened to haven't, has not can be shortened to hasn't, and had not can be shortened to hadn't.

have against

or

have got against

phrasal vb [T never

someone or not approve of them for a particular reason: / don't know what he's got against me. but he's always criticizing have nothing against sb/not have anything my work. against sb (=have no reason to dislike someone) We don 't have anything against him personally, it's just that we don't trust politicians. 2 [have sth against sth] to be opposed to a plan or suggestion for a particular reason: / think it's a great idea. What do you have against it? progressive] 1 [have sth against sb] to dislike

W.

haven

someone .have on or have got on phrasal vb [T never progressive] 1 [have sth on] to be wearing particular clothes, shoes, etc.: / couldn't see. I didn't have my glasses on. Melissa had her new dress on. have nothing on (=be wearing no clothes) Of course he was cold - he had practically nothing on. 2 [have sth on] if you have the radio, television, heating, etc. on, you have switched it on and it is working: I can't talk to him while he has the television on. We haven't had the air conditioning on all summer. 3 [have sth on sb] to have information about someone that shows they have done something dishonest or illegal: They haven't got anything on Marlowe, so they can't arrest him. 4 [have sth on] to have arranged to do something at a particular time, so that you are not available to do anything else: +for Do you have anything

on for tomorrow afternoon?

be having sb on BrE informal to be trying to make someone believe something that is not true, as a joke have out phrasal vb [T] mainly BrE [have sth out] to have a tooth removed from your mouth or an organ removed from your body have it out to talk to someone honestly and directly about a problem that is causing disagreement, or about something they have done that is making you angry: + with He decided to have it out with Rose there and then. .have over phrasal vb [T never passive] [have sb over] if you have someone over, they come to your house to visit you or to stay with you: We're having the Simpsons over for dinner on Tuesday evening. .have 'round phrasal vb [T never passive] Br E [have sb round] if you have someone round, especially someone who lives near you, they come to your house .have up phrasal vb [T] BrE informal [often passive] [have sb up] to send someone to a court of law because they have been accused of a crime

ha-ven

/'heivn/ noun [C] a place where people or animals can feel safe and happy: +for The park has become a haven for local wildlife. have-nots, the noun [plural] the people in a society who do not have much money or property compare

—

HAVES

have-n't

/'haevnt/ short form the usual way of saying or writing "have not" when "have" is an auxiliary verb. This is not often used in formal writing: / haven't seen her all day.

haves, the who have a

/haevz/ noun lot of

[plural]

the people in a society have-

money and property — compare

nots

hav-oc

haze

646

have nothing against sth/not have anything against sth (=not have any reason to be opposed to something) I've got nothing against intelligence tests, as long as they're done properly. have a'way phrasal vb have it away Br E informal to have sex with someone have in phrasal vb [T never progressive] 1 have in or have got in [have sth in] if a store has something in, it is available in the store for you to buy: We'll have some more guide books in next week. 2 have in or have got in [have sb in] mainly BrE if you have someone in, they have come to your house, office, factory, etc. to do some work there 3 [have sb in] BrE if you have a friend or neighbor in, they come to your house and have a meal or a drink with you 4 have in or have got in [have sth in] Br E to have a supply of something that you regularly use in your house, for example food, drink, or fuel ,have 'in for phrasal vb have (got) it in for sb informal to want to cause trouble for someone because you dislike them: The police stopped him again last night. He thinks they've got it in for him. have 'off phrasal vb have it off (with sb) Br E very informal to have sex with

/'haevak/ noun [u] a situation in which there is a lot of damage or destruction, or in which something cannot continue in its normal way because of problems: cause /create havoc (=cause a lot of damage or harm) Winter storms continued to cause havoc for drivers. wreak havoc Floods have wreaked havoc on the town. play havoc with sth (=cause a lot of problems) The strike played havoc with the train schedules.

haw/ho/->

hawk

iikm-

1

/hok/ noun [C] 1 a large bird that kills other birds and animals for food. It is sometimes used for hunting. 2 a politician who prefers using military force to more peaceful methods opposite dove -» watch

—

1

hawk 2

/hok/ verb 1 [T] to sell goods in the streets or by knocking on people's doors 1a. to try and persuade people to buy or accept something, especially something of bad quality 2 [i/T] informal to clear phlegm from your throat while making an unpleasant noise hawk-er /'hokar/ noun [c] someone who hawks goods hawk-eyed /.hok aid/ adj noticing everything, even small details

hawk-ish

/'hokiJV adj preferring to deal with political problems using military force instead of more peaceful methods haw-ser /'hozar/ noun [c] a heavy cable or rope that is used for tying up or pulling a ship haw-thorn /'ho,0orn/ noun [c/U] a small tree that produces red berries and has thorns hay /hei/ noun [u] * long grass that has been cut and dried, used for feeding animals

make hay (while the sun shines) to do something while a situation allows you to, because the situation may not last

very long -»

hit

1

hay

.fever noun [u] a medical condition caused by pollen (=powder produced by flowers) that affects your nose and eyes as if you had a bad cold hay-loft /'hei.bft/ noun [c] the area at the top of a farm building used for storing hay hay-mak-ing /'heirneikirj/ noun [u] the process of cutting and drying grass to make hay hay-rick /'hei.nk/ noun [c] a haystack hay-ride /'hei.raid/ noun [C] AmE a ride that you take for fun with other people in a wagon filled with hay, usually in the evening hay-seed /'hei.sid/ noun [c] AmE an insulting word for someone who comes from the country and does not have a lot of knowledge or experience of living in cities hay-stack /'hei.stask/ noun [C] a large pile of hay in a field, that has been built up and covered in order to store

it

hay-wire

/'hei,wair/ adj go haywire informal to stop correctly: The video player had gone completely haywire. 1 haz-ard /'hazard/ noun [c] ** something that could be dangerous or cause damage or accidents: One of the most widespread natural hazards is flooding. + of We know the hazards of modern warfare. +to Broken glass is a hazard to bare feet. fire /radiation /traffic hazard There must be protection from radiation hazards. health hazard Pollution is a major health hazard. haz-ard 2 /'hazard/ verb [T] 1 to make a guess or suggestion about something when you are not sure if it is true: Let me hazard a guess - you're an Aquarius. 2 formal to risk something, especially in order to gain something else 'hazard .light noun [c] one of the lights on a car that flash on and off to warn other drivers that there may be danger haz-ard-ous /'haezardas/ adj * dangerous, especially to people's health or safety: hazardous driving conditions +to These chemicals are hazardous to human health. .hazardous 'waste noun [u] dangerous waste that is produced by something such as an industrial process 'hazard pay noun [u] AmE extra money that you are paid for doing work that is considered dangerous haze 1 /heiz/ noun 1 [C/u] water, smoke, or dust in the air that makes it difficult to see clearly: There was an

working or behaving

early-morning haze across the valley. 2 [C] a situation or condition which makes it difficult for you to think clearly: She sat by herself in a haze of nostalgic bliss.

haze 2

Am E to make someone do strange, and sometimes dangerous things in order to

/heiz/ verb

difficult,

become a member

of a group, especially a fraternity at

a university

haze over phrasal vb

[ll

to

be

filled

or covered with haze

"

hazel

one's eyes 2 ha«zel /'heizl/noun 1 nuts that you can eat 2

[c/u] a small tree that produces [u] the light brown and slightly green or golden color of some people's eyes

ha-zel-nut /heizl.nAt/ noun

[C]

a nut from a hazel tree

/'heizin/ noun [u] Am £ the practice of making people do strange, difficult, and sometimes dangerous things in order to become a member of a group, especially a fraternity at a university

hazWng

adj 1 not clear because there is smoke, water in the air: hazy sunshine 1a. if you feel hazy or your surroundings seem hazy, you cannot see clearly because you are feeling sick 2 a hazy memory is one that you cannot remember well: Alan had only hazy recollections of their meeting. 2a. informal if you are hazy about a particular subject, you do not know or understand much about it

haz«y /heizi/ dust, or

HBO

'oo/ a U.S. cable television station that

/,eitf bi

pay for, but which has no advertisements noun [c] hydrogen bomb: a type of nuclear

you have

to

H-bomb bomb

he

1

'weak

1

i;

stronghi/ pronoun

***

used as the subject of a verb. Some people prefer to use he after the verb "to be" but this sounds very formal and old-fashioned: It is he whom I love. In American English, however, "This is he" is the usual way that a man replies on the telephone when someone asks to speak to him: "May I speak with John?" "This

He

is

is he.

but he didn't believe me. if he sees one.

Like all dogs,

he'll

chase a rabbit

old-fashioned used in a general

3 He used

way

for referring to

in written English for referring to

God

THEM

Words

that

may cause

offense

He, him, his, and himself are sometimes used for referring to a person of either sex, for example in writing about something that may apply to a man or to a woman. However, many people think that this use suggests that women are not included, or that men are more important than women. To avoid causing offense, you can use expressions such as he or she, he/she, s/he, him/her, or him/herself in writing. In conversation, many people say they, them, their, and themselves to refer to a person without mentioning whether the person is male or female.

he 2

/hi/ noun [singular] spoken a male animal:/ like your it a he or a she?

parrot. Is

head 1

1

/hed/ noun

*••

top part of body

2 your mind and thoughts 3 4 5 6

leader of group top/front part of sth

white bubbles on beer

where

river

of drum of spot on skin 9 for counting animals 10 side of a coin + PHRASES

7 top

8 center

begins

the top part of your body that has your brain, eyes, mouth, etc. in it: a bruise on the side of her head shake your head (=move it from side to side) She shook her head sadly. nod your head (=move it up and down) Ron nodded his head but said nothing. hang /bow your head (=hold it downward) Mike hung his head in shame, —picture -» next page 2 [C] your mind and thoughts: A thought suddenly came into my head. / don't want to put any ideas into your head. in /inside your head He added the numbers quickly in his head. She did not speak the words, but she repeated them inside her head. 3 [C] the leader or most important person in a group: + of The ceremony was attended by the heads of government from eleven countries. 3a. [only before noun] used for 1

[C]

from the top of a drum the white center of a pimple on your skin used as a way of counting farm animals: 300 head of cattle 10 heads [plural] the side of a coin that has a picture of a head on it. The other side is tails: I'll toss a coin, you call heads or tails.

7

[C]

8 9

[C]

[plural]

a/per head for each person: The meal cost $20 per head. be/get in over your head to be or become involved in a situation in which you do not have the necessary skills, knowledge, or money to succeed be off your head Br E informal to be crazy be out of your head informal to be unable to think clearly, especially because of having taken drugs cannot make head(s) nor/ or tail(s) of sth informal used for saying that you cannot understand something at all a clear/cool head the ability to think quickly and calmly in a difficult situation: If you want to get out of here, you '11 have to keep a cool head.

come/bring sth to a head informal if a situation comes head or you bring it to a head, it suddenly becomes worse: Everything came to a head last week when two of the teachers resigned.

do

head in Br E informal to be more annoying, boring, etc. than you can deal with to toe used for emphasizing that you mean someone's body: They were covered in mud from

sb's

difficult,

from head

any person whether they are male or female: Everyone has a right to say what he thinks. ->

describing the most important person in a particular organization, group, etc.: the head waiter 3b. Br E the principal of a school 4 [C] the top or front part of something: + of We walked straight to the head of the line. 4a. the end of a bed where you put your head 4b. the end of a table where the most important person sits 4c. the top part of a long thin object such as a nail, that is a different shape from or wider than the rest of it 5 [U] the white bubbles on the top of a glass of beer 6 [C] the beginning of a river, where the water comes

to a

used for referring to a man, boy, or male animal, when they have already been mentioned or when it is obvious which one you are referring to: I told William, 1

2

head

647 1

/'heizl/ adj light brown and slightly green or golden in color, used especially for describing some-

ha-zel

all

of

head to toe. get/build/work up a head of steam to start to become active and successful: This week the campaign finally started building up a head of steam. get it into/through your head (that) informal to understand and accept something: Why can't you get it into your head that we're just friends? get sth into your head informal to decide to do something, and be determined to do it even if other people do not like it get sb/sth out of your head informal to stop thinking about someone or something: I can't get the pictures of those starving children out of my head.

your head around sth Br E informal to understand and accept something that seems strange give sb head very informal to use your mouth and tongue on someone's sex organs to give them pleasure go over sb's head to go to a more important or powerful person in order to get what you want: I was furious that he went over my head and complained to my manager. go over your head if something goes over your head, you cannot understand it: A lot of what was said in the get

meeting went right over my head. go to your head informal 1 if success goes to your it makes you think that you are better or more important than you really are 2 if an alcoholic drink goes to your head, it makes you drunk have a big head informal to believe that you are very intelligent, important, etc. have a (good) head for numbers/figures/business etc. to be good at doing calculations with numbers /at doing things relating to business, etc. have a good head on your shoulders informal to be intelligent and able to make good decisions have your head in the clouds informal to be thinking your own thoughts and not concentrating on what is

head,

happening around you have your head (screwed) on straight informal able to

make

to be

sensible decisions

head and shoulders above the rest/others informal

much

better than all the others

head of hair all the hair on your head, especially when it is thick: He still has a good head of hair.

"

head

head

648

forehead

ka

earlobe

neck throat

head over heels 1 if you fall head over heels, you fall so that your head goes down and your feet go up in the air 2 if you are or fall head over heels in love with someone, you love or start to love them very much: We met in 1998, and fell head over heels in love. heads up Am E used for telling someone to pay attention heads will roll informal used for saying that people will be severely punished for something, often by losing their jobs

keep your head above water informal to manage to live or keep a business working even though you are not earning

much money

knock (sb's) heads together informal to to people so that they will stop arguing

speak angrily

laugh/shout/scream your head off informal

to laugh, shout, etc. very loudly like banging/ hitting your head against a brick wall used for describing an annoying situation in which nothing you do seems to produce any results need your head examined informal to seem to be crazy or to be doing stupid things: He needs his head examined, paying that much money for an old wreck of a car. on your (own) head spoken used for warning someone that if they decide to do something, they will have to take responsibility for it and suffer the results of it put sth out of your head informal to stop worrying

about something put your heads together to think about a problem, or plan something, together with other people stand/turn sth on its head informal to make someone think in a completely new way about something: Einstein's theories stood the mathematical world on its head. -» BITE BURY, HANG HOLD LOSE, TOP TURN TURN USE 1

verbs

1

1

,

Words

,

1

,

frequently used with

1

1

,

,

head

bend, bow, cock, duck, incline, lift, lower, nod, shake, tilt, toss, turn

1

,

head 2 /hed/ verb*** go

in

particular direction

2 be 3 be

in

control of group

1

first in a list/line

4 put title at top 5 hit ball with head + phrases

go in a particular direction: + for /toward/ through etc. We decided to head for home. She was headed toward the library. head north/south/east/west They headed north, across the desert. be headed Where are you headed? 2 head or head up [T] to be in control of a group or an organization: Detective Tim Reynolds will head the investigation. You will work with the management team headed up by Mary Broughton. 3 [T] to be at the top of a list: Which city heads the list of the most popular tourist destinations? 3a. to be at the front of a line of people: The mayor will head the procession through the downtown area. 4 [T usually passive] to put a title at the top of a piece of writing: The information sheet was headed "Medical 1

[I]

to

Insurance. 5 [T] to hit the ball with your head in the soccer picture -» ci4

—

be heading/headed for sth

if you

game

of

are heading or headed

for something, it is likely to happen to you soon: It appears that the rebels are heading for victory. / think

Sam's headed for a nervous breakdown. .head off phrasal vb 1 [T] to prevent something from taking place: The police acted quickly and managed to head off a violent confrontation. 2 [l] informal to leave: We should be heading off soon. 3 [T] to prevent someone from going somewhere by getting in front of them: Let's try and head them off before they cross the bridge. head up phrasal vb [T] same as head2 2: A woman was chosen to head up the department.

"

headache

was giving her a headache. informal something that causes you a lot of problems: Parking is a major headache in this part of town. head-band /'hed.bsnd/ noun [c] a narrow piece of cloth that you wear around your head to keep hair or perspiration (^liquid from your skin) out of your eyes head-board /'hed.bord/ noun [c] an upright board at the top end of a bed head 'boy noun [c] BrEa senior boy in a school who is the leader of the students and who represents the school on official occasions head-butt verb [t] to hit someone with your head head-case /'hedkeis/ noun [c] informal an insulting word for someone who you think is crazy head-cheese /'hed.tjiz/ noun [u] AmE meat from the head of a pig or calf (=young cow), that is boiled, pressed, and eaten cold 'head ,cold noun [c] a cold that affects your nose and sinuses and makes it difficult for you to breathe 'head count noun [c] an occasion when you count all the people in a place or organization: A head count at the shelter found that 250 people were homeless.

2

head-dress clothing that

/'hed,dres/ noun [c] a decorated piece of someone wears on their head

adj headed paper has the name and address of a person or organization printed at the top

head-ed /hedad/

-headed /hedad/ suffix

used with some adjectives to make adjectives describing the color of someone's hair: a red-headed woman 2 used with some adjectives to make adjectives describing someone's character: hardheaded (=not letting your emotions affect your judgment) big-headed (^thinking you are very important and clever) head-er /'hedar/ noun [c] 1 something that is printed at the top of a page or a computer document 2 in soccer, the action of hitting a ball with your head head first or head-first / ,hed'f3rst/ adv with your head in such a position that it hits something before the rest of your body head-gear /'hed.gir/ noun [u] things that you wear on your head: protective headgear head girl noun [c] BrE a senior girl in a school who 1

is the leader of the students and school on official occasions

who

represents the

/'hed.hAnt/ verb [t usually passive] to try to persuade someone to leave their job and go to work for another company: He was headhunted by a large

company.

— head-hunt-ing noun [u]

/'hedin/ noun [c] ** 1 the title at the top of a page or piece of writing: Mention your sources at the end, under the heading "Bibli-

heading

"

2 a word or phrase

that gives a general description of a type of person or thing: Those responsibilities come under the heading of general duties. head-lamp /'hed.laemp/ noun [c] BrE a headlight

head-land /'hedbnd/ noun

[c]

a narrow piece of land

that sticks out into the ocean

head-less /'hedlas/ ad] without a head head-light /'hed.lait/ noun [c] one of the two

[t]

the most famous performer at a concert or many other people are also performing

show where

head-lin-er /'hed.lamar/ noun [c] the main performer in a show or at an event, whose name is used to attract people to come to listen or watch

head-lock

/'hed.lak/ noun [c] a position in which their arm around another person's neck

someone holds

so they cannot

head-long

move

1

/'hed.brj/ adv mainly literary 1 with your head in such a position that it hits something before your body: He was hurled headlong down the the rest of

2 very quickly and without looking where you are going: He ran headlong across the hallway.

stairs.

rush/jump/plunge headlong into sth something with a ing about it first

lot of

to start doing enthusiasm but without think-

head-long 2

/'hed.brj/ adj 1 happening or done very quickly and without careful thought: the headlong rush to buy technology stocks 2 a headlong fall is one in which your head hits something before the rest of your body

head-man

/'hedman/ noun

[C]

the leader of a village

or large family group

head-mas-ter / 'hed.maestar/ noun

BrEa male prin-

[c]

cipal of a school

head-mis-tress

/'hed.mistras/ noun

[c]

BrE

a female

principal of a school

head office

noun

[C]

mainly

BrE the main

organization or company, or the people

.head of government noun try's

[c]

office of

an

who work there

the leader of a coun-

government

head of state

heads of state) noun [C] the leader example a king, queen, or president adv 1 if two vehicles crash head-on, the front of one vehicle hits the front of the other 2 if you deal with a problem head-on, you deal (plural

of a country, for

head-on with

it

1

head on

or

in a very direct

head-on 2

way

a head-on crash is one in which two vehicles traveling in opposite directions hit each other adj

head-phones

/'hed.founz/ noun

[plural]

a piece of

equipment that you wear over your ears to listen to something without other people hearing it head-piece / 'hed.pis/ noun [C] 1 something you wear on your head for decoration or protection 2 a design

headquartered /'hed.kwartard/adj organization

main

is

if

a

company

or

headquartered somewhere, it has its Both companies are headquartered in

offices there:

••

headquarters

/'hed.kwartarz/ noun [plural] the place where a company or organization has its + of offices: The UN headquarters are in New York. the St. Petersburg headquarters of the National Republican Party 2 the place from which military action is controlled: McCreery established his headquarters at Treviso, just north of Venice. 2a. used for referring to the people in charge of a military operation 1

main

head-rest

/'hed.rest/ noun [C] the top part of a chair or car seat that you lean your head against —picture -»

C8

head-room /

hed.rum/ noun [u] 1 the amount of space between your head and a ceiling, especially in a car 2 the amount of space between the top of a vehicle and a bridge

lights

on

the front of a vehicle, used for driving at night —picture ->C8 fc] *• the title of a newspaper story that is printed in large letters: The frontpage headline read "Royal Love Scandal.

head-line 1 /'hed.lam/ noun

the headlines 1 the most important stories in the news: Here are the news headlines. The fuel crisis continues to dominate the headlines. 2 make/hit/grab the headlines to become famous by being reported in the

news

to give a headline to a story in a newspaper: The story was headlined "The Penalties of Leadership." 2 [i/T] mainly journalism to be

verb 1

Seattle.

head-hunt-er /'hed.hAntar/ noun [c] a person or company who searches for good staff and tries to persuade them to leave their jobs and go to work for another company

ography.

head-line /'hed.lam/

printed at the top of a piece of writing

head-hunt electronics

head shop

649

noun [C] * 1 a pain in your head: / have a splitting headache (=an extremely bad headache). give sb a headache The noise

head-ache /'hed,eik/

head-scarf

/'hedskarf/ (plural head-scarves /'hed .skarvz/) noun [C] a piece of cloth that a woman or girl wears on her head and ties under her chin head-set /'hed.set/ noun [c] a piece of equipment that you wear over your ears with a part you can speak into, connected to a telephone or radio head-ship /'hed.Jip/ noun [c/u] BrE the position of being in charge of an organization, especially a school or college

head shop sells

noun

[C]

equipment used

AmE

informal a small store that

for taking illegal

drugs

Vn

headstand stamd/ noun [C] a position in which you are upside down with your head and hands on the floor and your legs in the air head start noun [c] 1 an advantage over other people in the same situation as you, especially in a competition: The reading program is designed to give young children a head start. 2 a situation in which you start a race before your opponent or from a position that is farther ahead

head-stone /'hed.stoon/ noun [c] a piece of stone with a name and dates on it that marks a grave (=place where a dead person

is

buried)

head-strong

/'hed.stmn/ adj determined to do what you want even if other people warn you not to do it

heads- up

1

ad]

AmE

informal lively and intelligent: a

team that plays heads-up basketball heads- up 2 noun [singular] informal a warning: They gave us a heads-up that the deal might be off. head-teacher /.hed'titjar/ or head teacher noun [C] Br E the principal of a school head-to- head adj, adv competing or meeting directly with someone or something else: The two stores are in head-to-head competition. go head-to-head The two teams go head-to-head on Sunday. 'head ,trip noun [C] informal an experience that has a strong emotional effect on someone head waiter noun [c] the senior waiter in a restaurant, who is in charge of all the other people who serve food headwaters /'hed.wotarz/ noun [plural] the place where a stream starts before it flows into a river head-way /'hed.wei/ noun make headway 1 to make progress with something you are trying to achieve: They have made some headway toward resolving the dispute. 2 to move forward, especially when it is dif-

AmE

ficult

head-wind /'hed.wmd/

noun [C] a wind that blows in directly the opposite direction to the one in which you are moving

head-word / 'hed,w3rd/ noun

[c]

in a dictionary, that is followed

what

it

one of the list of words by an explanation of

means

head-y / 'hedi/ adj

1 affecting you in a strong and pleasant way: the heady scent of jasmine 2 very exciting and making you feel you can achieve anything you want: the heady freedom of the late 1960s

heal

/hil/

verb**

health /hclO/ noun

[u]

***

1 the condition of your body, especially whether or not you are sick His health improved once he stopped working. Smoking can seriously damage your health. in good health She is 85 and still in very good health. in poor health My father has been in poor health for some time. ill health He retired early because of ill health. be good/ bad for your health Stress is definitely bad for your health. la. [only before noun] relating to or affecting your health: :

health problems free health checks health hazard/risk (^something that could harm your health) Campaigners believe that the waste site is a health hazard. 1b. the condition of being strong and well: .A good diet helps to maintain health. It took him several years to regain his health.

the job of providing medical care to people who are managers are urging the government to spend more on health. 2a. [only before noun] relating to medical care: health professionals the regional health authority 3 how successful something is: +of the health of the industry

2

sick: Hospital

'health care noun

**

[u] the services that take care of people's health: Homeless people need better access to health care. health-care /'hel0,ker/ adj

—

'health center noun [c] Am E a building where several doctors can provide medical care to people in a particular area

'health club noun [c] a club where members can go to do physical exercises health farm noun [c] a place where people can stay and do physical exercises, eat healthy food, and have beauty treatments

'health food noun [C/u] because

it

*

does not contain

food that is good for you substances

artificial

health-f ul / 'helGfal/ adj Am E good for your health: the promotion of exercise and healthful living 'health in spector noun [c] someone who works for the government whose job is to visit restaurants and make sure that they are clean and obeying laws about preparing food

'health in surance noun [u] ** a type of insurance that pays for your medical treatment when you are sick 'health .service noun [c] a public service that is responsible for providing medical care: a country with excellent health service The U.S. Public Health Service much of the medical research in the country.

an

oversees

1 [i] if an injury heals, the skin or bone grows back together and becomes healthy again: The wound took a long time to heal. 1a. [T] to make a part of the body healthy again after an injury: Vitamin is needed by the body for healing cuts and bruises, lb. [l/T] to make someone healthy again after they have been sick, especially using methods other than medicine: The body will heal itself if given the chance. 1c. [l/T] if emotional problems heal, or something heals them, you become happy again: She realized that the pain of her loss had never truly healed. 1d. [t] to repair damage to land: Nature has started to heal the scars left by the mines. 2 [T] to make people stop fighting and have a better relationship: He said it was time for the country's wounds to be healed. heal a rift/ division /breach The meeting was called in an effort to heal the rift between the two

K

presidents.

healthy

/ 'helGi/ ad]

***

physically strong and not sick: a healthy baby Exercan be fun, and being healthy feels great. feel healthy 1 feel very healthy at the moment. stay/keep healthy / tryto stay as healthy as possible. 1a. helping you to stay physically strong and not sick: We serve healthy and delicious food. *a healthy diet /lifestyle 1b. showing that you are physically strong and not sick: For healthy teeth and gums, visit your dentist regularly. He's certainly got a healthy appetite. 2 working well and likely to continue to be successful: The country still has a healthy industrial economy. My investments aren't looking very healthy at the moment. 2a. a healthy amount of money is a large amount: Our bank balance is looking pretty healthy this month. Last year the company made a healthy profit of over five million 1

cise

dollars.

if an injury heals over, new skin becomes healthy again heal up phrasal vb [i] if an injury heals up, the skin or bone grows back together and becomes healthy again: The cut wasn healing up the way it should. heal-er /'hibr/ noun [c] 1 someone who can cure people who are sick, using special powers that other people do not understand 2 something that heals you: Time is a great healer. heal-ing /'hilin/ adj making someone feel better after they have been sick or unhappy: a plant with healing properties The healing process will take a long time. heal-ing 2 /'hilirj/ noun [u] 1 a method of treating illnesses in which someone uses special powers that other people do not understand 2 the process of becoming

heal over phrasal vb

forms over

heap

650

headstand /'hcd

it

and

't

1

healthy again

it

[i]

3

a healthy attitude is good and sensThe children had been brought up with a healthy

[only before noun]

ible:

respect for books.

— health-i-ly adv: We try to eat healthily

whenever we can. heap 1 /hip/ noun [C] * 1 a large pile of something, especially a messy pile: a rubbish heap + of The bomb had reduced the building to a heap of rubble. be in a heap His clothes were in a crumpled heap on the floor. in heaps The magazines were stacked in heaps on the table. 2 informal a car that is in very bad condition at the top/bottom of the heap in the highest or lowest position in a society or organization: The project is designed to help people at the bottom of the economic heap. a heap of sth informal a lot of something: That letter got me in a heap of trouble.

heap if

the floor.

Chrissy landed in a heap at the bottom of the

stairs. 2

heap

messy

/hip/ verb

[t]

heap or heap up to make a big Bundles of clothing were heaped on

1

pile of things:

you heap praise, blame, criticism, etc. on someone, you give them a great deal of praise, blame, the floor.

2

if

criticism, etc.

heap up

hearin 9

651

you fall or lie in a heap, you lie without moving after you have fallen: She collapsed in a heap on in a heap

'up phrasal vb [T]

same as heap2

in the corner of the

heaped

/hipt/ adj

heap-ing

i:

Books were heaped

nails.

room.

AmE

hear you spoken 1 I hear you or I hear what you're saying used for telling someone that you understand their opinion, especially when you disagree with it 2 Am E used for agreeing with what someone says I hear you say/cry mainly spoken used for saying what you think someone's opinion will be, so that you can give your reaction to it: What about the cost, I hear you 1

BrE heaping

a heaping spoon is completely full: Drop a heaping tablespoonful of the mixture into the pan. 2 filled or covered with a lot of something in a high pile: a heaping plate of stew hear /hir/ (past tense and past participle heard /h3rd/) verb /'hipin/ adj

Hear! Hear! used for saying that you strongly agree with what someone has just said hear ye or now hear this Am E an old phrase used for introducing an official spoken announcement, especially in a court 1 used for introducing a I hear spoken I've heard subject that you want to discuss with someone that someone else has told you about: / hear you're leaving us. 2 used for saying what someone has told you, rather than what you know is true: / hear she's as tough as

1

•**

say.

heard about spoken used for saying that you know something about someone or something, usually something that is not very pleasant: I've heard about people

I've 1 notice

sound

2 receive information 3 listen to 4 understand (feeling) 1

[l/T

5 about things said 6 in court of law + PHRASES

never progressive] to realize that

someone or some-

is making a sound: He listened but heard nothing Mary heard the sound of voices. hear sb/sth doing She heard the dog barking outside. sb can/could hear +what No one could hear what she Shh, I can't hear. hear sb/sth do sth He heard the door slam. said. 2 [l/T not usually progressive] to receive information about something: Have you heard? Lucy passed the bar exam. be pleased/sorry etc. to hear I'm delighted to hear that you're coming. + (that) / heard he'd got a new job. * + what/ how etc. / came home as soon as I heard what happened. hear rumors/the news We heard rumors that the school + about Did you hear about Jim's was going to close. party? +of We didn't hear of his death until many years

thing more. sth

later.

to listen to someone who is speaking about a particular thing: We'll meet again in two weeks, when I'll -t-what We're all eager to hear hear your suggestions. what he has to say. hear sb on sth All members are entitled to be heard on this matter. 3a. [T not usually progressive] to listen to something such as a speech, performance, or program: / want to hear the news on the radio before I go. Do you want to hear this story or not? hear sb do sth

3

like you.

hear it spoken used for telling someone to say what they are thinking hear it for spoken used for saying that you think someone or something deserves a lot of praise make yourself heard to say something loudly enough for people to hear never hear the end/last of it used for saying that someone will continue to talk about something they have achieved in a way that is annoying: If he gets a date with Clare, we'll never hear the end of it. not want to hear sth to not be willing to discuss or consider something: / don't want to hear another word on the subject. she'll/they'll etc. hear about it spoken used for saying that you will be angry with someone, and you will tell let's

[T]

He's got a great voice - you should hear him sing. 4 [T] to notice that someone is feeling a particular way from the way that they are speaking: He heard the bitterness in her voice. 4a. [l/T] to understand what someone is saying to you: You're not hearing me. I said I did want to go. 5 [l/T] used for talking about the things that people / haven't heard say: I'm surprised to hear you say that. him offering to help (=he has not offered). You won't hear me complain (=1 won't complain). be heard to remark/ comment/say etc. One visitor was heard to remark something about the entrance fee. 6 [T] if a court case is heard, it is dealt with by a court or judge: The appeal will be heard by a single judge. 6a. if the court hears something, that is what is said in court: The jury The court heard that he had been drinking. heard evidence from his employees.

be hearing things to think that you have heard something when you have not can't hear yourself think to be unable to hear because a place is very noisy do you hear (me)?/you hear (me)? spoken used for emphasizing what you are saying, especially when you think someone is not paying attention: / want this mess cleaned up now, do you hear? from what I hear/from what I've heard spoken used for giving information based on what people have told you rather than what you know is true have heard it (all) before spoken to not believe what someone is saying or not be impressed by it have not heard the last of used for saying that you think someone or something will continue to succeed or be famous, even though they have failed once have you heard (the one) about?/did you hear about? spoken used when you are starting to tell a joke

let's

them

this

hear from phrasal vb [T] [hear from sb] 1 if you hear from someone, they write or call you: It's years since I heard from Jill. The police would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the accident.

2

to listen to

someone who

is

speaking about a particular thing: The Commission Next we'll hear from a heard from over thirty witnesses. listener in St. Paul.

she'll/they'll/you'll etc. hear from me spoken used for saying that you will be angry with someone, and you will tell them this: He'd better apologize to you or he'll be hearing from me. 'hear of phrasal vb [T] 1 [hear of sb] to receive news

about someone: Not much was heard of him until his last night. 2 [hear of sth] to find out that something has happened: / was shocked to hear of his

reappearance death.

have heard of to know about the existence of someone or something: "It was James Bomford. " "Never heard of him!" Have you heard of WAP phones? not hear of it to refuse to accept a suggestion or offer: / said he could stay with us, but he wouldn't hear of it. hear out phrasal vb [T] [hear sb out] to let someone finish what they are saying without interrupting: I'm serious about this; hear me out, please.

When you hear a sound, you become conscious of it: Did you hear the thunder last night? / did not hear the door open.

When you

listen,

you deliberately pay attention

to a

sound in order to hear it: / listened carefully but I / always listen to the could not hear the thunder. radio in my car.

You hear something, but you

hearer

/'hirar/ noun someone else says

hearing

/'hirirj/

noun

[C]

listen to something.

someone who hears what

•*

U your ability to hear sounds My hearing has deterihearing loss Prolonged exposorated as I've grown older. ure to loud noise can cause hearing loss. 2 [C] a meeting of a court of law or official organization to find out the facts about something: A court hearing has been scheduled for August 31. a disciplinary hearing 1

[

]

:

hearing aid 3

to give

of earshot

within hearing or within hearing distance near enough for you to hear: within earshot hearing aid noun [c] a small piece of equipment that someone wears in their ear to help them hear hearing-impaired adj unable to hear as well as most people can.

Many

heartbeat

652

an opportunity

your opinions and ideas: He shouldn't expect a sympathetic hearing in Washington. fair hearing (=an occasion when people listen in a sympathetic way) We were given a very fair hearing. in sb's hearing if something is said in your hearing, you hear it, although the speaker is not talking to you out of hearing so far away that you cannot hear it: out [singular]

people

now

hearken /'harkan/ verb hearsay /'hir.sei/ noun [u]

[I]

prefer this

word

to deaf.

literary to listen

information that you have heard without having any proof that it is true: His

was all just hearsay. /h3rs/ noun [C] a large car used for carrying a dead person in a coffin heart /hart/ noun *** evidence

hearse

1 organ that pumps blood 2 area of chest with heart 3 your feelings 4 inner central part

5 shape representing love

6

suit of playing

cards

7 most important part

+ PHRASES

1 [c] the organ in your chest that pumps blood around your body: / could hear his heart beating. have a weak/ bad heart Did you know he had a weak heart? 2 [C] the area of your chest where your heart is: She

held the child close to her heart. 3 [C] your feelings and emotions considered as part of your character: My advice would be to follow your heart. have a kind /good /big heart (=be a kind /good/ generous person) Ted may not be rich but he's got a good heart.

4

[C] the central part of something, that is farthest live in the heart of the city's medieval quarter. a beautiful house deep in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains 4a. the inner, central part of something such as a vegetable: artichoke hearts 5 [C] a shape that represents love: a shirt decorated with little hearts picture -» shape 6 [C] a playing card with a red heart shape on it 6a. hearts [plural] the suit of playing cards that have red heart shapes on them. The other suits are diamonds, clubs, and spades: the six of hearts picture -»

from the outside: +of They

—

—

have your heart set on (doing) sth or set your heart on sth to decide that you want something very much: He's got his heart set on winning the competition. sb's heart aches mainly literary used for saying that

someone

feels very sad heart bleeds (for sb) spoken used for saying that feel sympathy for someone. This phrase is usually used in a humorous way to show that, in fact, you do

my

you

not feel any sympathy at all. sb's heart goes out to sb used for saying that someone feels sorry for someone else sb's heart is in the right place used for saying that someone tries to be kind and do good things even though it does not always seem like this sb's heart is not in sth used for saying that someone does not really care about something that they are doing: Her heart was no longer in the campaign. sb's heart leaps/jumps/quickens used for saying that someone suddenly feels excited, nervous, or afraid sb's heart pounds/beats/thumps used for saying that someone can feel their heart moving quickly because they are very excited or afraid sb's heart's desire literary the thing that someone really

wants sb's heart sinks used for saying that someone suddenly feels very worried, upset, or disappointed sb's heart swells with happiness/pride used for saying that someone starts to feel very happy or proud in sb's heart (of hearts) used for talking about true or secret feelings: In his heart he knew she was right. lose heart to feel disappointed and try less hard because of this: I think he lost heart after losing the first game. lose your heart (to sb) literary to start to love someone a man/woman after your own heart someone who has the same opinions as you on a particular subject not have the heart to do sth to not be able to do something, because it seems cruel: Ididn 't have the heart to tell him what I really thought. open your heart or pour out your heart to tell someone everything that you are thinking about, especially something that has made you unhappy play/work/sing etc. your heart out to put a lot of effort into playing, working, singing, etc.: The children all sang their hearts out. put your heart into sth to do something with a lot of effort

from the heart being completely honest about your feelings: She wrote me a letter straight from (straight) the heart.

C16

the most important or basic part of something: go/get to the heart of sth (=relate to its most important part) These questions go to the heart of the current debate. be at the heart of sth Cost-cutting is at the heart of their development plan.

take heart (from sth) to feel happier or less worried because of something take sth to heart to think about something seriously, often so that you become upset by it: You can't take

at heart used for saying what someone's basic character is: I'm really a country person at heart. bless his/her heart informal old-fashioned used for showing that you like someone or feel sorry for them break sb's heart 1 to upset someone very much, especially by letting them know that you do not love them. You can also say that someone's heart breaks or that they have a broken heart. 2 it breaks sb's heart spoken used for saying that something upsets someone very much: It would break her heart to have to go away. by heart if you know something by heart, you can remember all the words in it without any help close/dear/near to sb's heart very important or interesting to someone: a topic that is obviously very close to his heart

touch sb's heart to make someone feel sympathy to your heart's content as much or as often as you

7

[singular] [+of]

cry/sob your heart out to cry a lot, because you are very upset do sb's heart good mainly literary to make someone feel

happy from the bottom of my heart spoken used for emphasizing that you really mean what you are saying have a heart spoken used for asking someone to be kind enough to do something or agree to something have a heart of gold to be a very kind person have a heart of stone to not feel any sympathy for other people have sth at heart to be influenced in your actions by something that you really care about: Real dog lovers always have the dog's welfare at heart.

everything people say to heart. like

warm/gladden sb's heart mainly literary to make someone feel happy the way to sb's heart the way to make someone love you wear/have your heart on your sleeve

to

make your

feelings obvious to other people

sb will break a few hearts spoken a way of saying that someone is very attractive: J bet he'll break a few hearts

when

he's older.

win/capture/steal sb's heart mainly

literary to

make

someone start to love you with a heavy heart mainly literary feeling sad with all your heart (and soul) literary used for emphasizing that a feeling is very strong: She wished with all her heart that he would come. (with) your heart in your mouth feeling very nervous or afraid: She picked up the phone, her heart in her mouth. -» CROSS 1 EAT ,

heart«ache/'hart,eik/ noun [\j] mainly journalism great sadness or worry 'heart at tack noun [C] * an occasion when someone suddenly has a lot of pain in their chest and their heart One of the stops working: He died of a heart attack. passengers suffered a heart attack.

heart-beat

1 [c] the movement or pumps blood around your

/'hart.bit/ noun

sound of your heart as

it

heartbreak heartbeat

2

my moment

heartbeat.

listened to

literary

a

an irregular

in a heartbeat used for saying that you are willing to do something: If I got the chance, I'd go in a heartbeat.

heart-break

/'hort.breik/ noun [u] mainly journalism a feeling of great sadness

heartbreak-ing

/'hart,breikin/ adj making you feel They heartbreaking to lose a pet. heart-break-ing-ly adv live in heartbreaking poverty.

very sad or upset:

It's

—

heart-bro-ken /'hart.broukan/

adj

extremely sad and

upset

heart-burn /'hart,b3rn/ noun [u] a pain that feels like burning in your chest and is a type of indigestion 'heart dis ease noun [u] * a serious medical condition affecting your heart: foods that can help protect against heart disease

-hearted /hartad/ to make adjectives

suffix

used with some adjectives

describing someone's character or

feelings: kind-hearted people

heart-en /'hartn/ verb [t usually passive] to make someone feel happier and more hopeful: cheer: He was heartened by the public's support.

— heart-en-ing adj

'heart failure noun [u] 1 a serious medical condition in which your heart does not work properly 2 a situation in which someone's heart stops working and they die

heart-felt /'hart, felt/ adj formal a heartfelt emotion, remark, or action is very sincere hearth /harG/ noun [c] the floor of a fireplace in a house and the area around it: a log fire roaring in the hearth and home home and family

literary

used for referring to your

hearth-rug

/'harB.rAg/ noun [c] a small thick piece of carpet placed on the floor in front of a fireplace

heart-i-ly /'hartili/ adv 1 in a loud or enthusiastic / heartily way: Jones laughed heartily at his little joke. agree with her. 2 if you eat heartily, you eat everything on your plate with enthusiasm 3 completely or extremely: I'd grown heartily sick of London. heart-land /'hart.ltend/ noun [c] 1 formal the central part of a country 2 mainly journalism a part of a country where a particular activity or belief is especially common: +of the industrial heartland of Poland heart-less /'hartbs/ adj feeling or showing no sympathy or kindness: callous heart-less-ly adv heart- lung chine noun [c] a machine used for pumping blood and oxygen around someone's body when they are having a medical operation on their

—

ma

[singular/ u]

his back. 1a. [only before noun] relating to heat: insulation the heat haze shimmering over the to prevent heat loss

sands 1b. the heat very hot weather: They were unable The local people get out of to work in the blistering heat. the heat of the day the city to escape the summer heat. (=the hottest part of the day) Only tourists were wandering about in the heat of the day. 1c. the heat the amount of heat produced by an oven or a heating system: Bring the mixture to the boil, then reduce the heat. turn the heat up/down/on/off / turned the heat down a little. 1d. the heat the place where the heat in an oven or on a hob comes from: Take the pan off the heat. 2 [C] a game or race at the start of a competition. The winners of the heats then compete against each other at the next stage: the second heat of the 800 meters 3 [u] science in physics, the energy that is produced when the temperature of something changes: These chemical processes generate a lot of heat. 4 [U] strong and angry feelings: He felt the heat of my glare. take the heat out of sth Professional counseling is one way of taking the heat out of getting a divorce. 5 the heat informal pressure and criticism intended to force someone to do what you want: Many producers are beginning to feel the heat from their larger customers. put/ keep the heat on (sb) We need to keep the heat on. 5a. the heat is on used for saying that you are under a lot of pressure to do something: The heat was really on at work. [U]

Am E the system in a building that keeps it warm

you can't stand /take the heat (get out of the kitchen) used for telling someone that they should not

if

do something if they cannot deal with the difficult or unpleasant aspects of it in heat a female animal that is in heat is ready to mate with a male in/during the heat of sth at the busiest time or during the most difficult part of something: In the heat of the debate, she forgot to be nervous.

in the heat of the moment at a time when you are too angry or excited to think carefully: We both said things we didn mean in the heat of the moment. heat 2 /hit/ verb ** [T] heat or heat up to make something hot: Heat the oil gently in a large frying pan. a. [l] to become hot: Is the soup heating up? heat through phrasal vb [T] [heat sth through] to heat food that has already been cooked, until every part of it is very hot 2 ,heat up phrasal vb 1 [l/T] same as heat / was just heating up some soup. 2 [I] if a situation heats up, it becomes more exciting, dangerous, or serious: The dispute was 't

:

heart

heart-sick

/

'hort.sik/ adj literary extremely sad or dis-

appointed

already heating up.

heart-stop-ping

/'hart.stapnj/ adj extremely fright-

ening

heat-ed/'hitad/adj

•

a heated discussion or argument is one in which people get angry and excited: They were engaged in a heated debate about the problem. 1a. someone who gets heated becomes angry and excited as they speak: Robert grew heated as he spoke of the risks. 2 made warm enough for people to use: a heated swimming pool a poorly heated studio centrally heated We are used to the comfort of our centrally heated homes. heat-ed-ly adv: His advisers have argued heatedly over whether to support them. 1

heart-strings / 'hart.stnnz/ noun tug/pull/tear at sb's heartstrings to make someone feel a lot of love or sympathy 'heart- .throb noun [C] informal a man who is very attractive to women, especially a young movie actor or pop singer

,heart-to-'heart noun [c] a very private conversation between two people, usually concerning their personal feelings

heartwarming

/'hart.wormm/

adj

making you

feel

happy, usually because other people are being kind: It's really heartwarming to see such generosity. a heart-

warming tale heart-y /'harti/

/hit/ noun

—

heat-er /'hitsr/ noun [c] * a piece of equipment used for making a place warm or for heating water: a water heater -> space heater

exhaustion noun [u] the feeling of being extremely tired and weak that you get when you do too much physical activity in hot conditions heath /hi9/ noun [c] a wide area of wild land where only rough grass and bushes grow

'heat adj 1

friendly

and enthusiastic, some-

times in a slightly annoying way: a hearty laugh/ handshake 2 a hearty meal is large 3 formal hearty feelings are sincere and you feel them strongly 1

the quality of being hot, or how hot something is: These paints can withstand heat up to 200 The firefighters were driven back by the intense degrees. +of He could feel the heat of the sun on heat and smoke. 1

6

hearth

heat

heather

653

body: The doctor

•••

1 hot quality

2 part of competition 3 in physics 4 strong feeling/anger

5 pressure and criticism 6 for making building warm + PHRASES

hea-then /'hicW noun [c] for someone who is not a

offensive

an insulting word

Christian or a follower of another major established religion a. a humorous way of referring to someone who breaks social rules heath-er /'hedar/ noun [c/u] a plant with small purple or white flowers that grows on hills and mountains

Heathrow the U.K., near

heating 1

major international airport

in

London

/'hitin/

noun

[u)

••

the process of making something warm heating bills/ Many parts of the country were without heating and :

costs

lighting.

2 used

emphasizing what you are saying:

for

"Is that

dog yours?" "Heavens, no." heavens above spoken used for showing that you are very surprised the heavens open used for saying that very heavy rain starts to fall

2 Br £ the heat used

warming

how/who/what

a building: the instalput/turn /switch the heating on Let's put the heating on for a few hours.

etc. in heaven's name spoken used for strongly emphasizing a question: Where in heaven 's name did you get that hat?

heat-proof / hitpruf/ adj a heatproof substance cannot be damaged by heat heat ,rash noun [c] painful or itchy red spots on your

I thought I'd died and gone to heaven spoken used for emphasizing that you enjoyed something very much made in heaven a marriage or relationship that is made in heaven is very happy and successful: They were a match made in heaven. move heaven and earth (to do sth) to do everything that it is possible to do in order to make something

lation of

for

an improved heating system

skin that are caused by getting too hot: prickly heat

heat-re sistant adj not easily damaged by heat heat-seek-ing / 'hit.sikirj/ adj heat-seeking equipment is

able to find something using the heat

it

produces

heat'Stroke

D

heaving

654

Heath«row /'hiB.roo/ a

/'hit.strook/ noun [u] a serious medical condition caused by doing too much physical activity in hot weather

heat

wave noun [C] a continuous period of hot weather

/hiv/ verb * 1 [i/T] to push, pull, or lift a heavy object using a lot of effort: He put his shoulder against the stone and heaved. Lydia heaved herself to the other side of the bed. + at She heaved at the garage door, which flew up. 2 [I] to move up and down with large regular movements: Her chest heaved as she struggled to control her

heave

1

[l]

informal to vomit: When I saw the disgusting mess left behind, I almost heaved.

they'd

heave a sigh to let out a deep breath, for example, because you are upset or because you are pleased about something: Rose heaved a sigh of relief at her

literary in the

whole world

-» SEVENTH HEAVEN

/'hevnli/adj 1 relating to heaven: heavenly choirs of angels 2 informal extremely pleasant, enjoyable, or beautiful: divine: a heavenly aroma 3 literary relating to the sky, moon, stars, etc.

.heavenly 'body noun or moon

mainly

[c]

literary

a star, planet,

comes

at exactly the right

time

heav-en-ward /'hevnward/ /'hevnwardz/ adv

heavily

/

literary

1 in large

hevili/ adv

or

heav-en-wards

upward

*•• 5 in uncomfortable way 6 slowly and sadly

amounts

2 very 3 to a large degree 4 with a lot of force

7 slowly and loudly + PHRASES

to.

heave 2 lifting

/hiv/ noun

[C]

a strong pulling, pushing, or

movement

heave-ho

noun give sb the heave-ho informal 1 to end a relationship with someone 2 to tell someone they have to leave their job

heav-en /'hevn/ noun •• 1 Heaven the place where God is believed to live. Some people believe that good people go to Heaven when they die, and bad people go to Hell: Christians believe that Jesus ascended into Heaven. 1a. literary God, or God's power: I pray to Heaven it may be so. 2 the heavens [plural] literary the sky: The heavens shook with thunder. 2a. the place where God or the gods are believed to live

for heaven's sake/sakes mainly spoken used for emphasizing that you are annoyed or impatient with someone: Oh, for heaven's sake! Anyone would think this was difficult!

God/Lord in heaven spoken 1 used for showing that you are extremely annoyed 2 literary used for emphasizing that you want something very much: Lord in let it snow tonight! heaven help us or heaven forbid spoken used for saying that you hope something will not happen: Heaven help

Heaven,

us

under heaven

heav-ervly

luck.

heave into sight/view mainly literary to become able to be seen. The past tense and past participle is hove, .heave to phrasal vb [l] mainly literary if a ship heaves to, it stops moving. The past tense and past participle is

hove

smell/stink to high heaven informal to smell extremely

bad

heaven-sent adj a heaven-sent opportunity is one that

breathing.

3

happen

if there's afire.

heaven help us/them/the person who

etc.

spoken used

for saying that if something happens, the result will be very bad for the person mentioned: Heaven help anyone who tries to stop them. heaven (only /alone) knows spoken 1 used for emphasizing what you are saying: It was her first vacation in years, and heaven knows she needed it. 2 heaven knows how /what /why etc. spoken used for saying that you

do not know something or cannot imagine it: Heaven knows what will happen now. 3 heaven knows how much/many /long spoken used for emphasizing that something has happened a lot or too much: I've had heaven knows how many people in here looking for you! heaven preserve me/us from spoken used for saying that you dislike someone or something very much heavens/good heavens spoken 1 used for showing that you are very surprised: Good heavens, is that the time?

1 in large amounts: They had borrowed heavily to buy the boat. smoke /drink heavily She had been smoking heavily since her teens. bleed heavily / was bleeding heavily from the cut. 2 very: The economy is heavily dependent on coal exports. heavily polluted rivers be heavily into sth (=be very involved or interested in something) I was heavily into music at that time. Both of us are heavily involved in charity work. 3 to a large degree: an area that relied heavily on the mines for jobs heavily populated urban areas Her work was heavily influenced by her father's. 4 with a lot of force: He slipped and fell heavily. She leaned heavily on the table. 5 in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable or unhappy: The food was sitting heavily in her stomach. The prospect of breaking her promise lay heavily on her

mind. 6 slowly and in a way that shows that you feel sad, tired, or sick: He walked heavily away. "It's too late," she said heavily. 7 if you breathe heavily, you breathe slowly and loudly: He was fast asleep in the chair, snoring heavily. / was very unfit, so I was puffing heavily by now. sigh heavily Her father sighed heavily.

heavily armed carrying a lot of weapons heavily built a heavily built person is big and strong but not fat heavily guarded guarded by a lot of people, usually with weapons heavily pregnant a heavily pregnant woman has a very large stomach because her baby will be born soon

heav-i-ness

/

'hevinss/ noun 1

how heavy something velvet curtains.

2

is:

[C/U] a

[u]

the measurement of

She liked the heaviness of the

heavy

feeling: the unpleasant

heaviness of his stomach 3 [C/U] a feeling or expression of sadness and disappointment

heav-ing / 'hivirj / adj

1

moving up and down with large

regular movements: He was lowered on to the heaving 2 informal very busy and full of people: The fish

deck.

market was absolutely heaving.

heavy hea v«y

1

Hebrew

655

***

/ 'hevi / adj

threatening: Things were getting a

little

heavy, so I quickly

left.

with a

lot of

many

things

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10

weight

11 noise: deep and low

with physical effort

showing anger smell: sweet & strong not attractive

with a

lot of

serious/difficult

force etc.

uncomfortable or

tired

12 13 14 15 16 +

warm and

unpleasant

ocean: big waves food: too solid

ground: wet

sad feeling PHRASES

very severe

a heavy object weighs a lot: She was struggling with a heavy suitcase. Careful, that box is pretty heavy. You should soon be able to train with the heavier weights. a big heavy door too heavy He was a big man, too heavy for the nurses to lift. 1a. heavy clothes, shoes, or materheavy ials are thick and strong: a heavy black overcoat silk curtains 1b. used when talking about how much someone or something weighs: The box was heavier than how heavy? How heavy is the parcel? I'd expected. 1c. heavy machines, vehicles, or weapons are large and powerful: Do not operate any heavy machinery while taking these medicines. opposite light 2 used for saying that there is a lot of something: He Traffic is particularly heavy on the interstate tonight. had a very heavy workload. The school places a heavy emphasis on children's musical development. heavy rain/ snow Weather conditions were appalling, with heavy rain and strong winds. heavy reliance on Her book shows a heavy reliance on the work of Dr. Winston. 2a. used for saying that something involves a lot of people, things, or money: heavy casualties The conflict caused heavy casualties on both sides. heavy losses The company's heavy losses will lead to many redundancies. 2b. heavy smoker/ drinker someone who smokes a lot, or who drinks a lot of alcohol 2c. informal using or containing a lot of something: + on The main course was very heavy on the garlic. 2d. mainly literary containing a lot of something: +with Her voice was heavy with sarcasm. The air was heavy with all the scents of summer. 3 involving a lot of physical effort: They did most of the heavy work in the cool of the morning. The steering on this car is much heavier than on the other one. opposite 1

—

—

light

4

a heavy silence

11a

heavy noise

disapproval. 8 if a part of your

body feels heavy, it is not comfortable and you cannot move it easily: His legs felt as heavy as concrete. 8a. if your eyes look heavy, they have a sad or tired expression

9

very severe: She's paid a heavy price for her stupidity. heavy cold He's got a heavy cold and is feeling terrible. heavy load /burden /responsibility etc Her sadness was a heavy burden for him to bear. 10 informal serious and difficult: I found his new book a bit heavy. Her speech was heavy stuff, with references to philosophy and psychology. 10a. a heavy situation or relationship is serious and often not enjoyable: She felt their relationship was getting too heavy. We don't want any heavy stuff (=anything serious or complicated). 10b. heavy date humorous an important date with a girlfriend or boyfriend 10c. heavy going something that is heavy going is difficult to achieve or understand: It was heavy going keeping him interested. 10d. make heavy weather of sth to make a situation or job more difficult than it really is 10e. informal serious and

deep and low: There was a heavy

thud as his body hit the floor. 12 if the air is heavy, it is warm in a sticky unpleasant way, especially before rain or a storm 12a. mainly literary if the sky is heavy, or the clouds are heavy, the sky is dark and it looks as though it will rain 13 mainly literary a heavy ocean is rough with big waves: The ship went down in heavy sailing conditions off the coast of Norway. 14 food that is heavy is solid and not enjoyable 14a. a heavy meal is a little too large and you seem to feel it in your stomach for a long time after you have eaten it

— opposite LIGHT

15 ground that is heavy is wet and muddy, so it is walk or travel over it 15a. heavy soil sticks together and is difficult to dig into opposite light 16 mainly literary if your heart is heavy, you feel sad: He went away with a heavy heart. difficult to

—

heavy with blossom mainly with blossom

is

literary a tree that covered with flowers

is

heavy

heavy with child an old way of saying that a woman pregnant and her baby will be born soon

is

2

/ 'hevi/ noun [C] informal 1 a large strong man is to protect someone 1a. a large strong man paid to persuade someone to do something by using violence or threats 2 an important or powerful person 3 [usually plural] a serious newspaper: broadsheet

heav«y

whose job

who

is

heav«y 3 /'hevi/ adv be/lie/ weigh heavy on literary to make you feel continuously worried or uncomfortable: Guilt lay heavy on his shoulders.

time lies/hangs heavy on your hands literary used for saying that time passes slowly, so that you feel bored and impatient heavy breather noun [c] someone who gets sexual pleasure from frightening people by phoning them and not speaking heavy 'breathing noun [u] the sound of someone breathing in a noisy fast way as if they are sexually excited, especially during a telephone call

heavy cream

noun

thicker by beating

not comfortable because there is a feeling of anger between people 5 a heavy smell is sweet and strong 6 used about things that look ugly because they are big: heavy features (=large mouth, eyes, and nose) He was a tall dark man, with heavy features. 6a. used about a way of moving that is slow and not graceful: He broke into a heavy loping run. 7 using a lot of bombs, guns, or other weapons: Industrial areas came under heavy bombardment. reports of heavy air strikes on the capital heavy fighting Heavy fighting erupted yesterday. 7a. a heavy blow is done with a lot of physical force: He received a heavy blow to the head. 7b. involving a strong force, especially in a downward direction: heavy footsteps /tread She could hear Bill's heavy footsteps upstairs. heavy fall Her father's had a heavy fall. heavy sigh His mother gave a heavy sigh of is

is

it

[u]

AmE cream

that can be

made

fast

heavy-duty

adj 1 strong and not easily damaged: heavy-duty plastic heavy-duty diesel engines 2 informal very serious: a heavy-duty conversation

heav»y-hand*ed /,hevi 'haendad/ adj 1 using too much force or not considering people's feelings enough when dealing with a situation 2 not showing gentle, graceful, or skillful qualities: heavy-handed architecture heavy-hand'ed'ly adv, heavy-hand-ed«ness noun [U]

—

heav-y-heart-ed /,hevi 'hartad/ adj literary very sad .heavy 'hitter noun [C] informal 1 a person or organization with a lot of influence politics or business

2 a

and power, especially

baseball player

who

is

in

able to

very hard noun [u] industry that uses large heavy machines to produce materials such as coal or steel or large objects such as cars or ships .heavy metal noun [u] a type of loud rock music that developed in the 1970s, played on drums and electric guitars: metal .heavy 'petting noun [u] the activity of kissing and touching someone sexually but without having sex hit the ball

heavy 'industry

.heavy-set adj big and strong heav-y-weight /'hevi.weit/ noun

1 a boxer or [c] wrestler in the heaviest weight group 1a. [only before noun] relating to this weight group: the world heavyweight champion a heavyweight title fight 2 someone or something that has a lot of influence, status, or knowledge: literary heavyweights such as Dickens and Hardy

He-bra-ic /hi'brenk/

He-brew

1

adj

Hebrew

/'hi.bru/ noun

ancient times

2

[U]

1

[C]

one of the

a Jewish person in languages of

official

Israel

He«brew 2

/'hi.bru/ adj 1 relating to the Hebrew lanto the Jewish people or their culture, especially in ancient times: the Hebrew calendar

guage 2 relating

heck /hck/ interjection informal used for showing that you are annoyed or surprised a/one heck of a spoken used for emphasizing what you are saying: It was a heck of a decision to have to make. how/what/who etc. the heck spoken used for emphasizing a question: What the heck are we going to do?

heck-le

/'hekl/ verb [i/t] to interrupt a speaker at a public meeting by shouting remarks, insults, etc. at them heck'ler noun [C], heck-ling noun [U]

—

AmE

hecku-va

/'hekava/ informal a way of writing "heck of a" that shows how it sounds in informal conversation HECS /heks/ Higher Education Contribution Scheme: in Australia, a system run by the government that allows students to borrow money to pay for their college education hec'tare /'hektar; 'hek.tar/ noun [C] a unit for measuring an area of land, equal to 10,000 square meters

«

heC'tic /'hektik/ been really

adj full of

busy

/

activity: This week has on the stock exchange

hectic trading 'hektlkli/ adv

hectic.

— hec«tical'ly hec*tor

/'hektar/ verb [i/t] formal to speak to someone an angry way, especially continuously he'd I weak id; strong hid/ short form 1 the usual way of saying or writing "he had" when "had" is an auxiliary verb. This is not often used in formal writing: He knew he'd seen her before. 2 the usual way of saying or in

writing "he would." This is not often used in formal writing: He'd come if you asked him.

/hed3/ noun [c] ** a line of bushes or small growing close together around a garden or field: We crawled through a gap in the hedge. a high hawthorn

hedge

1

trees

a hedge against sth a way of trying to protect yourself against a problem or risk: Gold is a traditional hedge against inflation.

hedge 2 /hed3/ verb

[I] to avoid answering a question in a definite or direct way 2 [I] to protect yourself from risks involving your money 3 [T] to enclose an area with bushes: He hedged his vegetable garden with low bushes.

or

1

making a decision

hedge your bets to organize a situation so that you have several choices available to you, in order to increase your chances of success hedged in with/by surrounded by people or things hedge with or hedge in with phrasal vb [T] [hedge sth (in) with sth] to make special conditions for something so that you do not have to follow the usual rules: Most insurers' conditions are hedged with all sorts of exclusions.

hedge«hog

/'hed3,hog/ noun [c] a small wild animal with a round body covered with sharp spines for pro-

tection.

A hedgehog rolls

itself

up

into a ball

when

it is

threatened.

hedge-row /'hed3,rou/ noun

a line of bushes, small trees, and plants along the edge of a field or road

'hedge .sparrow noun [c] a common in woods in Europe

[C]

small brown bird that

is

/'hidnist/ noun [C] someone who believes that pleasure is very important, and who tries to spend all their time doing things that they enjoy— he-don- ism noun [U], he'doiris'tic/,hidn'istik/adj

he«don«ist

heebie-jeebies

/,hibi 'd3ibiz/ noun [plural] informal a very nervous feeling 1 /hid/ verb [T]/orma/ to listen carefully to someone's advice or warning and do what they suggest heed 2 /hid/ noun pay heed to/take heed of formal to give careful attention to someone's advice or warning heed-less /'hidtas/ adj mainly literary 1 someone who is heedless of advice does not pay any attention to it 2 not realizing that a situation may be dangerous heed-less-ly adv hee-haw / 'hi ,ho/ noun [c] the sound made by a donkey

heed

— — hee-haw verb

heel 1

heinous

656

heck

[l]

/hil/ noun [c]

••

the part underneath the back of a shoe: black boots with low heels 2a. heels [plural] women's shoes with high heels: high heels —picture -> shoe 3 the part of a sock, etc. that goes over the back of your foot. The other end is called the toe. 4 the part of the front of your hand nearest your wrist: Apply some pressure to your lower back with the heels of your hands. at sb's heels just behind someone: / pushed my through the crowd, Jules at my heels. bring/call sb to heel to make someone do what

way you

want them

to do (hard/hot/close) on the heels of 1 following close behind someone or something: TV camera teams arrivea hot on the heels of the police. 2 happening soon after another event: Her remarks came hard on the heels of a statement by the President. take to your heels mainly literary to run away from someone, especially because you have done something

wrong turn/spin on your heel mainly literary to turn quickly under sb's heel mainly literary under someone's complete control -» COOL 2 DIG HEAD 1

,

1

,

,

KICK

1

heel 2

/hil/ verb 1 heel or heel over [I] if a boat heels, it leans over to one side: list 2 [T] to put a new part on the bottom of the heel of a shoe

heel 3

/hil/ interjection used for ordering a dog that is walking with you to follow close behind your heels /'hefti/ adj large and heavy: Richard is a really hefty guy. a. a hefty amount of money is a large and impressive amount: a hefty sum /fine /bonus b. a hefty push, kick, etc. is done with a lot of force he-gem-o-ny /ha'gemani; 'hed33,mouni/ noun [u] formal political control or influence, especially by one country over other countries He-gi-ra, the /h3'd3aira; 'hed^ira/ noun Muhammad's escape from Mecca to Medina in a.d. 622. The Muslim system of counting years is calculated from this time. heif-er /'hefbr/ noun [C] a young cow that has not had a CALF height /hait/ noun ••• 1 [C/U] how high something is, or how tall someone is: He was about the same height as his wife. in height a

heft-y

graceful tower, rising to 400 feet in height sb's full height (=their height when they stand up straight) He rose to his full height and surveyed the scene. 1a. the distance that something is from the ground or from the floor, or from a fixed level such as the sea: What height do you want the picture at? She could remember being carried gain /lose at shoulder height, giggling and swaying. height The aircraft began to lose height. at a height of Lescun is three miles from the main road at a height of 3,000 feet. a great height Her injuries are consistent with a fall from a great height. 1b. the state of being too high or tall, or not high or tall enough: She couldn't see the road because of the height of the wall (=because it was too high). Steve could not become a pilot because of his height (=because he was not tall enough). 2 [C usually plural] a high place or position: A battalion had captured the heights above the beach. Dave was trying to overcome his fear of heights. 2a. a high level of activity or success: His handling of the crisis carried his popularity to new heights. 2b. from a height from a high position: If you look down on the place from a height you can see the outline of the site. 2c. have a head for heights to be able to be in a high position without being afraid or feeling uncomfortable 3 [singular] the time or level of greatest activity: + of At the height of the violence, neighbor was killing neighbor. It is the height of irresponsibility to make such comments. Jeans were once again the height offashion. at its height The excitement was at its height.

height-en

/'haitn/ verb [i/t] if something heightens a feeling or emotion, or a feeling or emotion heightens, it becomes stronger: An educational effort to heighten

awareness

the back part of your foot, below your ankle I've got a sore heel. A little dog followed them, snapping at their heels. sit back on your heels He sat back on his heels and swore. picture -» foot 1

2

about

— heightened

adj:

warming is underway. global heightened interest / awareness I expec-

:

—

tations

hei-nous crime

is

/'heinas/ adj very formal a heinous act or

extremely evil

heir I ex I noun [c] •• 1 someone who will receive money, property, or a

title

dies a real estate heir + to Hesketh was the heir to a grocery fortune. heir to the throne (=the next king or queen) Richard was now heir to the throne

when another person

:

of the Angevin Empire. 2 the next person to have a particular job, or to continue someone's work or ideas: +to the heirs to Mussolini's fascist regime ,heir apparent noun [c] an heir whose right to a rank or title cannot be taken away if another heir is born a. the person who is most likely to follow another person in a job or position heiress /'eras/ noun [c] a woman or girl who will receive money or property when another person dies heir-loom /'er.lum/ noun [c] a valuable or special possession that has belonged to one family for many years

Heis-man Tro-phy

/'haisman .troufi/ a prize given every year to the best college football player in the U.S., chosen by sports reporters heist /haist/ noun [C] informal an organized attempt by thieves to steal something: robbery He-ji-ra /ha^airs; 'hed3ira/ another spelling of Hegira, the held the past tense and past participle of hold 1

••

helicopter

/'heli.kaptar/ noun [C] with large metal blades on top that spin the air —picture -» C7

an aircraft and lift it into

hel-i-pad / 'heli.paed/ noun [c] a flat area for helicopters to land on and take off from, often on top of a building hel-i-port /'heliport/ noun [C] a small airport for helicopters

hel-i-ski-ing /heli.skiin/ noun

[u] the sport of flying in a helicopter to a place on a mountain and then traveling over the snow on skis (=long narrow objects that are hel-i-ski-er noun [C] attached to your boots)

—

helium air, often

/'hilism/ noun [u] a gas that is lighter than used for lifting large balloons

he-lix /'hiliks/ noun [c] technical a shape formed by a long, continuously curving line: spiral he'll I weak il; strong hil/ short form the usual way of saying or writing "he will." This is not often used in formal writing: He'll be here around noon. 1 hell /hel/noun [u] ••• 1 Hell in some religions, the place where bad people are sent to suffer for ever when they die. The place where good people go is called Heaven. 2 a situation that is extremely unpleasant: It's been hell trying to keep this secret for so long. absolute /pure/ sheer/ utter hell For a sensitive child this ridicule can be sheer hell. go through hell She's been going through hell since her husband died. a living hell (=a very frightening or upsetting experience) The past few days have been a living hell for both of us. put sb through hell He's put us all through hell in the last few weeks.

breaks loose informal used for saying that something happens that makes people angry or upset, and they start fighting or arguing: All hell will break loose when my parents hear about this. as hell spoken 1 used for emphasizing something bad or unpleasant: / was angry and hurt and jealous as hell. The track is as bumpy as hell. 2 used for general all hell

emphasis: I'm serious as hell. I'm leaving him. (as) sure as hell / know what you want, as sure as hell. come hell or high water informal even though there may be problems or difficulties: I'm determined to get to the bottom of this, come hell or high water. for the hell of it informal just for fun, and not for any serious reason: / kissed him just for the hell of it. frighten/scare/beat/kick the hell out of sb informal to frighten or hurt someone very badly the sth from hell informal an especially difficult or unpleasant example of a person or thing: the holiday

from

helmet

657

heir

hell

get the hell out spoken to leave a place as quickly as you can: We better get the hell out of here. give sb hell informal to be very angry with someone or treat them severely: Caroline would give me hell if she thought I'd lied.

go to hell spoken used for telling someone angrily to go away or stop annoying you sb has been to hell and back informal someone has suffered a lot or has had bad experiences hell for leather informal very quickly or with a lot of effort

hell freezes over informal used for saying that something is very unlikely to happen hell hath no fury (like a woman scorned) used for saying that a woman who cannot make someone love her can be extremely angry hell on earth informal an extremely unpleasant situation or place hell on wheels Am E spoken someone or something that causes a lot of trouble hell's bells old-fashioned used for showing anger or great surprise like hell spoken 1 with a lot of speed or effort: I got out of the truck and ran like hell. 2 very informal used for showing that you doubt something or do not believe it: "He'll change his mind." "Like hell he will!" look/feel like hell spoken to look or feel very sick or tired

not a hope/chance in hell informal no hope or chance at all

a /one hell of a spoken 1 used for emphasizing what you are saying: It must be a hell of a job trying to organize all this information. 2 used for emphasizing how good something is: Everyone thinks you're one hell of a guy. raise hell informal 1 to make a lot of noise or trouble: Young people were getting drunk and raising hell. 2 to complain loudly there'll be hell to pay informal used for saying that someone will be in a lot of trouble to hell with spoken used for showing that you are angry with someone or something and do not care about them

any more

what the

hell spoken used for showing that something does not matter -» BAT

1

2

hell /hel/ interjection informal 1 used for showing that you are angry or annoyed: Hell, what have I done with that piece of paper? 2 used for emphasis: Hell, when was the last time he took a day off? hell-a-cious /he'leijss/ adj informal extr